Pediocactus bradyi subsp. despainii

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Ordo: Caryophyllales

Familia: Cactaceae
Subfamilia: Cactoideae
Tribus: Cacteae
Genus: Pediocactus
Species: Pediocactus bradyi
Subspecies: Pediocactus bradyi subsp. despainii
Name

Pediocactus bradyi subsp. despainii (S.L.Welsh & Goodrich) Hochstätter, Gen. Pediocactus, Navajoa, Toumeya Revised 64 (1995).
Synonyms

Basionym
Pediocactus despainii S.L.Welsh & Goodrich, Great Basin Naturalist 40: 83 (-86), fig (1980).
Pediocactus simpsonii var. despainii (S.L.Welsh & Goodrich) Halda, Acta Mus. Richnov., Sect. Nat. 5: 14 (1998).
Puebloa bradyi var. despainii (S.L.Welsh & Goodrich) Doweld, Sukkulenty 1(2): 22 (1999).

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Northern America
Regional: Southwestern U.S.A.
Utah.

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Hochstätter F. 1995. The genera Pediocactus, Navajoa, Toumeya, Cactaceae revised. In the shadow of the Rocky Mountains: description, distribution, cultivation, with Sclerocactus news. 167 p., illus., col. illus. Mannheim: Fritz Hochstätter. Reference page. : 64

Additional references

Hunt, D. 2016. CITES Cactaceae Checklist, ed. 3: 1-174. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Pediocactus bradyi subsp. despainii in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Mar 25. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Pediocactus bradyi subsp. despainii. Published online. Accessed: Mar 25 2021.
Tropicos.org 2021. Pediocactus bradyi subsp. despainii. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Mar 25.
Hassler, M. 2021. Pediocactus bradyi subsp. despainii. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Mar 25. Reference page.

Vernacular names
English: San Rafael cactus, Despain's pincushion cactus

Pediocactus despainii is a rare species of cactus known by the common names Despain's cactus and San Rafael cactus. It is endemic to the state of Utah in the United States, where it is limited to the San Rafael Swell in Emery County, Utah.[1]

There are two populations totalling about 6000 individuals.[2] It is threatened by a number of human activities.[3] It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

This cactus was discovered in 1978 by Kim Despain and described to science in 1980.[3] It has sometimes been treated as a subspecies or variety of Pediocactus bradyi but is not generally accepted as such. It occurs generally near to its closest relative, Pediocactus winkleri.[4]

This egg-shaped or somewhat rounded cactus grows up to 6 centimeters tall and about 9 wide, and generally has no branches.[4] It shrinks in size and disappears under the ground in dry and cold times, making it hard to find for most of the year.[1] Each areole bears up to 15 smooth white spines each measuring a few millimeters long. The plant produces a flower up to 2.5 centimeters long and wide with yellowish or pinkish tepals, the outer ones with purple midstripes. The fruit is green ripening reddish and measures about a centimeter long and wide.[4]

This cactus grows in the San Rafael Swell, a unique geologic feature in central Utah. It is an area with many rare native plants and has a high rate of endemism. The substrate is limestone and siltstone soil originating in the Carmel and Moenkopi Formations. The habitat is grassland with some junipers and pinyon pines.

Threats to this species include poaching, off-road vehicle use, gypsum mining, and petroleum exploration.[2]
References

Pediocactus despainii. Archived 2011-08-29 at the Wayback Machine Center for Plant Conservation.
Pediocactus despainii. The Nature Conservancy.
USFWS. Determination of End. Status for Pediocactus despainii (San Rafael Cactus). Federal Register September 16, 1987.
Pediocactus despainii. Flora of North America.