Xerophyte

Central Spines

4, the upper 3 straight, the lowest hooked, slightly longer than the radials, reddish brown.

Seeds

Black.

Description

Mammillaria zeilmannianaSN|8841]]SN|8915]] (Mammillaria crinita f. zeilmannianaSN|8919]]SN|8919]]) is a popular cactus species with flowers typically carmine violet to purple-pink in color, seldom white. In cultivation it is heavily clustering. (while in its natural environment it is often simple and rarely branching).

Taxonomy

Considered a synonym of Mammillaria crinitaSN|8915]]SN|8841]] by Anderson (2001) and the assessors. Accepted as a species by Hunt (1999) and Pilbeam (1999). The claimed distinguishing characters of this taxon, fruit color, appear in other populations of M. crinita while the intensity of the flower color is unique. It appears to be no more than a form albeit a very popular one.

Tubercles

Oval (Tubercle arrangement

Flowers

Up to 2 cm, pale pinkish violet or purple, stigmas yellowish. (The white flowered sport of M. zeilmanniana is produced in cultivation and not known to occur in the wild)

Blooming Season

The flowers can come at any time of the year.

Radial Spines

About 15-18, radiating, finely bristly or hairlike white, pubescent.

Fruits

Whitish green to pale pink.

Areoles

Woolly when young. The axil is naked.