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In adulthood, fishhook barrel cacti generally lean southward, toward the sun, earning them the nickname "compass barrel cactus." One theory about why this happens is, the afternoon sun is so intense it slows the growth on the exposed side, causing the plant to grow unevenly. Older barrels can lean so far they uproot themselves and fall over, especially after heavy rains when the soil is loose.<ref name="Dimmitt">Mark A. Dimmitt. [http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_cactus_.php Cactaceae (cactus family)]. Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.</ref> Its life cycle is 50–100 years.
Like ''[[Sclerocactus]]'', ''Ferocactus'' typically grows in areas where water flows irregularly or depressions where water can accumulate for short periods of time. They are not associated with washes and [[Arroyo (
The "fishhook" spines and the armored web of spines enclosing the cactus body are a defense against herbivory. Rarely a mature barrel cactus is found hollowed out by [[Peccary|javelina]] but overall [[Opuntia|prickly pear]] experience much higher levels of damage from more species. Barrel cactus spines pose an extreme hazard for handling, penetrating boots and gloves. The roots are quite long but very shallow.
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===Ecology===
The flowers are pollinated by cactus bees (''Lithurge'' spp.). [[Mule deer]], birds, [[Antelope squirrel|Antelope Ground Squirrels]] and [[Peccary|javelina]] eat the fruit. The birds especially like the [[seed]]s. The people of the [[Sonoran Desert]] use the fruit for [[candy]] and [[Fruit preserves|jelly]].<ref name="USFS" /> The [[Seri people|Seri]] and [[Tohono O'odham|O'odham]] eat the flowers and use the fruit, which is sour, as emergency food.<ref name="Dimmitt" /> Tradition says that the barrel cactus is a source of water for people lost without water in the desert.
The [[skin]] thickens with age, making older cacti more fire resistant. Even so, average mortality due to fire is 50 to 67 percent within the first two years following fire.<ref name="USFS" />
In urban areas, the Fishhook Barrel is valued as an ornamental plant.
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File:Arizona barrel cactus - Florence, AZ.jpg|''Ferocactus wislizeni'' habitat near [[Florence, Arizona]].
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