Mammillaria varieaculeata
Cact. Suc. Mex. 11: 79, fig. 40. 1966
Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Species
Mammillaria varieaculeata
Author
Buchenau
Chinese genus
乳突球属
Chinese name
-
DescriptionEdit description
Habit
Plants forming large clusters or mounds.
Seeds
Small, brown.
Description
Mammillaria varieaculeataSN|17002]]SN|17002]] (also spelled variaculeata) is a clumping cactus forking dichotomously (or basally) at maturity. The species is described as dimorphic, with a rather uninteresting short-spined juvenile form, before making a fierce and very showy mature dark brown spination. However the species comprises plants with variable spine length, in the same area it is possible to find both plant with short spines and long spines. Moreover, within the same clump, despite identical dimensions, the individual heads can acquire the definitive character at very different ages.
Tubercles
Closely set, pyramidal, firm, axils with 10-25 white bristles 4-8 mm long.
Flowers
Diurnal, small, funnelform, red, up to 15 mm long, and in diameter, rarely rising above the spines.
Blooming Season
Not known.
Stem
Globose to short cylindrical, curving pipe-shaped, ranging from green to dark green, to 13 cm or more high and 9 cm in diameter.
Radial Spines
17-24, finely needle-like, white, yellowish brown basally, later dark brown, 4-8 mm long.
Fruits
Club shaped, scarlet, 15-20 mm long.
Areoles
Large, roundish whitish, at first woolly later almost naked.Central spines 1-5, fewer with age, needle-like, slightly bent, light brown, becoming darker and stonger with age, 5-10 mm at first, later to 25 mm (or more) long.