By Kevin Romine – Mammillaria geminispina<.i> is a twin-spined cactus native to central Mexico. It can grow 10 inches tall by 20 inches wide. It is a densely spined, flowering cactus. Some species cluster, while others remain solitary. M. geminispina is a fairly easy cactus to grow and does not require a lot …
By Joseph Merkelbach – Mammillaria geminispina is named for the pattern of its spination – twin-spined – but that only refers to the central spines. There are actually sometimes up to six central spines, and also 16 to 20 radials that surround them. All these spines are pretty stiff and white-colored, some with …
By Tom Degnan – Mammillaria is one of the largest and most popular genera of cacti. Initially described by Adrian Haworth in 1812, Mammillaria is derived from the Latin name “mammill,” which means nipple or teat – referring to the tubercles. Mammillarias can be characterized as cacti that are low-growing, …
By Ruby Smith – There are about 150 more or less species of mammillarias. Mammillarias can be found in the United States as well as central Mexico, Central America and even northern South America. In their range, you can find mammillarias from sea level to high elevations. They also vary in size …
By Carol Wichern – Mammillaria laui is said to be a variable cactus species growing at various elevations in Mexico. Although there are several forms or varieties, the plant usually forms clusters and has at least somewhat globose stems. The tubercles can be naked or contain sparse wool. Spination among forms varies, …
By Joe Merkelbach – Mammillaria magnimamma, the Mexican pincushion cactus, grows initially as a single spherical form, but gradually forms flattened clumps of multiple heads. The tubercules are very typical for the genus, with a slight tendency to geometrical forms with flattened sides. The spines …
By Chris Deem – The chill of late October holds firm in dank dominion. Somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbles. A cemetery, like all things, has its seasons. The spring of this place is gone, as is its summer. Now the leaves fall on a cemetery in its autumn. There are no flowers, and emptiness has replaced the sadness …
By Pat Mahon – Mammillaria gets quite a bit of attention these days – and rightfully so! The incredible arrangements of tubercles and spines of plants in this genus are among the most diverse of any genus in Cactaceae, with around 200 observed species. The systematics of the genus Mammillaria have been seen …
By Chris Deem – Even ancient lava fields can erode over time, and precious minerals, covered in darkness for over a millennium, can suddenly become exposed … Today, on this bright day in May, the sunlight reveals tiny rust-like splotches scarring several heads on a diminutive clump of cacti. There is a damp, …
By Jeanne Yochim – The stem, initially solitary and later clustering, of Mammillaria spinosissima has a markedly cylindrical shape. The plants, when 1 foot tall, have a stem diameter of about 4 inches. The species is found on rocky outcrops of hills, invariably on limestone rock. Its habitat is reported to be in central …