Publication: Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. xvii. (1828) 112.
Description
Globular cactus, solitary at first, later forming massive clumps to 1 m wide.
Stems: Club shaped to cylindrical, bluish grey-green, up to 10 cm in diameter, up to 25 cm tall. With latex. Tubercles are prominent, close set, firm, bluntly angled and keeled. The Axil bears white wool and bristles.
Central spines: Usually absent.
Radial spines: 4-6, unequal, chalky white with brownish tips, 20-70 mm long, some very short.
Flowers: Bell shaped, purplish pink to deep red, 1-1,5 cm in diameter.
Blooming season: Winter, early spring.
Fruits: Club shaped, red.
Seeds: Brown.
Origin and Habitat
Mammillaria compressa (and ssp. centralifera) grows and is locally abundant in central Mexico (Hidalgo, Queretaro, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas, Nuevo León and San Luis Potosi)
Altitude: Grows at an altitude of 1000-2240 metres above sea level.
Habitat: This species occurs in matorral crascicaule. There are 16 recognized subpopulations and there are no major threats to this species, however some subpopulations are impacted by the extraction of wild specimens for commercial purposes. The habitat of Mammillaria compressa is home to succulent flora and is particularly rich in local endemics such as: Thelocactus leucacanthus, Echinocereus cinerascens, Marginatocereus marginatus,
Cultivation and Propagation
Mammillaria compressa is an easy to grow species, just as a classic cactus, don’t requires any special treatment, that seems to enjoy, in cultivation, good root space, and well drained compost, though it is not a quick grower. It is a great plant for the cactus grower, that readily builds up into a cluster of stems highlighted by dense spines, further decorated by rings of pink blooms.
Growth rate: It is a rapid growing species that will form large clumps rather rapidly when compared to other Mammillaria species. Most plants will offset readily, and clumps can be produced in a few years. It will fill a large pot or pan in time however, so space is needed if it is to show of its best..
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Repotting: Repotting every 2-3 years. Needs lots and lots of space to grow, use large shallow
container or bowl filled with very porous compost. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: Water regularly in summer, but do not overwater (very wet-sensitively). Its roots are easily lost in pots that stay damp for any length of time. Keep dry with ample airflow in winter. In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! Care must be taken with watering as they tends to become swollen and untidy in growth habit if given too much water and shade.
Fertilization: During the growing season enrich the soil using a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorous, but poor in nitrogen, because this chemical element doesn’t help the development of succulent plants, making them too soft and full of water.
Hardiness: It is quite frost resistant if kept dry, hardy as low as -5° C (some reports give it hardy to -12°C). However some warmth throughout the year will increase the grower’s success (minimum 5° to 8°C during rest season).
Exposition: Outside bright sun, filtered sunlight or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Subject to sunburn if exposed to direct sun for too long. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy spine production.
Uses: It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small. It look fine in a cold greenhouse and frame.
Traditional uses: The white, hooked spines of this spherical cactus were used as fish hooks in its native Mexico.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Sensitive to red spider mite. Overhead watering is helpful in controlling mites.
- Mealy bugs: Occasionally mealy bugs they develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: Rot it is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won’t help all that much.
Propagation: By division, or direct sow after last frost. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove the glass cover gradually as the plants develops and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants! The seedlings should not be disturbed until they are well rooted, after which they can be planted separately in small pots. Cuttings: wait until the offsets that appear at the base of old clustered specimens are 1/3 the size of the parent and then detach and plant. Cuttings will take root in a minimum temperature of 20° C (but better in hot weather). Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer. Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
-
Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001.
-
James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011.
-
David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006.
-
John Pilbeam “Mammillaria: the cactus file handbook” Cirio Publishing Services Ltd Dec/30/1999.
-
Guadalupe Martínez, J., Sánchez , E. & Bárcenas Luna, R. 2013. Mammillaria compressa. In: IUCN 2013. “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 January 2014.
From llifle page Mammillaria bernalensis
Description
Mammillaria compressa f. bernalensis best known as Mammillaria bernalensis is a controversial form of Mammillaria compressa characterized by rudimentary radial spines and 3-5 central spines (usually missing in standard Mammillaria compressa).
