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Accepted Scientific Name: Mammillaria rhodantha Link & Otto
Icon. Pl. Rar. [Link & Otto] 51, t. 26. 1829 [Dec 1829] Link & Otto
Origin and Habitat: Queretaro, Michoacan, Zacatecas, Mexico, Jalisco, and Hidalgo.
Habitat: It grows in high table-lands, in fertile soils.
Synonyms:
- Mammillaria rhodantha Link & Otto
- Cactus rhodanthus (Link & Otto) Kuntze
- Neomammillaria rhodantha (Link & Otto) Britton & Rose
Mammillaria rhodantha Link & Otto
Icon. Pl. Rar. [Link & Otto] 51, t. 26. 1829 [Dec 1829]
Synonymy: 94
- Mammillaria rhodantha Link & Otto
- Cactus rhodanthus (Link & Otto) Kuntze
- Neomammillaria rhodantha (Link & Otto) Britton & Rose
- Mammillaria bonavitii Repp.
- Mammillaria calacantha Tiegel
- Neomammillaria calacantha (Tiegel) Y.Itô
- Mammillaria calacantha var. rubra W.T.Neale
- Mammillaria fulvispina var. pyrrhocentra Salm-Dyck
- Mammillaria fuscata var. russea (A.Dietr.) Backeb.
- Mammillaria russea A.Dietr.
- Mammillaria fuscata var. sulphurea (Sencke) Backeb.
- Mammillaria sulphurea Sencke
- Mammillaria odieriana var. aurea Salm-Dyck
- Mammillaria odieriana var. rigidior Salm-Dyck
- Mammillaria odieriana var. rubra Sencke in C.F.Först.
- Mammillaria parensis R.T.Craig
- Mammillaria pfeifferi var. altissima Scheidw.
- Mammillaria pfeifferi var. dichotoma Scheidw.
- Mammillaria pfeifferi var. flaviceps Scheidw.
- Mammillaria pfeifferi var. fulvispina Scheidw.
- Mammillaria pfeifferi var. variabilis Scheidw.
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. andreae (Pfeiff. ex Salm-Dyck) Voss in Vilm.
- Mammillaria andreae Pfeiff. ex Salm-Dyck
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. andreae Otto ex Pfeiff.
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. callaena (K.Schum.) Schelle
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. callaena K.Schum.
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. centrispina (Pfeiff.) Voss in Vilm.
- Cactus centrispinus (Pfeiff.) Kuntze
- Mammillaria centrispina Pfeiff.
- Mammillaria karwinskiana var. centrispina (Pfeiff.) Salm-Dyck
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. centrispina (Pfeiff.) Link ex C.F.Först.
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. chrysacantha (Link & Otto) Schelle
- Cactus chrysacanthus (Link & Otto) Kuntze
- Mammillaria chrysacantha Link & Otto
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. chrysacantha (Link & Otto) K.Schum.
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. crassispina (Pfeiff.) Schelle
- Cactus crassispinus (Pfeiff.) Kuntze
- Mammillaria crassispina Pfeiff.
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. crassispina (Pfeiff.) K.Schum.
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. droegeana K.Schum.
- Mammillaria droegeana (K.Schum.) Borg
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. droegeana (K.Schum.) Schelle
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. fulvispina (Haw.) Schelle
- Cactus fulvispinus (Haw.) Kuntze
- Mammillaria fulvispina Haw.
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. fulvispina (Haw.) Borg
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. fuscata (Link & Otto) Schelle
- Cactus fuscatus (Link & Otto ex Pfeiff.) Kuntze
- Mammillaria fuscata Link & Otto ex Pfeiff.
- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. fuscata (Link & Otto ex Pfeiff.) Rogoz. & Plein
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. fuscata (Link & Otto) K.Schum.
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. major Monv. ex Lem.
- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. mccartenii D.R.Hunt
- Mammillaria verticealba Repp.
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. neglecta (Salm-Dyck) Voss in Vilm.
- Mammillaria neglecta Salm-Dyck
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. neglecta Pfeiff. in Pfeiff.
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. odieriana (Lem.) Scheele
- Cactus odierianus (Lem.) Kuntze
- Mammillaria odieriana Lem.
- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. odieriana (Lem.) Rogoz. & Plein
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. pfeifferi (J.R.Booth ex Scheidw.) Schelle
- Mammillaria pfeifferi J.R.Booth ex Scheidw.
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. pfeifferi (J.R.Booth ex Scheidw.) K.Schum.
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. prolifera Pfeiff. in Pfeiff.
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. pyramidalis (Link & Otto) Schelle
- Mammillaria pyramidalis Link & Otto
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. pyramidalis (Link & Otto) K.Schum.
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. rubens Pfeiff.
- Mammillaria fulvispina var. rubescens Salm-Dyck
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. ruberrima (K.Schum.) Schelle
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. ruberrima K.Schum.
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. rubescens Salm-Dyck
- Neomammillaria rhodantha var. rubescens (Salm-Dyck) Y.Itô
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. rubra K.Schum.
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. ruficeps (Lem.) Voss in Vilm.
- Cactus ruficeps (Lem.) Kuntze
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. ruficeps (Lem.) Salm-Dyck
- Mammillaria ruficeps Lem.
- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. santarosensis Rogoz. & Plein
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. stenocephala Schelle
- Cactus stenocephalus (Scheidw.) Kuntze
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. stenocephala (Scheidw.) K.Schum.
- Mammillaria stenocephala Scheidw.
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. sulphurea (Förster) Voss in Vilm.
- Cactus rhodanthus var. sulphureospinus J.M.Coult.
