Identifying a cactus species

[Mniazi]

What is the name of this cactus i have?

 

[Bystander]

Pincushion.

 

[Mniazi]

Pincushion.

but its mother plant looks something like this.

 

[Bystander]

Or, one of the "barrels."

 

[Mniazi]

if it is a barrel then why its mother doesn't have as much spines as a barrel?

 

[Bystander]

There are more species of "barrel" than one, just as there are more species of pincushion than one.

 

[Mniazi]

what is the scientific name of a barrel?

 

[Mniazi]

ferrocactus?

 

[Bystander]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrel_cactus
... plus, probably one or two more.

 

[Mniazi]

I suppose it belongs to the Echnopsis genera?

 

[Bystander]

Looking at it, I'd call it "ferro." No color to very robust, vicious, sparse, spines on pronounced ribs.

 

[Mniazi]

do these round cacti become pillars after many years?

 

[jim mcnamara]

What color are the flower petals? red==very likely genus Ferrocactus. Flowers and fruit pods are the best way to identify cactus.

 

[Mniazi]

What color are the flower petals? red==very likely genus Ferrocactus. Flowers and fruit pods are the best way to identify cactus.

No flowers till now :(