Xerophyte

Central Spines

(3-)4-5(-7), golden yellow or greyish, needle-like, straight, 6-8 mm long.

Sap

Without latex.

Seeds

Brown to glossy black, small, oval-rounded.

Description

Mammillaria columbianaSN|18469]]SN|18469]] is a mostly solitary or slowly offsetting cactus. Due to its ample diffusion it is extremely variable and for this reason it can be called the cactus of the “Thousand Faces”.

Axils

Moderately woolly or densely woolly.

Tubercles

Short conical.

Flowers

Small that fail to fully open, bright red-pink, barely protruding from the wool.

Stem

Narrow columnar stem, 8-25 cm tall, 5-18 cm broad.

Radial Spines

18-20, bristle-like, white, 4-6 mm long.

Fruits

Club shaped, orange-red to purple.