Species Information
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Anthophyta
Class: Dicotyledoneae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Coryphantha
Species: robustispina ssp. scheeri
Scheer's Pincushion Cactus - Coryphantha robustispina ssp. scheeri
Image courtesy of New Mexico Rare Plants
605174
Species Extent (New Mexico)
General Description
Stems succulent, hemispheric, tubercled, up to 15 cm in diameter and tall, or exceptionally taller, usually single but sometimes a few in a cluster; tubercles to 7 mm long, conical, somewhat dorsiventrally flattened, with a felted groove running the length of the upper side; spines usually straight, with mostly 6-12 radials to 2.5 cm long, some upper radials often much like the central spine; central spine usually single, stouter than radials, and to 4 cm long (but usually shorter); flowers about 5 cm wide, yellow, rarely streaked or blushed with reddish in center; stamens yellow to orange; fruit to 3 cm long by 1.5 cm wide, green, the pulp juicy and mucilaginous, the perianth deciduous when mature; seeds brown, nearly smooth, about 2-3 mm long, somewhat flattened and kidney-shaped, with a lateral hilum. Flowers May to July, and possibly to as late as November.
Status
Global Rank: G4
State Rank: S3
| Rank Metadata | |
|---|---|
| State Rank: S3 | Rank Changed: 11/03/2022 |
| Rank Reviewed: 11/03/2022 | |
| Reason: S3 - there are scattered (cryptic) individuals over large areas and habitat is non-descript desert scrub (Muldavin-2022); Should be S3. Recent surveys are finding more of these cacti scattered over a large range with abundant suitable, yet to be surveyed, habitat. Climate change is a likely threat, but has not been assessed. Oil and gas development has damaged some occupied habitats, but has eliminated most livestock from the Permian Basin. (R. Sivinski 2022) |
| Ecological Factors | |
|---|---|
| Specificity: Broad. Generalist or community with all key requirements common. | Range Extent: 5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles) |
| Occurences: 81 - 300 | Population Size: 250 - 1000 individuals |
| Area of Occupancy: EO map from NHNM | Threat Summary: N/A |
State Status: E
Observations in Natural Heritage New Mexico Database
Number of Subpopulations: 166
Number of Mapped Locations: 562
Number of Observations: 705
Observation date range: 05-19-1962 to 04-30-2024
External Links
View More Information about this species at:
NatureServe Explorer
New Mexico Rare Plants Website
Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS)
NatureServe Explorer
New Mexico Rare Plants Website
Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS)