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Opuntia valida

Griffiths

San Antonio Prickly-pear

G3Vulnerable Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.128886
Element CodePDCAC0D230
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
CITESAppendix II
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyCactaceae
GenusOpuntia
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
Since its original description, Opuntia valida Griffiths has been almost entirely dismissed or ignored. In some comprehensive taxonomic revisions and compilations of cacti, it has been placed in synonymy under wide-ranging polymorphic "basket" taxa. Britton and Rose (1937) lumped it within Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck, and Benson (1982) placed it in synonymy under O. phaeacantha Engelm. var. discata (Griffiths) Benson & Walkington.

Opuntia valida has usually been ignored in treatments on the flora of Texas and New Mexico, the two states in which it is known to occur. The Manual of the vascular plants of Texas (Correll and Johnston, 1970) and some checklists for that state (Johnston, 1990; Hatch et al., 1990) do not mention the species even in synonymy. Jones, Wipff and Montgomery (1997) mention it, but in a manner reminiscent of Britton and Rose (1937), list the taxon in synonymy under Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck var. engelmannii. The most recent published flora of New Mexico (Martin and Hutchins, 1981) also does not mention the taxon even in synonymy. However, the name is accepted in the August 1995 first supplement (Roalson and Allred, 1995a) to the checklist for New Mexico (Roalson and Allred, 1995). Kartesz (1999) recognizes Opuntia valida as a good species.

David Ferguson (pers. comm., 2000) moreover believes that Opuntia valida may be composed of two varieties. The typical variety occurs roughly north and west of the town of Carrizozo (Lincoln County), New Mexico; an undescribed second variety is believed to occur to the south and east. He intends to publish it as O. v. var. robustispina, which differs from the northern (typical) variety in having heavier spines and a greater number of areoles per pad, factors which lend an overall spinier appearance to the plants.
Conservation Status
Review Date2000-01-05
Change Date2000-01-31
Edition Date2000-01-28
Edition AuthorsWilliam R. Carr; revised Bruce MacBryde.
Range Extent20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Opuntia valida Griffiths has largely been ignored since its description in 1914. It is not even mentioned in the manuals commonly used by field botanists in New Mexico and Texas, the two states in which it is known to occur. As a result, resurrection of Opuntia valida as a distinct species of prickly-pear has not yet been embraced by the botanical community, and information about its range and threats is scanty. Current information indicates that Opuntia valida ranges from Sandoval County southeast to Eddy County in New Mexico; it also occurs in Reagan County, Texas and can be expected to occur elsewhere in western Texas. Sivinski and Lightfoot (1994) speculated that with further study, it is likely to be found to be a good taxon that is fairly common on the lower slopes of the Sandia Mountains. Increased awareness of and familiarity with this species may well result in revision of its global rank. However, currently the species is expected to be represented by fewer than 100 populations.
Range Extent Comments
According to David Ferguson (pers. comm., 2000), Opuntia valida ranges patchily across New Mexico from the vicinity of San Ysidro (Sandoval County) in the north-central part of the state southward to the vicinity of Carlsbad (Eddy County) in the southeastern corner. In Texas it is known only from the vicinity of Santa Rita in southwestern Reagan County. It is unknown whether the Texas population is disjunct from those in New Mexico; Ferguson suspects that additional populations might be found between Santa Rita and the nearest New Mexico population roughly 20 miles west of Carlsbad. He also suggests it should be sought in the southern Trans-Pecos region.
Occurrences Comments
David Ferguson (pers. comm., 2000) reported seeing approximately 7 multi-plant occurrences in New Mexico and Texas and perhaps an equal number of occurrences that appeared to be composed of a single plant. Additional occurrences are likely to be revealed with extensive field work, but given its generally patchy distribution, fewer than 100 occurrences are expected.
Threat Impact Comments
Opuntias in general are considered a curse by some landowners, and considerable effort has been expended to remove them from some ranches. Such efforts, while not always successful, could hypothetically have a negative impact on Opuntia valida at least locally.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Opuntia valida occurs in broken terrain in arid areas at moderate elevations. Substrates include gravelly/stony alluvium and colluvium derived from granite, sandstone and/or limestone; plants are occasionally found rooted in exposed bedrock (David Ferguson, pers. comm., 2000).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
New MexicoS3Yes
TexasSNRYes
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (1)
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
Ortega PeakLincoln National Forest11,545
References (12)
  1. Britton, N.L., and J.N. Rose, 1937. The Cactaceae: Descriptions and illustations of the plants of the cactus family. Dover reprint edition: Two volumes. Dover Publications, Inc. New York.
  2. Correll, D.S., and M.C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas. Texas Research Foundation, Renner. 1881 pp.
  3. Griffiths, D. 1914. New species of Opuntia. Proceedings of Biological Society of Washington 27: 23-28.
  4. Hatch, S.L., K.N. Gandhi, and L.E. Brown. 1990. Checklist of the vascular plants of Texas. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, College Station. 158 pp.
  5. Johnston, M.C. 1990. The vascular plants of Texas: A list, updating the manual of the vascular plants of Texas. 2nd edition. Privately published, Austin, Texas. 107 pp.
  6. Jones, S.D., J.K. Wipff, and P.M. Montgomery. 1997. Vascular Plants of Texas: A Comprehensive Checklist including Synonymy, Bibliography, and Index. University of Texas Press, Austin. 404 pp.
  7. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  8. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  9. Martin, W.C., and C.R. Hutchins. 1980-1981. A flora of New Mexico. 1980, Vol. 1; 1981, Vol. 2. J. Cramer, in der A.R. Gantner Verlag, K.G., Vaduz, Liechtenstein. 2591 pp.
  10. Roalson, E.H., and K.W. Allred (eds.). 1995a. A working index of New Mexico vascular plant names, 1st edition. Supplement 1:1. [Agricultural Experiment Station Research Report 702, Supplement 1:1.] New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces. 17 pp., unnumbered.
  11. Roalson, E.H., and K.W. Allred (eds.). 1995c. A working index of New Mexico vascular plant names, 1st edition. Agricultural Experiment Station Research Report 702. New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces. 254 pp.
  12. Sivinski, R., and K. Lightfoot, eds. 1994. Inventory of the rare and endangered plants of New Mexico. 2nd edition. Miscellaneous Publication No. 3, New Mexico Forestry and Resources Conservation Division, New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Dept., Santa Fe. 46 pp.