: Mammillaria perezdelarosae Bravo & Scheinvar
Cact. Suc. Mex. 30(4): 76 (1985).

Escobariopsis perezdelarosae (Mammillaria perezdelarosae) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Similar to the related Mammillaria bombycina, it differs in its darker centrals and denser, pectinately arranged radials that completely conceal the epidermis, and in its paler pink flowers.
: Mexico, Jalisco, Aguascalientes (Zacatecas ?)
Altitude: 2000-2400 metres above sea level.
Habitat and ecology: Grows on steep rocks together with Jatropha dioica, Opuntia leucotricha, Opuntia durangensis, Opuntia streptacantha, Dodonaea viscosa
:
: Mammillaria perezdelarosaeSN|9007]]SN|11894]] is one of the more beautiful Mammillaria, with smallish stems densely covered with curious bicoloured spines. It combines clean, glassy white radial spines with hooked dark-brown centrals. At first it stay solitary but will offsets with time. Occasionally, plants will offset when quite young, and dense clumps of spherical bodies will result. Growth is slow to moderate, and the best plants are grown somewhat slowly to conserve the dense spination. It is closely related to Mammillaria bombycinaSN|11894]]SN|9007]].
Stem: Globular depressed, becoming columnar with age, bright dark green 3,5-5 cm in diameter, or more, 5-7 cm tall (up to 15 cm tall in cultivation). Usually without latex.
Tubercles: Conical with rounded tips. Axil with bristles.
Radial spines:3 0-60, pectinately arranged, needle- to hair-like, white with yellowish bases, 2-3,5 mm long.
Central spines: 1 or 2, ascending, dark red, 11-14 mm long, lowermost one hooked.
Flowers: Greenish white, cream to light pink, with a slightly darker midstripe are up to 20 mm long and 2,5 cm in diameter.
Blooming season: Flowers come in late winter.
Fruits: Red.
Seeds: Brownish black.
: Mammillaria bombycinaSN|9007]]SN|9007]] is closely related , however they are basically different plants. They are vaguely similar for spines but the bombycina forms readily large clumps while the perezdelarosae offsets very slowly over the years and usually with no more than 2-3 offsets per plant. Both species are of easy culture and have consistently clean spination whether grown indoors or out.
: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) John Pilbeam “Mammillaria: the cactus file handbook” Cirio Publishing Services Ltd Dec/30,/1999
Escobariopsis perezdelarosae (Mammillaria perezdelarosae) Photo by: Andrea B.
Escobariopsis perezdelarosae (Mammillaria perezdelarosae) Photo by: Agócs György
Escobariopsis perezdelarosae (Mammillaria perezdelarosae) Photo by: Cactus Art
Escobariopsis perezdelarosae (Mammillaria perezdelarosae) Photo by: Cactus Art
Escobariopsis perezdelarosae (Mammillaria perezdelarosae) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Escobariopsis perezdelarosae (Mammillaria perezdelarosae) Photo by: Cactus Art
Escobariopsis perezdelarosae (Mammillaria perezdelarosae) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Escobariopsis perezdelarosae (Mammillaria perezdelarosae) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli: Need regular water but do not water again until dry, as it is specially sensitive to over watering; plants should be allowed to become crowded in their pot. Keep in shallow pot. Also, it is a species that is dormant in the winter and require very little water (maybe even none) during the cold months. Frost Tolerance: Light frost protection required. Minimum of 5ºC for safe growing (but hardy up to -5°C or less.) Sun Exposure: High levels of light are needed to flower and for good spine development. Can be sunburned if moved from shade/greenhouse into full sun too quickly. During the spring it may be able to take full sun until the heat arrives at the end of spring. In an area that has hot afternoon sun, it may be able to take full morning sun, but requires afternoon shade or afternoon light shade. If grown correctly, it will reward the grower with generous displays of purple flowers.
Propagation: Seeds (usually) or offsets that appear at the base; leave them attached to form a cluster, or wait until they are 1/3 the size of the parent and then detach and plant.

by Cactus Art

by Cactus Art

by Valentino Vallicelli

by Valentino Vallicelli