Sclerocactus polyancistrus
| Sclerocactus polyancistrus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Sclerocactus |
| Species: | S. polyancistrus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Sclerocactus polyancistrus | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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Sclerocactus polyancistrus, the Mohave fishhook cactus or redspined fishhook cactus, is a species of flowering cactus in the genus Sclerocactus. It is found in the Mojave Desert in the Southwestern United States.
Description
[edit]The Sclerocactus polyancistrus cactus has a cylindrical stem up to 25 centimeters tall by 8 wide. They may grow in clusters. The cactus is densely spiny, each areole has several reddish or white central spines with hooked tips and several more white spines around the edge.[4]
The fragrant flower is up to 10 centimeters wide and may be most any shade of pink or red-violet. The scaly, fleshy fruit is 2 or 3 centimeters long.[4]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Sclerocactus polyancistrus is native to the Mojave Desert in eastern California and southern Nevada. It grows in rocky alluvial (often alkaline) soils and in Mojave desert scrub at elevations of 500–2,500 m (1,600–8,200 ft) above sea level.[4]
Conservation
[edit]As of December 2024[update], the conservation group NatureServe listed Sclerocactus polyancistrus as Vulnerable (G3) worldwide. This status was last reviewed on 30 December 2015. At the state level within the United States, the group assessed this species as Vulnerable (S3) in California and Imperiled (S2) in Nevada.[1]
The IUCN Red List, another conservation group, assessed this species as Least Concern (LC) worldwide. Their assessment was last reviewed on 12 May 2010.[2]
Taxonomy
[edit]Sclerocactus polyancistrus was first described by George Engelmann and John Milton Bigelow under the name Echinocactus polyancistrus in 1856. In 1922, Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose moved the species to the genus Sclerocactus, while keeping the specific epithet the same.[3]
Etymology
[edit]In English, this species is commonly known as the Mohave fishhook cactus,[2] or redspined fishhook cactus.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b NatureServe (6 December 2024). "Sclerocactus polyancistrus | NatureServe Explorer". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ a b c Butterworth, C.; Porter, J.M. (2010). "Sclerocactus polyancistrus (Mohave Fishhook Cactus)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T151778A121566290. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T151778A121566290.en. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Sclerocactus polyancistrus (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow) Britton & Rose | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ a b c "Sclerocactus polyancistrus- FNA". floranorthamerica.org. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
- ^ NRCS. "Sclerocactus polyancistrus". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 8 November 2015.
External links
[edit]- Jepson Manual Treatment: Sclerocactus polyancistrus
- Sclerocactus polyancistrus Photo gallery
Media related to Sclerocactus polyancistrus at Wikimedia Commons
