Mammillaria of the Month

(click here for previous Mamms of the Month)

M. eriacantha ssp. velizii

M. eriacantha ssp. velizii J.LINARES, subsp. nov.

Mainly caespitose stems, branching out at base, stem cylindrical, elongated.

LENGTH: To 30-35cm.

WIDTH: To 4-6 cm. in diameter.

SPINES: Radials : 20-25, arranged in 1-2 series, 4-7mm long, the superior a little shorter, acicular, very fine, slightly curved towards the base of the tubercles, pubescent, yellowish or golden-brown, horizontal, interlaced with thos eof nearby areoles. Central spines: 2, acicular, 8-15mm long, shorter, thick, straight, stiff, pubescent, at first yellowish brown then clearer, thrown upward and downward forming an angle of 80-90
°.

FLOWERS: Funnel shaped, short, lateral, appearing towards the superior half of the stem, 6-mm long and 4-5mm in diameter; external segments of the perianth lanceolate, wide, thin, yellow, torn up; internal segments linear-lanceolate triangular, pointed to acuminate, golden yellow, anthers yellow. Stigma in 4 lobes, lobes cylindrical.

FRUIT: Obovoid to turbinate, greenish or green yellowish, never purple or red, ca. 10mm long..

SEED: Brown, 1mm long or less.

HABITAT: Guatemala; Jutiapa, San Miguel Chaparron municipality, Km 167, rd Jutiapa - Ipala, near the crossing towards Santa Catarina Mita. Alt: 874m.