Taxon Report

Opuntia basilaris Engelm. & Bigel. var. treleasei (Coult.) Toumey

Bakersfield cactus

Print Report


Keir Morse

Taxon Summary

Opuntia basilaris var. treleasei, commonly known as Bakersfield cactus, is a perennial stem in the Cactaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chenopod scrub, Cismontane woodland, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 100 to 1450 meters. Opuntia basilaris var. treleasei is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Opuntia basilaris Engelm. & Bigel. var. treleasei (Coult.) Toumey
Common Name:
Bakersfield cactus
Family: Cactaceae
Element Code: PDCAC0D055
USDA Plants Symbol: OPBAT
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Opuntia treleasei Coult.

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial stem
Blooming Period: Apr-May Apr-May
Elevation: 100-1450 (330-4755)
General Habitats: Chenopod scrub, Cismontane woodland, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat: Gravelly (sometimes), Sandy (sometimes)
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 62
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 12
   Fair (C) 19
   Poor (D) 9
   None (X) 11
   Unknown (U) 11
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Kern (KRN)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Arvin (3511827), Bena (3511836), Coal Oil Canyon (3511911), Conner SW (3511912), Eagle Rest Peak (3411982), Edison (3511837), Grapevine (3411888), Lamont (3511838)*, Mettler (3511818), Mt. Adelaide (3511846), North of Oildale (3511951), Oil Center (3511848), Oildale (3511941)*, Oiler Peak (3511835)*, Rio Bravo Ranch (3511847), Tejon Hills (3511817), Weed Patch (3511828), Woody (3511867)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 19
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
47 76 %
Grazing 27 43%
Road/trail construction/maint. 19 30%
Vandalism/dumping/litter 12 19%
Foot traffic/trampling 12 19%
ORV activity 12 19%
Mining 11 17%
Erosion/runoff 11 17%
Development 11 17%
Agriculture 9 14%
Other 8 12%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 7 11%
Non-native plant impacts 6 9%
Improper burning regime 6 9%
Disking 4 6%
Biocides 3 4%
Waterway bank protection/maintenance 3 4%
Pollution 1 1%
Landfill 1 1%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime 1 1%

Notes

USFWS uses the name O. treleasei. See Contributions from the U.S. National Herbarium 3:434 (1896) for original description, Wasmann Journal of Biology 25:289-290 (1967) for species account, and MadroƱo 39(1):79 (1992) for information on a new population.
Threats:
Threatened by energy development, agricultural conversion, grazing, mining, vehicles, and especially urbanization in the Bakersfield area. 
Taxonomy:
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 3 June 2025].