Mammillaria lenta-설의

 

설의

 

Mammillaria lenta

 

 

Origin and Habitat: Coahuila, Mexico. (Type locality near Viesca). The species appears over a range of approximately 16,000 km2. Mammillaria lenta has a small number of subpopulations and is quite rare.
Altitude range. 900-1.800 metres above sea level.
Habitat: It grows and clumps in cracks on steep calcareous rock, in semi-desert shrublands. There is some illegal collecting, but it is not a significant threat. Goat overgrazing and trampling also represents a minor threat to this species.

SPANISH (Español): Cabeza blanca

Description: Mammillaria lenta is a very slow growing succulent that branches basally to form quite large flat-topped mounds of off-white to white with age. Some plants will begin to offset when just a few cm across, while others are more reluctant to produce offsets. Slower growing than the somewhat similar M. plumosa.
Roots: Large, tuberous.
Stems: Flattened globular (or small columnar in cultivation) without latex., almost hidden by the white delicate spines, bright green to yellow green, typically (3-) 5 to 10 cm in diameter, 1 – 2 (or more) cm high. Offsets may be produced low on the plant, or unusually high near the growing tip.
Tubercles: Slender conical, somewhat firm. In the axil there is short, persistent wool and occasionally a single bristyle.
Areoles: Naked.Parastichy number: 13 - 21.
Radial spines: 30 - 40, dense, fine, soft and close together giving the effect of looking like a bird's nest glassy white to slightly yellow, 3 - 7 mm long.
Central spines: Absent.
Flowers: Produces rings of large pure white flowers with a purplish-pinkish stripe, 20(-25) mm long and 25 mm in diameter. Stigmas are a bright olive-green. Perianth segment pointed.
Blooming season: April/May. Flowering may be reluctant unless it is placed in a warm position with high light levels.
Fruits: Clavate, red, up to 10 mm long.
Seeds: Dull black, diameter approx 1 mm.