Xerophyte

Central Spines

Usually 4, rarely 2 to 7, somewhat longer than the radials, terete, rigid, pale yellow, more or less recurred pointing outward, and markedly unequal, 2 to 40 mm long, lowermostlongest, brownish yellow, becoming grey with brown tips.

Seeds

Brown.

Description

Mammillaria muehlenpfordtiiSN|18456]]SN|18456]] is a massive globose cactus with bright carmine flowers. It is solitary when young, but each single stem begins to divide dichotomously to form two stems as it matures, this process repeats several times giving rise to small clustered groups and occasionally to large mounds with dozen of heads. Seen from above the central whorl of woolly areoles resembles a sunflower head.

Axils

Woolly and with white bristles.

Tubercle Arrangement

13-21.

Tubercles

Conical to pyramidal-shaped, compact, without latex.

Flowers

Small in a ring near the top of the cactus on previous years growth, 10-15 mm long, bright carmine to rose-red with reddish-brown outer petals.

Blooming Season

Summer.

Stem

Individual stems globose, becoming cylindric with age, 10-15 cm tall (or more), 7-15 cm in diameter, apex somewhat sunken and woolly, dark green, blue-green or grey-green.

Radial Spines

24 to 50, about equal up to 4 mm long, glassy white or yellowish, bristle-like, radiating, nearly covering the body.

Fruits

Red.

Areoles

Small, round, woolly when young.