Xerophyte

Habit

It is a simple or eventually clustering perennial cactus .

Central Spines

6-12 pure white to pinkish white often tipped pink or brown, 5-10 mm long.

Seeds

Black, shiny, about 1 mm in diameter, with flat or domed testa, not pitied and lacking perisperm. Hilum basal, and seed coat with flat or domed cells.

Description

Mammilloydia candidaSN|9012]]SN|9012]] popularly called 'Snowball' is a choice, attractive succulent plant with a so dense snowy white, spination, that its body appears almost hidden by spines. Mammilloydia are clearly related to the genus Mammillaria, but their unique seed structure and other anomalies indicates that their overall resemblance to Mammillaria is due to convergence and are usually recognized as segregate genera. However their true relationship remains unclear. So far

Tubercles

broadly cylindrical, obtuse, not grooved, 5 to 6 mm long, axils with 4-7 white bristles.

Flowers

Flowers and fruit from near the centre but not from the axils of young tubercles 2-3 cm long. Perianth-segments few, about 12, oblong, obtuse, rose pink or white with greenish red or creamy brown midveins, and white margins, the centre often light purple. Pericarpels and floral tubes naked. Stamens white. Style and stigma-lobes purplish (or green).

Blooming Season

Spring.

Spines

50-80 in several series, up to 19 mm long, glabrous or nearly so, not clearly differentiated as centrals and radials or.

Stem

Spherical, eventually short-cylindric at maturity, pale, bluish green, up to 30 cm high and (3-)6-12(-20) cm cm wide, crown distinctly depressed or flat.

Radial Spines

50-120 white spreading, up to 15 mm long, often shorter.

Fruits

Oblong to clavate, red or pinkish., juicy, indehiscent, 7-14 mm, the perianth not persistent.