Scientific Name
Mammillaria lenta K. Brandegee
Synonym(s)
Chilita lenta, Escobariopsis lenta, Neomammillaria lenta
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Subtribe: Cactinae
Genus: Mammillaria
Description
Mammillaria lenta is a small, slow-growing cactus with bright green to yellow-green stems with conical tubercles and almost hidden by clusters of white spines. The stems are spherical to compressed spherical. They can grow up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) tall and 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter, branching prolifically from the base to form a quite large mound with age. Each areole bears 30 to 40 soft, up to 0.3 inches (0.7 cm) long radial spines. The central spines are absent.
Flowers are pure white with a purplish-pink stripe on each petal and appear in spring, often forming a ring around the top of the stems. They are up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter.
Origin
Mammillaria lenta is native to Mexico (Coahuila).
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
To encourage better flowering, allow the plants to enjoy a cooling period in the winter and suspend watering. Unlike many other cacti, which use their ribs as storage devices, the Mammillaria feature raised tubercles, from which spines emerge. When you water, the tubercles will expand for increased water storage. The flowers emerge from the axils of these tubercles on the previous year's growth, which accounts for their interesting halo effect. The cactus mustn't be exposed to prolonged dampness and sitting water. Never let your cactus sit in a dish of water. Lastly, ensure fertilizer during the growing season for the best results.
Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To repot a cactus, ensure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Next, remove the old soil from the roots, removing any rotted or dead roots.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Mammillaria.
Links
- Back to genus Mammillaria
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
