ITIS Basic Information
Common Name: San Diego Barrel Cactus
Scientific Name: Ferocactus viridescens
Species Code: FERVIR
Management Category: VF (species with limited distribution in the MSPA or needing specific vegetation characteristics requiring management)
Occurrence Map

Historically present
Currently present
Currently not detected
Table of Occurrences
Loading...

Goals and Objectives

Goal: Maintain, enhance and restore coastal sage scrub on Conserved Lands in the MSPA that supports or has the potential to support VF species (i.e., cliff spurge, Palmer's goldenbush, San Diego barrel cactus, snake cholla, Blaineville's horned lizard, California gnatcatcher, San Diego black-tailed jackrabbit) and to incidentally benefit a diverse array of other species (e.g., San Diego thornmint, willowy monardella, Hermes copper, Quino checkerspot, coastal cactus wren) so that the vegetation community has high ecological integrity, and these species are resilient to environmental stochasticity, catastrophic disturbances and threats, such as very large wildfires, invasive plants and prolonged drought, and will be likely to persist over the long term (>100 years).

regional and/or local NFO 2021 VF
MON-IMP-IMG FERVIR-1

Management units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

In 2021, inspect occurrences of coastal sage scrub MSP VF plant species (cliff spurge, Palmer's goldenbush, San Diego barrel cactus and snake cholla) on Conserved Lands using the regional IMG monitoring protocol to record abundance and collect habitat and threat covariate data to determine management needs.

Action Statement Action status Projects
IMP-1 Based upon occurrence status and threats, determine management needs including whether routine management or more intensive management is warranted. On hold
IMP-2 Submit project metadata, monitoring datasets and management recommendations to the MSP Web Portal. On hold
Criteria Deadline year
Surveys Completed 2021 with Management Recommendations 2021
Threat Name Threat Code
Altered fire regimeALTFIR
Human uses of the PreservesHUMUSE
Invasive plantsINVPLA
Urban developmentURBDEV
Code Obj. code Statement
CYLCAL-1 MON-IMP-IMG In 2021, inspect occurrences of coastal sage scrub MSP VF plant species (cliff spurge, Palmer's goldenbush, San Diego barrel cactus, and snake cholla) on Conserved Lands using the regional IMG monitoring protocol to record abundance and collect habitat and threat covariate data to determine management needs.
ERIPAL-1 MON-IMP-IMG In 2021, inspect occurrences of coastal sage scrub MSP VF plant species (cliff spurge, Palmer's goldenbush, San Diego barrel cactus and snake cholla) on Conserved Lands using the regional IMG monitoring protocol to record abundance and collect habitat and threat covariate data to determine management needs.
EUPMIS-1 MON-IMP-IMG In 2021, inspect occurrences of coastal sage scrub MSP VF plant species (cliff spurge, Palmer's goldenbush, San Diego barrel cactus and snake cholla) on Conserved Lands using the regional IMG monitoring protocol to record abundance and collect habitat and threat covariate data to determine management needs.
EUPMIS-1 MON-IMP-IMG In 2021, inspect occurrences of coastal sage scrub MSP VF plant species (cliff spurge, Palmer's goldenbush, San Diego barrel cactus and snake cholla) on Conserved Lands using the regional IMG monitoring protocol to record abundance and collect habitat and threat covariate data to determine management needs.
EUPMIS-1 MON-IMP-IMG In 2021, inspect occurrences of coastal sage scrub MSP VF plant species (cliff spurge, Palmer's goldenbush, San Diego barrel cactus and snake cholla) on Conserved Lands using the regional IMG monitoring protocol to record abundance and collect habitat and threat covariate data to determine management needs.

Current Distribution Rangewide

Coastal San Diego County [1] and Baja California, Mexico [2].

Known Populations in San Diego County

Twenty-five occurrences on Conserved Lands in MUs 1 (Tijuana River Valley Regional Park), 2 (El Dorado Hills, Florida Canyon, Kate Sessions Park, Mission Trails Regional Park), 3 (East Otay Mesa, Marron Valley Mitigation Bank, Otay Mountain Ecological Reserve, Otay Mountain Wilderness Area, Otay Ranch Preserve, Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve, San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, Sweetwater Reservoir Open Space), 4 (Mission Trails Regional Park, South Poway Cornerstone, Sycamore Canyon), 6 (Black Mountain Open Space Park, Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, Lusardi Creek Preserve, Santa Fe Valley Open Space Preserve, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve), and 7 (Torrey Pines Glider Port).

List Status

None [2].

Habitat Affinities

Chaparral, coastal scrub, valley and foothill grasslands, and vernal pools [1]. Sandy or gravelly soils of hillsides of chaparral [2]. Elevation range 3-450 meters [1]. Sensitive to freezing [3].

Taxonomy and Genetics

Cactaceae family [2]. Synonym: Echinocactus viridescens.

Life History Demography

Perennial stem succulent [1]. Ant-plant protection mutualism [4].

Seasonal Phenology

Bloom period May-June [1].

Pollination Seed Dispersal

Pollinated mainly by bees: cactus bees (Diadasia spp.), honey bees (Apis mellifera), and small native bees [4].

Threats

Urbanization has fragmented and extirpated the species from some locations [2]. Additional threats from vehicles, horticultural collecting, agriculture, non-native plants, and Argentine ants [2, 4].

Special Considerations:

Floral visitation by invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) reduces pollinator visitation and seed set [4].

Literature Sources

[1]  CNPS, Rare Plant Program. 2016. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-02). California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. http://www.rareplants.cnps.org, accessed 02 September 2016.

[2] Porter, J.M. 2013. Ferocactus viridescens. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T151890A572965. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T151890A572965.en.Downloaded on 02 September 2016.

[3] Loik, M. E, and P. S. Nobel. 1993. “Exogenous Abscisic Acid Mimics Cold Acclimation for Cacti Differing in Freezing Tolerance.” Plant Physiology 103 (3): 871–76.

[4] LeVan, K. E., J. H. Keng-Lou, K. R. McCann, J. T. Ludka, and D. A. Holway. 2014. “Floral Visitation by the Argentine Ant Reduces Pollinator Visitation and Seed Set in the Coast Barrel Cactus, Ferocactus Viridescens.” Oecologia 174 (1): 163–71. doi:10.1007/s00442-013-2739-z.