Despain's cactus (3 of 4)

Description:

Pediocactus despainii Welsh & Goodrich. A rare, Utah endemic species occurring principally only in Emery County that is federally listed under the endangered Species Act. This plant in cultivation in northern Utah was grown by a third-party from seeds that were purportedly legally collected.The plant has produced this many buds before, but they haven't all opened at the same time as they did this year (all four of these flowers are from the same solitary, small stem).The bronze coloration (in flowers ranging from yellow to peach or pink) in part distinguish it from the related and also rare and also federally listed P. winkleri. April 22, 2012, Salt Lake County, Utah