Xerophyte

Habit

Usually cespitose, sprouting unevenly from the base and sides, often forming large mounds.

Central Spines

1-2 rarely none, much longer than the radials, 10-27 mm long, straight, erect or ascending, slender, needle-like, bristly, dark brown.

Seeds

Light brown.

Description

Mammillaria decipiensSN|9068]]SN|9068]] (a.k.a. Bird's Nest Mammillaria) is a low growing, prominently ‘nippled' cactus species, with long, bristly spines that cross each other forming a sort of bird's nest look (hence its common name).

Roots

Very large, tuberose.

Tubercles

Soft, cylindrical to obtuse, 10-22 mm long 5-7 mm in diameter, their axils bearing or sparse wool and 3 fine bristles each. Without latex.

Flowers

15-18 mm, long, 10 mm across, broadly funnel-shaped, slightly scented; inner perianth-segments nearly white or faintly tinged with pink, acute; filaments white to pinkish; stigma-lobes 4, white or pinkish, slender, filiform. Flower-buds pinkish, acute.

Stem

Individual stems, globose to club shaped, rounded at the top, 6 to10 cm high, 4-7(-10) cm in diameter, grass green to deep green.

Radial Spines

5 to 11, spreading, 7-15 mm long or as long as 30 mm, bristle-like, straight, slender, white to brownish-white, sometimes yellowish with brown tips, puberulent when young.

Fruits

Cylindrical, reddish green.