Habit: It is a globular cactus, solitary at first, later forming massive clumps to 1 m wide. Each head is surrounded by a complete ring of star-like purple-pink flowers. There are ample variations among plants from different origin.
Roots: Fibrous.
Stems: Club shaped to cylindrical, sunken apically, dark green, 5-8 cm in diameter, 5-20 cm tall. With latex.
Tubercles: Prominent, pyramidal, bluntly angled, keeled and closely set, firm,. The Axil bears white wool and a few bristles.
Central spines: 3 to 5, acicular, the lowest the longest, straight, stiff, chalky white with brown tip.
Radial spines: 1 to 3, very short white or brownish, 1-3 mm long.
Flowers: Bell shaped, dull purplish pink to deep red, 15-20 mm in diameter. Selfsterile
Blooming season in Cultivation (Europe): Spring (April to May).
Fruits: In a ring around the sides of the stem, club shaped, 15-25 mm long and 4-6 mm in diameter, glossy red.
Fruiting: Fruits ripen 6 months after flowering.
Seeds: Brown, club-shaped, 1 mm long and 0,8 mm wide. Hilum sub-basal and small.
Origin and Habitat
San Pablo Toliman, Bernal and adjacent areas, Querétaro, Mexico
Altitude: 1600-2300
Habitat: Mammillaria bernalensis occurs in drains and on the hills in sunny rocky position on granitic sand in matorral crascicaule between bushes. The habitat of Mammillaria bernalensis is home to succulent flora and is particularly rich in local endemics such as: Mammillaria camptotricha, Mammillaria muehlenpfordtii, Mammillaria droegeana, Mammillaria perbella, Astrophytum ornatum, Echinofossulocactus pentacanthus, Coryphantha erecta, Stenocereus dumortieri, Ferocactus histrix, Ferocactus latispinus, Myrtillocactus geometrizans, Echinocereus cinerascens, Heliabravoa chende, Opuntia neochrysacantha, Calibanus hookeri, Yucca filifera, Jatropha spathulata and Agave salmiana.
Cultivation and Propagation
Mammillaria compressa f. bernalensis is an easy to grow species, just as a classic cactus, don’t requires any special treatment, that seems to enjoy, in cultivation, good root space, and well drained compost, though it is not a quick grower. It is a great plant for the cactus grower, that readily builds up into a cluster of stems highlighted by dense spines, further decorated by rings of pink blooms.
Growth rate: It is a rapid growing species that will form large clumps rather rapidly when compared to other Mammillaria species. Most plants will offset readily, and clumps can be produced in a few years. It will fill a large pot or pan in time however, so space is needed if it is to show of its best..
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Repotting: Repotting every 2-3 years. Needs lots and lots of space to grow, use large shallow
container or bowl filled with very porous compost. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: Water regularly in summer, but do not overwater (very wet-sensitively). Its roots are easily lost in pots that stay damp for any length of time. Keep dry with ample airflow in winter. In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! Care must be taken with watering as they tends to become swollen and untidy in growth habit if given too much water and shade.
Fertilization: During the growing season enrich the soil using a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorous, but poor in nitrogen, because this chemical element doesn’t help the development of succulent plants, making them too soft and full of water.
Hardiness: It is quite frost resistant if kept dry, hardy as low as -5° C (some reports give it hardy to -12°C). However some warmth throughout the year will increase the grower’s success (minimum 5° to 8°C during rest season).
Exposition: Outside bright sun, filtered sunlight or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Subject to sunburn if exposed to direct sun for too long. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy spine production.
Uses: It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small. It look fine in a cold greenhouse and frame.
Traditional uses: The white, hooked spines of this spherical cactus were used as fish hooks in its native Mexico.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Sensitive to red spider mite. Overhead watering is helpful in controlling mites.
- Mealy bugs: Occasionally mealy bugs they develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: Rot it is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won’t help all that much.
