Xerophyte

Central Spines

1 or 2 , often curved and to 6 cm long in some clones.

Seeds

Brown.

Description

Mammillaria compressaSN|11897]]SN|11897]] ssp. centralifera is one of the innumerable local form of the very variable Mammillaria compressaSN|11897]]SN|11897]]. It distinguishes for the presence of long central spines, usually one, sometimes two, and for the greater amount of axillary wool. It flowers quite readily, and bright purple-pink rings around each head make this species a beautiful one at flowering time, which is usually May to June. It has the same variable characteristics of the species.

Habitat

It is a clustering succulent plant, readily forming crowded mounds or cushions with dozen of heads, perhaps not quite as large as the type species.

Tubercles

Prominent, pyramidal, 15 mm hight, close set, firm, bluntly angled and keeled. The axil bears bristles, and frequently with amount of wool as well, sometimes quite masking the bristles (especially in correspondence to the flowering areoles). With a milky sap.

Flowers

Diurnal, in rings around each head, bell shaped to funnel-shaped, 1-1,5 cm in diameter. Tepals purplish pink to deep red with darker midvein,

Blooming Season

Spring.

Stem

Club shaped to cylindrical, dark green or bluish grey-green, up to 9 cm in diameter, 6-25 cm tall.

Radial Spines

4-5, unequal, chalky white with brownish or blackish tips, later grey, 20-70 mm long, but vary in length, some very short (only about 2 mm long).

Fruits

Club shaped, up to 2 cm long red.

Areoles

Young areoles are woolly.