Sclerocactus wrightiae

Sclerocactus wrightiae into bloom in Utah

Sclerocactus wrightiae is a plant of the genus Sclerocactus in the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The specific epithet honors the wrightiae American botanist Dorothea Wright from Salt Lake City, Utah. An English common name is " Wright's Fishhook Cactus".

Description

The depressed - globose to oval growing Sclerocactus wrightiae reaches stature heights and diameters of 4 cm to 6 cm. The funnel- shaped flowers are of a length and a diameter of 2 to 2.5 cm. The bloom is usually yellow, rarely white to pink. The flowering period begins in late April.

Systematics, distribution and hazard

Sclerocactus wrightiae in Utah is endemic to the desert of the Colorado Plateau on gravelly, sandy, basic flat ground or on low hills at altitudes 1200-1800 meters. It grows often associated with Sclerocactus parviflorus subsp. terrae - canyonae, Sclerocactus parviflorus subsp. parviflorus, Pediocactus bradyi subsp. winklerorum and various yucca species.

The first description was in 1966 by the American botanist Lyman David Benson.

Sclerocactus wrightiae is endangered and has been included in Appendix I of CITES to protect endangered species. In the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN is the species as " Near Threatened (NT) ", ie out to be low risk.

Pictures

Sclerocactus wrightiae:

Rare pink blooming in Utah.

Typical scenery in Utah in the land of Sclerocactus species.

In culture.

Dorde Wright Woodruff 1957. Hovenweep In an Anasazi ruin in Southeast Utah.