Three mammillarias

[Astrophyto]

Hello, any help, appreciated

[anttisepp]

2 mystax
3 backebergiana

[Tom in Tucson]

1 Mammillaria spinosissima subs. pilcayensis

[anttisepp]

1 Mammillaria spinosissima subs. pilcayensis

- spinosissima with hooked spines?

[Astrophyto]

1 Mammillaria spinosissima subs. pilcayensis

- spinosissima with hooked spines?

Hello, I've been searching photos and the spinossisima's I've seen have no hooks, maybe it is this one another subs. different than pilcayensis?

Thank you

[Tom in Tucson]

I've grown many plants of this genus. Sometimes hybrids are a possibility, so you can never be positive on an ID. The reason I gave my assessment was because that species is likely involved with something similar. Many times you can find occasional hooked spines on Mammillaria spinosissima. It's relatives have a variable number of hooked spines such as M. nunezii, M. crassior, M. guerreronis, and finally with a numerous amount such as M. magnifica. I hope I didn't "muddy the waters" too much.

[mmcavall]

Interesting. At first sight I said to myself "pilcayensis". Next I saw the hooked spines and said "no".
Interesting to think in hybridization with the more closedly related species of the same group.

On the other hand: there is not any other Mammillaria with hooked spines it could be? I mean, more likely than assuming hydridization?

There are so many Mammillarias...I couldn't tell whether these plant doesn't fit in a "pure" species or not...just giving material for discussion here.