Despain Pincushion Cactus
Photo Courtesy of the National Park Service; UNHP; UNHP
Pediocactus despainii
Other common names: Despain Footcactus
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G2
State (S-rank): S2
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Pediocactus despainii, is a federally listed as endangered species that occurs in Wayne County and Emery County, Utah. This rare cactus is found on desert pavements of cobble or pebble within pinyon-juniper woodlands. San Rafael Cactus is a dwarfed barrel cactus with vibrant yellow-bronze to peach-bronze flowers and spines that are all radial and do not obscure the stem.
Description
Pediocactus despainii, is a federally listed as endangered species that occurs in Wayne County and Emery County, Utah. This rare cactus is found on desert pavements of cobble or pebble within pinyon-juniper woodlands. San Rafael Cactus is a dwarfed barrel cactus with vibrant yellow-bronze to peach-bronze flowers and spines that are all radial and do not obscure the stem.
Phenology
Flowers from April to May.
Diagnostic characteristics
Pediocactus despainii is similar to Pediocactus winkleri, Pediocactus simpsonii, and Escobaria vivipara. Pediocactus simpsonii has a central spines while both Pediocactus despainii and Pediocactus winkleri have only radial spines. Then, P. despainii and P. winkleri differ in the length of the hairs present around their areoles, where the radial spines emerge from; in P. despainii, the hairs are woolly-white and long while in P. winkleri they are short and fine if present at all. Flower color of P. despainii is described as "yellow-bronze to peach-bronze," while P. winkleri is described as "peach or pink" (FNA, 2020). Escobaria vivipara can be distinguished by the presence of grooves on each tubercle (bump) on the cactus, which are absent in Pediocactus species.
Species range
Endemic to central Utah, occurring in Wayne and Emery Counties, particularly in the San Rafael Swell.
Threats or limiting factors
Small population sizes of San Rafael cactus may increase the species’ vulnerability to threats (USFWS 2024). Threatened by loss of individuals and habitat degradation associated with illegal collecting, grazing, recreation, roads and other construction, native ungulates, feral horses and burros, disease and predation (USFWS 2024). Regulatory mechanisms are inadequate to address threats to the species (USFWS 2024). About half of the population is in areas covered by oil and gas leases and/or mining claims for gypsum. However, as of 2007, mineral exploration and subsequent mining was considered a minor threat (USFWS 2007). Another threat includes invasive exotic plant species (USFWS 2007). Observations in Utah Rare Plant Database report threats of camping, OHV use, hiking, drought, utility lines, invasive species, farming and ranching, natural rarity, small isolated populations, problematic animal species- native (deer and rodents), problematic species- insect (beetle) (URPD, 2025).
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies