January 31, 1884, J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
87 
stout, 6.to 8 inches high, 3 inches in diameter; tubercles conical, narrow, 
half an inch long, crowned with small tuft of white down and a few white 
spines of irregular length ; flowers of moderate size, pale rose or reddish 
crimson ; fruits red. 
M. fissurata, Engelmann. —This plant, so far as I can ascertain, is not 
in cultivation in England, and is named here chiefly to illustrate the 
Anhajonium section of the genus, of which it is a very good type. It is well 
described and figured by Engelmann, and presents a very different appear¬ 
ance to the Mamillarias generally, though not structurally distinct. The 
root is thick and turnip-like, the leaves being triangular in form, very thick, 
and with the upper surface strangely furrowed ; they are arranged in a 
closely imbricated manner, very suggestive of some Gasterias, and from the 
centre arises the whitish pink flower abont 1 inch in diameter and surrounded 
at the base by dense woolly substance. It is found in the same district as 
M. pectinata, chiefly on hard gravel or limestone soils. 
The species of Anhalonium that are better known to cultivators are 
A. elongatum, Salm , A. prismaticum, Lemaire, and A. sulcatum, all of which 
more or less resemble M. fissurata in the form of leaves and habit. They 
are curious species, and bear strange resemblance to other plants—for instance, 
the leaves of A. elongatum have been aptly compared to those of Crassula 
perfoliata, and of A. prismaticum and A. sulcatum to Aloes, especially Aloe 
retusa. These are all considered as Mammillarias now, Hooker and Bentham 
in this view following Engelmann and Miquel. 
M. gracilis, Pfeifer, var. pulchella. —Amongst the small-growing 
cylindrical-stemmed species of Mammillaria none surpass this in delicate 
beauty. It is indeed an exquisite little gem, most symmetrical in the arrange¬ 
ment of its spines, and is moreover very easily grown and readily increased, 
as the diminutive side branches or offsets are produced in great numbers. 
"Very dwarf, 1 to 2 inches high; stem cylindrical, half an inch in diameter; 
tubercles small and green ; spines in one series, white, spreading and closely 
set; flowers pale yellow, of good size, and attractive. 
M. MiCROMERis, Engelmann. —Unique in form and very beautiful, readily 
distinguishable from all other species m cultivation, but resembling one 
described by some writers as AT. microthele. It is a Mexican plant, and 
according to the author of the above name is found “ from El Paso to the 
San Pedro river, also in a single locality east of this river, in naked places on 
mountain tops or sides, only on limestone, never in the porphyritic region.” 
An exceedingly fine engraving of the plant is given in Engelmann’s “ Cac- 
taceae of the Boundary,” and the distinguishing characters of a variety named 
Greggi, which is of rather larger growth, are also shown. In the species 
the stem resembles a flattened ball 2 inches in diameter and H inch high, 
having in the centre at the apex a circular tuft of wool-like down about 
1 inch across, surrounded by a fringe of stiff white spines; tubercles very 
small and closely set, each bearing a diminutive star of radiating white hairs, 
which fall from the older tubercles, giving the lower portions of the plant a 
peculiar appearance. The flowers are very minute, with about five sepals 
and petals, pale rose-coloured, and succeeded by red berries one-third of an 
inch long. 
M. multiceps, Salm. —Chiefly remarkable for the much-divided character 
of the stem ; the flowers are also of a pleasing shade of colour and produced 
rather freely. The lower divisions and branches of the stem can be removed 
and potted when it is desired to increase the plant. Stem dwarf, much- 
branched or divided, 1 inch high, half inch in diameter ; tubercles one-eighth 
to a quarter of an inch long, narrow, conical, green ; spines in two series, the 
outer white, very fine and numerous, the inner yellow, larger, and stronger ; 
flowers pale yellow with a reddish line in the centre of the petals. 
M. Neumanniana, Lemaire. —A bold anddintinct species, free in growth, 
and well worth a place in a small collection. Introduced from Mexico in 
1845. Stem cylindrical, 5 to G inches high ; tubercles stout, three-eighths of 
an inch-long, dark green, with a tuft of wool-like material at the apex and a 
few tawny spines about half an inch long; flowers of a rosy hue. 
M. Odieriana, Lemaire. —An attractive plant, especially when in flower, 
but at all times it is one of the neatest of the genus, its spines being very 
regularly arranged, and the contrast in colour between the inner and outer 
series is striking. Stem cylindrical, 3 to 4 inches high, 2 inches in diameter, 
very symmetrical; tubercles one-eighth of an inch long, dark green ; spines 
in two series, the outer close and fine, the inner tawny, half an inch to three- 
quarters of an inch long. Flowers reddish violet. 
M. Parkinsonii, Ehrenberg. —A very distinct species, of bold habit, and 
attaining a larger size under culture than the majority of the Mammillarias. 
It is found in several districts of Mexico, principally on calcareous rocks. 
