U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service San Rafael despainii

Flowering San Rafael Cactus / D. Clark What does the San Rafael cactus look like? The San Rafael cactus () is a small barrel shaped cactus. It typically grows as a single but can form multiple stems. These cacti are very small, only growing up to 2 inches tall and up to 3.8 inches wide. Spine clusters are located at the tip of fleshy protrusions and are composed of 9 to 13 radial spines up to half an inch long. There is no central spine. The flowers are peach to yellow, tinted bronze, and measure about 1 inch across. Flowering occurs from April through May.

With its diminutive size and peculiar habit of shrinking underground for several months a Range / USFWS year during dry or cold seasons, the cactus is often only noticeable for a location of its populations are San Rafael cactus is endemic to short time in the spring, when in known, it may not be seen and is Emery and Wayne counties in bloom. Otherwise, even if the exact easily overlooked. central Utah. It occurs on benches, hilltops, and gentle slopes in open San Rafael cactus is similar in piñon- and salt desert scrub appearance to the Winkler cactus communities between 6,000 to 6,700 (). Winkler feet in elevation. cactus, though, has matted hairs at the center of the spine clusters. San Rafael cactus is restricted to limestone gravels, shales, clays and Where does the San Rafael cactus silty substrates of the Mancos, occur? Morrison, Moenkopi and Carmel formations. Daniela Roth / USFWS

Region 6 Mountain-Prairie Region

population trends and life history.  Increase public awareness through education efforts.

More Information To learn more about the San Rafael cactus and conservation efforts on San Rafael cactus habitat / USFWS behalf of the species, please visit the following sites: Legal Status under the Endangered We are developing a recovery plan Species Act that lists necessary actions to The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Program’s The San Rafael cactus was listed as recover the species and remove it website contains Federal Register endangered on September 16, 1987 from the list of endangered species. notices and recovery documents: (52 FR 34917). We are working with our Federal, www.fws.gov/endangered State and private partners to

Why does the San Rafael cactus implement recovery efforts. We The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service need protection? surveyed for additional populations Information, Planning and When we listed the San Rafael across the range of the species and monitored some populations to get Conservation (IPaC) System is a cactus, the primary threats were resource project proponents can over collection for horticultural a better understanding of threats and population trends. use to find out about sensitive purposes, exploration and resources within the vicinity of a development of energy and mineral What do we need to do to recover proposed project: ecos.fws.gov/ipac resources, recreational impacts the San Rafael cactus? from off highway vehicle use, and The Mountain-Prairie Regional Until we finalize the recovery plan, small population size. In addition, Office’s website contains an we will work on actions identified in predation by beetles, drought, and overview of listed plant species: the recovery outline, including: impacts from grazing are significant http://www.fws.gov/mountain-  Protect existing populations threats to the species. prairie/species// and their habitat by

implementing effective What have we done to recover the The Utah Field Office’s website conservation measures. San Rafael cactus? contains species leads and In 2007, we published a recovery  Prevent collection of San Rafael important information regarding outline that guides recovery efforts cactus. federally listed species in the state, and informs consultation and  Survey suitable habitat and including a copy of this fact sheet: permitting activities until a locate additional populations. www.fws.gov/utahfieldoffice comprehensive recovery plan for  Implement ecological studies the species is approved. and monitoring to determine U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 PO Box 25486 Denver Federal Center Denver, Colorado 80225 Utah Field Office (801) 975 - 3330

June 2013

Daniela Roth / USFWS

Region 6 Mountain-Prairie Region