Kaibab Plains Cactus; Paradine Plains Cactus.

River Basin, Great Basin, Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau. Six of these species, including P. paradinei, are restricted endemics. There are no recognized varieties of P. paradinei. DESCRIPTION: Small, green, globose tubercled cactus with a solitary stem 3.0-4.0 cm (1.2-1.6 in.) tall (usually half is underground), 6.0-8.0 cm (2.4-3.2 in.) in diameter (may reach a diameter of 8.0 cm (3.2 in.)). Tap root up to 15.0 cm (6.0 in.) long. Spines long, flexible and hairlike, white to ashy gray to straw colored, 4-6 per areole, completely covering stem apex; the longer central spines 25.0-32.0 mm (1.0-1.28 in.) long, not distinguishable from the 20 radial spines (young cacti lack the long central spine). Flowers 2.0-2.5 cm (0.8-1.0 in.) diameter to 2.0 cm (0.8 in.) long; petaloids are white or yellowish with pink midribs, about 20.0 mm (0.8 in.) long to 6.0 mm (0.24 in.) broad. Fruit greenish-yellow becoming tan when ripe, 7.5-10.5 mm (0.3-0.42 in.) long, 4.5-6.0 mm (0.18-0.24 in.) diameter. Fruit is smooth and bare except for the veins; sometimes fruit will have minute subapical scales. Seeds are nearly black, 1.5 mm (0.06 in.) long, about 2.0 mm (0.08 in.) broad and 1.0 mm (0.04 in.) thick (Benson, 1982)