Sclerocactus brevispinus
Encyclopedia
Sclerocactus brevispinus is a rare species of cactus
known by the common name Pariette cactus. It is endemic to Utah
in the United States, where it is known only from the Pariette Draw, a draw
in Duchesne County
. It is threatened by a number of processes and human activities.
This plant is federally listed as a threatened species of the United States. Until 1994 it was included under the description of Sclerocactus glaucus
, a threatened cactus. When it was separated and elevated to species status it retained the threatened designation. A proposal to uplist it to endangered
status is pending.
This cactus has a somewhat oval, flattened spherical, or short cylindrical shape, a green color, and a waxy texture. There are up to 13 radial spines on each of its areole
s, and sometimes one to three central spines. The spines may be straight, angled, or hooked, and are straw or brownish in color with purple or red highlights. They are up to no more than about 0.3 to 0.4 centimeters in length. The bell-shaped flower is two to four centimeters long and has green or pink outer tepal
s and pink inner tepals. The stamen
s have white or pink filaments and yellow anthers. The fruit is green, tan, or pink-tinged and is 1.5 centimeters in maximum length.
This plant grows on the clay
badlands
of the Pariette Draw, where the soil is quite saline and alkaline
. It grows on hills and flats in sagebrush
. Other plants in the area include Sclerocactus wetlandicus
, the other species that was separated from S. glaucus. Most of the population occurs on land owned by the Bureau of Land Management
and the Ute tribe
.
Threats to the species include damage to the habitat during hydrocarbon exploration, poaching
, and genetic swamping from the related and more common S. wetlandicus.
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
known by the common name Pariette cactus. It is endemic to Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
in the United States, where it is known only from the Pariette Draw, a draw
Draw (terrain)
A draw a terrain feature formed by two parallel ridges or spurs with low ground in between them. The area of low ground itself is the draw, and it is defined by the spurs surrounding it...
in Duchesne County
Duchesne County, Utah
Duchesne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2010 the population was 18,607, a 29.5% increase over the 2000 figure of 14,371. Its county seat is Duchesne and the largest city is Roosevelt.-Geography:...
. It is threatened by a number of processes and human activities.
This plant is federally listed as a threatened species of the United States. Until 1994 it was included under the description of Sclerocactus glaucus
Sclerocactus glaucus
Sclerocactus glaucus is a rare species of cactus known by the common name Uinta Basin hookless cactus and Colorado hookless cactus. It is endemic to Colorado in the United States, where it is known only from the area between Grand Junction and Montrose...
, a threatened cactus. When it was separated and elevated to species status it retained the threatened designation. A proposal to uplist it to endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
status is pending.
This cactus has a somewhat oval, flattened spherical, or short cylindrical shape, a green color, and a waxy texture. There are up to 13 radial spines on each of its areole
Areole
Areoles are an important diagnostic feature of cacti, and identify them as a family distinct from other succulent plants. The areoles on cacti are clearly visible; they generally appear as small light- to dark-colored bumps, out of which grow clusters of spines...
s, and sometimes one to three central spines. The spines may be straight, angled, or hooked, and are straw or brownish in color with purple or red highlights. They are up to no more than about 0.3 to 0.4 centimeters in length. The bell-shaped flower is two to four centimeters long and has green or pink outer tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s and pink inner tepals. The stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s have white or pink filaments and yellow anthers. The fruit is green, tan, or pink-tinged and is 1.5 centimeters in maximum length.
This plant grows on the clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
badlands
Badlands
A badlands is a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often...
of the Pariette Draw, where the soil is quite saline and alkaline
Alkali soils
Alkali, or alkaline, soils are clay soils with high pH , a poor soil structure and a low infiltration capacity. Often they have a hard calcareous layer at 0.5 to 1 metre depth. Alkali soils owe their unfavorable physico-chemical properties mainly to the dominating presence of sodium carbonate...
. It grows on hills and flats in sagebrush
Sagebrush
Sagebrush is a common name of a number of shrubby plant species in the genus Artemisia native to western North America;Or, the sagebrush steppe ecoregion, having one or more kinds of sagebrush, bunchgrasses and others;...
. Other plants in the area include Sclerocactus wetlandicus
Sclerocactus wetlandicus
Sclerocactus wetlandicus is a rare species of cactus known by the common name Uinta Basin hookless cactus. It is endemic to Utah in the United States, where it is known only from the Uinta Basin. It may also be called the Pariette cactus, but this name is more appropriate for Sclerocactus...
, the other species that was separated from S. glaucus. Most of the population occurs on land owned by the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
and the Ute tribe
Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation
The Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of Ute Indians in Utah. The Uintah are a western band of Ute.-Government:The Uintah and Ouray Reservation headquarters is located in Fort Duchesne, Utah....
.
Threats to the species include damage to the habitat during hydrocarbon exploration, poaching
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
, and genetic swamping from the related and more common S. wetlandicus.