Sclerocactus brevihamatus
| Sclerocactus brevihamatus | |
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| Sclerocactus brevihamatus tobuschii | |
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| Species: | S. brevihamatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Sclerocactus brevihamatus | |
Sclerocactus brevihamatus is a species of cactus known by the common name shorthook fishhook cactus.
It is endemic to Texas, and is an endangered species.[1] Threats to the species and subspecies include collecting and development in its habitat.[2]
Description
Sclerocactus brevihamatus is a small, dark-green to grey globose cactus.[3] It has a short, central taproot with many fine, fibrous offshoots.[3] Its stem has 10–12 ribs, divided into tubercles with shallow, wooly grooves on the upper surface.[3] The areoles are circular with white-colored wool.[3] Its central spines are white or yellowish, and often hooked, occasionally red-tipped, and may become grey as they age.[3] The radial spines are straight and irregularly spread.[3] Its small, funnelform flowers vary in color from shades of green, yellow, and white.[3] The fruits are egg-shaped and pinkish-green, and contain kidney-shaped, dark brown to black seeds.[3]
Habitat
Sclerocactus brevihamatus grows in shallow, gravel and clay soils.[3] It prefers slightly alkaline soils, and often grows in soils heavy with limestone sediments.[3] Its natural habitat is open areas with sparse vegetation, such as hilltops, floodplains, and rocky plains.[3]
Subspecies
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Subspecies and varieties of this cactus include:
- Sclerocactus brevihamatus subsp. brevihamatus – shorthook fishhook cactus.[4]
- Sclerocactus brevihamatus var. pallidus – synonym of Sclerocactus brevihamatus,[5] also known as Ancistrocactus brevihamatus var. pallidus.[6]
- Sclerocactus brevihamatus ssp. tobuschii – Tobusch fishhook cactus.[6] It is also known as a separate species, Ancistrocactus tobuschii.
- The rare Tobusch fishhook cactus is a federally listed endangered species also. It is known from about 200[7] to about 500[2] individual specimens on the eastern part of the Edwards Plateau. It occurs in the Juniperus ashei-Quercus fusiformis plant association on calcareous soils.[8]
References
- ^ USFWS: Determination that Ancistrocactus tobuschii is an endangered species. — Federal Register. November 7, 1979.
- ^ a b Center for Plant Conservation
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Sclerocactus brevihamatus". www.llifle.com. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
- ^ USDA: Sclerocactus brevihamatus subsp. brevihamatus
- ^ Encyclopedia of Cacti: 'Sclerocactus brevihamatus var. pallidus
- ^ a b "Sclerocactus brevihamatus subsp. brevihamatus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- ^ The Nature Conservancy
- ^ Sutton, K., et al. (1997). Habitat of Ancistrocactus tobuschii (Tobusch fishhook cactus, Cactaceae) on the Edwards Plateau of Central Texas. Southwestern Naturalist 42:4 441.
External links
- USDA Plants Profile for Ancistrocactus brevihamatus (shorthook fishhook cactus)
- USFWS: Gallery of Tobusch fishhook cacti (Sclerocactus brevihamatus ssp. tobuschii)
