Sclerocactus papyracanthus
{{Short description|Species of cactus}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Sclerocactus papyracanthus fh 087 3 AZ BB.jpg
|status = G4
|status_system = TNC
|status2 = CITES_A1
|status2_system = CITES
|status2_ref = {{Cite web|title=Appendices {{!}} CITES|url=https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php|access-date=2022-01-14|website=cites.org}}
|genus = Sclerocactus
|species = papyracanthus
|authority = (Engelm.) N.P.Taylor
|synonyms = Echinocactus papyracanthus
Mammillaria papyracantha
Pediocactus papyracanthus
Toumeya papyracantha
}}
Sclerocactus papyracanthus is a species of cactus known by the common names paperspine fishhook cactus,{{PLANTS|id=SCPA10|taxon=Sclerocactus papyracanthus|accessdate=7 November 2015}} grama grass cactus, paper-spined cactus, and toumeya. It is native to North America, where it occurs from Arizona to New Mexico to Texas and into Chihuahua, Northeastern Mexico.[http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Sclerocactus+papyracanthus Sclerocactus papyracanthus.] The Nature Conservancy.
Description
Sclerocactus papyracanthus is small cactus grows up to 8 centimeters tall by 2.5 wide. It is covered in so many spines they obscure the stems beneath. They are white, tan, or gray in color, papery in texture, and sometimes twisted or wavy in shape.
The actual shape of the flower is an oval pedal. The flower is up to 2.5 centimeters long and have light-colored outer tepals with dark midstripes. The fruit is green and dry at maturity.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415297 Sclerocactus papyracanthus.] Flora of North America.
Distribution and habitat
This plant grows in pinyon-juniper woodland and Chihuahuan Desert grassland habitat, usually amidst grama grass (Bouteloua spp.), especially blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis). It is often hard to see the cactus because its spines look like the leaves of the grass.Matthews, Robin F. 1994. [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/cactus/pedpap/all.html Pediocactus papyracanthus.] In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Sclerocactus papyracanthus|Sclerocactus papyracanthus}}
- {{Wikispecies-inline|Sclerocactus papyracanthus|Sclerocactus papyracanthus}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q150215}}
Category:Cacti of the United States
Category:Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert