Xerophyte

Habit

Mammillaria saxicolaSN|9437]]SN|9437]] is a perennial stem succulent solitary at first, later branching basally (or dichotomously) to form large mounds up to 50 cm in diameter (or more) barely rising above ground level.

Central Spines

1-2, needle like, the lowest the longest, straight or curving, 7 - 40 mm long, glassy yellow or brown with long dark tip.

Seeds

Brown. oblong, 1 mm long and 0,8 mm wide. Hilum subbasal.

Description

Mammillaria saxicolaSN|9437]]SN|9437]] is one of the controversial forms of the very variable Mammillaria magnimamma. It distinguishes from the standard species for the olive green body, whitish flower, more radial spines and the presence of central spines. However it look very similar to other varieties of Mammillaria magnimamma which are linked one to each others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics. Nowadays all them are thought to belong to a unique polymorphic species. Such variations has led to establishment of several unnecessary names for this species.

Phenology

It flowers in id spring. Fruits ripen 10 months after flowering.

Roots

Fibrous.

Tubercles

Conic-pyramidal as long or longer than broad, 9-12 mm long and 5-7 mm wide with rounded tip, olive green or reddish, with latex, flowering axils with little white wool, especially when young.

Flowers

Bell-shaped, whitish or pale pink with indistinct brownish pink midstripe, 20-22 mm wide and long and in diameter. Self sterile.

Stem

Flattened globose, globose or cylindrical, olive-green, 5-8 cm in diameter and 4-10 cm tall. The apex sunken and covered with spines

Radial Spines

6-8, sometimes more, glassy yellow with brown tip, 2 - 5 mm long, stiff bristle like, unequal, the uppermost the shortest, radiating.

Fruits

Club shaped, red, 10-20 mm long, and 5 - 7 mm wide, sticking straight out from the stem.