Xerophyte

Habit

It is generally a solitary ball cactus that eventually divides dichotomously (branches out by splitting each head).

Central Spines

5 to 7, much stouter and longer than the radials, 2 to 2,5 cm long, more or less recurved (those from the upper areoles curved backward over the apex of the plant), deep yellow to golden in colour.

Seeds

Small, brown.

Description

Mammillaria rhodanthaSN|14510]]SN|14510]] subs. pringlei, best know as

Roots

Has long fibrous roots.

Tubercles

Dull greyish green, terete, conic, 6 to 10 mm long; axils of tubercles woolly and setose.

Flowers

The small deep red flowers are 8 to 10 mm long.

Blooming Season

This plant probably has one of the longest non stop blooming streak of any cactus. Flowers can appear any time of the year, mostly from early spring to late summer.

Spines

It is one of the few Mammillaria that is completely covered with yellow spines. The spines on this species seem to radiate light, almost making it appear to glow.

Stem

Usually globose or hemispherical, somewhat flat and woolly at the top, but sometimes short-cylindric, approx 6-20 cm tall and 6-15 wide.

Radial Spines

18 to 22, setaceous, 5 to 8 mm long white and spreading.

Fruits

Borne in a circle near the middle of the plant, oblong, 12 to 15 mm. Long.