Escobaria sneedii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Escobaria sneedii |
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Cacteae
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Escobaria
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E. sneedii
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| Escobaria sneedii Britton & Rose
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Coryphantha sneedii |
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Escobaria sneedii is a special kind of cactus often called Sneed's pincushion cactus or carpet foxtail cactus. It is a very rare plant. You can find it in the Chihuahuan Desert, in places like New Mexico, Texas, and Chihuahua, Mexico.
Scientists don't always agree on how to group these cacti. But most agree there are two main types, called varieties. Both varieties of Escobaria sneedii are rare and in danger. People who love cacti like this plant because it's often small. It can also handle cold weather pretty well. Sadly, too many of these cacti have been taken from their natural homes. This is why both types, called var. sneedii and var. leei, are now protected by law.
Contents
What Does Sneed's Pincushion Cactus Look Like?
This cactus is usually small. It can grow up to about 27 centimeters (11 inches) tall. But sometimes, only a few centimeters show above the ground. The rest of the plant stays hidden underground. This cactus can grow many branches, even when it is young.
Its Spines
The cactus is covered in thick patches of bright white spines. Each patch can have almost 100 spines! The color of the spines can change. They might be yellow, pink, purple, or brown. This depends on the type of soil the cactus grows in. The tips of the spines can be dark. As the cactus gets older, its spines turn darker, becoming gray or even black.
The two varieties of Escobaria sneedii have different spines. The var. sneedii has straight spines that spread out. The var. leei has spines that are curved.
Flowers and Fruit
This cactus blooms in the spring. Its flowers grow near the top of the plant. They are usually 1 to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) long. The flowers can be many colors. They might be bright pink, pale pink, white, off-white, green, or brownish. Each flower petal can have a darker stripe in the middle.
The fruit of the cactus is usually red or green. It often has other colors mixed in. The fruit can be up to 2 centimeters (about 0.8 inches) long.
Where Does Sneed's Pincushion Cactus Live?
This cactus is found in the Chihuahuan Desert. This desert stretches across parts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
The var. leei is thought to grow only in Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. This means it is an endemic species there. Any E. sneedii found outside this park are usually the var. sneedii.
Why Is This Cactus Rare?
Both varieties of Escobaria sneedii became rare because people collected them too much. This started in the 1920s when the cactus was first discovered. People wanted to buy and sell these unique plants.
Poaching and Habitat Loss
This collecting, also known as poaching, was not needed. These cacti are actually easy to grow in gardens. So, there was no good reason to take them from their wild homes.
Another big problem for the cactus is habitat loss. This means their natural homes are being destroyed. For example, a group of var. sneedii cacti was lost when a road was built. This road connected Las Cruces, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas.
Protecting This Cactus
Because of over-collecting and habitat loss, both varieties of Escobaria sneedii are now protected. The var. sneedii is listed as endangered. The var. leei is listed as threatened. This means it is against the law to harm or collect these plants from the wild. Protecting their natural homes is also very important for their survival.
Related Cacti
There is another cactus called Escobaria guadalupensis. Some scientists think it might be the same species as Escobaria sneedii. If it's not the same, then these two types of cacti sometimes hybridize, meaning they can mix and create new plants.
See also
In Spanish: Escobaria sneedii para niños
