Mammillaria bombycina f. monstruosa white clone Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Mammillaria bombycina
Description: This is a monstrous form that cluster aggressively and can form 20 cm wide, gorgeous white mounds as it matures.
Stems: Small globose, bright-green to grey-green, up to 2 cm in diameter.
Tubercles: Conical to cylindrical.
Radial spine: Very numerous 1-2 mm long, glassy white, stiff, thin, needle-like, pectinately arranged, that almost conceal the epidermis.
Axil: Filled in white short wool that confer the plant a fluffy appearance.
Central spine: Usually 1, white with dark reddish tip slightly hooked downwards 2-4 mm long.
Flower: Not Seen.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Mammillaria bombycina group
- Mammillaria bombycina Quehl: Solitary or clustering cactus, some clones cluster aggressively and can form 50-90 cm wide mounds. It combines clean, glassy white radial spines with hooked reddish-brown centrals.This plant will produce several complete circles of contrasting light carmine flowers.
- Mammillaria bombycina f. albicentralis hort.: Has evenly white or creamy-white hooked central spines, (tips never reddish-brown). Cultivated form.
- Mammillaria bombycina f. flavispina hort.: Has evenly creamy-yellow or yellow hooked central spines, (tips never reddish-brown). Cultivated form.
- Mammillaria bombycina f. monstruosa green clone hort.: It is a strange monstrous cactus cultivar that forms very rubbery and squishy green and purple glob.
- Mammillaria bombycina f. monstruosa white clone hort.: It cluster aggressively and forms a gorgeous white mounds with a fluffy appearance.
- Mammillaria bombycina cv. Split Spine: This very rare cultivar has unique "Split spines". This is an exclusive feature never seen in other cacti.
- Mammillaria perezdelarosae Bravo & Scheinvar: Differs from Mammillaria bombycina in its darker centrals and denser, pectinately arranged radials that completely conceal the epidermis, and in its paler pink flowers.
- Mammillaria perezdelarosae subs. andersoniana W.A.Fitz Maur. & B.Fitz Maur.: distinguishable for the smaller size, slower growth and straight central spines (not hooked). It is believed to be one of the most beautiful Mammillaria. Distribution: Northeast, Zacatecas, Municipio Via Garcia
- Mammillaria perezdelarosae f. cristata hort.: crested form with stems densely covered with glassy white radial spines with hooked dark-brown centrals. It is one of the more beautiful crested Mammillaria.
Mammillaria bombycina f. monstruosa white clone Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Mammillaria bombycina f. monstruosa white clone Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Cultivation and Propagation: Water regularly in summer, but do not over-water (rot prone). Use a pot with good drainage and a very porous potting media. Keep dry in winter. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer. It is quite frost-resistant if kept dry, hardy as low as -5° C. Outside full sun or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun.
Propagation: Grafting, division of larger clumps.