It has been cultivated in England and on the Continent for some years, but 
the date of its introduction is uncertain. Stout-growing ; stem 4 to G inches 
high, 2 to 3 inches in diameter; tubercles small, each bearing a star of 
diminutive white hairs, and four to five stiff erect white spines 1 to 1J inch 
long tipped with brown ; flowers yellow. 
M. pectinata, Engelmann. —Few of the Mammillarias equal this in beauty, 
and it is much to be regretted that the plant continues so scarce in English 
collections. It is an example of Dr. Engelmann’s sub-genus Coryphantha, and 
is said to be found on the limestone hills of the Pecos, whence it was intro¬ 
duced to Europe about twenty or thirty years since. The flowers last a 
very short time, generally only about two hours in the middle of the day, 
but they are succeeded by fruits half an inch long, which remain attached to 
the plant for a considerable time. Stem conical or nea: ly globular, about 
3 inches high and 2£ inches in diameter; tubercles short and stout, each 
crowned with a rosette of white spines on one series, very even in size and 
regularly spreading half an inch or more across each star. Flowers yellow, 
generally produced singly from the apex of the plant and comparatively 
large, 2 inches in diameter, with very narrow and numerous petals, the 
sepals being also numerous, the outer reddish green and the inner resembling 
the petals. The woodcut (fig. 14) is an accurate reproduction of Engel¬ 
mann’s admirable engraving in the “ Cactacce of the Boundary.” 
M. pusilla, Decandolle. —A diminutive but beautiful plant, meriting a 
place amongst the best forms of the genus. It is interesting, too, as being a 
native of the West Indies and South America, whence it was introduced in 
1820. This species appears to be identical with those described by Harvey 
and others as M. stellaris, and is also probably the M. stellata of Loddige’s 
“Botanical Cabinet.” Dwarf ; stem 1 to 2 inches high, cylindrical-globular ; 
tubercles narrow conical, one-eighth to a quarter of anjinch long, dark green ; 
spines in two series, outer numerous, fine hair-like, white, inner fewer, erect, 
and brownish. The flowers are freely produced, yellowish, the petals having 
a central line of rose. 
M. RHODANTHA, Link et Otto .—The bright colour of the abundant flowers 
of this plant renders it a charming companion for the others named in this 
list, and will, moreover, bear a lower temperature than the majority ; it has 
indeed been tried out of doors both here and in France during the summer 
months. It is a Mexican species, and was introduced in 1836. Several 
varieties are known and named, such as neglecta,sulphurea, ruficeps, auriceps, 
and others, but they differ very slightly from the species. Stem 2 to 6 inches 
long, 2 inches in diameter, freely branching; tubercles conical, one-eighth to 
quarter of an inch long, having at the apex a tuft of white-down, rays of 
fine hairs, and six irregular white or yellowish spines quarter to half an inch 
long. Flowers produced in succession during the summer, bright rose, 
medium size. 
M. Schiedeana, Ehrenberg .—One of the prettiest and most distinct of 
the genus, and is of free growth and flowers profusely, also producing its 
reddish fruits occasionally, which have a pretty appearance nestling amongst 
the tubercles. It inhabits limestone districts at considerable elevations in 
Mexico, whence it was introduced to France in 1838, and to England some 
Fig. 14.—llamillaria pectinata. 
years later. It should be in every collection. Stem cylindrical, globular 
3 to 5 inches high, 2 inches in diameter ; tubercles dark green, cylindrical, 
half an inch long, very narrow, quite distinct from the majority of species ; 
spines yellowish, hair-like, and forming a small star nearly a quarter of an 
inch in diameter, much resembling the pappus on some of the Composite ; 
flowers small and white. 
M. phymatothele, Bergm .—A strong-growing plant, which has been in 
cultivation in Europe for forty years or more, and is now found in most 
English collections. Its name'signifies “ tumour-nipple,” and refers to the 
swollen tubercles. Several species of Mamillaria have the specific names 
terminating with “ thele,” bearing the same signification with a qualifying 
prefix, as microthele, small nipple ; macrothele, large nipple ; and polythele, 
many nipples. In others the Latin is substituted for the Greek, and we have 
longimamma and magnimamma with corresponding meanings. Stem 5 to 
G inches high, 2 inches in diameter; tubercles a quarter of an inch long, 
conical, dark green, crowned with a small tuft of white down, a few white, 
spreading, hair-like spines, and four to six erect yellowish-red central spines 
about half an inch long. Flowers bright rose. 
M. raphidacantha, Lemaire .—The needle-spined nipple Cactus is an 
exceedingly pretty species, small in its proportions, but very symmetrical, 
and covered with the most delicate little rosettes of spines imaginable. They 
are indeed needle-like in form, brightness, and rigidity, and the clusters 
resemble crystals of ice. A plant sometimes seen under the name of 
M. raphidacea appears to be the same as this. Stem cylindrical, 3 to 5 inches 
high and 1 inch in diameter, slender and elegant; tubercles short, conical, 
a quarter of an inch long or less, dark green; spines in one series, spreading 
