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Plant Profile

Mesa Verde Cactus (Sclerocactus mesae-verdae)

Full view of this small round cactus. Note the black fruits and creamy white flowers on top of the plant. Photo Credit: Carol Dawson

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Threatened
Family: Cactaceae
State: CO, NM, NN
Nature Serve ID: 134012
Lifeform: Shrub
Categories of Interest: Cacti/Succulents
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/08/1989

Description:

Mesa Verde cactus is found only in Colorado and New Mexico in the Four Corners region. It must withstand temperature extremes from as high as 110 degrees F to as low as 18 degrees F and live with only around 6 inches of rainfall annually. (Spackman et al. 1997) These plants are threatened in the wild for a number of reasons, not the least of which is over-collection by cactus collectors. The wild-collection of these cacti not only depletes already low population numbers, but wild-collected specimen usually die in cultivation, making the collection pointless and eliminating potentially important genetic variation from the species as a whole. Because this species grows so slowly and have such a low reproductive success rate, the occasional loss of a few plants to collecting can deplete or even eliminate a population. (USFWS 1979, 1985) In spite of its extreme habitat conditions, this cacti displays beautiful, pale yellow flowers on top of its globe-shaped stem in late April. Seeds appear to be spread by torrents after thunderstorms. The stems are pale green or gray-green with dark tipped spines. The plant is very small, with a maximum size of only 2 to 2.5 inches in height, 3 to 3.5 inches in diameter. (Spackman et al. 1997)

Where is Mesa Verde Cactus (Sclerocactus mesae-verdae) located in the wild?

Habitat:

This species is most frequently found growing on the tops of hills or benches, slopes of hills, and very rarely on level ground between the hills or benches (Spackman et al. 1997). Soils are generally shallow and derived from Mancos and Fruitland formations (Cully et al. 1993). Surface soils range from gravelly to loamy, and subsoils, which are often exposed, range from sandy clay loams to light clays. The cacti are found on gently sloping, moderately steep hillsides (Spackman et al. 1997). A bilayer of predominately shrub and spare grass understory generally exists in this species' range. Suitable habitat for mesa-verde cacti is described as small """"pockets"""" of suitable ecological conditions. The pockets are widely distributed and associated with many low hills and mesas. The presence of suitable habitat does not necessitate the occurrence of the cacti. Elev. 4000-5000 ft. (Benson 1982)Associated with the sparsely distributed Atriplex (saltbush) species, grasses and weedy annuals (Cully et al. 1993)

Distribution:

New Mexico and Colorado (Montezuma Co.) (Spackman et al. 1997).

States & Provinces:

Mesa Verde Cactus can be found in Colorado, Navajo Nation, New Mexico

Which CPC Partners conserve Mesa Verde Cactus (Sclerocactus mesae-verdae)?

Desert Botanical Garden

Not Sponsored

Assigned 04/07/23

City of Albuquerque BioPark

Not Sponsored

Assigned 03/21/24

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

10/08/2020

Permanent study plots were established in both Colorado and New Mexico in 1986 (Cully et al. 1993). These plots, and the tagged S. mesae-verdae plants within them, are monitored for growth and reproduction, vegetative cover, and soil seed bank in order to learn more about the natural history and ecological requirements of the species.

10/08/2020

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Known only from the Four Corners area of Colorado and New Mexico. This cactus is more abundant than it was known to be when listed federally as a Threatened species, but has suffered a rapid decline in recent years due to drought and insect infestations. It continues to be threatened by collection, and habitat destruction from concentrated energy development and urbanization. An inventory of populations and habitat in New Mexico on Navajo lands has been proposed (Coles 2003), and the rank should be reviewed if new element occurrence data becomes available.

Michelle DePrenger-Levin

01/01/2010

After experiencing a dramatic decline in population numbers, this species was listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on October 30, 1979. The decline was partly due to coal-fired power plants which degraded the surrounding habitat in New Mexico and

Michelle DePrenger-Levin

01/01/2010

One population in the southeastern corner of CO totaling ca. 1,000 plants Four populations in northwestern NM with ca. 4,000-10,000 plants (Tepedino1990, Cully 1993)

Michelle DePrenger-Levin

01/01/2010

Michelle DePrenger-Levin

01/01/2010

There is no formal management plan.

Michelle DePrenger-Levin

01/01/2010

Continue to monitor permanent study plots, maintain protection of known populations from habitat degradation and illegal collection.