Mammillaria grusonii is a cactus in the genus Mammillaria of the family Cactaceae. The epithet grusonii honors the inventor, scientist, industrialist and cacti collector Hermann Gruson of Magdeburg.

Mammillaria grusonii
Mammillaria grusonii at the botanical garden of Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini, Genova Pegli
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Mammillaria
Species:
M. grusonii
Binomial name
Mammillaria grusonii
Synonyms
  • Mammillaria zeyeriana F.Haage ex K.Schum. (1898)
  • Mammillaria grusonii var. zeyeriana (F.Haage ex K.Schum.) E.Kuhn (1980)
  • Mammillaria pachycylindrica Backeb. (1959)
  • Mammillaria grusonii var. pachycylindrica (Backeb.) E.Kuhn (1980)
  • Mammillaria tesopacensis var. papasquiarensis Bravo (1966)
  • Mammillaria papasquiarensis (Bravo) Repp. (1987)
  • Mammillaria durangicola Repp. (1987)

Description edit

Mammillaria grusonii usually grows singly. This cactus is spherical to thick cylindrical, bright green, with a diameter of about 25 centimetres (9.8 in). The tubercles are four-angled and contain latex. The axillae are initially woolly, later naked. The spines are straight, reddish and becomes white with age. The two central spines are 0.4 to 0.6 centimeters long, while the 12 to 14 radial spines are 0.6 to 0.8 centimeters long. The pale yellow, bell-shaped flowers are up to 2.5 centimeters long and have an equal diameter. The fruits are bright scarlet and contain brown seeds.

Distribution edit

This species can be found in Mexico (in the states of Coahuila and Durango), at an altitude of 800–1,850 metres (2,620–6,070 ft) above sea level.

References edit

  • Ulises Guzmán; Salvador Arias; Patricia Dávila (2003), Catálogo de cactáceas mexicanas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, p. 140, ISBN 970-9000-20-9
  • Mammillarias.net
  • Distribution Map
  • Cacti Guide
  • Desert-tropical