Pediocactus peeblesianus

Pediocactus peeblesianus is a rare species of cactus known by the common names Navajo pincushion cactus. It is endemic to the state of Arizona in the United States. The species is named after the Arizona botanist Robert Hibbs Peebles.[2]

Pediocactus peeblesianus

Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Pediocactus
Species:
P. peeblesianus
Binomial name
Pediocactus peeblesianus
Synonyms

Navajoa peeblesiana

Description

This petite cactus grows up to 6.5 centimeters tall by about 5.5 wide. It is grayish green in color and generally spherical or egg-shaped.[3] Sometimes only the top is visible above the soil and the whole cactus body may shrink and disappear under the soil in dry times.[4] Each circular, hairy areole on the surface of the cactus has a few spines, the longest of which may exceed 2 centimeters in length. The spines are mostly corky and flexible but have hard tips and are white or dull in color. The yellowish flowers are up to 2.5 centimeters wide. The fruit is green, ripening reddish, and reaches about a centimeter long.[3]

Subspecies

This species is divided into two subspecies,[3] but these are sometimes referred to as varieties.[5] One subspecies of the plant is federally listed as an endangered species of the U.S.

ImageSubspeciesDescription
Pediocactus peeblesianus subsp. fickeisenii (Backeb. ex Hochstätter) LüthyMore widespread subspeciesArizona
Pediocactus peeblesianus subsp. peeblesianusthe Peebles Navajo cactus, is a rare and endangered taxon that has a mycorrhizal association with Glomus deserticola and other fungi.[5]Limited to a small strip of desert in Navajo County, Arizona, near Joseph City and Holbrook.

Habitat

The species occurs in desert habitat and the transition to Great Basin grassland habitat. It grows in sandy soil and among rocks.[4] Drought has been a significant threat to this cactus in recent years. The Peebles Navajo cactus

References
  1. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  2. Kearney, Thomas H. (1957). "Robert Hibbs Peebles". Madroño. 14 (1): 11–13. JSTOR 41423539.
  3. Pediocactus peeblesianus. Flora of North America.
  4. Pediocactus peeblesianus. The Nature Conservancy.
  5. USFWS. Pediocactus peeblesianus var. peeblesianus. August 2008.
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