so called Mamm sp. ?

[KittieKAT]

My friend sent me this for Christmas, its a pretty painlessly spined supposedly "mammillaria sp." ...atleast thats what he calls it, thought id fish around for a real name to this little clump of cuteness. Its tiny at the moment only in a 2inch pot i believe, but its clumped into a mass of tiny painless spined cuteness on every side you look. Any clue to its REAL id?

[DaveW]

Could be a Pygmaeocereus?

http://www.cactuscollection.net/Cacti/P ... anus_2.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://kkplzen.eu/index.php/forum/5-Kak ... 5&start=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nice plant whatever it is.

[Minime8484]

I'd go with Mammillaria vetula ssp gracilis cv. Arizona Snowcap.

[iann]

Something not quite right about 'Arizona Snowcap'. Looks too tidy and "normal". Doesn't look like any other Mammillaria though. Maybe a partially reverted form? Or just the photo? Look for the fuzzy new growth and the distinctive sea urchin spines pointing in all directions, there really isn't another cactus like it.

snowcap3.jpg (59.41 KiB) Viewed 1778 times

For a general check on whether it is a Mammillaria or not (since they generally don't have nice lines of areoles like your plant) look in the axil between the areoles. That's where Mammillarias produce their flowers, and virtually no other cactus does. At the least you should be able to see a few bristles or a tiny dab of hair.

[KittieKAT]

I don't see any hair or tufts in between the areoles but then again its very get small. I can't really see the details of the harmless spikes that great, but they apear to be just a bunch of tiny little short soft spines that are pokinf out all over but still in a neat way not so much randomly.One thing that it has is the white tufluffy tuft looking top at the head of the plant but its very short not that high up from the top of the plant's head like in those pix, more like sunken in to the top slightly. And also the harmless spikes that cover the whole cactus body are a slightly off white almost yellow/creamy color but more on a somewhat golden side , but i cant tell if that's from the plant ageing or from growing outside in a greenhouse it entire life(?) Its a very confusing little cactus that's for sure

[KittieKAT]

More

[Onzuka]

I've really studied this plant and have only come to one conclusion. In my opinion, it's unlikely to be a Mammillaria. That's not the same as saying it's NOT a Mammillaria! I'm basing my statement on the fact that I'm not seeing any obvious Fibonacci spirals being formed by the tubercles. Interesting, and I do like it.

Steve

[KittieKAT]

I like it too. Just wish i had a name for it lol!
Maybe i could send u a pup onzuka its got enough of them and still making more lol

[KittieKAT]

This is one that my friend has Maybe to help with id, incase my camera is really bad..

[DaveW]

As Ian says Arizona Snowcap has far more robust spines. If a Mammillaria or Pygmaeocereus it should be large enough to flower next year and the very different flowers would certainly identify it.

The problem with Pygmaeocereus is the so called species are so mixed up since so many different looking plants go around under the same name, plus it is hard to get hold of some of the original descriptions to really sort them out. For instance this one named as P. familiaris if you scroll down this link:-

http://cactus.rastislav.net/forum/viewt ... &start=120" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yet look at this one claiming to be P. familiaris too:-

http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/PYGMAE ... liaris.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Your plant is certainly better grown than your friends KittieKat.

[snarfie]

i'd go with some kind of the cereus family, because of the ribs, soft spines and branching

[iann]

I see nothing in the closeups to suggest this is a Mammillaria.

[KittieKAT]

That's what i told him ian, but still can't really place WHAT this little clump of cuteness is yet!

Idk snarfie , I'll search around see if anything looks close to yr suggestions.

DaveW, i wish i could take the credit for it looking like its in good shape but, i can't. I've literally only have had this guy for about 2-3 month's soo far. Maybe it will flower for me this summer or spring! Well see i guess! If anyone has any suggestions on what it's id is-orv kno what it is, reply below. Thanks

[Minime8484]

What about Mammillaria elongata 'Gold Nugget'?
Although typically more golden-spined than yours, I've seen some that are almost pure white.

[iann]

What about Mammillaria elongata 'Gold Nugget'?
Although typically more golden-spined than yours, I've seen some that are almost pure white.

It isn't Mammillaria elongata. The spines are all wrong and the tubercle arrangement is unlikely. I don't think its a Mammillaria at all. Look close at a Mammillaria, M. elongata is a good one to pick and I think you have one handy. It has a spray of spines (radials) around the edge of the tubercle. Then it may have one or two sticking out from near the centre of the areoles (centrals). All Mammillarias follow this pattern with minor variations and occasional exceptions for mutants like 'Arizona Snowcap'. The plant in the photo has a spray of spines all over the areole, likely to be a South American cactus.