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. sulphurea (C.F.Först.) Salm-Dyck
- Mammillaria sulphurea Förster
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. tentaculata (Otto ex Pfeiff.) Schelle
- Cactus tentaculatus (Otto ex Pfeiff.) Kuntze
- Mammillaria tentaculata Link & Otto
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. wendlandii Pfeiff. in Pfeiff.
- Mammillaria tentaculata var. conothele Monv. ex Labour.
- Mammillaria tentaculata var. picta C.F.Först.
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. aureiceps (Lem.) D.R.Hunt
Mammillaria Postscripts 6: 7 (1997)
Synonymy: 5
- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. aureiceps (Lem.) D.R.Hunt
- Cactus aureiceps (Lem.) Kuntze
- Mammillaria aureiceps Lem.
- Mammillaria rhodantha var. aureiceps (Lem.) Salm-Dyck
- Neomammillaria aureiceps (Lem.) Britton & Rose
Mammillaria rhodantha f. cristata hort.
Accepted name in llifle Database:
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. fera-rubra (F.Schmoll ex R.T.Craig) D.R.Hunt
Mammillaria Postscripts 6: 8 (1997)
Synonymy: 2
- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. fera-rubra (F.Schmoll ex R.T.Craig) D.R.Hunt
- Mammillaria fera-rubra F.Schmoll in R.T.Craig
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. mollendorffiana (Shurly) D.R.Hunt
Mammillaria Postscripts 6: 8 (1997)
Synonymy: 3
- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. mollendorffiana (Shurly) D.R.Hunt
- Mammillaria mollendorffiana Shurly
- Neomammillaria mollendorffiana (Shurly) Y.Itô
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei (J.M.Coult.) D.R.Hunt
Mammillaria Postscripts 6: 8 (1997)
Synonymy: 6
- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei (J.M.Coult.) D.R.Hunt
- Cactus pringlei J.M.Coult.
- Mammillaria pringlei (J.M.Coult.) K.Brandegee
- Neomammillaria pringlei (J.M.Coult.) Britton & Rose
- Mammillaria pringlei var. columnaris F.Schmoll ex R.T.Craig
- Mammillaria pringlei var. longicentra Backeb.
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei f. cristata
Synonymy: 2
ENGLISH: Rainbow pincushion
RUSSIAN (Русский): Маммиллярия розовоцветная
Description: Mammillaria rhodanthaSN|14510]]SN|14510]] is a shortly columnar cactus that characteristically divide dichotomously with age forming large clumps. The spines are the more variable of the trait and a great variety of forms can be found in cultivation.
Stem: Short cylindric or clavate, dark green, usually ranging from 15–30(-40) cm in height and up 8-10(13) cm in diameter. White wool can be seen growing on the top part of the plant body.
Tubercles: Conical to cylindrical, without latex.
Axils: With fine bristles.
Central spines: About 4 to 6 straight, or somewhat curved up to 1,5 cm long, vividly coloured reddish-brown but also straw-coloured or golden yellow. The bottom half of the cactus has spines that are white or grey and appear to be dying.
Radial spines: Approximately 16 to 24, 3-10 mm long, glossy-white or yellowish.
Flower: Deep-pink to a purple colour, 20-23 mm long and 15-18 mm in diameter, stigmas usually purple.
Blooming season: The species flowers for very long periods of time. It starts blooming in the spring and continues to bloom until summer, but some plant will produce another ring of flowers in late October or even November.
Fruit: 15-25 mm long. Cylindrical to club shaped, purplish-pink frequently greenish at the base.
Seed: Brown to orange-brown.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Mammillaria rhodantha group
Mammillaria rhodantha Link & Otto: (ssp. rhodantha) Plant with 17-24 glassy white radial spines and 4-7red to reddish brown central spines; Distribution: Hidalgo, Michoacan, Queretaro, and Guanajuato.- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. aureiceps (Lem.) D.R.Hunt: Plant with about 25 golden yellow radial spines; Distribution: North of Mexico City on the Cerro de Chiquihuite, and in Guanajuato and Queretaro.
- Mammillaria rhodantha f. cristata hort.: red-brown spined cristate that forms superb brain-shaped mounds up to 50 cm wide.
- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. fera-rubra (F.Schmoll ex R.T.Craig) D.R.Hunt: Plant with 15-18 radial spines and smaller flowers; Distribution: Queretaro, Michoacan, and Zacatecas.
- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. mccartenii D.R.Hunt: Plant with 13-15 radial spines; Distribution: Michoacan and Zacatecas.
- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. mollendorffiana (Shurly) D.R.Hunt: Plant with 24-28 radial spines and small flowers; Distribution: Northwest Hidalgo.
- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei (J.M.Coult.) D.R.Hunt: Plant with 18-22 glassy white radial spines and yellow central spines; Distribution: Mexico, Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Queretaro.
- Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei f. cristata: golden-yellow spined treasure that forms superb brain-shaped mounds up to 50 cm wide.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) David Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006
2) John Pilbeam (1999) “Mammillaria The Cactus File Handbook” Nuffield Press.
3) Stuart Max Walters “The European Garden Flora: Dicotyledons (Part I)” Cambridge University Press, 1989
4) Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001
Cactus rhodanthus (Mammillaria rhodantha) Photo by: Raffa C. Garcia
Cactus rhodanthus (Mammillaria rhodantha) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Cultivation and Propagation: It is a rapid growing species that will form large clumps rather rapidly when compared to other Mammillaria species. Needs lots and lots of space to grow. Water regularly in summer, but do not overwater (Rot prone) Use pot with good drainage and a very porous potting media, keep dry in winter. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer. It is quite frost resistant if kept dry, hardy as low as -5° C (some reports give it hardy to -12°C) Outside full sun or afternoon shade, inside needs bright light, and some direct sun.
Propagation: Division, direct sow after last frost.
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