La Mammillaria longimamma it is a very curious cactus plant: if it weren't for the long thorns, it could easily remind us of sea urchins. It produces large flowers, of a beautiful yellow color that attracts a lot of attention.
Its small size makes it a ideal cactus to have in deep pots. Let's learn more about this beautiful Mammillaria.
La Mammillaria longimamma is a species belonging to the Cactaceae family that lives in the arid deserts of Mexico, specifically from Hidalgo and Queretaro, and also in Texas (United States). It was described in 1829 by Augustin Pyrame de Candolle.
Its name means something like "cactus with large breasts." The word Mammillaria is the generic name, which derives from the Latin mamilla, which means tuber, referring to the tubers of these plants. Your last name, longimma, is a Latin epithet that means "with big breasts."
Since it was described, it has received three different names before receiving the one it has now:
- Dolichothele longimamma
- Mammillaria uberiformis
- Dolichothele uberiformis
It is characterized by have a globose shape and a maximum height of 10cm. The »breasts» are less than 0,5cm wide, but are longer than those of other species, measuring up to 1cm. At its ends we find the areolas, from which the white spines arise and up to 1cm in length.
It blooms in spring, although it can do so in late winter if the weather is mild and warm. The flowers are yellow, and have a diameter of 2cm. To be pollinated, it is necessary that you have two or more specimens that are blooming at the same time; so you can pass a small brush to each of the flowers.
If everything went well, it will unfold the fruit, which It will have a more or less cylindrical shape and inside which there will be numerous and tiny seeds that you can sow as soon as you harvest them and clean them previously with water.
La Mammillaria longimamma resist the cold, but needs frost protection.