= Mammilloydia candida subs. ortizrubiona (Bravo) Krainz in Krainz
Kakteen (Berger) CIV f, fig. 1973 (A.Berger)
Accepted Scientific Name: Mammilloydia candida (Scheidw.) Buxb.
Oesterr. Bot. Z. 98: 65. 1951
Neomammillaria ortizrubiana (Mammilloydia candida subs. ortizrubiona) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Origin and Habitat: Xichú and Guamúchil and adjacent areas, Guanajuato, Mexico
Altitude : 1250-1500 meters above sea level.
Habitat: It grows in crevices filled with humus on steep rock walls of the Rio Xichú.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Mammilloydia candida
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Mammilloydia candida (Scheidw.) Buxb.Oesterr. Bot. Z. 98: 65. 1951Synonymy: 23
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Description: Mammilloydia candidaSN|9012]]SN|9012]] subs. ortizrubiona (Mammillaria ortizrubiona) is an nice cactus species characterized by a so dense spination, that its body appears almost hidden by spines.
It distinguishes from the satandard Mammilloydia candida for having fewer spines, fewer and larger tubercles, long axillary hairs and paler flowers.
Habit: It is a simple or eventually clustering perennial cactus .
Stems: Spherical, eventually short-cylindric at maturity, dull grey green up to 8 cm high and 8-15 cm cm wide, crown distinctly depressed or flat and closed by spines.
Tubercles: Conical eounded on top, not grooved,at base 15 mm broad, and 15-18 mm long, axils with stout white bristles.
Spines: 50-80 in several series, up to 19 mm long, glabrous or nearly so, not clearly differentiated as centrals and radials or.
Central spines: Up to12 straight, stiff, stout, white, tapering red-brown, almost black at tips, up to 25 mm long, of which 1erect 5 others ascending and other speading.
Radial spines: Less than 60, white, straight, thin, very fine acicular, flexible, spreading star-like around the areole, up to 2,5 cm long.
Flowers: Flowers and fruit from near the centre but not from the axils of young tubercles. Funnel form 35 mm high and 30 mm in diameter. Perianth-segments greenish white with a pale pink midstripe. Pericarpels and floral tubes naked.
Fruits: Clavate, red, juicy, indehiscent, 10 mm in diameter and 15 mm long, with perianth persistent.
Blooming season: Spring.
Seeds: Black, glossy, about 1,5 mm in diameter amn broad, with flat or domed testa, pitted regularly in rows.
Remarks: Mammilloydia are clearly related to the genus Mammillaria, but their unique seed structure and other anomalies indicates that their overall resemblance to Mammillaria is due to convergence and are usually recognized as segregate genera. However their true relationship remains unclear. So far only two species: Mammilloydia candidaSN|9012]]SN|9012]] and Mammilloydia ortizrubiona, connected through the particularly lovely Mammilloydia candidaSN|9012]]SN|9012]] var. rosea, representt the segregate genus Mammilloydia
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Mammilloydia candida group
Mammilloydia candida (Scheidw.) Buxb.: has up to 120 radial spines, cylindrical tubercles, 4-7 axillary hairs and rose pink flowers with greenish red midveins. Distribution: oahuila, Guanajuato, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, and Tamaulipas.- Mammilloydia candida subs. ortizrubiona (Bravo) Krainz in Krainz: has fewer radial spines (up to 60), fewer and larger tubercles, long axillary hairs and paler flowers. Distribution: Xichú and Guamúchil, Guanajuato.
- Mammilloydia candida f. rosea (Salm-Dyck) Buxb. in Krainz: is a colour variant with nice pink tipped spines.
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) Gurcharan Singh Randhawa, Amitabha Mukhopadhyay “Floriculture in India” Allied Publishers, 01/Jan/1986
6) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume 4, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
7) Haustein, E. “Der Kosmos-Kakteen-fuhrer” Balogh Scientific Books, 1998
8) Alfred Byrd Graf “Exotica, series 4 international: pictorial ecyclopedia of exotic plants from tropical and near-tropic regions” Roehrs Co. Publishers, 1982
9) Roger Spencer “Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia: Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Pt. 1” UNSW Press, 01/Jan/1995
Cultivation and Propagation: Mammilloydia candidaSN|9012]]SN|9012]] subs. ortizrubiona is a slow-growing, clustering species that reproduces easily by cutting. It is a great starter plant for the cactus grower, that builds up into a dense cluster of stems brightened by white spines.
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Repotting: Repotting every 2-3 years. As it is prone to rot under-pot in a smaller container filled with very porous compost. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: Water regularly in summer, but do not overwater (very wet-sensitively, especially in light of its succulent root system). Its roots are easily lost in pots that stay damp for any length of time. Keep dry with ample airflow in winter. In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! Care must be taken with watering as they tends to become swollen and untidy in growth habit if given too much water and shade.
Fertilization: During the growing 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.
Hardiness: It is quite frost resistant if kept dry, hardy as low as -5° C (some reports give it hardy to -12°C). However some warmth throughout the year will increase the grower's success (minimum 5° to 8°C during rest season).
Exposition: Outside bright sun, filtered sunlight or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Subject to sunburn if exposed to direct sun for too long. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy wool and spine production.
Uses: It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small. It look fine in a cold greenhouse and frame.
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: Sensitive to red spider mite. Overhead watering is helpful in controlling mites.
- Mealy bugs: Occasionally mealy bugs 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: 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 division . Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove the glass cover gradually as the plants develops and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants! The seedlings should not be disturbed until they are well rooted, after which they can be planted separately in small pots. Cuttings: wait until the offsets that appear at the base of old clustered specimens are 1/3 the size of the parent and then detach and plant. 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.
