Mammillarias.net

Mammillaria beneckei

First description by Ehrenberg, Allg. Gartenz. 12: 401 (1844)

Body: Plants solitary at first, later forming large clumps to 50 cm (20 in) or more wide. Stems depressed globose to short cylindrical, green to greenish brown, to 10 cm (3.9 in) high and 7 cm (2.8 in) in diameter.

Roots:

Sap: without latex.

Tubercule arrangement:

Tubercule: Broadly conical, soft, often becoming reddish or purplish.

Axil: with sparse bristles and little wool.

Radial spine: 12 - 15, fine, needle-like,white or yellow, with darker tips, 6 - 8 mm (0.2 - 0.3 in) long.

Central spine: 2 - 6, needle-like, brown or black, 8 - 12 mm (0.3 - 0.5 in) long, 1 - 2 longer and hooked.

Flower: Salverform, deep yellow, 20 - 25 mm (0.8 - 1 in) long, to 30 mm (1.2 in) in diameter. Stigmas orange.

Fruit: Slender, club shaped, red.

Seed: Very large, dark brown, rough.

Flowering period in Cultivation (Europe):

Minimum temperature:

Habitat Substrate:

Geographic Distribution: Southern Mexico in Michoacan, Sinaloa, Colima, Jalisco, Mexico, Oaxacana and Guerrero. Altitude 50 to 1.600 m.

Comments: Very sensitive to low temperatures. Turns brown or reddish in intense light, which is needed to induce flowering.

Bibliography: <br>John Pilbeam (1999) - Mammillaria The Cactus File Handbook - page 47. <br>Edward F. Anderson (2001) - The Cactus Family - page 407.

Synonymes: <br>Dolichothele aylostera <br>D. balsasoides <br>D. beneckei <br>D. nelsonii <br>Mammillaria aylostera <br>M. balsasensis <br>M. barkeri <br>M. beneclei var multiceps <br>M. colonensis <br>M. guiengolensis <br>M. nelsonii <br>Oehmea beneckei