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Since 4 Aug 2013
The crested form is a golden-yellow spined treasure that forms superb brain-shaped mounds up to 50 cm wide. And one of the showiest crested cacti. A real traffic stopper!
Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Synonyms:
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei f. cristata
Synonymy: 2 Accepted name in llifle Database:
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.
ENGLISH: Brain Cactus
Description: The typical Mammillaria pringlei is generally a solitary ball cactus with a ovoid or globular shaped green stem covered by yellow or amber spines.
Cristate form: (Mammillaria pringleiSN|14527]]SN|14527]] f. cristata) is one of the most priced and common cristate cacti which can form robust convoluted mounds up to 50 or more cm in diameter.
Spines: It is one of the few Mammillaria that is completely covered with yellow spines. The spines on this species seem to radiate light, almost making it appear to glow.
Radial spines: White and spreading.
Central spines: Recurved (curved backward), deep yellow to golden in colour.
Flowers: The small red flowers are 8-12 mm long.
Blooming season: Flowers can appear any time of the year.
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) Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” vol. 4 The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
4) Stuart Max Walters “The European Garden Flora: Dicotyledons (Part I)” Cambridge University Press, 1989
5) Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001
6) Cházaro, M. 2013. Mammillaria pringlei. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 December 2013.
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei f. cristata Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei f. cristata Photo by: Cactus Art
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei f. cristata Photo by: Cactus Art
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei f. cristata Photo by: Cactus Art
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei f. cristata Photo by: Cactus Art
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei f. cristata Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Cultivation and Propagation: It is a relatively easy plant to grow, both grafted or on its own roots. During the summer it is best to keep the plants outside, where the temperature can rise to over 30 C with no harm to the plant. Furnish good drainage and use a an open and free draining mineral compost that allows therefore roots to breath. They should be kept almost completely dry during the winter months. From March onwards the plant will begin to grow, and watering should be increased gradually until late May, when the plant should be in full growth.
Water regularly during the summer, so long as the plant pot is allowed to drain and not sit in a tray of water. During hot weather you may need to water the plants more frequently, as long as the plant is actively growing. From late September watering should be reduced, to force the plant to go into a state of semi-dormancy. By October you should be back in to the winter watering regime.
It needs full sun, avoiding only the harshest summer sun. If kept too dark, plants may become overly lush and greener, and could be prone to rot, due to over-watering.
Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh. Then feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards, as this can cause lush growth, which can be fatal during the darker cold months. Grown specimens resist to -4°C for a short time.
Propagation: By vegetative propagation grafting or stem cuttings from adult plants.
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