Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) • Earth.com

Mexican pincushion

(Mammillaria magnimamma)

galery
en

Description

Mammillaria magnimamma, common name Mexican pincushion, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae. Mammillaria magnimamma is a perennial globose plant reaching a height of 15–30 cm and a diameter of about 13 cm. At first it grows solitary, but later forms large clumps rising above ground level. Tubercules are four-sided, with latex and the axils have dense white wool. The radial spines are 2 - 5, quite variable and unequal, with dark tips, 15 – 45 mm long. Flowers are pink or white cream with reddish midveins and a diameter of 20 – 25 mm. They bloom in mid Spring. Fruits are club shaped, dark red, about 20 mm long, and contain little brown seeds. This species is widespread throughout central Mexico, at an elevation of 100–2,700 metres (330–8,860 ft) above sea level. Its status is listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN Red List. Mammillaria magnimamma can tolerate temperatures down to 1 °C (34 °F), so in temperate zones may be placed outside during the summer months, but in winter requires protection from frost and inclement weather. It needs to be grown in a well-drained medium in full sun. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Mammillaria is one of the largest genera in the cactus family (Cactaceae), with currently 200 known species and varieties recognized. Most of the mammillaria are native to Mexico, but some come from the southwest United States, the Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala and Honduras. The common name "pincushion cactus" refers to this and the closely related genus Escobaria. The first species was described by Carl Linnaeus as Cactus mammillaris in 1753, deriving its name from Latin mammilla, "nipple", referring to the tubercles that are among the distinctive features of the genus. Numerous species are commonly known as globe cactus, nipple cactus, birthday cake cactus, fishhook cactus or pincushion cactus though such terms may also be used for related taxa, particularly Escobaria. The distinctive feature of the genus is the possession of an areole split into two clearly separated parts, one occurring at the apex of the tubercle, the other at its base. The apex part is spine bearing, and the base part is always spineless, but usually bears some bristles or wool. The base part of the areole bears the flowers and fruits, and is a branching point. The apex part of the areole does not carry flowers, but in certain conditions can function as a branching point as well.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum:
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order:Caryophyllales
Family:Cactaceae
Genus:Mammillaria
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