Accepted Scientific Name: Mammillaria gasseriana Boed.
Z. Sukkulentenk. 3: 75, fig. 1927 as Mamillaria
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Mammillaria gasseriana
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Mammillaria gasseriana Boed.Z. Sukkulentenk. 3: 75, fig. 1927 as MamillariaSynonymy: 6
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Common Names include:
SPANISH (Español): Biznaguita
Description: Mammillaria viescensisSN|25133]]SN|9183]] is a tiny controversial species with slender hooked central spines from Coahuila, now considered by Glass and Fitz-Maurice a local form of Mammillaria gasserianaSN|9183]]SN|9179]] with thinner central spines.
Note: A long series of mistakes and changes about this taxon started in 1967, when Deherdt received seeds from Mexico and sold them as Mammillaria chicaSN|25133]]SN|25133]], but a year later Schwarz named them Mammillaria viescensisSN|9179]]SN|9183]]. Later the nursery Uhlig put on sale a Mammillaria chicaSN|9183]]SN|25133]] with hooked centrals from a different locality, but that wasn't the same "chica" of Schwarz -Deherdt. Moreover Reppenhagen confirmed the Ulhigs Mammillaria as a “chica”. Finally Glass and Fitz-Maurice in 1997, rejected the description by Rogozinski and Appenzeller placing "viescensis" as a synonym of "gasseriana", creating a taxonomic nightmare. And also the photographies of this species available on the net show a great variability in spination especially regarding the presence and size of hooked spines in adult plants. However, there remains a considerable confusion surrounding the true identity of this species. Whatever view one adopts, it is worth a place in every Mammillaria collection.
First description by Rogozinski & Appenzeller, Mitteilungsblatt des AfM 13(4): 152 - 160. 1989.
Habit: Solitary, occasionally clustering.
Roots: Whitish pink, fleshy.
Stem: Flattened globose, 1-2 cm tall and 3 cm across. Without latex.
Tubercles: Cylindrical, dull green, 6 mm long and 2,5 mm in diameter. Axil naked.
Radial spines: 55 to 70, mostly 60, glassy white, yellowish brown at base, flexible, bristle like, radiating, flattened against the stem surface, 5 mm long.
Central spines: 1 to 3, sometimes 4, flexible, mostly hooked, stronger than the radials, glassy white with reddish brown tips, 10 to 12 mm long.
Flowers: Funnelform, 14 mm long and 10 mm in diameter, whitish to pink with reddish brown midstripes.
Fruits: Red, cylindrical, 14 to 20 mm long, 2 to 3 mm in diameter, ripens 4 months after flowering.
Seeds: Black, globular, 1mm in diameter.
Flowering period: Spring.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Mammillaria gasseriana group
- Mammillaria gasseriana Boed.: has tiny stems densely covered in white appressed, radial spines with pinkish-brown central spines. Distribution: Coahuila (San Pedro and Viesca) and in Durango, Mexico
- Mammillaria viescensis Rogoz. & Appenz.: has slender hooked central spines. Distribution: Coahuila, near Amparo and near Viesca. (Mexico)
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Fitz Maurice, W.A., Fitz Maurice, B & Hernández, H.M. 2013. Mammillaria gasseriana. In: IUCN 2013. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 13 January 2014.
2) Pilbeam J., “The Cactus file, Mammillaria” 6: 120, Cirio Pub. Services, 01/Dec/1999
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) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
6) AfM - LBS Lieferung 09/99 Linzen ; Mitteilungsblatt des AfM 13(4): 152 - 160. 1989.
7) Reppenhagen, “Die Gattung Mammillaria” 1987
Cultivation and Propagation: This plant has not the fame to be easy to cultivate, but in good conditions with very careful application of water and excellent ventilation, it grows without difficulty. Be careful to encourage slow growth, but if you succeed in growing a colony of stems, then the results will repay all the growing efforts.
Growing rate: It is a slow growing species that will make clumps given the best conditions, but rewards the patient grower with a beautiful displays of flowers since from an early age.
Soil: Requires excellent drainage provided by a very permeable open cactus soil (With not less than 50% grit content). Avoid 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!
