(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species CACTUS, CORY, NELLIE
Species Id ESIS702005
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - CACTUS, CORY, NELLIE
OTHER COMMON NAMES - CACTUS, CORY, NELLIE; CACTUS, CORY and DWARF
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Angiosperm
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - MAGNOLIOPHYTA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAGNOLIOPSIDA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - CARYOPHYLLALES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - CACTACEAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - CORYPHANTHA,
SPECIES AND SSP - MINIMA,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - CORYPHANTHA MINIMA
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Nellie Cory Cactus
Coryphantha minima Baird
KINGDOM: Plant GROUP: Angiosperm
DIVISION: Magnoliophyta CLASS: Magnoliopsida
ORDER: Caryophyllales FAMILY: Cactaceae
The plants are simple or rarely branched, spherical to
cylindroid, dark green, 12 to 27 mm long, 6 to 17 mm in diameter, and
larger in cultivation. Roots are diffuse, or a short taproot.
Tubercles are 2 to 4 mm in diameter, protruding 2 to 5 mm. The
areoles are slightly wooly, conical to ovate, ashy gray or pinkish,
cylindroid, sometimes thickest distally, the apices are abruptly
apiculate or even obtuse. The inner central spines are absent; outer
central spines are 1 to 4 in number and 4 to 6 mm long; radial spines
are 13 to 23 in number and 3.5 to 5 mm long. The flowers are 13 to 16
mm long and 15 to 27 mm wide. The outer floral bracts are about 13 in
number and bright greenish to pinkish-brown, narrow to broad,
lanceolate to oblong, margins fimbriate, and the tips are erose, 0.4
to 15 mm long, 2 to 3 mm broad. The inner floral bracts number about
15, are pale pink to reddish-purple, oblanceolate, margins are entire,
the apex is acuminate, apiculate, erose, 7 to 12 mm long and 2.5 to 4
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species CACTUS, CORY, NELLIE
Species Id ESIS702005
Date 13 MAR 96
mm broad. The filaments are whitish to greenish-yellow, 4 to 5 mm
long. The anthers are bright yellow, minute, and about 0.5 mm long
and broad. The stigmas number 4 to 8, are green, and measure 0.5 to
1.5 mm long. The fruit is ovoid, green, 1.5 to 6 mm long and 1.5 to 4
mm in diameter. The seed is black, pitted and 0.8 mm long. The
chromosome number, n=11 (01,02,03,04,05,06,07,08).
The species was originally described in 1931 by Baird (03).
Croizat (04), apparently unaware of Baird's work, described the same
plant as Coryphantha nellieae. Croizat (09) latter transferred
nellieae to Mammilaria, and Backeberg (10) transferred nellieae to
Escbaria. Hunt (11) transferred minima to Escobaria. The common name
dwarf cory cactus has also been associated with this species.
The holotype of C. minima (Davis sn) is deposited at the U.S.
National Herbarium (No. 1530466) (08). The type specimen is at the
New York Botanical Garden (02). Specimens are also located at ASU,
DES, NY, RSA, SMU, SRSC, and UNM. Descriptions, photographs, and/or
illustrations are found in many sources; (01,02,03,04,05,06,07).
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species CACTUS, CORY, NELLIE
Species Id ESIS702005
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
E: Federal Endangered
Commercial
Non-consumptive recreational
Ornamental
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Nellie cory cactus (Coryphantha minima) has been designated
an Endangered species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(50 CFR 17.12; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1540),
as amended. The species has this status wherever found including the
State of Texas.
This species is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to possess
any wild plant (including roots, seeds, and other parts) within U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in 18 U.S.C.
