Xerophyte

Central Spines

8 to 10, honey yellow (dark reddish brown, with yellow bases in M. moelleriana), 20-30 mm long, lower -4 hooked, upper ones shorter and straight.

Seeds

Black.

Description

Mammillaria moellerianaSN|9301]]SN|9296]] is a small cactus that appears above the ground as a squat, spherical stem, completely covered by very strong hooked spines, and usually solitary. In cultivation the plant's stem may be cylindrical. it is also one of the more difficult to grow, as it is subject to losing its roots. The yellow spined form is often labelled Mammillaria cowperaeSN|9296]]SN|9301]].

Flowers

White or light pink flowers, with darker midveins, up to 1.8 cm in diameter.

Blooming Season

M. cowperae, show its buds early in January but sometimes these do not open until March, again much depending on weather conditions.

Stem

Flattened globose to short cylindrical, centrally depressed, up to 10 cm in diameter, 13 cm tall, glossy green. Tubercle firm, cylindrical to ovoid with woolly axil. Without latex.

Radial Spines

35 to 50, white with yellow bases, needle-like, 7 - 9 mm long.

Fruits

Club shaped, greenish white, to 15 mm long.