Shorthook fishhook cactus facts for kids
Sclerocactus brevihamatus is a special kind of cactus often called the shorthook fishhook cactus. It's found only in Texas, United States. This cactus is an endangered species, which means it's very rare and needs protection. People sometimes collect these cacti, and new buildings can also threaten their homes.
Quick facts for kids Shorthook fishhook cactus |
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| Sclerocactus brevihamatus tobuschii | |
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Cacteae
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S. brevihamatus
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| Sclerocactus brevihamatus (Engelm.) D.R.Hunt
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What Does It Look Like?
The shorthook fishhook cactus is a small, round cactus. It can be dark green or gray. It has a short main root with many thin, stringy roots growing off it.
Its stem has 10 to 12 ridges, like bumps. These ridges are divided into small sections called tubercles. The top of these tubercles has shallow, fuzzy grooves. The spots where spines grow, called areoles, are round and covered in white fuzz.
The main spines are white or yellowish. They are often hooked, like a fishhook. Sometimes, their tips are red. As the cactus gets older, these spines might turn gray. The other spines, called radial spines, are straight and spread out unevenly.
This cactus has small, funnel-shaped flowers. They can be green, yellow, or white. After the flowers, it grows egg-shaped fruits that are pinkish-green. Inside these fruits are dark brown to black seeds that look like tiny kidneys.
Where Does It Live?
The shorthook fishhook cactus grows in shallow, rocky, and clay soils. It likes soils that are a little bit alkaline (the opposite of acidic). It often grows in soil that has a lot of limestone in it.
You can find this cactus in open areas with not many other plants. It likes places like hilltops, flat areas near rivers (floodplains), and rocky plains.
Different Types of This Cactus
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There are a few different types, or subspecies, of this cactus:
- Sclerocactus brevihamatus subsp. brevihamatus – This is the main shorthook fishhook cactus.
- Sclerocactus brevihamatus ssp. tobuschii – This one is called the Tobusch fishhook cactus.
The Tobusch fishhook cactus is very rare. It is also listed as a federally endangered species. This means the United States government protects it because there are so few left. Scientists believe there are only about 200 to 500 of these cacti. They grow in the eastern part of the Edwards Plateau in Texas. They live in areas with Juniperus ashei and Quercus fusiformis trees, on soils rich in limestone.
