Echinocactus
Echinocactus is a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae. The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek ἐχῖνος, meaning "spiny," and cactus. It and Ferocactus are the two genera of barrel cactus. Members of the genus usually have heavy spination and relatively small flowers. The fruits are copiously woolly, and this is one major distinction between Echinocactus and Ferocactus. Propagation is by seed.
Species
As of 2025, the genus includes 3 accepted species out of hundreds of plants having the name.| Image | Scientific name | Common name | Distribution |
| Echinocactus × diabolicus Janeba | Mexico | ||
| Echinocactus horizonthalonius Lem. | Devil's Head, Silverbell Cactus, Turk's Head CactusGolden Barrel Cactus | southwestern United States and northern Mexico | |
| Echinocactus platyacanthus Link & Otto | Giant Barrel Cactus | Mexico in the Chihuahuan Desert |
Formerly placed here
- Astrophytum asterias Lem.
- Aztekium ritteri Boed.
- Kroenleinia grusonii Lodé
- Ferocactus wislizeni Britton & Rose
- Lophophora williamsii J.M.Coult.
- Turbinicarpus subterraneus A.D.Zimm.
- Homalocephala
- *Homalocephala parryi
- *Homalocephala polycephala
- *''Homalocephala texensis''