Mammillaria laui f. cristata Photo by: Andrea B.
Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Mammillaria laui
Description: Mammillaria lauiSN|11877]]SN|11877]] is a low growing cactus species usually forming big clusters or cushions, densely covered with soft bristly spines. The crest form - despite to its beauty - is still very rare and sought after by collectors, for its unique features. There are several clones in cultivation with spines ranging from white or yellow to rusty red.
Habit: It forms tangled brain-like, mound.
Stem: Fan shaped, less than 4,5 cm in width.
Tubercles: Cylindrical, tubercle-axils almost naked or slightly woolly, without bristles.
Spines variable: All more or less similar or graded from central to radial, white, yellow or the central brown-tipped.
Radial spine: 35-60 or more, in several series, hairlike, stiff, white, 6-9 mm long.
Central spine: About 12, white to yellowish, 7-10 mm long, intergrading with the radials.
Flowers: Pink or carmine, to 15 mm long and 12 mm in diameter.
Blooming season: Spring.
Fruit: Cylindrical to club shaped, up to to 10 mm long, whitish or pale pink.
Seeds: Black.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Mammillaria laui group
- Mammillaria laui D.R.Hunt: (subsp. laui) lacks distinct central spines, radial spines 35-60 or more, in several series, stiff. Distribution: Ciudad Victoria and Jaumave at moderate elevations (1000-1600m asl).
Mammillaria laui f. cristata: Crested. It forms tangled brain-like, mound. There are several clones in cultivation with spines ranging from white or yellow to rusty red.- Mammillaria laui subs. dasyacantha (D.R.Hunt) D.R.Hunt: has numerous, very slender central spines, all spines soft and flexible. Distribution: it occurs at much higher elevations (1400-1700m asl).
- Mammillaria laui subs. subducta (D.R.Hunt) D.R.Hunt: has up to 12 distinct, somewhat stout, white to yellowish central spines. Disribution: at lower elevations (around 800m asl) near Minas Asbestos, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) John Pilbeam “Mammillaria: the cactus file handbook” Cirio Publishing Services Ltd Dec/30/1999
Mammillaria laui f. cristata Photo by: Andrea B.
Mammillaria laui f. cristata Photo by: Andrea B.Cultivation and Propagation: Although regarded as a choice and difficult plant is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although grows quite slowly. It is sometime seen as a grafted plant but grows very well on its own roots too.
Soil: Use mineral well permeable mineral soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Exposure: They need a good amount of light shade to full sun this help to keep the plants healthy, although slow growth.
Watering: Water sparingly from March till October (weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough) , with a little fertilizer added. Less or no water during cold winter months, or when night temperatures remain below 10° to prevent root loss. It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone).
Fertilization: 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.
Hardiness: Keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (but it is relatively cold resistant and hardy to -5° C, or possibly colder for short periods) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! (Temperature Zone: USDA 9-11)
Crested growth: Unlike 'monstrose' varieties of plants, where the variation from normal growth is due to genetic mutation, crested growth can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it's due to variances in light intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are unknown. A crested plant may have some areas growing normally, and a cresting plant that looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for no apparent reason. If you have any of the crested part left you need to remove the normal growth and leave the crested part behind this will need to be done regularly.
Propagation: Grafting or cuttings. Plants are usually grafted onto column-shaped cacti but proved to be able to produce their own roots if degrafted. Cuttings will take root in a minimum temperature of 20° C (but better in hot weather). Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer. Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks. Large crested piece must be placed on the soil surface without burying the plant base down in the soil.
