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Plant Profile

Uinta Basin Hookless Cactus (Sclerocactus wetlandicus)

Photo Credit: Red Butte Garden

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Threatened
Family: Cactaceae
State: UT
Nature Serve ID: 817003
Lifeform: Shrub
Categories of Interest: Cacti/Succulents
Date Inducted in National Collection:

Description:

S. wetlandicus is a barrel-shaped cactus that is endemic to the Uinta Basin of northeastern Utah. Due to its location, it is threatened primarily by oil and gas development. This small cactus averages anywhere from 1.5-7 inches, though larger specimens have been observed. It generally has 6-14 white-gray radial spines and 3 central spines, which are longer than the radial spines. The cactus has gorgeous funnel-shaped flowers that vary from light pink to fuchsia with yellow stamens reaching up to 2 inches long. The fruit is short, barrel-shaped, and red or reddish grey when ripe (USFWS 2010). Though morphologically similar to S. glaucus and S. brevispinus, it has been determined that all three are distinct species. The US Fish and Wildlife Service finalized this distinction in 2009. S. wetlandicus is typically larger than S. brevispinus, and has longer spines, however these two species do hybridize where their ranges overlap (Natureserve 2013, USFWS 2012).

Where is Uinta Basin Hookless Cactus (Sclerocactus wetlandicus) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Plants are generally found on coarse soils derived from cobble and gravel river terrace deposits, or on rocky mesa slopes from 4,400 to 6,200 feet. Associated desert shrubland vegetation includes shadscale, black sagebrush, and galleta grass (USFWS 2012).

Distribution:

S. wetlandicus is found primarily within Uintah County, Utah, along the Green River, White River, and their tributaries. It is also found in Duchesne and Carbon Counties (USFWS 2012). Approximately 8

States & Provinces:

Uinta Basin Hookless Cactus can be found in Utah

Which CPC Partners conserve Uinta Basin Hookless Cactus (Sclerocactus wetlandicus)?

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/09/17

National Laboratory for Genetic Resource Preservation (USDA-ARS)

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 01/16/24

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

01/16/2024

Red Butte Garden has sent at least 600 wild-collected seeds of Sclerocactus wetlandicus to the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation for long term storage.

Tina Stanley

01/16/2024

Between 1979 and 2015, Red Butte Garden staff made 34 wild seed collections representing more than 3,400 seeds from 127 individuals of Sclerocactus wetlandicus. Over 2,700 of these seeds are held in long term storage at Red Butte Garden. In addition to these seed collections, 19 individuals are held as living specimens at Red Butte Garden.

09/28/2020

FWS has developed a range-wide monitoring plan, and is supporting research on the effects of development on the cactus.

09/28/2020

RBG is also storing seeds collected during range-wide monitoring, and has a few salvaged plants in its care, from which they have collected seed that will be stored for germination testing and other research needs.

09/28/2020

Red Butte Garden transplanted 147 individual cacti from a natural gas pipeline right-of-way in 2011. Survivorship has been monitored through 2013. RBG is also storing seeds collected during range-wide monitoring, and has a few salvaged plants in its care, from which they have collected seed that will be stored for germination testing and other research needs. FWS has developed a range-wide monitoring plan, and is supporting research on the effects of development on the cactus.

09/28/2020

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Endemic to the Uinta Basin in northeast Utah. Vulnerable to disturbance from oil and gas exploration and development.

Wendy Yates, Katie Plumb

01/01/2010

Major oil and gas development Illegal collection Livestock grazing and trampling Predation Drought and climate change Herbicides and pesticides Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms

Wendy Yates, Katie Plumb

01/01/2010

50,000 (estimated)

Wendy Yates, Katie Plumb

01/01/2010

Wendy Yates, Katie Plumb

01/01/2010

FWS has developed a recovery outline, and is in the process of finalizing a full recovery plan. They are developing management guidelines and core conservation areas with the help of the BLM, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Ute Tribe. In 2010, the largest and most undisturbed S. wetlandicus population was surveyed, revealing that the previous population estimates of 30,000 were too low, and total S. wetlandicus population it is now estimated to be closer to 50,000.

Wendy Yates, Katie Plumb

01/01/2010

Revised recovery plan Comprehensive surveys throughout the species range Range map delineating S. wetlandicus in relation to S. brevispinus Establish formal land management designations Install livestock exclosures Monitor cactus-borer beetle (Moneilema semipunctatum) infestations, and study the relationship of episodic infestations with drought and other environmental factors. Monitor changes in invasive species prevalence and impacts on Uinta Basin hookless cactus. Additionally, continue to explore approaches to minimize the risk posed by invasives and associated remediation actions. Encourage investigations that project S. wetlandicus vulnerability and response to climate change.

Wendy Yates, Katie Plumb

01/01/2010

More seed banking for better genetic representation Continued propagation