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Plant Profile

Siler Pincushion Cactus (Pediocactus sileri)

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Threatened
Family: Cactaceae
State: AZ, UT
Nature Serve ID: 132964
Lifeform: Subshrub
Categories of Interest: Cacti/Succulents
Date Inducted in National Collection: 10/30/2023

Description:

Pediocactus sileri is a small, solitary cactus, though it does occasionally form clusters. It is ball-shaped, but tends to elongate as it ages. It ranges in size from 4-18 inches tall and 3-4 inches in diameter. The spines at the center of the areole (the circular area from which a cluster of spines originate) are stout, approximately 1 inch long, and straight or slightly curved. They start out brown-black but turn pale gray or white with age. Surrounding the central spines are 11-16 thinner, shorter white spines. Flowers are yellow with maroon veins, about 2.5 cm in diameter. Flowering occurs in April to mid-May in Arizona and March to April in Utah. Fruits are greenish-yellow, somewhat enlarged upwards, with scales near the top. At maturity, fruit will be dry and split open, allowing seeds to spill out. Seeds are gray-black, 4.5 mm across (Arizona 2003).

Where is Siler Pincushion Cactus (Pediocactus sileri) located in the wild?

States & Provinces:

Siler Pincushion Cactus can be found in Arizona, Utah

Which CPC Partners conserve Siler Pincushion Cactus (Pediocactus sileri)?

The Huntington

Not Sponsored

Assigned 10/30/23

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 01/08/24

National Laboratory for Genetic Resource Preservation (USDA-ARS)

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 01/08/24

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Tina Stanley

01/08/2024

Red Butte Garden has sent at least 1,200 wild-collected seeds of Pediocactus sileri to the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation for long term storage.

Tina Stanley

01/08/2024

Between 1993 and 2014, Red Butte Garden staff made 7 wild seed collections representing more than 3,300 seeds from 123 individuals of Pediocactus sileri. Over 2,000 of these seeds are held in long term storage at Red Butte Garden.