Mammillaria prolifera
| Mammillaria prolifera | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Mammillaria |
| Species: | M. prolifera |
| Binomial name | |
| Mammillaria prolifera | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Synonymy
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Mammillaria prolifera, the Texas or West Indian nipple-cactus,[2] is a species of cactus native to North America.
Taxonomy
M. prolifera belongs to the Mammillaria clade within the Mammillaria genus.[3] Three subspecies are recognized: M. prolifera subsp. prolifera, M. prolifera subsp. arachnoidea, and M. prolifera subsp. texana.[1] M. prolifera subsp. arachnoides was originally described in 1978 as a variety following chromosome studies, and is unique in being diploid. M. prolifera subsp. prolifera and M. prolifera subsp. texana are polyploids, 6x and 4x, respectively.[4]
Description
Mammilaria prolifera is a notably variable species.[4] It usually grows in dense clusters, with each stem being round to slightly elongated, reaching about 9 cm (3.5 in) tall and 4.5 cm (1.8 in) wide. The surface is covered in small, cylindrical bumps about 1 cm long, and their bases are either bare or have fine white hairs that can be as long or longer than the bumps themselves. The subspecies differ primarily in the shape and number of spines.[1]
Mammillaria prolifera subsp. prolifera may form clusters or remain simple.[1] It has a rounded to short, cylindrical shape, growing up to 6–7 cm (2.4–2.8 in) wide. The spaces between its bumps (axils) are filled with short wool and white bristles. It has many radial spines—around 60 or more—that are white, bristle-like to fine and hair-like, and can be straight or twisted, ranging from 6 to 15 mm long. Its central spines number between 6 and 11, are needle-like, and one is thicker and longer than the rest. These spines are slightly fuzzy, glassy white to pale straw-yellow at the base, and have darker tips, measuring 4 to 7 mm long.[1][4] Its flowers are cream yellow with a reddish brown midstripe, approximately 15 mm long and just as wide. The fruit is orange-red and may last until the plant blooms again the next year. The seed is black.[4]
M. prolifera subsp. arachnoidea is a small form.[4] It has 4-5 extremely thin central spines,[1] which are almost indistinguishable from the radial spines.[4] Its flowers are shaped like a narrow funnel.[1]
M. prolifera subsp. texana is densely clustering all along the stem. The stems are 5–7 cm (2.0–2.8 in) in diameter and form low, almost flat clumps. The bristles in the axils are white. It has over 50 thin, needle-like radial spines per areola; these are 5-9 mm long and white. The areola usually has 8-12 needle-like central spines, which are 4-7 mm long, white and somewhat sturdier than the radial spines. Their tips are brown. All spines are straight and smooth. The flowers, about 20 mm long and 15 mm wide, have white edges and a brownish pink midstripe. It produces red fruit and black seed.[4] This subspecies is especially freely fruiting.[1] A yellow-spined form exists, with pale yellow radial spines, honey yellow central spines, and creamy yellow to pale yellow flowers.[4]
Distribution and habitat
Mammillaria prolifera is native to North America and the Caribbean islands. M. prolifera subsp. prolifera is found in Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Haiti,[1] typically at elevations between 30 m (98 ft) and 50 m (160 ft) above sea level.[4] Britton and Rose noted its presence at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. They described it as growing in low, dry thickets, where it is "quite inconspicuous but abundant".[5] Specific locations include Port-au-Prince and Ganthier in Haiti and Guayubin in the Dominican Republic.[4]
M. prolifera subsp. arachnoidea has been collected in the Mexican states of Hidalgo (in the canyon of the Moctezuma River, east of Jacala) and Tamaulipas (8 km (5.0 mi) west of Antiguo Morelos, on rocks next to Federal Highway 8) at 300 meters above sea level.[1][4]
The distribution of M. prolifera subsp. texana extends from the US state of Texas to the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas. It is found at 400–2,250 m (1,310–7,380 ft) above sea level.[6][4] It grows all along the Rio Grande and along the Gulf Coast of Texas to the vicinity of Rockport, never straying more than a few miles from the coast. At Eagle Pass it diverges from the river, and it is found on limestone hilltops of Edwards Plateau, almost reaching Bandera and Rocksprings.[4]
Cultivation
Mammillaria prolifera is well-known, easy to grow, and widespread in cultivation as an ornamental plant. It is appreciated for its attractively dense tufts of spines and its ability to produce flowers and fruit simultaneously and more abundantly than any other Mammillaria species.[4] The fruit of Mammillaria prolifera is edible.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hunt, David R.; Taylor, Nigel P.; Charles, G. (2006). The New Cactus Lexicon. The New Cactus Lexicon. Dh Books. pp. 171–172. ISBN 978-0-9538134-6-9. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Goettsch, B.K.; Gómez-Hinostrosa, C.; Terry, M. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Mammillaria prolifera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T152479A121536725. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152479A121536725.en. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Breslin, Peter B.; Wojciechowski, Martin F.; Majure, Lucas C. (12 February 2021). "Molecular phylogeny of the Mammilloid clade (Cactaceae) resolves the monophyly of Mammillaria". Taxon. 70 (2). Wiley: 308–323. doi:10.1002/tax.12451. ISSN 0040-0262.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Pilbeam, John (1999). Mammillaria. Cactus file handbook. Cirio Publishing Services. p. 241-243. ISBN 978-0-9528302-8-3. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Britton, Nathaniel L.; Rose, Joseph N. (1923). The Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family. Vol. 4. Carnegie Institution of Washington. p. 124. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- ^ Hernández, Héctor M; Gómez-Hinostrosa, Carlos; Goettsch, Bárbara (1 September 1979). "Checklist of Chihuahuan Desert Cactaceae". Harvard Papers in Botany. 9 (1). Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Prisa, Domenico; Spagnuolo, Damiano (19 December 2022). "Evaluation of the Bio-Stimulating Activity of Lake Algae Extracts on Edible Cacti Mammillaria prolifera and Mammillaria glassii". Plants. 11 (24). MDPI AG: 3586. doi:10.3390/plants11243586. ISSN 2223-7747.