Xerophyte

Central Spines

4 (-5), yellowish or brown, rigid, to 2 mm long.

Seeds

Small, brown.

Description

Mammillaria crucigeraSN|1835]]SN|1835]] is a globular slow growing cactus with small spines, solitary or clumping almost always forking dichotomously at maturity. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate and ssp. tlalocii (Repp.) D.R.Hunt.

Tubercles

Closely set, firm, not sharply angled, keeled with their axils full of white wool, Some latex is present in the growing season.

Flowers

Small, funnelform, up to 1,2 cm, deep pink, rarely rising above the spines.

Blooming Season

Flowers in late winter, early spring (In habitat it flowers between December and March)

Chromosome Number

2n=22, x=11.

Stem

Heads flattened globose to short cylindrical, curving pipe-shaped, up to 10 cm tall and 4-6 cm in diameter, ranging from olive green to grey-green to almost brown to almost purple.

Radial Spines

22-30, finely needle-like or bristly, glassy white, to 2 mm long.

Fruits

Pink to red.

Areoles

Reddish-brown.