60 THE FANTASTIC CLAN 



How to grow 



This Pincushion is not injured by temperatures of twenty 

 to twenty-five degrees below zero and hence is well suited for 

 growing in cactus gardens throughout the country. It 

 thrives also in the warm Southwest. Young plants grow 

 readily from seed in pots or flats, in sandy or loamy soil, with 

 enough irrigation to keep the soil moist; part shade is de- 

 sirable. Large plants prefer sandy or loamy soil, especially 

 limestone soil with irrigation about once a month, and some 

 shade. 



California Pincushion (Mammillaria 



tetrancistera) 



(Named tetrancistera in allusion to the four central spines) 



How to identify and how it grows 



The California Pincushion grows from single stems a foot 

 high and two and one-half inches in diameter, or several in 

 a cluster. Sometimes the stems are branched and cylindri- 

 cal with a loose flabby texture. The root is narrow, conical, 

 and fleshy. The tubercles are usually less than a half-inch 

 long and loosely set in eight spiral rows. There are from 

 forty to sixty-five radial spines placed in two whorls, slender 

 and white with red-brown tips ; also one to four central spines 

 which are strongly hooked, dark reddish brown or blackish. 

 The flowers are usually about two inches long and are 

 purplish. The sepals and petals are ciliate and covered with 

 many fine hairs. 



How to grow 



This pincushion is not injured by temperatures fifteen or 

 twenty degrees below freezing and hence grows indoors or 

 out; it thrives in hot, sunny conservatories or greenhouses. 

 The plants grow easily from seed sown in sandy soil with 



