Chilita candida
Cactography 2. 1926
Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Species
Chilita candida
Author
(Scheidw.) Orcutt
Chinese genus
-
Chinese name
-
Primary
Accepted
DescriptionEdit description
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.