Mammillaria


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Mammillaria >


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Read about Mammillaria in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Mammillaria (Latin, mammila; referring to the nipple-like tubercles on these plants). Often but not originally spelled Mamillaria. Cactaceae. Globular or condensed small spiny cacti grown in greenhouses and some of the species in the open far South; mostly fanciers' plants.

Stems simple, branching or in a cluster from the root, commonly hemispherical or short-cylindrical, but often depressed or sometimes much elongated, the surface entirely broken up into tubercles (mamillae): fls. usually short-funnel form, with naked or nearly naked tube and ovary, borne in the more or less woolly axils between the tubercles, or at the inner extremity of a narrow groove on their upper surface: fr. globose to linear-clavate, nearly always smooth and berry-like. The name Mammillaria is one of the generic names conserved by the Vienna rules of nomenclature, but there seems to be no justification for this except as a matter of convenience. The name Mammillaria, used for a cactus genus, was given by Haworth in 1812, but is antedated by the Mammillaria published by Stack- house for a genus of alga. The alga name has long been reduced to synonony, but a recent study of its status seems to justify its reestablishment. Mammillaria, as considered here, follows closely the treatment in Cyclo. Amer. Hort., but, as a matter of fact, it would be better to divide the group into 2 or more genera. Britton & Rose are preparing a monograph of the Cactaceae in which these points will be discussed; but in the meantime, the old name Mammillaria will be retained.

The cultivation of Mammillaria differs in no respect from Echinocactus, which see.

Mammillarias, in common with other cacti, run into many forms. Some of these forms may be valuable to the horticulturist, and yet not sufficiently distinct to warrant the giving of definite botanical names. The following names, not accounted for in the above review, are offered in the catalogues of American dealers: M. Brandii.—M. brunea.—M. cirrhifera longispina (see No. 75).—M. Donatii.—M. filipendula.—M. fuscata Leona (see Nos. 35, 62).—M. lassomeri- M. Lesaunieri(?).—M. melonacantha is an uncertain garden name. —M. montana.—M. nicholsonii- Nickelsae(?).—M. Rebsamiana.—M. recurvens.—M. rigidispina.

The following species, mostly recently described, have appeared in foreign publications. None of them is being grown in Amer.: M. Boedekeriana, Quehl.—M. bombycina, Quehl.—M. camplotricha, E. Dams.—M. collina, Purpus.—M. cordigera, Heese.—M. Emskoetteriana. Quehl.—M. Joosensiana.. Quehl.—M Knippeliana, Quehl. —M. Mundtii, Schum.—M. napina, Purpus.—M. pilispina, Purpus. —M. ramosissima, Quehl.—M. Ruestii. Quehl.—M. Sartorii. Purpus.—M. Seideliana, Quehl.—M. trichacantha, Schum.—M. uniseta. Quehl.—M. Verhaertiana, Boedeker.

The following species are likely to appear in the trade at any time: M. ceratites, Quehl. This species has been associated with M. Delaetiana and M. durangensis, but it seems to be very close to M. conoidea. It has not yet been intro. into American trade.—M. Delaetiana, Quehl. Sts. club-shaped, about 3 in. high: tubercles grooved on the upper side: fla. large, pale yellow. Mex., sometimes credited to Calif.—M. durangensis Runge. Very beautiful species with small central fls. Does not grow well in cult.—M. pseudoperbella, Quehl. A species recently intro. into Eu. Very close to M. elegans. Not yet cult, in Amer.


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