Mammillaria aselliformis
Standard. Pl. Names, ed. 2. 74. 1942 (as asselliformis )
Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Species
Mammillaria aselliformis
Author
(Ehrenb.) H.P.Kelsey & Dayton
Chinese genus
乳突球属
Chinese name
-
Primary
Accepted
DescriptionEdit description
Habit
It is a small very slow growing clustering cactus.
Seeds
Brown, curved and reticulate.
Description
Pelecyphora aselliformisSN|855]]SN|855]] (commonly known as the "Hatchet Cactus") is among the most famous of all cacti for is unique shaped stem.
Tubercles
Laterally flattened, elongated, arranged in spirals.
Flowers
Pink to violet flowers with lighter outside petals, 2-3,5 cm in diameter. The floral buds are acuminate and appear on the apex.
Blooming Season
It normally flowers from February till October, but only if the sunlight is strong enough.
Spines
40 to 60 pectinated.
Stem
Spherical to shortly cylindrical, 5-10 cm tall, 2-5 cm in diameter. The stem in young plant is quite different, very thin, pencil-like or clavate.
Fruits
Dry, papery.
Areoles
Oval shaped areoles. Areoles in this species are clearly dimorphic, much as in the mammillarias, but the vestigial groove is reminiscent of Coryphantha and related genera.