Mammillaria glochidiata var. xiloensis
(Syn: Mammillaria crinita ssp. crinita)

Mammillaria glochidiata var. xiloensis is a small, pincushiony cluster of egg-shaped balls, with fine hooklike spines and lovely pink flowers.

Description: Plants irregularly forming tightly packed cluster of egg-shaped balls, up to 5 cm tall (in cultivation it can grow up to15 cm), 6 cm in diameter.
Stems: Cylindrical, glossy bright green, rounded apically, 2 - 3.5 cm in diameter. Without latex.
Tubercule: Flabby, widely separated, cylindrical to conical, 12 - 16 mmlong.
Radial spine: 9 - 11, threadlike, flexible, smooth, white, horizontal, to 12 mm long.
Central spine: 1 - 4, needle-like, lower one hooked, dark yellow, 6 - 12 mm long.
Flower: Bell shaped, pale cream-pink, to 10-15 mm long and 8-10 mm in diameter.
Bloom season: Mid Spring through Mid Summer
Fruit: Club shaped, scarlet, to 16 mm long.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.
 

Origin: Hidalgo, Mexico. Altitude about 1.300 m.

Synonyms:

• Mammillaria crinita ssp. crinita

Cultivation: Easily grown, but needs to be grown hard to keep the clumps compact. Require  a mineral-based potting mix . Care must be taken with watering and needs good drainage, they tends to become swollen and untidy in growth habit if given too much water. They need to be kept dry in winter.
Sun Exposure: Full sun - Light shade

Propagation: Seeds (if available), but usually easily propagated from the offsets.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of  plants belonging to the Mammillaria crinita complex  (This taxon has lots of synonyms (like most mammillaria) with several controversial varieties and subspecies):

• M. brevicrinita (M. crinita)
• M. glochidiata var. xiloensis (M. crinita)
• M. painterii forma mostruosa (M. crinita fa. mostruosa. )
• M. sheinvariana (M. crinita)