Origin and Habitat: Mammillaria brandegeeiSN|23737]]SN|23737]] is endemic to the Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur (Vizcaíno desert region of central Baja California).
Altitude range: This species occurs at elevations from sea level to about 200 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: It occurs among rocks but also among other vegetation and has often its vegetative body underground, exposing on the top of the plant at the soil surface. During drought it actually shrinks down into the soil, where the microclimate is much more equitable. It is often found growing at the base of larger plants together with other succulent species including Bergerocactus emoryiSN|5475]]SN|5475]], Lophocereus schottiiSN|8344]]SN|8344]], Echinocereus maritimusSN|8323]]SN|8323]], Ferocactus fordiiSN|11980]]SN|12330]], Ferocactus viridescensSN|13617]]SN|13617]], Ferocactus gracilisSN|12330]]SN|11980]], Idria columnarisSN|30207]]SN|30207]] and many species of Dudleya. Parts of the species range are probably affected by human activities, however, it is a wide-ranging plant that has only localized threats, and occurs within protected areas.

• Mammillaria brandegeei (J.M.Coult.) K.Brandegee
• Cactus brandegeei J.M.Coult.
• Neomammillaria brandegeei Britton & Rose
• Neomammillaria brandegeei var. gabbii (J.M.Coult.) Y.Itô

• Mammillaria brandegeei (J.M.Coult.) K.Brandegee
• Cactus brandegeei J.M.Coult.
• Neomammillaria brandegeei Britton & Rose
• Neomammillaria brandegeei var. gabbii (J.M.Coult.) Y.Itô
• Mammillaria magdalensis Werderm.
• Neomammillaria brandegeei var. magdalensis (Werderm.) Y.Itô

• Mammillaria brandegeei subs. gabbii (Engelm. ex J.M.Coult.) D.R.Hunt
• Cactus gabbii J.M.Coult.
• Mammillaria brandegeei var. gabbii (J.M.Coult.) R.T.Craig
• Mammillaria gabbii (J.M.Coult.) K.Brandegee

• Mammillaria brandegeei subs. glareosa (Boed.) D.R.Hunt
• Mammillaria glareosa Boed.
• Mammillaria dawsonii (Houghton) R.T.Craig
• Neomammillaria dawsonii Houghton

• Mammillaria brandegeei subs. lewisiana (H.E.Gates) D.R.Hunt
• Mammillaria lewisiana H.E.Gates
• Neomammillaria lewisiana (H.E.Gates) Y.Itô

Description: Mammillaria brandegeeiSN|23737]]SN|23737]] is a great looking cactus, solitary or eventually forming clusters of 2 to 8, but is sensitive to low temperatures and needs extra heat in winter. Four subspecies recognized, the nominate, gabbii (J.M. Coult.) D.R.Hunt, lewisiana (H.E.Gates) D.R.Hunt and glareosa (Boed.) D.R.Hunt.
Stem: Cylindric to globular, flattened, dark green, to 9 cm in diameter.
Tubercles: Firm, square and angled basally, conical above with latex, axils woolly without hairlike bristles.
Radial spines: 9 to 16, whitish to yellowish brown, with dark tips, needle-like, 8 to 10 mm long stiff, straight.
Central spines: 2-4, sometimes only 1 in an occasional areola, usually a little longer and darker than the radials, reddish brown with darker tips, straight, stout, 10-12 mm long.
Flowers: Greenish-yellow, brownish yellow, to yellow 15-21 mm long; outer perianth-segments ovate, striate, ciliate; inner perianth-segments greenish yellow with a reddish-brown midstripe, narrower than the outer, entire.
Blooming season: Spring (April in habitat).
Fruit: White to dull pink slow ripening, bearing a few narrow scales.
Seeds: Brown.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) León de la Luz, J.L. 2013. Mammillaria brandegeei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 18 April 2015.
2) 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
3) John Pilbeam “Mammillaria The Cactus File Handbook” Cirio Pub. Services, 01/December/1999
4) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
5) 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/August /2011
6) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
7) Philip W. Rundel, Gloria Montenegro Rizzardini, Fabian M. Jaksic “Landscape Disturbance and Biodiversity in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems” Springer Science & Business Media, 20 October 1998
8) Carsten Hobohm “Endemism in Vascular Plants” Springer Science & Business Media, 23 August 2013
9) Norman C. Roberts “Baja California field trip” Natural History Pub. Co., 1989
10) Ulises Guzmán, Salvador Arias, Patricia Dávila “Catálogo de cactáceas mexicanas.” Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico-State 2003
11) Shreve, F. & I. L. Wiggins. "Veg. Fl. Sonoran Des." 2 vols. Stanford University Press, Stanford. 1964

Cultivation and Propagation: Mammillaria brandegeeiSN|23737]]SN|23737]] is slow-growing, and not especially easy to grow, but some plants will offset readily, and clumps can be produced in a few years.
Soil: Use pot with good drainage and a very porous mineral-based potting mix.
Waterings: Potted plants are quite wet-sensitive, especially in light of its small root system. Water sparingly during the growing season, keep very dry in winter.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Hardiness: Usually it is recommended to overwinter this plant in a bright and warm greenhouse with at least 8-10° C, but it has proved to be quite frost resistant (if kept dry, it's hardy as low as -5° C).
Exposure: Strong light is required for flowering.
Propagation: Direct sow after last frost, or use cuttings.