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Mammillaria haageana subs. elegans D.R.Hunt

Family: CACTACEAE · Variety or form of Mammillaria haageana

Publication: Mammillaria Postscripts 6: 9 (1997), nom. nov. (Replaced synonym: Mammillaria collina)

Description

Mammillaria haageana subs. elegans (replaced name of Mammillaria collina) is a very symmetrical solitary globular cactus wrapped by short white spines with ring of fine rose-purple flowers circling the crown of the plant. The fruit locally known as “chilito” is edible (not to be confused with the true “chilito” or chili pepper ).

Stem: Simple globose 5-8 cm (12-13) cm in diameter, apex somewhat depressed and clothed with white wool.

Tubercles: Cylindrical up to 1 cm long, woolly in their axils.

Radial spines: 16-18, white, up to 4 mm long.

Central spines: 1-2, longer and darker than the radials.

Flowers: Rose-colored, 1.5 to 2 cm. long.

Booming season: Late winter to early spring.

Fruits: 2 cm long, red.

Origin and Habitat

Puebla, Mexico.

Altitude range: 1600 to 2300 metres above sea level.

Habitat and ecology: Mammillaria collina is found in open, grassy areas and among shrubs (matorrales xerófilos) together with Coryphantha greenwoodii, Ferocactus recurvus.

Cultivation and Propagation

Mammillaria haageana subs. elegans is a free-flowering and relatively easy plant to grow.

Exposition: Full sun to light shade.

Watering: Water regularly in summer but do not over-water. Keep dry in winter. Hardy down to -4°C.

Growing tips: It is better that they be repotted regularly. Repotting will increase the number and size of stems, and will increase the number of flowers produced. Repot yearly until it reaches about 3 cm in size, then every two or three years will suffice. Repotting is best done at the end of winter, but it can be done at other time, too. Do not water for a couple of weeks after reporting, in order to reduce risk of root rot via broken roots.

Propagation: Seeds or offsets if available.

Bibliography

Major references and further lectures

  1. Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” vol. 4 The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923

  2. “Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information” H.M. Stationery Office, 1913

  3. “Atlas cultural de México: Lingüística” Secretaría de Educación Pública, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, 1988

  4. Salvador Arias Montes, Susana Gama-López, L. Ulises Guzmán-Cruz “Flora del valle de Tehuacán-Cuicatlán: Cactaceae Juss”, Parte 95 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Biología, 2012