Origin and Habitat: Oaxaca, Jalisco, Colima, Mexico
Altitude range: 900-1300(-1500) metres above sea level.
Habitat and ecology: The species grows in open forest between spare rocks in humus soil. In the same area it is possible to find several cactus and succulent species like: Agave filiferaSN|10450]]SN|10450]], Neobuxbaumia mezcalaensisSN|6390]]SN|6390]] v. multiareolata and Pachycereus pecten-aboriginumSN|8498]]SN|8498]].
Ecology: They have an extremely dense white wool cover that certainly reflect a large fraction of the visible solar radiation contributing to protect the plants from the blazing sun of their bare habitat.

• Mammillaria albilanata subs. reppenhagenii (D.R.Hunt) D.R.Hunt
• Mammillaria reppenhagenii D.R.Hunt

• Mammillaria albilanata Backeb.
• Neomammillaria albilanata (Backeb.) Y.Itô
• Mammillaria fuauxiana Backeb.
• Neomammillaria fuauxiana (Backeb.) Y.Itô
• Mammillaria igualensis Repp.
• Mammillaria igualensis var. palmillensis Repp.
• Mammillaria lanigera Repp.
• Mammillaria lanigera var. juxtlahuacensis Repp.
• Mammillaria monticola Repp.

• Mammillaria albilanata subs. oaxacana D.R.Hunt
• Mammillaria ignota Repp. non Lawr.

• Mammillaria albilanata subs. reppenhagenii (D.R.Hunt) D.R.Hunt
• Mammillaria reppenhagenii D.R.Hunt

• Mammillaria albilanata subs. tegelbergiana (H.E.Gates ex G.E.Linds.) D.R.Hunt
• Mammillaria tegelbergiana G.E.Linds.

Description: Mammillaria albilanataSN|15162]]SN|15150]] subs. reppenhagenii (Mammillaria reppenhageniiSN|15150]]SN|15162]]) is a solitary or more rarely offsetting, cactus species typically so densely spined and woolly in the tubercular axils that the epidermis is almost completely concealed. Each head is surrounded by a complete ring of star-like purple-pink flowers.
Roots: Fibrous.
Stems: Spherical to shortly columnar, elongate or shortly cylindrical, sunken apically, to 9(-15) cm high and about 6 cm in diameter, the apex sunken and filled with white wool.
Tubercles: Pale grey-green, conic, spiralling, firm, about 5 mm in diameter at base, with watery sap (not milky), in 13/21 or 21/34 spirals. Axils with short persistent white wool.
Areoles: Oval, 2 x1 mm, with copious persistent white wool, the whole 3-4 mm in diameter.
Central spines: 2-5, usually 4, stiff, subporrect, acicular, , straight or slightly curved, 3-6.5 mm long, at first pinkish or reddish brown with darker tip, later towards the base.
Radial spines: (19-)22-23(-26), radiating, setaceous, straight to irregularly curved, the lateral longest, chalky white, 2-3 mm long.
Flowers: 10 to 12 mm long, 5 to 8 mm wide circling the crown of the plant. Carmine with lighter margins.
Flowering Time: Late spring onwards (Flowering period in Europe: April, May)
Fruits: Clavate, pink to red.
Seeds: Brown.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures.
1) John Pilbeam “Mammillaria The Cactus File Handbook” Cirio Pub. Services, 01/Dec/1999
2) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
3) 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
4) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
5) Curt Backeberg: “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde.” volume V, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1984
6) Curt Backeberg "Kakteenkunde, Monatsschrift der Deutschen Kakteengesellschaft" 1939, page 47
7) Ulises Guzmán "Catálogo de cactáceas mexicanas." Universidad National Autonoma de México, Mexiko-Stadt 2007
8) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton "Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names" Birkhäuser 2004
9) Hernández, H.M., Gómez-Hinostrosa, C. & Cházaro, M. 2013. Mammillaria albilanata. In: IUCN 2013. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 13 January 2014.
10) D.R. Hunt, "Mammillaria Postscripts" 6:9 1997
11) D.R.Hunt: Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten, 28(6): 129-130 1977
12) H.E.Gates ex G.E.Lindsay: Cactus and Succulent Journal (US), 38:196 1966

Cultivation and Propagation: In good conditions with careful application of water and excellent ventilation Mammillaria albilanataSN|15150]]SN|15150]] subs. reppenhagenii grows without difficulty.
Growing rate: It is a slow growing species that rewards the patient grower with a beautiful displays of flowers since from an early age.
Soil: Requires good drainage provided by a very permeable open cactus soil (With not less than 50% grit content). Reduce the use of peat or other humus sources in the potting mixture.
Repotting: Repot every 2-3 years. Use small sized pots.
Feeding: During the beautiful season enrich the soil using a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorous, but poor in nitrogen, because this chemical element doesn’t help the development of succulent plants, making them too soft and full of water.
Watering: Water should be carefully applied and only when the soil is dry to the touch, as this cliff-dwelling species is very prone to root rot. Allow soil to drain thoroughly before watering again. Additionally, water should not be applied from above, as the feathery spines will retain water and add to rotting problems, but in good conditions with excellent ventilation, in bright light, it usually grows without particular difficulty. Do not water in the winter.
Light: Outside full sun or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Direct sun encourages flowering and heavy spine production.
Hardiness: Protect from frost. But it's hardy to -5°C if kept dry. A winter rest that allows the plant to shrivel (perhaps losing up to 25% of its summer height) will encourage flowering and long time survival.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by misting the vulnerable plants every day
- Mealy bugs: occasionally they develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: it is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Propagation: Direct sow after last frost or (rarely) cuttings. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove gradually the glass cover as soon the plants will be well rooted (ca 1-2 weeks) and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants!