Mammillarias.net

Mammillaria albicans

First description by (Briton & Rose 1923, Neomammillaria albicans) A. Berger 1929

Body: Plants branching basally to form clusters with spines nearly obscuring the stem. Stems columnar, pale green, to 20 cm (7.9 in) high and 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter.

Roots:

Sap: no latex

Tubercule arrangement:

Tubercule: Tubercules broadly conical, without latex.

Axil: wooly, dense wool in the flowering zone and a few bristels, white with dark brown tips.

Radial spine: 14 - 21, white, 5 - 8 mm (0.2 - 0.3 in) long.

Central spine: 4 - 8, straight or sometimes one hooked, white with brown tips, 8 - 10 mm (0.3 - 0.4 in) long.

Flower: broad with funnelform, white to pale pink, with pinkish midveins, to 20 mm (0.8 in) in diameter.

Fruit: Club shaped, orange to red, 10 - 18 mm (0.4 - 0.7 in) long.

Seed: Nearly round, black.

Flowering period in Cultivation (Europe): July, August.

Minimum temperature: 0° C

Habitat Substrate: limestone

Geographic Distribution: Baja California Peninsula and various islands, Mexico. Altitude 10 ? 200 m.

Comments: In culture, mineral substrate. Needs a high grit content. Not an especially easy species to grow. Should be carefully watered, especially in light of its small root system. Strong light is required for flowering.

Bibliography: [Britton & Rose (1923) - the Cactaceae Vol 4 - Page 138 ] - [Hunt (1996) - Mammillaria postscript N°6 - Page 3 ] - [John Pilbeam (1999) - Mammillaria The Cactus File Handbook - Page 29 ]

Synonymes: M. albicans fa dolorensis - M. albicans fa slevinii - M. slevinii