148 Species of Genus Mammillaria

My Fascination with Mammillaria

The world of cacti has always captivated me with its incredible diversity and resilience. Among the many genera that populate this fascinating family, one stands out for its sheer variety and charm: Mammillaria. As an avid enthusiast, I, Ferb Vu, am constantly drawn to these miniature marvels, each one a testament to nature’s artistry.

Mammillaria, one of the largest genera in the Cactaceae family, boasts a staggering number of species. These cacti are predominantly native to Mexico, but their range extends to the southwestern United States, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. What unites this diverse group is their unique structure: they are typically small, globular or cylindrical cacti covered in tubercles, small nipple-like projections from which spines emerge. This distinctive feature not only gives them their name (derived from the Latin word for “nipple”) but also contributes to their remarkable beauty.

Diversity in Miniature

The appeal of Mammillaria lies in its incredible diversity. Each species presents a unique combination of shapes, sizes, and spine arrangements. Some are solitary, growing as single stems, while others form clusters, creating intricate colonies. The spines themselves can be short and fine or long and robust, straight or hooked, and come in a spectrum of colors ranging from white and yellow to red and brown. This incredible variation makes collecting and cultivating Mammillaria a rewarding and endlessly fascinating pursuit.

A Selection of Stunning Species

1. Mammillaria albicoma Boed.
2. Mammillaria albiflora (Werderm.) Backeb.
3. Mammillaria albilanata Backeb.
4. Mammillaria anniana Glass & R.A.Foster
5. Mammillaria arreolae P.Carrillo & Ortiz-Brunel
6. Mammillaria aureilanata Backeb.
7. Mammillaria backebergiana Franc.G.Buchenau
8. Mammillaria baumii Boed.
9. Mammillaria beiselii Diers
10. Mammillaria beneckei C.Ehrenb.
11. Mammillaria bertholdii Linzen
12. Mammillaria bocasana Poselg.
13. Mammillaria bocensis R.T.Craig
14. Mammillaria boelderliana Wohlschl.
15. Mammillaria bombycina Quehl
16. Mammillaria brandegeei (J.M.Coult.) Engelm. ex K.Brandegee
17. Mammillaria candida Scheidw.
18. Mammillaria carmeniae Castañeda
19. Mammillaria carnea Zucc. ex Pfeiff.
20. Mammillaria carretii Rebut ex K.Schum.
21. Mammillaria chionocephala J.A.Purpus
22. Mammillaria coahuilensis (Boed.) Moran
23. Mammillaria columbiana Salm-Dyck
24. Mammillaria compressa DC.
25. Mammillaria crinita DC.
26. Mammillaria crucigera Mart.
27. Mammillaria decipiens Scheidw.
28. Mammillaria deherdtiana Farwig
29. Mammillaria densispina (J.M.Coult.) Orcutt
30. Mammillaria discolor Haw.
31. Mammillaria dixanthocentron Backeb. ex Mottram
32. Mammillaria duoformis R.T.Craig & E.Y.Dawson
33. Mammillaria duwei Rogoz. & P.J.Braun
34. Mammillaria ekmanii Werderm.
35. Mammillaria elongata DC.
36. Mammillaria eriacantha Link & Otto ex Pfeiff.
37. Mammillaria erythrosperma Boed.
38. Mammillaria evermanniana (Britton & Rose) Orcutt
39. Mammillaria fittkaui Glass & R.A.Foster
40. Mammillaria flavicentra Backeb. ex Mottram
41. Mammillaria formosa Galeotti ex Scheidw.
42. Mammillaria × gajii Chvastek & Halda
43. Mammillaria gasseriana Boed.
44. Mammillaria geminispina Haw.
45. Mammillaria gigantea Hildm. ex K.Schum.
46. Mammillaria glassii R.A.Foster
47. Mammillaria glochidiata Mart.
48. Mammillaria grusonii Runge
49. Mammillaria guerreronis (Bravo) Boed.
50. Mammillaria haageana Pfeiff.
51. Mammillaria hahniana Werderm.
52. Mammillaria hernandezii Glass & R.A.Foster
53. Mammillaria herrerae Werderm.
54. Mammillaria heyderi Muehlenpf.
55. Mammillaria huitzilopochtli D.R.Hunt
56. Mammillaria humboldtii C.Ehrenb.
57. Mammillaria johnstonii (Britton & Rose) Orcutt
58. Mammillaria karwinskiana Mart.
59. Mammillaria klissingiana Boed.
60. Mammillaria knippeliana Quehl
61. Mammillaria kraehenbuehlii (Krainz) Krainz
62. Mammillaria lasiacantha Engelm.
63. Mammillaria laui D.R.Hunt
64. Mammillaria lenta K.Brandegee
65. Mammillaria limonensis Repp.
66. Mammillaria linaresensis R.Wolf & F.Wolf
67. Mammillaria longiflora (Britton & Rose) A.Berger
68. Mammillaria longimamma DC.
69. Mammillaria luethyi G.S.Hinton
70. Mammillaria magnifica Franc.G.Buchenau
71. Mammillaria magnimamma Haw.
72. Mammillaria mammillaris (L.) H.Karst.
73. Mammillaria manana W.A.Fitz Maur. & B.Fitz Maur.
74. Mammillaria marksiana Krainz
75. Mammillaria mathildae Kraehenb. & Krainz
76. Mammillaria matudae Bravo
77. Mammillaria meiacantha Engelm.
78. Mammillaria melaleuca Karw. ex Salm-Dyck
79. Mammillaria melanocentra Poselg.
80. Mammillaria mercadensis Patoni
81. Mammillaria meyranii Bravo
82. Mammillaria microhelia Werderm.
83. Mammillaria moelleriana Boed.
84. Mammillaria monochrysacantha Gonz.-Zam., D.Aquino & Dan.Sánchez
85. Mammillaria morentiniana Gonz.-Zam., D.Aquino, J.Mohl & Dan.Sánchez
86. Mammillaria muehlenpfordtii C.F.Först.
87. Mammillaria multihamata Boed.
88. Mammillaria mystax Mart.
89. Mammillaria nana Backeb.
90. Mammillaria napina J.A.Purpus
91. Mammillaria nivosa Link ex Pfeiff.
92. Mammillaria nunezii (Britton & Rose) Orcutt
93. Mammillaria occulta Zamudio & U.Guzmán
94. Mammillaria orcuttii Boed.
95. Mammillaria oteroi Glass & R.A.Foster
96. Mammillaria painteri Rose
97. Mammillaria parkinsonii C.Ehrenb.
98. Mammillaria pectinifera F.A.C.Weber
99. Mammillaria peninsularis (Britton & Rose) Orcutt
100. Mammillaria pennispinosa Krainz
101. Mammillaria perbella Hildm. ex K.Schum.
102. Mammillaria perezdelarosae Bravo & Scheinvar
103. Mammillaria petrophila K.Brandegee
104. Mammillaria petterssonii Hildm.
105. Mammillaria picta Meinsh.
106. Mammillaria pilispina J.A.Purpus
107. Mammillaria plumosa F.A.C.Weber
108. Mammillaria polyedra Mart.
109. Mammillaria polythele Mart.
110. Mammillaria pottsii Scheer ex Salm-Dyck
111. Mammillaria pringlei (J.M.Coult.) K.Brandegee
112. Mammillaria prolifera (Mill.) Haw.
113. Mammillaria rekoi (Britton & Rose) Vaupel
114. Mammillaria rhodantha Link & Otto
115. Mammillaria roseoalba Boed.
116. Mammillaria rzedowskiana Zamudio & U.Guzmán
117. Mammillaria sanchez-mejoradae Rodr.González
118. Mammillaria sartorii J.A.Purpus
119. Mammillaria scheinvariana R.Ortega V. & Glass
120. Mammillaria schiedeana C.Ehrenb.
121. Mammillaria schwarzii Shurly
122. Mammillaria scrippsiana (Britton & Rose) Orcutt
123. Mammillaria sempervivi DC.
124. Mammillaria senilis Lodd. ex Salm-Dyck
125. Mammillaria sinistrohamata Boed.
126. Mammillaria solisioides Backeb.
127. Mammillaria sonorensis R.T.Craig
128. Mammillaria sphacelata Mart.
129. Mammillaria sphaerica A.Dietr.
130. Mammillaria spinosissima Lem.
131. Mammillaria standleyi (Britton & Rose) Orcutt
132. Mammillaria supertexta Mart. ex Pfeiff.
133. Mammillaria surculosa Boed.
134. Mammillaria tayloriorum Glass & R.A.Foster
135. Mammillaria tepexicensis J.Meyrán
136. Mammillaria tonalensis D.R.Hunt
137. Mammillaria uncinata Zucc. ex Pfeiff.
138. Mammillaria varieaculeata Franc.G.Buchenau
139. Mammillaria vetula Mart.
140. Mammillaria voburnensis Scheer
141. Mammillaria wagneriana Boed.
142. Mammillaria weingartiana Boed.
143. Mammillaria wiesingeri Boed.
144. Mammillaria winterae Boed.
145. Mammillaria xaltianguensis Sánchez-Mej.
146. Mammillaria zeilmanniana Boed.
147. Mammillaria zephyranthoides Scheidw.
148. Mammillaria zublerae Repp.

