v. nigrispinus
Photographer: Bill Beaston
Owner: Habitat
Location: West slope of Sutton Mtn, 2200 to 3000 ft., Wheeler Co. Oregon
v. nigrispinus
Photographer: Bill Beaston
Owner: Habitat
Location: West slope of Sutton Mtn, 2200 to 3000 ft., Wheeler Co. Oregon
Photographer: Bill Beaston
Owner: Habitat
Location: West slope of Sutton Mtn, 2200 to 3000 ft., Wheeler Co. Oregon
Photographer: Bill Beaston
Owner: Habitat
Location: Harney Co., S.E. Oregon
Date: May 1993
Diameter: 3 inches
Age: 15+ years?
This variety was described in "The Genera Pediocactus-Navajoa-
Toumeya" by Fritz Hochstatter, in 1995.
The habitat of this cactus is in the Pueblo Mtns. of S.E.
Oregon, Harney Co. at 6000 to 6500 ft. in rocky open areas in
alpine tundra which is covered in a deep layer of snow during
the winter, and recieves frequent thunder storms from late
spring through the summer months.
This cactus tends to remain singular, seldom clumping. The
flower is consistently Ivory white. This form is probably an
intermediate between Pediocactus simpsonii v. robustior to the
south in Nevada, and Pediocactus nigrispinus to the north in
central Oregon.
Photographer: Bill Beaston
Owner: Habitat
Location: Wallowa Co., Oregon
Date: May 1993
Diameter: 4 inches
Height: 9 inches
The plant shown here, is representative of the largest plants in
a small population of a unique and disjunct population of
Pediocactus nigrispinus v. nigrispinus. This habitat is small
enough to be collected in one day by one individual.
The known habitat of this cactus is in the N. E. corner of
Oregon, in Wallowa Co. at 3100 ft. The isolated form in this
habitat tends to be overall lighter in color of spines and
flowers than Pediocactus nigrispinus v. nigrispinus. The
spines, both radials and centrals, are larger in diameter or
heavier than those of the form in North Central Oregon.
Photographer: Bill Beaston
Owner: Habitat
Location: Wallowa Co., Oregon
Date: May 1993
Diameter: 3 inches
Height: 4 inches
Age: ca. 10-15 years
This interesting form, with its extra heavy spines, is a
disjunct population in the extreme N.E. corner of Oregon, at
3100 ft, in Wallowa Co. It is separated from the main habitat
range of P. nigrispinus v. nigrispinus by over 100 miles. The
known habitat of this form, in Oregon, is very small, and could
be eradicated by one individual in a day. Its unique features,
are found within the larger complex in North Central Oregon, but
in this habitat, it is more consistent in spine diameter, and
color, as well as having a lighter colored flower which is from
near white to pale pink.