Xerophyte

Central Spines

1-4(-6), stouter than the radials, reddish brown, ascending, 8 to 15 mm long upper ones in the same plane as the radials, the lowermost typically or predominantly straight, sometimes more or less strongly hooked.

Seeds

black.

Description

Mammillaria mazatlanensi is a cylindrical cactus, with reddish brown spines and large bright purple flowers with green stigmas. The plants are commonly cespitose, often forming broad clumps with many heads. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and subs. patonii.

Tubercles

Terete, short, softish, rather cone-shaped, 3 to 4 mm long, without latex, their axils usually naked or with one or two short bristles.

Flowers

From the axils of the old tubercles but towards the top of the plant, tubular, 3-4 cm long, 3 cm across, pink to carmine red to bright purple; perianth-segments oblong, spreading; stigma-lobes 8 green, very long and slender.

Blooming Season

Summer.

Stem

Oblong to slender-cylindrical, greyish-green, 4 to 15 cm long, about 2-4(-5) cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

12 to 15(-18), slender, needle-like, setaceous or bristly, spreading, white 5-10 mm long.

Fruits

Club shaped, to 20 mm long, brown, becoming reddish yellow.