7); or to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or
purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any wild plant (including
roots, seeds, and other parts) taken, possessed, transported, or sold
in violation of any State law or regulation. It is also unlawful to
import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any
wild plant (including roots, seeds, and other parts) taken or
possessed in violation of any U.S. law, treaty, or regulation or in
violation of Indian tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Texas
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
STATE STATUTE: Chapter 88 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code,
Texas Parks and Wildlife Rules for Protected,
Threatened and Endangered Native Plant Species,
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species CACTUS, CORY, NELLIE
Species Id ESIS702005
Date 13 MAR 96
Sec 57.401-57.413
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
This species is listed in Appendix I of CITES.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
This species has horticultural value and is commercially
available from cactus and succulent dealers. It's rarity makes it
particularly desirable to collectors. It has value as a component of
Texas's natural heritage of biotic diversity.
75/07/01:40 FR 27823/27924 - Notice of review
76/06/16:41 FR 24523/24572 - Proposed Endangered
79/11/07:44 FR 64738/64740 - Listing as Endangered
85/07/22:50 FR 29901/29909 - Five year review
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
LAND USE -
Transportation, communications, and Util
Shrub and Brush Rangeland
Bare Exposed Rock
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Nellie cory cactus (Coryphantha minima) occurs in the shrub and
brush rangeland of the Chihuahuan Desert. The cactus is restricted to
a few populations on the Caballos Novaculite Outcrop, a series of
highly erosion-resistant quartz ridges (01). The soil is rocky and
gravelly with thin deposits of organic matter in the rock crevices
(07). C. minima is most abundant on ridge crests and hill tops where
the soil surface is more stable and exposed rock outcrops are more
frequent (08). When C. minima is found on steep hillsides, it is
always restricted to rock crevices or mats of Selaginella arizonica
(08). Sometimes the cactus roots are totally confined to the mats of
Selaginella (08). The surrounding vegetation is sparse, consisting of
low shrubs, rosetophyllous perennials, cacti, perennial bunch grasses
and various annual and perennial herbs, including several other
endemic taxa (01). Some components of this vegetation are Larrea
tridentata, Dasylirion leiophyllum, Chelanthes villosa, Prosopis
glandulosa, Bouteloua breviseta, Erioneuron pulchellum, Nolina texana,
Acacia constricta, A. rigidula, Berberis trifoliolata, Yucca elata,
Y. torreyana, Leucophyllum frutescens, Hymenoxys scaposa, Dyssodia
pertachaeta, Condalia ericides, and Koeberlinia spinosa (01).
Coryphantha minima is also found in very close association with
several other species of dwarf cacti such as Coryphantha hesteri,
Coryphantha varicolor, Coryphantha echinus, Thelocactus bicolor, and
Echinocereus spp. (including; Echinocereus viridiflorus var. davisii)
(08). Potential threats include novaculite mining (07), maintenance
of an existing or development of a new highway, and maintenance or
moving of fence lines.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species CACTUS, CORY, NELLIE
Species Id ESIS702005
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
AUTOTROPH
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species CACTUS, CORY, NELLIE
Species Id ESIS702005
Date 13 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Terrestrial Features: Rock outcrops
G Availability of fence rows: roadside ditches and grassy
G
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species CACTUS, CORY, NELLIE
Species Id ESIS702005
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
HABIT:
Succulent (01,02,03,05,06,07,08).
LIFE CYCLE:
Perennial (01,02,05,06,07,08). Coryphantha minima is a long-
lived perennial, requiring several years to reach sexual maturity
(08).
TYPE OF REPRODUCTION:
Sexual (01,08). Like most of the genus Coryphantha, Coryphantha
minima is strictly self-incompatible and requires cross-pollination
(08). Coryphantha minima requires several years to reach sexual
maturity, and reproductive output increases with age (08).
REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY:
Germination and leafing dates are unknown. Budding and Anthesis
occur in March to early June (01,08). Fruiting occurs in early June
to October (01,08), and seed dispersal occurs several months after
ripening (08).
Although disagreements exist as to flowering and fruiting dates,
flowering usually occurs in nature in mid-May, occasionally being from
March to early June, and fruiting happens between June and October,
usually in July or August (01,08). The flowers of this species last
about 2 or 3 days (01).
Although Heil (01) states that Coryphantha minima blooms in three
to four years, this figure may be based on cultivated plants, and
maturation in the field may require a longer period of time (08).
