Mammillaria rhodantha

Mammillaria rhodantha
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Genus:	Mammillaria
Species:	M. rhodantha
Binomial name
Mammillaria rhodantha Link & Otto

Mammillaria rhodantha, the rainbow pincushion, is a plant in the cactus family (Cactaceae) and is one of 171 species in the genus Mammillaria which are characterized by having nipple-shaped tubercles or prominences on their surface.

Description

The rainbow pincushion is a small cactus usually ranging from 6 to 12 in (15–30 cm) in height. It usually grows in small clumps but can be solitary.

The cactus's stem is a short glabrous column that is covered with spikes. The entire plant body is covered with conical tubercles, from which spines arise. Usually there are 15 to 18 spines 3 to 7 mm (0.12–0.28 in) in length growing from each tubercle. It has spikes that grow from the entire body; those on the bottom half of the cactus have white or gray and may appear to be dying. Also, a white wool that can be seen growing on the top part of the plant's body.

The species flowers for very long periods of time, normally initially blooming in the spring and continuing to bloom until autumn. Its flowers are deep pink to purple in color. The cactus also produces orange-brown seeds.

M. rhodantha can endure temperatures down to −4 °C (25 °F); it has frost tolerance.

Synonyms

• Mammillaria droegeana
• Mammillaria fuscata
• Mammillaria rhodantha var. droegeana
• Mammillaria calacantha
• Mammillaria pringlei
• Mammillaria bonavitii
• Cactus rhodanthus
• Neomammillaria rhodantha

Gardening

It is commonly used as a houseplant. It does not need much care throughout the year. It is small in size and usually only requires a small pot. Since it is a desert plant it does not have to be watered often. It does not require any special treatment other than plentiful light to encourage spine formation. It also has flowers for much of the year, making it very visually appealing.

Under the synonym Mammillaria pringlei (lemon ball), M. rhodantha subsp. pringlei ^[1] is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. ^[2]

References

1. "Mammillaria rhodantha subsp. pringlei (J.M. Coult.) D.R. Hunt". Tropicos . Missouri Botanical Gardens . Retrieved 10 January 2021– via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
2. "Mammillaria pringlei". www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 3 January 2021.

• Pilbeam, John (1999). The Cactus File Handbook. p. 249.
• Anderson, Edward F. (2001). The Cactus Family. p. 440.

External links

• http://www.cactiguide.com is the main source for the species list, and in turn sourced from several books which are listed on that site.
• Article title is the main up-to-date internet resource, with complete species and varieties description, distribution maps and a large selection of photographs of all Mammillaria species both in nature and cultivated.
• http://SucculentCity.googlepages.com Mammillaria Page: Cultivation Data and Photographs