Staordinaria pianta mutante con corte spine bianco candido. E'' una delle cultivar di cactus fra le più conosciute e amate dai collezionisti.

Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Mammillaria gracilis cv. Arizona Snowcap

Accepted Scientific name:  Mammillaria vetula ssp gracilis
First description by Pfeiffer, Allg. Gartenz. 6: 275 (1838)

cv. Arizona Snowcap

Origin:  Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar perhaps of hybrid derivation). It's a variant of M. gracilis and it is supposed that the cultivars name  indicate where it comes from.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

• Mammillaria gracilis "Buenavista"
• Mammillaria gracilis mostruosa  (monstroza, monstrosa, monstruosa, monstrose form, monstros) 
• Mammillaria 'Arisona Snocap' 
• Mammillaria «regina» (reginae)  Mammillaria gracilis "Снежный шар"

Very pretty mutation with shorter thicker white spines.

Description: Mammillaria "Arizona Snowcap" is a monstrous form of M. vetula ssp. gracilis which is characterised by densely packed separate clusters of spines. It looks so different to the wild species that it isn’t easy to realise that they are related. This cultivar offsets generously from sides and upper part of plant, which gives it a snowball appearance. Mature group can reach 10-12 cm in diameter and 6-8 (10) cm in height.
Stem: Dark green almost concealed by the spines. Shortly cylindrical, to 8 cm long, 1 - 3 cm in diameter and branching profusely by sides, the offsets easily detaches.
Spines: Short, white, thick and more densely packaged than its close relative, M. gracilis.
Flowers: Small, about 12 mm long and in diameter, cream-yellow with pinkish o brownish midstripe in early spring.

"Arizona Snowcap"  shows an odd thickening and shortening of the spines, resulting in a most attractive, unusual looking plants.

Today this cultivar is very common,  but rarely it is cultivated in the appropriate way (full sun). But the specimens correctly cultivated are really admirable.
In the photo is shown a compact plant  densely covered by candid spines . A true beauty!!!

Cultivation: Readily forms many offsets from sides and top. It does best in a mineral soil, good drainage is essential. Water sparingly during the summer months and keep dry in winter. It is a slow growing plant and once established, it will be content in its position and with its soil for years. Extremely hardy, can tolerate full sun, long periods of dryness and light frost (-4° C). It can also grows in moderate shade, and a plant that has been growing in shade should be slowly hardened off before placing it in full sun as the plant will be severely scorched if moved too suddenly from shade into sun.

Propagation: It is propagated exclusively from cutting during spring or summer.