Pediocactus nigrispinus
(Hochstätter) Hochstätter
Snowball Cactus
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.796904
Element CodePDCAC0E100
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
CITESAppendix II
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyCactaceae
GenusPediocactus
SynonymsPediocactus simpsonii var. nigrispinusHochstätter
Other Common Namessnowball cactus (EN)
Concept ReferenceFlora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2003b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 4, Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae, part 1. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 559 pp.
Taxonomic CommentsHeil and Porter's treatment of Pediocactus in the Flora of North America (Vol. 4, 2003) recognizes Pediocactus nigrispinus as a species, distinct from P. simpsonii. The text says, "Pediocactus nigrispinus has been referred to P. simpsonii var. robustior (J. M. Coulter) L. D. Benson, which remains well within the range of variation for P. simpsonii. An unpublished study by J. M. Porter et al. of noncoding chloroplast DNA sequences shows P. simpsonii is less closely related to P. nigripsinus than to P. knowltonii, P. winkleri, and P. despainii." Kartesz (1994, 1999) did not mention Pediocactus nigrispinus (or Pediocactus simpsonii var. nigrispinus) either as an accepted name or as a synonym.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2013-08-19
Change Date2007-07-06
Edition Date2013-08-19
Edition AuthorsTomaino, A.
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 300
Rank ReasonsOccurs in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Locally abundant. Some localized threats from collecting and grazing but no major threats are known.
Range Extent CommentsEastern Washington, eastern Oregon and west-central Idaho (Butterworth and Porter 2013).
Occurrences CommentsApproximately 20 extant occurrences in Washington (EO data in the NatureServe central database as of August 2013). In Oregon, the number of occurrences may be 75+ (S. Vrilakas, pers. com., 2013). Occurrence data for Idaho needed.
Threat Impact CommentsHorticultural collecting is a threat (EO data in the NatureServe database as of August 2013). Some occurrences may be threatened by cattle ranching (Butterworth and Porter 2013). Other potential threats include off-road vehicle use and exotic grasses (Bromus tectorum and Poa bulbosa) (EO data in the NatureServe database as of August 2013). "The susceptibility of this taxon to fire is not known and thus effects of increased fire frequency are likewise unknown." (EO data in the NatureServe database as of August 2013).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Sagebrush, grasslands, and coniferous forests; usually below 1500 m elevation (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2003).
Reproduction
Members of Pediocactus produce dry, dull-colored fruit which are presumed not to be dispersed by birds or rodents, but rather wind or water. Little variation exists within populations. These populations can be separated by distances of several miles even when there is suitable habitat. Further, dispersal within populations appears to be staggered throughout the growing season from shortly after seeds are produced in June to fall. This dispersal strategy may be disadventageous for the species, however, populations in the genus when left undisturbed seem to be healthy with all age classes represented (Heil et al. 1981).
Terrestrial HabitatsForest/WoodlandForest - ConiferShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNR
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|
| Oregon | S4 | Yes |
| Idaho | S3 | Yes |
| Washington | S2 | Yes |
References (3)
- Butterworth, C., and J.M. Porter. 2013. <i>Pediocactus nigrispinus</i>. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. Online. Available: http://www.iucnredlist.org (accessed 11 July 2013).
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2003b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 4, Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae, part 1. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 559 pp.
- Heil, K., B. Armstrong and D. Schleser. 1981. A review of the genus <i>Pediocactus. </i>Cactus and Succulent Journal 53:17-39.