Xerophyte

Description

This is a very nice crested Mammillaria, easily recognizable for its long soft fresh green tubercle.

Note

The cause of cresting is not fully explained. Biologists disagree as to why some plants grow in this unusual form. Some speculate that it is a genetic mutation. Others say it is the result of a strike of lightning or freeze damage, but whatever the stimulus, the growth point of the stem has switched from a geometric point, to a line, which folds and undulates as the crest expands. Though these crested M. longimamma are very rare, cresting occurs naturally, and can be encountered in many other cactus species.

Flowers

Very large for this genus, 4-6 cm. long, 4.5-6 cm. wide with bright yellow petals in May-July.

Spines

8 to 10 all quite similar in shape, thin, needle like, yellow to amber coloured up to 20 mm long, of which one central spine slightly longer (up to 25 mm long)

Stem

Very fat (quite large for a crested plant ( 8 to 10 cm thick) it can form in age a large convoluted mound.