Xerophyte

Central Spines

1, pointing upward, white to nearly black, becoming brownish or greyish with age, needle-like, slightly flattened, to 5 mm long.

Sap

With latex.

Seeds

Light brown.

Description

Mammillaria matudaeSN|13783]]SN|20917]] is a columnar cactus that offsets basally to form wide clusters in time. The stem is quite tidy in youth and tends to recline as it elongates giving the old plant a characteristic sprawling habit. Each head is surrounded by a complete ring, 2-3 flowers thick, of starlike magenta flowers usually just 2-5 cm from the growing tip of the cactus. There are ample variations among spines colour.

Axils

Naked.

Note

It is related to Mammillaria pilcayensisSN|11358]]SN|11358]] and Mammillaria spinosissimaSN|20917]]SN|13783]].

Tubercles

Conical.

Flowers

Brilliant pink to purplish-red infundibuliform and about 12 mm long.

Blooming Season

March and April.

Stem

Cylindrical, 10-20 cm or more high, to 3 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

18-20 very short only 2-3 mm long, lower ones longest, closely cropped, pectinate and appressed (curved toward body), white, translucent, with yellowish base.

Fruits

Red with greenish tint, to 12 mm long.