Pediocactus nigrispinus

Pediocactus nigrispinus is a species in the cactus family with the common names snowball cactus, Columbia Plateau cactus, and basalt cactus. It is found in dry areas in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.[1][2][3]

Pediocactus nigrispinus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Pediocactus
Species:
P. nigrispinus
Binomial name
Pediocactus nigrispinus
(Hochstätter) Hochstätter

Description

The Columbia Plateau cactus is a densely spiny plant that forms an (often flattened) ovoid up to 30 centimeters in diameter and 15 centimeters tall, sometimes with a single stem but often as a cluster of stems. The showy pink to magenta colored flowers appear in the spring and form a cluster near the apex of each stem.[3][4] Full technical description at Flora of North America.[5]

Range and habitat

The Columbia Plateau cactus grows in big sagebrush and lower montane dry habitats in eastern Washington and Oregon and extending into Idaho.[3] It grows in scattered locations but is often locally abundant.[2]

References
  1. Butterworth, C.; Porter, J.M. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Pediocactus nigrispinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T152155A121581140. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152155A121581140.en. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  2. "Pediocactus nigrispinus". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  3. Hitchcock, C.L. and Cronquist, A. 2018. Flora of the Pacific Northwest, 2nd Edition, p. 378. University of Washington Press, Seattle.
  4. Burke Herbarium Image Collection| http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Pediocactus%20nigrispinus
  5. "Flora of North America".
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