Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in central Washington; central Washington to southeastern Oregon, east to western Idaho.
Habitat: Lowland to montane sagebrush desert, grasslands, and coniferous forests.
Flowers: April-July
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Sensitive in Washington (WANHP)
Pollination: Bees
Fleshy perennials, the stems globose and depressed, single or in clumps, 7-12 cm. thick.
Plants leafless; stems covered with tubercles 12-25 mm. long, in 8-13 spiral rows; stems with 8-12. straight central spines 8-25 mm. long, and 10-30 smaller marginal spines.
Flowers solitary near the tip of a tubercle, 1.5-2 cm. long, red-violet to yellowish-green; sepals, petals and stamens numerous, all joined at the base; ovary inferior, 1-celled.
Fruit sub-globose, 6-8 mm. long.
Publication: Succulenta (Netherlands). 71: 99. 1992. 1992.
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ssp. nigrispinus – dark-spine ball cactus
Occurring east of the Cascades crest in central Washington; central Washington to central and northeastern Oregon, east to adjacent western Idaho.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Pediocactus nigrispinus in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Pediocactus nigrispinus checklist entry
OregonFlora: Pediocactus nigrispinus information
E-Flora BC: Pediocactus nigrispinus atlas page
CalPhotos: Pediocactus nigrispinus photos
