Pediocactus bradyi
Pediocactus bradyi Copy with flower in Arizona.
Pediocactus bradyi is a plant of the genus Pediocactus in the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The specific epithet honors the geologist and botanist Lionel Francis Brady, who discovered the first plants on the Colorado River in search of fossils. English common names are " Brady Plains Cactus" and " Marble Canyon Cactus"
The species is threatened and has been included in Appendix I of CITES to protect endangered species.
Description
The green, single seldom group-forming, plant body is spherical to oval and reaches heights of growth from 3.5 to 6.2 cm, with diameters of 2.5 to 5 cm. The unbranched root turnip -shaped. In the cylindrical- oval warts are elliptical, shaggy, white or yellowish areoles from which very rarely arise from 1-2 central spines. The 6 to 18 irregularly arranged, nadelförmgen spines are white to yellowish and 5 mm long.
The bell-shaped, irregularly at the apex appearing flowers are 1.5 to 2 cm long. The bloom is yellow to white. The flowering period is in March. The wide winding fruits have a length and a diameter of one inch. They contain 3-8 dull, dark brown to black seeds that mature within 4 weeks.
Plants go during the rest phases in the back ground ( Geophyt ).
Distribution, systematics and hazard
Pediocactus bradyi growing endemic in Coconino County Arizona with limestone gravel -covered low hills at altitude 900-1300 meters. He is associated with Sclerocactus parviflorus, Navajoa peeblesiana subsp. fickeiseniorum, Echinocactus polycephalus var xeranthemoides, Echinocereus engelmannii var variegatus, nicholii Opuntia, Opuntia basilar and yucca species.
The first description was in 1962 by Lyman David Benson.
After Fritz Hochstätter following subspecies are distinguished:
- Pediocactus bradyi subsp. bradyi
- Pediocactus bradyi subsp. despainii ( S.L.Welsh & Goodrich) Hochstätter
- Pediocactus bradyi subsp. winkleri ( K.D.Heil ) Hochstätter
Pediocactus bradyi belongs within the genus Pediocactus to section Rhytidospermae.
In the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN is the species as " Near Threatened (NT) ", ie out to be low risk.
Pictures
Pediocactus bradyi:
In culture.
After the flowering period.