Propagation: By division, or direct sow after last frost. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove the glass cover gradually as the plants develops and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants! The seedlings should not be disturbed until they are well rooted, after which they can be planted separately in small pots. Cuttings: wait until the offsets that appear at the base of old clustered specimens are 1/3 the size of the parent and then detach and plant. Cuttings will take root in a minimum temperature of 20° C (but better in hot weather). Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer. Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
-
Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
-
James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
-
David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
-
John Pilbeam “Mammillaria: the cactus file handbook” Cirio Publishing Services Ltd Dec/30/1999
-
Guadalupe Martínez, J., Sánchez , E. & Bárcenas Luna, R. 2013. Mammillaria compressa. In: IUCN 2013. “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 January 2014
-
Reppenhagen, “Die gattung mammillaria” 1987
Source: Mammillaria bernalensis, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Mammillaria tolimensis
Description
Mammillaria tolimensis is a local variant of the very variable Mammillaria compressa, with which it grows between Bernal and Toliman. It is a very spiny cactus specie with showy red blooms in spring and summer. It is still unclear whether, the variable M. compressa complex is one or several species. There is so much variation that most authors choose to lump them together until further studies are done
Stem: Flattened-globular to globular, up to 10 cm across, grey to yellowish green and forming suckers, divided into numerous rounded tubercles.
Areoles: With white wool.
Spines: Long and slender, unequal, spreading, creamy-white to 5-6 cm long
Flowers: Red.
Origin and Habitat
Mammillaria tolimensis is endemic to Santa María del Mexicano, between Bernal and San Pablo Toliman, in the Sierra Zamorano, Querétaro, Mexico.
Altitude range: Around 1830 metres above sea level.
Cultivation and Propagation
Mammillaria tolimensis is an easy to grow species, just as a classic cactus, don’t requires any special treatment, that seems to enjoy, in cultivation, good root space, and well drained compost, though it is not a quick grower. It is a great plant for the cactus grower, that readily builds up into a cluster of stems highlighted by dense spines, further decorated by rings of pink blooms.
Growth rate: It is a rapid growing species that will form large clumps rather rapidly when compared to other Mammillaria species. Most plants will offset readily, and clumps can be produced in a few years. It will fill a large pot or pan in time however, so space is needed if it is to show of its best.
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Repotting: Repotting every 2-3 years. Needs lots and lots of space to grow, use large shallow container or bowl filled with very porous compost. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: Water regularly in summer, but do not overwater (very wet-sensitively). Its roots are easily lost in pots that stay damp for any length of time. Keep dry with ample airflow in winter. In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! Care must be taken with watering as they tends to become swollen and untidy in growth habit if given too much water and shade.
Fertilization: During the growing season enrich the soil using a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorous, but poor in nitrogen, because this chemical element doesn’t help the development of succulent plants, making them too soft and full of water.
Hardiness: It is quite frost resistant if kept dry, hardy as low as -5° C (some reports give it hardy to -12°C). However some warmth throughout the year will increase the grower’s success (minimum 5° to 8°C during rest season).
Exposition: Outside bright sun, filtered sunlight or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Subject to sunburn if exposed to direct sun for too long. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy spine production.
Uses: It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small. It look fine in a cold greenhouse and frame.
Traditional uses: The white, hooked spines of this spherical cactus were used as fish hooks in its native Mexico.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Sensitive to red spider mite. Overhead watering is helpful in controlling mites.
- Mealy bugs: Occasionally mealy bugs they develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: Rot it is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won’t help all that much.
Propagation: By division, or direct sow after last frost. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove the glass cover gradually as the plants develops and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants! The seedlings should not be disturbed until they are well rooted, after which they can be planted separately in small pots. Cuttings: wait until the offsets that appear at the base of old clustered specimens are 1/3 the size of the parent and then detach and plant. Cuttings will take root in a minimum temperature of 20° C (but better in hot weather). Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer. Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
- Alfred Byrd Graf “Exotica, series 4 international: pictorial cyclopedia of exotic plants from tropical and near-tropic regions” Roehrs Co. Publishers, 1982
Source: Mammillaria tolimensis, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Mammillaria tolimensis var. brevispina
Origin and Habitat
Querétaro (Mexico, Northern America)
Source: Mammillaria tolimensis var. brevispina, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Mammillaria tolimensis var. longispina
Description
Mammillaria tolimensis longispina (Mexico: Queretaro); flattened globe to 10 cm wide, dark green, with dense knobs tipped with greyish radial spines and sets of vicious angular grey central spines curved downward and to 6 cm long; the areoles white-woolly at apex; flowers reddish.
Source: Mammillaria tolimensis var. longispina, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
Cultivars and forms (4)
Subspecies (1)
Cultivars (1)
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