Description
Mammillaria spinosissima is a very variable species due to its wide area of origin in Mexico. The color of the spines vary from red or rust to white. The “rubrispina” selection forms nice clumps of columns, densely spined with bright coppery red spines. The crest form - despite to its beauty - is still very rare and sought after by collectors, for its unique features.
Stem: Fan shaped, dark blue-green, 3-7 cm in width, soon forming tangled brain-like cushions up to 30 (or more) cm in diameter. Without latex.
Tubercles: Ovate conical, four-sided basally. The axil is slightly woolly.
Radial spines: 20-25, white, bristle-like, 4-6 mm long.
Central spines: 12-15, copper-red, stronger than the radials and thicker at the base, straight, 10-12 mm long.
Flowers: Vivid purple/ red to deep pink, 12 mm long and in diameter, encircling the columnar stems.
Blooming season: Late winter and spring,
Fruits: Purplish red or greenish.
Seed: Brown.
Remarks: Mammillaria spinosissima “rubrispina” also known as “Red-headed Irishman” has very attractive copper/red coloured spines and is one of the most beautiful Mammillarias.
Origin and Habitat
Garden origin (Nursery produced selection)
Cultivation and Propagation
Its qualities and ease of cultivation justify that it is an old favourite. It don’t requires any special treatment. It is sometime seen as a grafted plant but grows very well on its own roots too.
Soil: Use mineral well permeable mineral soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Exposure: They need a good amount of light shade to full sun this help to keep the plants healthy, although slow growth.
Watering: Water sparingly from March till October (weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough) , with a little fertilizer added. Less or no water during cold winter months, or when night temperatures remain below 10° to prevent root loss. It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone).
Fertilization: Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh then, feed in summer only if the plant hasn’t been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards as this can cause lush growth which can be fatal during the darker cold months.
Hardiness: Keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (but it is relatively cold resistant and hardy to -5° C, or possibly colder for short periods) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! (Temperature Zone: USDA 9-11)
Crested growth: Unlike ‘monstrose’ varieties of plants, where the variation from normal growth is due to genetic mutation, crested growth can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it’s due to variances in light intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are unknown. A crested plant may have some areas growing normally, and a cresting plant that looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for no apparent reason. If you have any of the crested part left you need to remove the normal growth and leave the crested part behind this will need to be done regularly.
Propagation: Grafting or cuttings. Plants are usually grafted onto column-shaped cacti but proved to be able to produce their own roots if degrafted. 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. Large crested piece must be placed on the soil surface without burying the plant base down in the soil.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
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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
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David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
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Haustein, Erik “Der Kosmos-Kakteenführer” Franckh-Kosmos 1983
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John Pilbeam “Mammillaria: the cactus file handbook” Cirio Publishing Services Ltd Dec/30,/1999
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Willy Cullmann, Erich Götz, Gerhard Gröner, “Kakteen: Kultur, Vermehrung und Pflege. Lexikon der Gattungen und Arten. Fünfte, völlig neubearbeitete und neugestaltete Auflage.” Stuttgart, Eugen Ulmer Verlag 1984
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N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume IV, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
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Ulises Guzmán “Catálogo de cactáceas mexicanas.” Universidad National Autonoma de México, Mexico-State 2007.
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John Pilbeam “Mammillaria The Cactus File Handbook”. cactusfile.com, Southampton 1999
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