Field Note: Minnesota’s Rare Ball Cactus

While sauntering about in the prairie of West Central Minnesota, I was much more than surprised to have spotted a few clusters of tiny Ball Cacti (Coryphantha Vivipara) living in the crevices of granite outcrops. Always curious, later research lead me to learn these Ball Cacti are one of Minnesota’s rarest plant species and can only be found in a few scattered locations within a two to three square mile area of the state where bedrock is exposed to the surface. These extremely rare and threatened Ball Cacti are one of only three native cacti known to exist in Minnesota.

 

Location Details

Minnesota River Valley in Lac Qui Parle County - Lac Qui Parle Wildlife Management Area

Camera Settings

Sony A7 IV - Focal Length 71 mm - Shutter Speed - 1/160 - Aperture f/4.0 - ISO 160