Mammillaria carmenae "rubrispina"
This is a superb gold and bronze-red spined form, produced by selective breeding in Holland.

Description: Mammillaria carmenae is a solitary or clustering globular cactus.
Stems: Globose to ovoid, 4 - 10 cm high, 3 - 5 cm in diameter. Without latex.
Tubercles: Conical.
Axil: Woolly and bristly.
Radial spine: More than 100, soft, fine, flexible, star-like, yellow to gold-bronze tipped in copper-red, 5 mm long.
Central spine: There are no central spines.
Flower: Daytime, Creamy white (usually) to pink to pale pink, with apink tinge, up to 11 mm long.
Blooming season (Europe): Plants bloom at the same time in late winter-early spring and are very generous with their flowers.

Point of interest: Bronze-red spines.
 

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Mammillaria carmenae: 

• Mammillaria carmenae
• Mammillaria carmenae "rubrispina"
• Mammillaria carmenae "albiflora"

Scientific name:  Mammillaria carmenae  Casteñeda & Nuñez 1953
Published in: A. Inst. Biol. Mex. 24(2): 233 (1953)
forma rubrispina.

Origin:  Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Cultivation: It is a  relatively fast-growing  species. This is easily grown into clumps, but it often has an irregular pattern of offsetting.  Water regularly in summer, but do not over-water (rot prone).  Use a pot with good drainage and a very porous potting media.   Keep dry in winter.  Feed with a high potassium fertilizer  in summer.  It is quite frost resistant if kept dry, hardy as low as -5° C. Outside full sun or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun.  Easily clustering and easily flowered.  Most plants will offset readily, and clumps can be produced in a few years.

Propagation: Division, direct sow after last frost.

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