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Mila nealeana
(Syn: Mila caespitosa)

Mila nealeana
 

The dense spine covering make this plant very attractive even when not in bloom.

Flowers profusely with bright yellow flowers, for a long time in summer.

Cultivation: These plants come from mountainous areas, so like bright light, cool and dry conditions in the winter; this is important for the flowers as well as for their health. Without this cool winter period (0-10° C) they normally won't get many buds. They have a thick taproot and are of difficult cultivation and rot prone because of a great sensitivity to the excess of watering, not easy to get to any large size on their own roots really a challenge to grow into a large clump. They are commonly grafted to avoid root problems and to make easier to grow. Sun Exposure: Suited for sunny-brightly exposure; can tolerate light shade.
Cultural Practices: Suited for airy exposures. Needs deep pot and good drainage to accommodate its tap root.
It is very cold resistant  as low as to -10° C or less for short periods of time. It is a fine plant for a rock garden or container, contrasts well with agaves, yuccas, and low-growing flowering plants.
Pests & diseases:   Mila nealeana is especially prone to root rot, therefore, underpot in a smaller container filled with very porous compost.

Propagation: Cutting as it branches freely from the base; Also can be grown from seeds or graft.  Seeds can be sown in the spring or summer. The seedlings should not be disturbed until they are well rooted, after which they can be planted separately in small pots.
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Synonym: Mila caespitosa nealaena

Distribution:  Andes in central Peru

Habitat: It grows in very arid hills and valley around 1300 m over sea level in areas often devoided of all vegetation.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES Appendix II

Etymology: The genus name "Mila" is an anagram of "Lima", the city in Peru near which the first plant was found.

Mila is a small genus of succulent plants from central Peru. Although more than thirteen species have been named, nowadays it is suggested that all should be combined into only one very variable species.
 

Description: It is essentially a miniature plant that readily forms a small clumps resembling in habit and texture some of the species of Echinocereus.
Root: Fleshy tap root
Stem: Clustering from the same thick root or basally branching, erect or prostrate, more or less ovoid-cylindrical up to 30 cm long and 3-4 cm in diameter. Epidermis shiny grey-green.
Ribs: 11-13 low, margins nearly straight.
Areoles: Closely set about 2-4 mm apart, roundish with white to brownish felt.
Radial spines: 12-30, very thin, acicular, setaceous, about 5 mm long, glassy white, covering almost completely the small stems
Central spines: 1 to 6, stronger, yellowish with a darker reddish point, passing to grey,
up to 3 cm. long. At first erected in the apex that tilts downward on the sides.
Flowers: From the summit of the stems that sometime cover completely the little pants body. Campanulate, yellow but drying reddish, up to 2,5 cm in diameter. Inner perianth segments oblong, tube proper very short, stamens shorter than the perianth segments, style about 8 mm long. Scales on the flowers tube and ovary minute bearing few white hairs in they axils
Blooming season: Profusely flowering in June-July. Flowers appears in succession for a long time.
Fruit: Small 5-10 mm long, globular, greenish, shinning and almost naked, at first juicy.
Seeds: About 1 mm in diameter, black tuberculate, longer than broad, hilum large, white.

 

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.