Sclerocactus mariposensis
Sclerocactus mariposensis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Cactaceae |
Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
Genus: | Sclerocactus |
Species: | S. mariposensis
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Binomial name | |
Sclerocactus mariposensis (Hester) N.P.Taylor
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Synonyms[2] | |
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Sclerocactus mariposensis, synonyms including Echinomastus mariposensis and Neolloydia mariposensis,[2] is a rare species of cactus known by the common names Lloyd's fishhook cactus, golfball cactus, silver column cactus, and Mariposa cactus. It is native to a section of territory straddling the border between Brewster County, Texas, in the United States, and the states of Coahuila and Nuevo León in northeastern Mexico.[3][2] It has been federally listed as a threatened species in the United States since 1979.[4]
Habitat
This tiny cactus grows at about 30 sites in Texas and Coahuila, many of which are located within
Characteristics
This is a petite cactus growing up to 10 centimeters tall by 6 wide. The body is covered with areoles bearing spines. The central spines are up to 2 centimeters long and are white, gray, or yellow in color with brownish or bluish tips. Each areole also has many radial spines which are smaller and white or gray in color, sometimes with brown tips. The flowers are white, or pink fading to white over time, often with dark midstripes, and up to 3 centimeters long. The fruit is about a centimeter in length and yellow-green in color.[4][6] Blooming occurs in February and March.[4]
Endangered status
Threats to this rare species have included mercury mining, petroleum exploration activities,
References
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ a b c "Sclerocactus mariposensis (Hester) N.P.Taylor". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ a b c d E. mariposensis. Archived 2010-12-15 at the Wayback Machine Center for Plant Conservation.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l USFWS. E. mariposensis Recovery Plan. April 1990.
- ^ a b c d e E. mariposensis. Texas Parks and Wildlife.
- ^ a b E. mariposensis. Flora of North America.