Mammillaria pringlei

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Since 4 Aug 2013

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Mammillaria pringlei (J.M.Coult.) K.Brandegee
Zoe v. 7 (1900).
Family: CACTACEAE

Accepted Scientific Name: Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei (J.M.Coult.) D.R.Hunt
Mammillaria Postscripts 6: 8 (1997)

Mammillaria pringlei (Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Origin and Habitat: Mammillaria pringleiSN|14267]]SN|14527]] has a very restricted range (extent of occurrence = 7,000 km2) and is present in only three known locations in the State of Mexico, Mexico. Reported disjunct populations in the state of Veracruz and outside of its range in the state of Mexico are likely from other species within the Mammillaria rhodanthaSN|14510]]SN|14510]] complex.
Type locality: Cited as San Luis Potosi, but doubtless Tultenango Canyon, state of Mexico, according to Pringle, who collected the type.
Altitude: (1200)2000 to 2300(2650) metres above sea level.
Habitat: This species is common on rocks on steep canyons valleys and cliffs in pine-oak forests together with Mammillaria uncinataSN|14527]]SN|14267]], Stenocereus queretaroensisSN|7942]]SN|8607]], Stenocereus dumortieriSN|8607]]SN|7942]], Myrtillocactus geometrizansSN|8050]]SN|8050]] and Ficus petiolarisSN|35236]]SN|35236]]. It is experiencing declines from the unsustainable collection of its flowers and whole individuals for use as a Christmas decoration.

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Synonyms:

Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei (J.M.Coult.) D.R.Hunt

Cactus pringlei J.M.Coult.
Mammillaria pringlei (J.M.Coult.) K.Brandegee
Neomammillaria pringlei (J.M.Coult.) Britton & Rose

See all synonyms of Mammillaria rhodantha

Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Lemon ball cactus

Description: Mammillaria rhodanthaSN|14510]]SN|14510]] subs. pringlei, best know as: Mammillaria pringleiSN|14527]]SN|14527]], is one of several yellow- or golden/amber-spined variants of Mammillaria rhodanthaSN|14510]]SN|14510]].
Habit: It is generally a solitary ball cactus that eventually divides dichotomously (branches out by splitting each head).
Stems: Usually globose or hemispherical, somewhat flat and woolly at the top, but sometimes short-cylindric, approx 6-20 cm tall and 6-15 wide.
Tubercles: Dull greyish green, terete, conic, 6 to 10 mm long; axils of tubercles woolly and setose.
Roots: Has long fibrous roots.
Spines: It is one of the few Mammillaria that is completely covered with yellow spines. The spines on this species seem to radiate light, almost making it appear to glow.
Radial spines: 18 to 22, setaceous, 5 to 8 mm long white and spreading.
Central spines: 5 to 7, much stouter and longer than the radials, 2 to 2,5 cm long, more or less recurved (those from the upper areoles curved backward over the apex of the plant), deep yellow to golden in colour.
Flowers: The small deep red flowers are 8 to 10 mm long.
Blooming season: This plant probably has one of the longest non stop blooming streak of any cactus. Flowers can appear any time of the year, mostly from early spring to late summer.
Fruits: Borne in a circle near the middle of the plant, oblong, 12 to 15 mm. Long.
Seeds: Small, brown.

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Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Mammillaria rhodantha group

Mammillaria rhodantha Link & Otto: (ssp. rhodantha) Plant with 17-24 glassy white radial spines and 4-7red to reddish brown central spines; Distribution: Hidalgo, Michoacan, Queretaro, and Guanajuato.
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. aureiceps (Lem.) D.R.Hunt: Plant with about 25 golden yellow radial spines; Distribution: North of Mexico City on the Cerro de Chiquihuite, and in Guanajuato and Queretaro.
Mammillaria rhodantha f. cristata hort.: red-brown spined cristate that forms superb brain-shaped mounds up to 50 cm wide.
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. fera-rubra (F.Schmoll ex R.T.Craig) D.R.Hunt: Plant with 15-18 radial spines and smaller flowers; Distribution: Queretaro, Michoacan, and Zacatecas.
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. mccartenii D.R.Hunt: Plant with 13-15 radial spines; Distribution: Michoacan and Zacatecas.
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. mollendorffiana (Shurly) D.R.Hunt: Plant with 24-28 radial spines and small flowers; Distribution: Northwest Hidalgo.
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei (J.M.Coult.) D.R.Hunt: Plant with 18-22 glassy white radial spines and yellow central spines; Distribution: Mexico, Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Queretaro.
Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei f. cristata: golden-yellow spined treasure that forms superb brain-shaped mounds up to 50 cm wide.

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Notes: This is one of the Mammillaria , known for dichotomous branching (forking or dividing into two parts). Although dichotomous branching is not a common occurrence in cacti in general, it happens for some reason in this particular species. What is interesting about this cactus is that it began as a single head, one head became two, and so on. Other Dichotomous branching species among others comprise Mammillaria karwnskiana, Mammillaria formosaSN|15832]]SN|15832]], Mammillaria microthele and Mammillaria perbella.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) David Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006
2) John Pilbeam (1999) “Mammillaria The Cactus File Handbook” Nuffield Press.
3) Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” vol. 4 The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
4) Stuart Max Walters “The European Garden Flora: Dicotyledons (Part I)” Cambridge University Press, 1989
5) Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001
6) Cházaro, M. 2013. Mammillaria pringlei. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 December 2013.

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Mammillaria pringlei (Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Mammillaria pringlei (Mammillaria rhodantha subs. pringlei) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Cultivation and Propagation: It is a relatively easy plant to grow, both grafted or on its own roots. During the summer it is best to keep the plants outside, where the temperature can rise to over 30 C with no harm to the plant. Furnish good drainage and use a an open and free draining mineral compost that allows therefore roots to breath. They should be kept almost completely dry during the winter months. From March onwards the plant will begin to grow, and watering should be increased gradually until late May, when the plant should be in full growth.
Water regularly during the summer, so long as the plant pot is allowed to drain and not sit in a tray of water. During hot weather you may need to water the plants more frequently, as long as the plant is actively growing. From late September watering should be reduced, to force the plant to go into a state of semi-dormancy. By October you should be back in to the winter watering regime.
It needs full sun, avoiding only the harshest summer sun. If kept too dark, plants may become overly lush and greener, and could be prone to rot, due to over-watering.
Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh. Then feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards, as this can cause lush growth, which can be fatal during the darker cold months. Grown specimens resist to -4°C for a short time.
Propagation: By vegetative propagation grafting or stem cuttings from adult plants.

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Cite this page: "Mammillaria pringlei" Text available under a CC-BY-SA Creative Commons Attribution License. www.llifle.com 14 Nov. 2005. 19 May 2025. </Encyclopedia/CACTI/Family/Cactaceae/14527/Mammillaria_pringlei>