SEX OR SPORE STATUS:
Diclinous (02,05,06,08).
POLLINATION, SPORE AND SEED DISSEMINATION:
Pollen dissemination agents are small native bees (08). The seed
dissemination agent is the splashing of raindrops (01,08).
SEED BIOLOGY:
In cultivation and under optimum conditions, about 80 to 100
seeds are produced per fruit, leading to 300 to 400 seeds per plant
(01,08).
In the field in 1979, 5 to 50 seeds per fruit (an average of
29.9) and 1 to 3 fruits per plant (an average of 0.48 fruit per mature
plant) were observed, yielding an average of 14.3 seeds per mature
plant (08).
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Over the total range of Coryphantha minima, approximately 40,000
to 80,000 individuals are estimated (01). The density varies from
none per square meter to 50 or more per square meter (reportedly up to
several hundred) (01,08). Although the cacti have a very uneven
distribution and are clumped, the populations are stable, healthy, and
vigorous (01). The seedlings have a high survival rate in the
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species CACTUS, CORY, NELLIE
Species Id ESIS702005
Date 13 MAR 96
novaculite cracks and in mats of Selaginella (spikemoss) (01,08).
Since most seeds are passively dispersed by rain-drop splashing,
colonization of unoccupied hilltops must be extremely infrequent (08).
This hypothesis is supported by the absence of Coryphantha minima
populations on most of the apparently suitable novaculite hilltops in
the region, even when the unoccupied sites are only 100 meters away
from thriving populations (08). Thus, dispersal may not, or barely,
counter balance local extinctions (08).
ECOLOGICAL/EDAPHIC FACTORS:
Although numerous outcrops of the Caballos novaculite occur in
Brewster County (TX), Coryphantha minima is found on only a few. The
ridges are composed of highly erosion-resistant quartz (01). The soil
is rocky and gravelly with an extremely thin layer of organic matter
in the crevices between the rocks (07). The cacti occur among the
weathered and fractured chips of novaculite, usually with Selaginella
(01). Coryphantha minima is most abundant on ridge crests and
hilltops where the soil surface is more stable and exposed rock
outcrops are most frequent (08). When Coryphantha minima does occur
on steep hillsides, it is always confined to rock crevices or mats of
Selaginella arizonica (08). The elevation is 1200 to 1350 meters, the
average annual precipitation is 41 cm (01), and the mean annual
temperature is about 62 degrees F (12).
The soils in the Coryphantha minima habitat are mollisols,
specifically the Catto-Rock Outcrop Series (14). The soil is a very
gravelly, very shallow, well drained loam or clay loam (14). Rock
fragments comprise 35 to 65 percent of the profile by volume (14).
TROPHIC STATUS:
Phototrophic (01,02,05,06,07,08).
CHARACTERISTIC DOMINANCE:
Component (01,08). Although Coryphantha minima is sometimes
found locally at a relatively high density the overall, very uneven
distribution, the plant's extremely small size, and the extremely
sporadic occurrence make it merely a component of the habitat (01,08).
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY:
Coryphantha minima is a member of the succulent Chihuahuan Desert
Shrub Community, a stable community (13). It occurs in dense mats of
Selaginella arizonica which helps stabilize the soil surface (08).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
Coryphantha minima is pollinated by small native bees (08).
Potential predators are cactus-specialist herbivorous insects which
are a scourge upon dense populations such as those of Coryphantha
minima.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CACTUS, CORY, NELLIE
Species Id ESIS702005
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Restricting Poaching
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Noncommercial Harvest
Beneficial Regulating commercial harvest levels
Adverse Collecting
Existing Collecting
Adverse Commercial Exploitation
Existing Commercial Exploitation
Adverse Low Gene Pool
Existing Low Gene Pool
Adverse Highway/Railroads
Existing Highway/Railroads
Adverse Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Existing Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Nellie cory cactus suffers from several threats to its survival.
