Sclerocactus wrightiae
Encyclopedia
Sclerocactus wrightiae is a rare species of cactus
known by the common name Wright's fishhook cactus. It is endemic to Utah
in the United States, where it is known from Emery
, Sevier
, Wayne
, and Garfield Counties
. It occurs at Capitol Reef National Park
and the San Rafael Swell
. It is threatened by a number of processes and it is federally listed as an endangered species
of the United States.
This cactus has a spherical or cylindrical shape and a pale green color. It grows up to 11 centimeters tall by 8 wide. There are several pale radial spines and a few hooked central spines with darkened tips on each areole
. The radial spines are up to 2 centimeters long and the central spines may exceed 4 centimeters. The fragrant funnel- or bell-shaped flowers are white to pink in color and up to 4 centimeters long and wide.
This plant grows in shrublands on a specific type of soil
. It is usually fine or sandy in texture and there is a large amount of material scattered on the land, including pebbles, gravel
, and fossil
oyster
shells. An important component of the substrate is the cryptobiotic crust
that lies on top. The cactus is absent from areas where this crust has been destroyed.
Threats to the species include damage to the habitat during hydrocarbon exploration and the mining of coal
, gypsum
, bentonite
and bentonite clay
, uranium
, vanadium
, building stone and gravel. Livestock
activity, such as trampling and uprooting of plants, may be a threat. Off-road vehicle
use causes damage. Poaching
is still a problem. The cactus apparently suffers from predation by the beetle
Moneilema semipunctatum and perhaps other beetles. Small mammals such as Ord's kangaroo rat
(Dipodomys ordii) and White-tailed antelope squirrel
(Ammospermophilus leucurus) may eat the cactus.
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
known by the common name Wright's fishhook cactus. It is endemic to Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
in the United States, where it is known from Emery
Emery County, Utah
Emery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000 the population was 10,860, and by 2009 had been estimated to decrease to 10,629. It was named for George W. Emery, governor of the Utah Territory in 1875...
, Sevier
Sevier County, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,842 people, 6,081 households, and 4,907 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 7,016 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
, Wayne
Wayne County, Utah
Wayne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. It was formed from Piute County in 1892. The county gets its name from a man who served as delegate to the constitutional convention, in honor of his son who was dragged to death by a horse. As of 2000 the population was 2,509, and by...
, and Garfield Counties
Garfield County, Utah
Garfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000 the population was 4,735. It was named for James A. Garfield, President of the United States in 1881. Its county seat and largest city is Panguitch.-Geography:...
. It occurs at Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is a United States National Park, in south-central Utah. It is 100 miles long but fairly narrow. The park, established in 1971, preserves 378 mi² and is open all year, although May through September are the most popular months.Called "Wayne Wonderland" in the 1920s...
and the San Rafael Swell
San Rafael Swell
The San Rafael Swell is a large geologic feature located in south-central Utah, USA about 30 miles west of Green River, Utah. The San Rafael Swell, approximately by , consists of a giant dome-shaped anticline of sandstone, shale, and limestone that was pushed up during the Paleocene Laramide...
. It is threatened by a number of processes and it is federally listed as an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of the United States.
This cactus has a spherical or cylindrical shape and a pale green color. It grows up to 11 centimeters tall by 8 wide. There are several pale radial spines and a few hooked central spines with darkened tips on each areole
Areole
Areoles are an important diagnostic feature of cacti, and identify them as a family distinct from other succulent plants. The areoles on cacti are clearly visible; they generally appear as small light- to dark-colored bumps, out of which grow clusters of spines...
. The radial spines are up to 2 centimeters long and the central spines may exceed 4 centimeters. The fragrant funnel- or bell-shaped flowers are white to pink in color and up to 4 centimeters long and wide.
This plant grows in shrublands on a specific type of soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
. It is usually fine or sandy in texture and there is a large amount of material scattered on the land, including pebbles, gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
, and fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
oyster
Oyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
shells. An important component of the substrate is the cryptobiotic crust
Cryptobiotic soil
A Cryptobiotic soil is a biological soil crust composed of living cyanobacteria, green algae, brown algae, fungi, lichens, and/or mosses. Commonly found in arid regions around the world, cryptobiotic soils go by many names, including cryptogamic, microbiotic, or microphytic soils or crusts...
that lies on top. The cactus is absent from areas where this crust has been destroyed.
Threats to the species include damage to the habitat during hydrocarbon exploration and the mining of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, gypsum
Gypsum
Gypsum is a very soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is found in alabaster, a decorative stone used in Ancient Egypt. It is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale...
, bentonite
Bentonite
Bentonite is an absorbent aluminium phyllosilicate, essentially impure clay consisting mostly of montmorillonite. There are different types of bentonite, each named after the respective dominant element, such as potassium , sodium , calcium , and aluminum . Experts debate a number of nomenclatorial...
and bentonite clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
, uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
, vanadium
Vanadium
Vanadium is a chemical element with the symbol V and atomic number 23. It is a hard, silvery gray, ductile and malleable transition metal. The formation of an oxide layer stabilizes the metal against oxidation. The element is found only in chemically combined form in nature...
, building stone and gravel. Livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
activity, such as trampling and uprooting of plants, may be a threat. Off-road vehicle
Off-road vehicle
An off-road vehicle is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with deep, open treads, a flexible suspension, or even caterpillar tracks...
use causes damage. Poaching
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
is still a problem. The cactus apparently suffers from predation by the beetle
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
Moneilema semipunctatum and perhaps other beetles. Small mammals such as Ord's kangaroo rat
Ord's Kangaroo Rat
Ord's Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys ordii, is a kangaroo rat that is native to Western North America, specifically the Great Plains and the Great Basin with its range extending from extreme southern Canada to central Mexico....
(Dipodomys ordii) and White-tailed antelope squirrel
White-tailed Antelope Squirrel
The white-tailed antelope squirrel is a diurnal species of ground squirrel found in arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico...
(Ammospermophilus leucurus) may eat the cactus.