Simile all'affine mammillaria bombycina, si distingue facilmente per le spine centrali scure e per le dense spine radiali, candide e pettinate che nascondono l'epidermide. I fiori sono rosa chiaro.

Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Scientific name:  Mammillaria perezdelarosae H. Bravo & L. Scheinvar
In: Cact. Succ. Mex. 30(4): 76 (1985)

(Oftens found as M. perez-de-la-rosae)

Origin:  Mexico, Jalisco, Aguascalientes (Zacatecas ?) Altitude 2.000 - 2.400 m.

M. bombycina  is closely related , however they are basically different plants. They are vaguely similar for spines but the bombycina  forms readily large clumps while the perezdelarosae offsets very slowly over the years and usually with no more than 2-3 offsets per plant.  Both species are of easy culture and have consistently clean spination whether grown indoors or out.

Synonyms:

• Mammillaria bombycina Quehl ssp. perezdelarosae ( H. Bravo & L. Scheinvar) D.R. Hunt 1997
• Escobariopsis perezdelarosae (H. Bravo & L. Scheinvar) Doweld 2000
• Mammillaria perezdelarosae ssp. Andersoniana Fitz Maurice & B. Fitz Maurice, 2001

Similar to the related M. bombycina, it differs in its darker centrals and denser, pectinately arranged radials that completely conceal the epidermis, and in its paler pink flowers.

Description: This is one of the more beautiful Mammillaria, with smallish stems densely covered with curious bicoloured spines. It combines clean, glassy white radial spines with hooked dark-brown centrals. At first it stay solitary but will offsets with time. Occasionally, plants will offset when quite young, and dense clumps of spherical bodies will result. Growth is slow to moderate, and the best plants are grown somewhat slowly to conserve the dense spination. It is closely related to M. bombycina.
Stem: Globular depressed, becoming columnar with age, bright dark green 3,5-5 cm in diameter, or more, 5-7 cm tall (up to 15 cm tall in cultivation) Usually without latex.
Tubercles: Conical with rounded tips. Axil with bristles.
Radial spine: 30 - 60, pectinately arranged, needle- to hair-like, white with yellowish bases, 2 - 3.5 mm long.
Central spine: 1 - 2, ascending, dark red, 11 - 14 mm long, lowermost one hooked.
Flowers: Greenish white, cream to light pink , with a slightly darker midstripe are up to 20 mm long and 2,5 cm in diameter.
Blooming season: Flowers come in late winter.
Fruit: Red.
Seed: Brownish black.

Cultivation: Need regular water but do not water again until dry, as it is specially sensitive to over watering; plants should be allowed to become crowded in their pot. Keep in shallow pot. Also, it is a species that is dormant in the winter and require very little water (maybe even none) during the cold months. Frost Tolerance:  Light frost protection required. Minimum of 5ºC for safe growing (but hardy up to -5°C or less.) Sun Exposure: High levels of light are needed to flower and for good spine development.  Can be sunburned if moved from shade/greenhouse into full sun too quickly. During the spring it may be able to take full sun until the heat arrives at the end of spring. In an area that has hot afternoon sun, it may be able to take full morning sun, but requires afternoon shade or afternoon light shade. If grown correctly, it will reward the grower with generous displays of purple flowers.

Propagation: Seeds (usually) or offsets that appear at the base; leave them attached to form a cluster, or wait until they are 1/3 the size of the parent and then detach and plant.