^{(Photograph: Echinocactus platyacanthus in habitat, Amante Darmanin)}

Introduction

The Candy barrel cactus is the largest barrel cactus. Large plants are over seven-foot tall and the species is protected. But its numbers are threatened by human activities.

The Details

From a 2010 paper by Jimenez-Sierra and Eguiarte (see attached):

The candy barrel cactus (Echinocactus platyacanthus) is an endemic of the Chihuahuan Desert in México that is used as an ornamental plant, for fodder, and for human consumption. The uncontrolled use of this species has resulted in its being put under special legal protection. Although now illegal to harvest, many candy barrel cacti continue being destroyed in situ by both gathering and livestock grazing. This study describes the uses of this species and the characteristics of its natural population in central Mexico.

Goats and donkeys eat the plant, and it is dug up for landscape use around homes. In prehistoric times the wool at the top of the cactus was used by native peoples for stuffing in pillows. A candy treat (acitrón) is made from the pulp of E. platyacanthus and sold in carnivals. The extract is also used in many traditional recipes including sweet tamales. Fodder use, harvesting for landscape, land development, and harvesting for eating all threaten the candy barrel cactus.

Additional Reading: Candy Barrel Cactus Under Protection