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Nichol Turk's Head Cactus - Echinocactus horizonthalonius var. nicholii
Description: The Nichol Turk's head cactus ranges from blue-green to yellow-green. It is a barrel cactus, reaching a maximum height of 18 inches and diameter of eight inches. It has eight ribs which spiral on the trunk. Spines are found on the ridges of the plant, with three central spines and five radial spines. The flowers are bright purple and bloom from April to May. The fruits are covered with white, wooly hairs. This cactus is very slow-growing, taking ten years to reach just two inches.
Habitat: This species occurs in semi-arid Sonoran desert scrub. It persists on limestones outcroppings and limestone derived soils in incline terraces, saddles, and alluvial fans at elevations from 2,400 to 4,100 feet.
Range: The range of the Nichol Turk's Head Cactus is restricted to the Vekol and Waterman Mountains in Arizona, and to a population in the Sierra del Viejo of northwestern Sonora, Mexico.
Status: This species was listed endangered in 1976, and has an approved recovery plan. The cactus is threatened by mining, off-road vehicle use, collecting, and in some cases, human encroachment. In order to remove this species from the endangered species list, natural populations of this plant must be maintained, protected, and if possible, enhanced.
Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan • Pima County Administrator’s Office • 130 West Congress, 10th floor, Tucson, AZ 85701-1317 • Phone: 520-740-8661 • http://www.SDCPonline.org
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