Why I Admire Mammillaria

My admiration for Mammillaria stems from several factors. First and foremost, their aesthetic appeal is undeniable. Their compact size, intricate spine arrangements, and vibrant flowers make them captivating additions to any collection. Furthermore, their resilience and adaptability are truly impressive. These cacti have evolved to thrive in harsh, arid environments, demonstrating a remarkable ability to withstand drought and intense sunlight.

Finally, cultivating Mammillaria provides a sense of satisfaction and connection with nature. Their relatively easy care requirements make them accessible to both novice and experienced growers. Observing their growth, flowering, and even seed production is a rewarding experience that deepens my appreciation for the intricacies of the natural world.

The Importance of Conservation

While Mammillaria are popular in cultivation, it’s important to remember that many species face threats in their natural habitats. Habitat loss due to human activities, such as agriculture and urbanization, poses a significant risk to these cacti. Illegal collection for the horticultural trade also contributes to their decline. Therefore, it’s crucial to support sustainable practices and conservation efforts to ensure the survival of these fascinating plants for generations to come.

In conclusion, my fascination with Mammillaria is a testament to their unique beauty, diversity, and resilience. These miniature marvels offer a window into the wonders of the cactus family and provide endless opportunities for exploration and appreciation. As I continue to learn and grow my own collection, I am constantly reminded of the importance of preserving these natural treasures for the future.