Xerophyte

Central Spines

None or 1-2, (sometimes 2 to 5 on mature stems), straight, bristle-like white to dark-brown,to 10-12 mm long.

Description

The thimble cactus, Mammillaria vetula subsp. gracilis (Mammillaria gracilis), is a small cactus with somewhat slender, cylindrical, bright green body clustering and branching freely, but the offsets easily detached. The offsets are easily knocked off so the plant must be handled with care; however, these offsets quickly root if placed on the ground. The tubercles are roundish, each being tipped by stiff white spines, radiating like a star, making the plant look lace-covered. There are one or more longer dark-brown central spines. Creamy white, bell-shaped flowers appear in spring or in late summer-autumn. Eventually, this cactus forms a large, rounded clumps. Typically subsp. gracilis has only 11-16 radials, often lacks central spines, and flowers are less than 12 mm long.

Tubercles

Main stem tubercles to 6 mm, firm to slightly flabby, bluntly roundish, without latex, axils naked.

Flowers

Creamy vitae , up to 12 mm long.

Blooming Season

Spring and also in late summer-autumn.

Stem

Principal stems cylicndrical to 13 cm long and 3 cm across, bright-green, offsets numerous but more weakly attached than in subsp. vetula.

Radial Spines

Only 11-16(-17), chalky white, thin, straight, needle-like, 3-8 mm long.

Fruits

Red.Seeds. Black