-
Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
NMNH Botany in DwCA
Clover, E. U. 2398, US National Herbarium Sheet 2346042 Barcode 00117124
-
-
-
Sclerocactus parviflorus Clover & Jotter (syn. S. whipplei var. roseus (Clover) L. Benson), Sept, 24, 2010, Grand Co., Utah, blurry but closer view of seeds, spines.
-
-
Sclerocactus parviflorus Clover & Jotter (syn. S. whipplei var. roseus (Clover) L. Benson), Sept. 24, 2010, Colorado Plateau, Professor Valley, Grand Co., Utah, roughly 4300 ft. elev.S. parviflorus is initially globose, but then elongates and becomes cylindroid at a younger age compared to the group of smaller Sclerocactus species grows faster and has different flowers and buds.Sclerocacti in general are not common, but this is the most widespread species and one of its names is "Common Little Barrel Cactus." Another name that sometimes is used is "Fishhook" but that is a name that really should only be used with species in the genus Mammillaria. Some other names include a translation of the specific epithet and so sometimes one sees "Little flower" or "Littleflower" yet this species has perhaps some of the largest flowers in the genus. So to use a name like "Small flower fishhook cactus" as USDA currently does is really doubly inappropriate (even though there are no standard for common names, there is no reason to retain a common name that is confusing or misleading; when it comes to the scientific names that involve rules of publication and priority, we don't have the same luxury). This should also not be referred to with the name "Whipple" nor referred to as S. whipplei which is a different species (unless you want to specifically refer to it as var. roseus, but you cannot leave out the "var."). Referencing it as "Little" barrel simply helps to distinguish it from other larger barrel cacti in the genera such as Ferocactus and Echinocactus (which do not within the Colorado Plateau), and is an innovation of cactus expert Dorde Wright Woodruff.
-
-
Sclerocactus parviflorus Clover & Jotter (syn. S. whipplei var. roseus (Clover) L. Benson), Sept. 24, 2010, Colorado Plateau, Professor Valley Grand Co., Utah, note the biological soil crusts, and the dessicated, blackend flowers (upper left on stem), elev. approx. 4300 ft.Sclerocacti in general are not common, but this is the most widespread species and one of its names is "Common Little Barrel Cactus." Another name that sometimes is used is "Fishhook" but that is a name that really should only be used with species in the genus Mammillaria. Some other names include a translation of the specific epithet and so sometimes one sees "Little flower" or "Littleflower" yet this species has perhaps some of the largest flowers in the genus. So to use a name like "Small flower fishhook cactus" as USDA currently does is really doubly inappropriate (even though there are no standard for common names, there is no reason to retain a common name that is confusing or misleading; when it comes to the scientific names that involve rules of publication and priority, we don't have the same luxury). This should also not be referred to with the name "Whipple" nor referred to as S. whipplei which is a different species (unless you want to specifically refer to it as var. roseus, but you cannot leave out the "var."). Referencing it as "Little" barrel simply helps to distinguish it from other barrel cacti in the genera such as Ferocactus and Echinocactus (which do not within the Colorado Plateau), and is an innovation of cactus expert Dorde Wright Woodruff.
-
-
Note: a scan of a photograph of this same shot was posted here on Dec. 29, 2010 however I just happened to come across the original slide today, May 20, 2014, of this picture originally taken exactly 30 years ago, i.e. on May 20, 1984. The rotation/orientation of the picture was also off and with a newer scanner, the end result is a significant improvement in quality and more accurate in general, so hence the need to replace it. The text that follows was previously written towards the end of 2010.Sclerocactus parviflorus Clover & Jotter (syn. S. whipplei var. roseus (Clover) L. Benson), May 20, 1984, Grand Co., Utah. These plants should never be referred to as simply S. whipplei which is a different species.The flowers of this species are often described as "magenta" but that is inaccurate in that magenta is a color that first of all contains blue (and cacti don't contain blue pigments, but one can argue that color should also relate to how the eye perceives it) and more importantly is a fairly dark shade of blue-purple. While S. parviflorus can less commonly have yellow to white flowers, its flower color is most often a shade of pink as above.Sclerocacti in general are not common, but this is the most widespread species and one of its names is "Common Little Barrel Cactus." Another name that sometimes is used is "Fishhook" but that is a name that really should only be used with species in the genus Mammillaria. Some other names include a translation of the specific epithet and so sometimes one sees "Little flower" or "Littleflower" yet this species has perhaps some of the largest flowers in the genus. So to use a name like "Small flower fishhook cactus" as USDA currently does is really doubly inappropriate (even though there are no standards for common names, there is no reason to retain a common name that is confusing or misleading; when it comes to the scientific names that involve rules of publication and priority, we don't have the same luxury). This should also not be referred to with the name "Whipple" nor referred to as S. whipplei which is a different species (unless you want to specifically refer to it as var. roseus, but you cannot leave out the "var."). Referencing it as "Little" barrel simply helps to distinguish it from other barrel cacti in the genera such as Ferocactus and Echinocactus (which do not occur within the Colorado Plateau), and is an innovation of cactus expert Dorde Wright Woodruff.