The main threat is from commercial and private collectors (01).
Although the dwarf size makes the cactus hard to find, its locally
dense populations are easily located and harvested (08). It is a
highly prized collector's item (01). In addition, the low population
numbers and the extremely restricted distribution worsen the
collection threat (01). A highway which cuts through the novaculite
outcrop undoubtly destroyed many individuals and renders the
population easily accessible to collectors (08).
Livestock grazing, trampling, or the destruction or modification
of the habitat by, or for livestock (i.e., overgrazing, brush control
by clearing or herbicide use), are factors that could become threats
to the cactus but are not considered major threats (01,07,08). Other
potential threats include novaculite mining (07), maintenance and
development of the highway, and maintenance or moving of fence lines.
APPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Nellie Cory Cactus Recovery
Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
34 pp.
The primary objective of the Recovery Plan is to manage the
essential habitat of the Nellie cory cactus so it can be sustained
in its natural habitat at a level that will allow the species to be
delisted. The first step in this process is to remove threats to
the Nellie cory cactus by enforcement of existing collection and
trade regulations under the Endangered Species Act, CITES, the Lacey
Act and Texas State Law. Studies in the commercial cactus trade
concerning this species as well as other protected cacti is
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CACTUS, CORY, NELLIE
Species Id ESIS702005
Date 13 MAR 96
recommended. These studies, as well as study plots within the known
population of this species, would document collecting loss. "No
Trespassing" signs posted along the highway in the vicinity of the
population should discourage collectors from accessing the population
on private land. Since both populations occur on private land,
cooperative agreements for protection and management should be sought
with these landowners.
Ecological and population biology studies of Nellie cory cactus
are recommended by the Recovery Plan and needed. Goals of these
studies should include the determination of:
1) Whether other populations exist in nearby and apparently
suitable habitat.
2) The mechanisms involved in seed dispersal.
3) The microhabitat factors involved in seedling establishment.
4) Germination success in the wild.
5) The insects and/or other vertebrates involved in the
pollination of the species.
These ecological studies would help to determine guidelines for
reclassification or de-listing of the species.
The Recovery Plan suggests studying the feasibility of reducing
collecting pressure on the wild population by promoting commercial
artificial propagation programs, since this species grows and
reproduces well in captivity. Development of public awareness,
appreciation and support for the preservation of Coryphantha minima is
essential to its recovery.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species CACTUS, CORY, NELLIE
Species Id ESIS702005
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Nellie Cory Cactus Recovery
Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
34 pp.
02 Benson, L. 1982. The cacti of the United States and Canada.
Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, CA.
03 Baird, R.O. 1931. A new species of cactus. The Am. Bot. 37:150-
151.
04 Croizat, L. 1934. A new Texas Coryphantha. Torreya 34:15-16.
05 Weniger, D. 1970. Cacti of the southwest. Univ. of TX Press,
Austin.
06 Correll, D.S. and M.C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular
plants of Texas. Texas Research Foundation. Renner, TX.
07 Weniger, D. 1979. Status report on Coryphantha minima. On file
at: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, NM.
08 Zimmerman, A.D. 1985. Pers. comm. Department of Biology,
University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712.
09 Croizat, L. 1942. Mammillaria nellieae. Cact. Succ. J. (US) 14:
34 pp.
10 Backeberg, C. 1961. Die Cactaceae 5:2967.
11 Hunt, D.R. 1978. More on Escobaria. Cact. Succ. J. Great Britan
40:30 pp.
12 Godfrey, C.L., G.S. McKee and H. Oakes. 1973. General soil map of
Texas. TX Agri. Exp. Sta., Texas A and M Univ., College Station.
13 Diamond, D.D. 1984. Pers. comm.
14 Rives, J.L. 1985. Pers. comm.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Nellie Cory Cactus Recovery
Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
34 pp.
02 Zimmerman, A.D. 1985. Pers. comm. Department of Biology,
University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712.
03 Weniger, D. 1979. Status report on Coryphantha minima. U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service.
References - 1