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Mammillaria carretii

First description by Rebut ex K. Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakt. 542 (1898)

Body: Plants solitary. Stems depressed globose to short cylindrical, 5 - 6 cm (2 - 2.4 in) in diameter.

Roots:

Sap: Without latex.

Tubercule arrangement:

Tubercule: Slightly cylindrical, 7 - 9 mm long, soft.

Axil: Woolly at first, later naked, with one to four bristles.

Radial spine: 12 - 14, needle-like, slightly curved, yellowish, to 13 mm (0.5 in) long, finely pubescent.

Central spine: 1, awl-like, hooked, brownish, 14 - 18 mm (0.6 - 0.7 in) long, finely pubescent, chestnut brown.

Flower: Long funnelform, creamy white with rose-coloured midveins, to 25 mm (1 in) long and 15 mm (0.6 in) in diameter. Stigmas greenish.

Fruit: Slender, green.

Seed: Brown.

Flowering period in Cultivation (Europe):

Minimum temperature:

Habitat Substrate: Shaley, barren slopes.

Geographic Distribution: Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Altitude 700 to 1.400 m.

Comments: Not particularly easy; losing roots and subsequently a loss of plant mass are problems that can be partially corrected with consistent conservative watering. Benefits from warmth in winter.

Bibliography: <br>John Pilbeam (1999) - Mammillaria The Cactus File Handbook - page 69. <br>Edward F. Anderson (2001) - The Cactus Family - page 411.

Synonymes: <br>M. saffordii