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Echinocereus yavapaiensis

M.A. Baker

G3Vulnerable Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.902818
Element CodePDCAC060T0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusProvisional
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyCactaceae
GenusEchinocereus
Concept Reference
Baker, M.A. 2006b. A new florally dimorphic hexaploid, Echinocereus yavapaiensis sp. nov. (section Triglochidiatus, Cactaceae) from central Arizona. Plant Systematics and Evolution 258:63-83.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-10-04
Change Date2024-10-04
Edition Date2024-10-04
Edition AuthorsTomaino, A., rev. N. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Echinocereus yavapaiensis is an endemic diecious cactus of desert scrub habitat in central Arizona in the United States. It is a relatively new species (described in 2006), and originally known only from Yavapai County. However, the distribution of this species is better understood, and it is also known to occur in Maricopa, Gila, and (potentially) Coconino counties. There are an estimated 76 occurrences of Echinocereus yavapaiensis, which are likely threatened by the illegal collection of plants for the horticultural trade, land-use conversion and development, invasive species, wildfires, and climate change. However, little is known about threats and trends, and all occurrences need to be monitored to determine the status of threats, site conditions, and abundance. Potential occurrences from Coconino County need to be verified.
Range Extent Comments
Echinocereus yavapaiensis occurs in the Western United States in central Arizona, and is endemic to Yavapie (Baker 2006), Maricopa, and Gila counties (iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024). There are also photo-based observations from Coconino County in the Coconino National Forest near Sedona which need to be verified. Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations collected between 1993 and 2024 (iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be 76 occurrences rangewide (iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024). The Arizona Natural Heritage Program tracks 20 non-historical (visited after 1993) and two historical occurrences of this species (NatureServe 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Specific threats to this species are poorly understood. However, threats to cacti worldwide include the illegal collection of plants for the horticultural trade, land-use conversion for agriculture and urban and commercial development, invasive species, increased risk of wildfires, and climate change (Goettsch et al. 2015, Hultine et al. 2023). The 2013 Yarnell fire is mentioned as a possible threat to one occurrence, but it is unknown if populations are still extant or were destroyed by this event (NatureServe 2024).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Echinocereus yavapaiensis occurs in desert scrub or transition scrub, and is typically associated with boulders or rocky soils of granite, granitic schist, basalt, quartz, or volcanic tuff (Baker 2006).
It prefers south to southwest-facing hillsides or (less commonly) north to east-facing hillslopes and hilltops between 1025 and 1860 meters in elevation.
Terrestrial Habitats
Desert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
ArizonaS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
7 - Natural system modificationsUnknownUnknownUnknown
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionUnknownUnknownUnknown
7.1.1 - Increase in fire frequency/intensityUnknownUnknownUnknown

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, Long-lived
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (3)
Arizona (3)
AreaForestAcres
Blind Indian CreekPrescott National Forest26,847
Lime CreekTonto National Forest42,568
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
References (7)
  1. Baker, M.A. 2006b. A new florally dimorphic hexaploid, <i>Echinocereus yavapaiensis </i>sp. nov. (section Triglochidiatus, Cactaceae) from central Arizona. Plant Systematics and Evolution 258:63-83.
  2. Goettsch, B., Hilton-Taylor, C., Cruz-Piñón, G., Duffy, J.P., Frances, A., Hernández, H.M., Inger, R., Pollock, C., Schipper, J., Superina, M. and Taylor, N.P. 2015. High proportion of cactus species threatened with extinction. Nature plants 1(10):1-7.
  3. Hultine, K.R., Hernández-Hernández, T., Williams, D.G., Albeke, S.E., Tran, N., Puente, R. and E. Larios. 2023. Global change impacts on cacti (Cactaceae): current threats, challenges and conservation solutions. Annals of botany 132(4):671-683.
  4. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  5. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  6. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  7. Wisnev, M.A. 2024. Dioecy in Cactaceae: Species with Unisexual Flowers. Cactus and Succulent Journal 95(4): 305-325.