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Mammillaria saboae

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Mammillaria saboae ssp.  saboae
It will form mats of very small stems and is the tiniest plant of a group of related subspecies .
 

Morphology (Identifying Characteristics): Mammillaria saboae is a low clustering, mat-forming geophyte succulent.
Stem: Tiny, round to ovoid, soft-bodied, 10-20 mm in diameter, 10-40 mm tall.  axils bare, without latex.
Axil: Naked.
Roots: Fleshy branching.
Radial spine: 18 - 27, glassy white with a yellow base, thin, a little curved, 2 to 6 mm long.
Central spine: Absent or occasionally 1 , straight to 2 mm long.
Flowers: Large 4-6,5 cm in diameter, funnel-shaped, dark lilac-pink to pinkish magenta, larger and deeper coloured than the type, stigmas yellowish.
Fruit: The fruits mature inside the plant and remain for years sunken into the stems, as in the type.
Seeds: Black.

  • The subspecies 'saboae' grows in clumps and has 17-25 radial spines per areole. The flowers are about 4-5 cm across.

  • The subspecies 'goldii' grows only solitary stems and has 34-45 radial spines per areole. The flowers are about 4-5 cm across.

  • The subspecies 'haudeana' grows larger than the former two subspecies, up to 4 cm  high, about twice the size of the type,.and grows in clumps.  It has 18-27 radial spines per areole, and large flowers  5-6 cm across.

  • The subspecies 'roczekii' stem larger, usually solitary  (or rarely clustering from the base) with large flowers and yellow stamens. It comes from Canatlán.

M. saboae produces very showy pink flowers larger than the plant itself.


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Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Scientific Name: Mammillaria saboae ssp haudeana  Glass
In: Cact. Suc. Mex. 11: 55. 1966

Distribution:
Chihuahua and Sonora, Mexico. Altitude 2.100 to 2.200 mtr.
 

Habitat: Grows on volcanic slabs of rock. In habitat, the plants contract considerably during the dry season, sometimes pulling down completely under the soil. Their flowers can push up through the dirt.

 

 


Cultivation:
Clustering in cultivation and easily flowered it is not really easy. It has a thick tuberous root system and is susceptible to over-watering, and it's especially prone to rot  Therefore, underpot in a  shallow pot with good drainage, filled with a very open mineral-based potting mix, and only use the smallest diameter pot that will accommodate the plant. .  Plants need to be kept dry in winter. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer  in summer
. 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 huge pink-violet flowers.
Initially this species appears easy to cultivate, but the grower should not be surprised if clumps suddenly dry up, especially in the winter season.  Hardy to -5°C.
Very sensitive to red spider mite. Overhead watering is helpful in controlling mites.


Propagation: Seeds,
division off larger clumps 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. To make cuttings wait until the offsets that appear at the base of old clustered specimens are 1/3 the size of the parent and then detach and plant.


Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Mammillaria saboae complex

Photo gallery: Alphabetical listing of Cactus and Succulent pictures published in this site.

Photo gallery MAMMILLARIA

Home | E-mail | Plant files | Mail Sale Catalogue | Links | Information | Search

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.