National Collection of Imperiled Plants

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Ancistrocactus tobuschii

Family:	Cactaceae
Common Name:	Tobusch fishhook cactus
Author:	(W.T. Marsh.) W.T. Marsh. ex Backeberg
Growth Habit:	Shrub
CPC Number:	126

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

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Image Owner: San Antonio Botanical Garden

Ancistrocactus tobuschii is Not Sponsored

Primary custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered Plants is:

Desert Botanical Garden

Cindy Barrett contributed to this Plant Profile.

Ancistrocactus tobuschii

Tobusch fishhook cactus has attractive yellow flowers which appear in early spring. This beautiful little cactus grows in limestone arroyos in the eastern part of the Edwards Plateau. This is an area that is highly desirable for land development, which is a major threat to the survival of the species. Cacti and succulent collectors have also been cause for the decline in numbers of this plant. The plant is called a "fishhook cactus" due to the hook on the end of one of its spines. (USFWS 1987)

Distribution & Occurrence

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State Range

Texas

Habitat

Thin clay soils over limestone; seasonally wet, well drained soils; limestone gravel along higher stream banks. Associated plants include oak, sycamore, and Ashe juniper (USFWS 1987)

Distribution

Eastern section of Edward's Plateau in Texas (Bandera, Edwards, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Real, Uvalde, and Val Verde counties). (Texas Parks and Wildlife 2002)

Number Left

Greater than 500 individuals in 33 populations at 4 protected sites (3 state parks + one private)

Protection

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Global Rank:	G4T3	11/4/2004	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:	LE	10/24/1996	Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	Yes	3/18/1987

State/Area Protection

	State/Area	Rank	Status	Date
	Texas	S2	E	1/5/1987

Conservation, Ecology & Research

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Ecological Relationships

There is not a lot of information on the ecological relationships of this plant.

Threats

Habitat alteration for deer management, livestock trampling, foraging by armadillos, over-collecting, land development.

Current Research Summary

The San Antonio Botanical Garden has recently experimented with seed collected in situ. Seeds were planted in a mix of sand and Sunshine mix, with many germinating and thriving.

Current Management Summary

Currently, the San Antonio Botanical Garden has several small cacti, which are being maintained in the greenhouse.

Research Management Needs

� Study ecological relationships
� Collect seed from wild populations
� Manage an ex situ collection and monitor for insect and disease problems

Ex Situ Needs

� Send seed to the National Seed Storage Lab.

References

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Conference Proceedings

Poole, J.; Janssen, G.K. Managing and Monitoring Rare and Endangered Plants on Highway Rights-of-way in Texas. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-GTR-283. Proceedings of the Southwestern Rare and Endangered Plant Conference; September 11-14; Flagstaff, AZ. In: Maschinski, J.; Hammond, H.D.; Holter, L., editors. 1996. USDA and US Forest Service. p 8-12.

Electronic Sources

(2002). Texas Threatened and Endangered Plants--Profiles. Texas Parks and Wildlife. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/endang/plants/index.htm. Accessed: 2002.

ESIS. (1998). Endangered Species System (ESIS): Fish and Wildlife Exchange. [Web site;] Virginia Tech. http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/WWW/esis/. Accessed: 2002.

Journal Articles

Lockwood, M.W. 1995. Notes on life history of Ancistrocactus tobuschii (Cactaceae) in Kinney County, Texas. Southwestern Naturalist. 40, 4: 428-430.

Powell, A.M.; Weedin, J.F. 2001. Chromosome numbers in Chihuahuan Desert Cactaceae. III. Trans-Pecos Texas. American Journal of Botany. 88, 3: 481-485.

Sutton, K.; Baccus, J.T.; Traweek, M.S. 1997. Habitat of Ancistrocactus tobuschii (Tobusch fishhook cactus, cactaceae) on the Edwards Plateau of central Texas. Southwestern Naturalist. 42, 4: 441-445.

USFWS. 1976. Proposed Endangered Status for 1700 U.S. Plants. Federal Register. 41: 24523-24572.

USFWS. 1979. Determination that Ancistrocactus tobuschii is an Endangered Species. Federal Register. 44, 217: 64736-64738.

USFWS. 1979. Service Lists 32 Plants. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 4, 11: 1, 5-8.

Theses

Emmett, Raymond Timothy. 1995. Reproduction, Mortality, And Temporal Changes In Plant Size For The Endemic Tobusch Fishhook Cactus (Ancistrocactus tobuschii). [Ph.D. Thesis]: The University of Texas. Austin. 206p.

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This profile was updated on 9/28/2010