(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species CACTUS, LACE, BLACK
Species Id ESIS702016
Date 13 MAR 96

TAXONOMY

NAME - CACTUS, LACE, BLACK

OTHER COMMON NAMES - CACTUS, LACE and BLACK

ELEMENT CODE -

CATEGORY - Angiosperm

PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - MAGNOLIOPHYTA,

CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAGNOLIOPSIDA,

ORDER AND SUBORDER - CARYOPHYLLALES,

FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - CACTACEAE,

GENUS AND SUBGENUS - ECHINOCEREUS,

SPECIES AND SSP - REICHENBACHII, VAR.

SCIENTIFIC NAME - ECHINOCEREUS REICHENBACHII VAR.

AUTHORITY -

TAXONOMY REFERENCES -

COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Black Lace Cactus

Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii L. Benson

KINGDOM: Plant GROUP: Angiosperm

DIVISION: Magnoliophyta CLASS: Magnoliopsida
ORDER: Caryophyllales FAMILY: Cactaceae

Stems are single or branching when old, cylindrical, deep green
in color, 3 to 15 cm long, 3 to 5 cm thick; the ribs number 10 to 13;
tuberculate; areoles elliptic, 1.5 mm long, almost touching; spines
are dark; cental spines 0, or 1, 2 to 3 (-9.5, 01) mm long, purple-
black in color, perpendicular to the stem, or turning slightly upward;
radial spines number 14 to 20, are slender, closely pectinate,
straight, white in color with dark purple tips, 3 to 6 (0.7 to 9.5,
01) mm long; flowers are 5 to 8 cm long, 5 to 7.5 cm wide, and pink
to purple in color; the floral bracts are narrowly oblong, becoming
broader upwardly, with tips more or less ragged; the fruit is green
(01,02,03,04,05,06).
Weniger believes that Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii is
an invalid name because Terscheck's description of reichenbachii is
to broad and could be applied to other species (01). E. melanocentrus
Lowry describes the same taxon and Weniger believes that it should be
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species CACTUS, LACE, BLACK
Species Id ESIS702016
Date 13 MAR 96

used (01). Because Lowry's original description lacked a Latin
diagnosis, and Backeberg's treatment did not cite a type specimen,
Benson states that E. melanocentrus is an invalid name of uncertain
application, perhaps referable to Echinocereus reichenbachii var.
albertii (02).
The type specimen (Albert and Benson 1955) is on deposit at
Pomona College (POM 317080). Descriptions, illustrations, and/or
photographs are available in several works: (01,02,03,04,05,06).

Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species CACTUS, LACE, BLACK
Species Id ESIS702016
Date 13 MAR 96

STATUS

Coded Status

E: Federal Endangered

Commercial
Non-consumptive recreational
Ornamental

COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The black lace cactus [Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii
(=E. melanocentrus)] 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, LACE, BLACK
Species Id ESIS702016
Date 13 MAR 96

Sec 57.401-57.413

INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
This species is listed in Appendix II 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
79/10/26:44 FR 61918/61920 - Listing as Endangered
85/07/22:50 FR 29901/29909 - Five year review

Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS

HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL

LAND USE -
Cropland and Pasture
Herbaceous Rangeland
Shrub and Brush Rangeland

COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The black lace cactus occurs at the ecotone of the Gulf Coastal
Plains and the interior mesquite-chaparral. Some plants of this
diverse association are Acacia farnesiana, A. tortuosa, A. rigidula,
A. greggii, A. berlandieri, Prosopis glandulosa, Parkinsonia aculeata,
Sesbania drummondii, Ephedra pedunculata, Yucca treculeana, Berberis
trifoliolata, Celtis pallida, Porlieria angustifolia, Colubrina
texensis, Ziziphus obtusifolia, Karwinskia humboldtiana, Condalia
hookeri, Bernardia myricaefolia, Buchloe dactyloides, Bouteloua
rigidiseta, Eragrostis spectabilis, Cenchrus incertus, and Hilaria sp.
(01).
The black lace cactus is found in open unshaded areas, among
thick grasses, and in/or under heavy brush (01). The habitat is flat,
with water standing after heavy rains (01). The elevation varies from
10 to 200 feet. The soil is somewhat sandy (01), and somewhat saline
(07). The climate is semi-arid, the average annual precipitation is
approximately 28 to 30 inches (11), and the average annual temperature
is about 72 degrees F (11). See the field N-BIOLOGY (Ecological/
Edaphic Factors) for specific geologic and soil associations.
Black lace cactus is a member of an ecotonal community (07). The
ecotone is between the coastal grasslands and the Rio Grande Plain
scrub.
Probably the cactus occurs in areas of unbroken sod in the Lower
Coastal Prairie or on the edge of the Rio Grande Plain (10). The
community is in a disclimax state caused by grazing (10).

Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species CACTUS, LACE, BLACK
Species Id ESIS702016
Date 13 MAR 96

FOOD HABITS

TROPHIC LEVEL -
AUTOTROPH

Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species CACTUS, LACE, BLACK
Species Id ESIS702016
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
G
G
G
G
G
G
G

Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species CACTUS, LACE, BLACK
Species Id ESIS702016
Date 13 MAR 96

LIFE HISTORY

HABIT:
Succulent (01,02,03,04,05,06).

LIFE CYCLE:
Perennial (02,03,04,05).

TYPE OF REPRODUCTION:
Sexual (01,09).

REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY:
Germination and leafing dates are unknown. Budding and Anthesis
occur in spring to summer (01) or the months of April to June (06).
Fruiting and seed/fruit dispersal dates are unknown (01,06). Weniger
states that Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii blooms
intermittently through the spring and summer (01). He also states
that the cactus blooms from April to June in cultivation (01). Jones
also gives April to June as the flowering time (06).

SEX OR SPORE STATUS:
Monoclinous (02,09).

POLLINATION, SPORE AND SEED DISSEMINATION:
Pollen dissemination agents are insects (01). The seed
dissemination agents are unknown.

SEED BIOLOGY:
Unknown.

POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Currently less than 4000 plants are known in the wild (07).
There has been a drastic decline in the known population, with several
populations being destroyed, and a quarter of the Jim Wells County
population being eliminated by brush control (01).
The density of the Jim Wells County population is low, several
hundred plants on less than one-half of a square mile (01).

ECOLOGICAL/EDAPHIC FACTORS:
Black lace cactus occurs in open unshaded areas, among thick
grasses, and in/or under heavy brush (01). The local topography is
fairly flat, with water standing after heavy rains (01). The
elevation varies from 10 to 200 feet. The average annual
precipitation is approximately 28 to 30 inches, and the average annual
temperature is about 72 degrees F (11).
Black lace cactus occurs on Quaternary deposits of windblown clay
(dunes); windblown silt sheets of silt and fine sand; and alluvium
composed of clay, silt, sand, and gravel; as well as on two Quaternary
formations: Beaumont (clay and mud, or clay, silt, sand and gravel)
and Lissie undivided (sand, silt, clay, and minor amounts of gravel)
(12).
In Refugio County, black lace cactus is found on mollisols,
specifically the Aransas, Odem, and Sinton series, which are clayey or
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species CACTUS, LACE, BLACK
Species Id ESIS702016
Date 13 MAR 96

loamy (13).
In Jim Wells County, the cactus is on alfisols and mollisols,
specifically the Aransas, Opelika, Papagua, and Pharr series, which
are sands, loams, or clays (14).
In Kleberg County, black lace cactus occurs on alfisols,
mollisols, and vertisols, and more specifically on the following
associations: Czar-Delfina-Orelia (loamy sands, sandy loams, and sandy
clay loams); Victoria-Raymondville-Clareville (clays and clay loams);
and Delfina-Nueces-Edroy (sands, sandy loams, and clays) (15).

TROPHIC STATUS:
Phototrophic (02,05).

CHARACTERISTIC DOMINANCE:
Component (01).

COMMUNITY ECOLOGY:
Black lace cactus is a member of an ecotonal community (07). The
ecotone is between the coastal grasslands and the Rio Grande Plain
scrub.
Probably the cactus occurs in areas of unbroken sod in the Lower
Coastal Prairie or on the edge of the Rio Grande Plain (10). The
community is in a disclimax state caused by grazing (10).

SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
Unknown.

OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii is intermediate between
E. reichenbachii var. reichenbachii, with a more northern
distribution, and E. reichenbachii var. fitchii, with a more southern
distribution in the Rio Grande Valley (09).

Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CACTUS, LACE, BLACK
Species Id ESIS702016
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
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Domestic Animals
Adverse Collecting
Existing Collecting
Adverse Commercial Exploitation
Existing Commercial Exploitation
Adverse Harvesting
Existing Harvesting

COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
The black lace cactus suffers from several threats. The plant is
a rare show specimen and collectors item, and is threatened by both
commercial and private collecting (01). Several populations have been
destroyed by brush clearing (01).
Future threats to the species might include agricultural
development, grazing, and herbicides.

UNAPPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. Technical Draft: Recovery
Plan for the Black Lace Cactus. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Albuquerque, New Mexico. 36 pp.

The prime objective of the Recovery Plan is to manage and protect
black lace cactus and its essential habitat so that healthy
populations can be self-sustained in their natural habitat at a level
that will allow the species to be delisted. Removal of threats to
black lace cactus populations are recommended through:
1) Enforcement of existing trade regulations under the
Endangered Species Act, CITES and the Lacey Act.
2) Obtaining management rights to three known populations
through cooperative agreements, purchases or easements
with private landowners.
3) Development of a monitoring study to determine any
detrimental human activities (tresspassing, collecting,
grazing, clearing, etc.) and implement control of these
activities if it is warraented.
4) Development and implementation of habitat management plans.
5) Locating potential safe habitat (local private nature
reserves and NWR's) for establishment of new populations of
black lace cactus by seed/transplant/or captive propagation
stock.
6) Searches for unknown populations of black lace cactus by
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CACTUS, LACE, BLACK
Species Id ESIS702016
Date 13 MAR 96

systematically searching stream banks within the species'
range, and public appeals for reports of new populations.

Ecological and population biology studies of the black lace
cactus are needed. Information required for better management include
determination of:
1) Restricting edaphic conditions;
2) Pollinator(s) and their population statuses;
3) Population dynamics of each known black lace cactus
populations; and
4) Genetic relationships of black lace cactus (Echinocerus
reichenbachii var. albertii) with E. r. var. fitchii and E.
engelmannii var. purpureus for better enforcement of trade
restrictions and determination of distinctness of the taxon
(and its three populations).

Other management needs addressed by the Recovery Plan include:
1) Development of a comprehensive trade management plan for
all cacti, including establishment of an official FWS
policy on commercial trade of artifically propagated cacti
and subsequent development of cultivated stocks for
commercial distribution.
2) Determination of the impacts of collecting on black lace
cactus.
3) Determination of downlisting/delisting criteria.
4) Developoment of public awareness, appreciation and support
for the preservation to black lace cactus.

Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species CACTUS, LACE, BLACK
Species Id ESIS702016
Date 13 MAR 96

References

***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****

01 Weniger, D. 1979. Status report on Echinocereus reichenbachii
var. albertii. On file at: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Albuquerque, NM.
02 Benson, L. 1982. The cacti of the United States and Canada.
Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford.
03 Weniger, D. 1970. Cacti of the southwest. Univ. of TX Press,
Austin.
04 Benson, L. 1969. Cactaceae in flora of Texas, Vol. II. Texas
Research Found., Renner.
05 Correll, D.S. and M.C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular
plants of Texas. Texas Research Foundation. Renner.
06 Jones, F.B. 1977. Flora of the Texas Coastal Bend. Mission
Press, Corpus Christi, TX.
07 U.S. Government. 1979. Determination that Echinocereus
reichenbachii var. albertii is an endangered species. Federal
Register, 44:61918/61920.
08 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1979. Environmental assessment
for Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii.
09 Zimmerman, A.D. 1984. Pers. comm. Department of Biology,
University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712.
10 Diamond, D.D. 1984. Pers. comm.
11 Bomar,G.W. 1983. Texas weather. Univ. of Texas, Austin.
12 Bureau of Economic Geology. 1965-1983. Geologic atlas of Texas.
Univ. of Texas, Austin.
13 Soil Conservation Service. 1982. General soil map, Refugio
County, Texas.
14 Minzenmayer, F.E. 1979. Soil survey of Jim Wells County, Texas.
USDA.
15 Soil Conservation Service. 1977. General soil map, Kleberg
County, Texas.

***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****

Register. 44:61918/61920.
08 Wilkinson, D.L. 1977. Vegetation resource investigation of
Caesalpinia drummondii and Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii
on the Choke Canyon Reservoir Site, Nueces River Project, Texas.
Vol. 1.

References - 2