''Sclerocactus brevihamatus'' is a species of
cactus known by the common name shorthook fishhook cactus.
It is
endemic to
Texas, and is an
endangered species
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...
. Threats to the species and subspecies include collecting and development in its habitat.
[
]
Description
''Sclerocactus brevihamatus'' is a small, dark-green to grey globose cactus. It has a short, central taproot with many fine, fibrous offshoots. Its stem has 10–12 ribs, divided into tubercles with shallow, wooly grooves on the upper surface. The areoles are circular with white-colored wool. Its central spines are white or yellowish, and often hooked, occasionally red-tipped, and may become grey as they age. The radial spines are straight and irregularly spread. Its small, funnelform flowers vary in color from shades of green, yellow, and white. The fruits are egg-shaped and pinkish-green, and contain kidney-shaped, dark brown to black seeds.
Habitat
''Sclerocactus brevihamatus'' grows in shallow, gravel and clay soils. It prefers slightly alkaline soils, and often grows in soils heavy with limestone sediments. Its natural habitat is open areas with sparse vegetation, such as hilltops, floodplains, and rocky plains.
Subspecies
Subspecies and varieties of this cactus include:
*''Sclerocactus brevihamatus'' subsp. ''brevihamatus'' – shorthook fishhook cactus.
*''Sclerocactus brevihamatus'' var. ''pallidus'' – synonym of ''Sclerocactus brevihamatus'', also known as ''Ancistrocactus brevihamatus'' var. ''pallidus''.[ It is also known as a separate species, ''Ancistrocactus tobuschii''. ]
Taxonomy
The rare Tobusch fishhook cactus was federally listed as endangered species
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...
, but has been moved to threatened species since the discovery of many more plants. It was known from about 200[The Nature Conservancy]
/ref> to about 500[Center for Plant Conservation]
/ref> individual specimens on the eastern part of the Edwards Plateau. New plant discoveries have augmented that number to over 3000. It occurs in the '' Juniperus ashei''-'' Quercus fusiformis'' plant association on calcareous soils
Calcareous () is an adjective meaning "mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate", in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines.
In zoology
''Calcareous'' is used as an a ...
.[Sutton, K., et al. (1997). Habitat of ''Ancistrocactus tobuschii'' (Tobusch fishhook cactus, Cactaceae) on the Edwards Plateau of Central Texas. ''Southwestern Naturalist'' 42:4 441.]
References
External links
*
*
USDA Plants Profile for ''Ancistrocactus brevihamatus'' (shorthook fishhook cactus) USFWS: Gallery of Tobusch fishhook cacti (''Sclerocactus brevihamatus'' ssp. ''tobuschii'')
*https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/tess/species_nonpublish/1525.pdf
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1526918
brevihamatus
Cacti of the United States
Endemic flora of Texas
Endangered flora of the United States