Mammillaria

Mammillaria
File:Mammillaria hahniana.jpg
Kingdom	Plantae
Family	Cactaceae
Subfamily	Cactoideae
Tribe	Cacteae
SubTribe
Genus	Mammillaria
Species
Notes	Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). The largest and most popular genus in the family Cactaceae.

Etymology

The name is derived from the Latin mammilla (nipple or teat), referring to the characteristic tubercles (mammillae) that cover the plant's body instead of ribs.

Description

Mammillaria is the most diverse and widely cultivated genus of cacti. It is defined by several unique morphological features that distinguish it from all other members of the tribe Cacteae.

Morphological Key Features

• Tubercles (Mammillae): The plant body is covered in spirally arranged tubercles rather than ribs. These are organized in mathematical patterns (Fibonacci sequences).
• Dimorphic Areoles: The areole is split into two distinct parts:
  • The Apex (Tip): Bears the spines.
  • The Axil (Base): Located between the tubercles, this is where flowers, fruits, and new offsets (branches) emerge.
• Floral Ring: Flowers typically appear in a circular "crown" around the previous year's growth, rather than from the very top of the plant.
• Sap: Species are often categorized by their sap:
  • Hydrochyle: With watery sap (mostly desert species).
  • Galactochyle: With milky latex (often more robust, mountain species).

Habitat and Ecology

Mammillarias are found in a vast range of environments—from coastal plains and limestone deserts to high-altitude pine forests. They have evolved incredible survival mechanisms, such as dense wool or hooked spines for protection and camouflage.

Distribution

• Primary Center of Diversity: Mexico.
• Extending to: Southwestern USA, Caribbean, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, and Venezuela.

Classification by Joël Lodé

Following the taxonomy of Joël Lodé (2015), the genus is maintained in a broad sense but strictly organized. Lodé recognizes:

• 160 Species
• 149 Subspecies

The genus is further divided into subgenera and sections based on seed morphology and floral structure:

1. Subgenus Mammillaria (The largest group)
2. Subgenus Phellosperma
3. Subgenus Dolichothele
4. Subgenus Cochemiea (Partial inclusion)

Species List 1-20

Species	Subspecies (according to Lodé)
Mammillaria albicoma	—
Mammillaria albiflora	—
Mammillaria albilanata	Mammillaria albilanata subsp. albilanata Mammillaria albilanata subsp. oaxacana Mammillaria albilanata subsp. reppenhagenii Mammillaria albilanata subsp. tegelbergiana
Mammillaria anniana	—
Mammillaria aureilanata	Mammillaria aureilanata subsp. aureilanata Mammillaria aureilanata subsp. alba
Mammillaria backebergiana	Mammillaria backebergiana subsp. backebergiana Mammillaria backebergiana subsp. ernestii
Mammillaria barbata	—
Mammillaria baumii	—
Mammillaria beneckei	—
Mammillaria bertholdii	—
Mammillaria blossfeldiana	—
Mammillaria bocasana	Mammillaria bocasana subsp. bocasana Mammillaria bocasana subsp. eschauzieri
Mammillaria bocensis	—
Mammillaria boelderliana	—
Mammillaria bombycina	Mammillaria bombycina subsp. bombycina Mammillaria bombycina subsp. perezdelarosae
Mammillaria boolii	—
Mammillaria brandegeei	Mammillaria brandegeei subsp. brandegeei Mammillaria brandegeei subsp. gabbii Mammillaria brandegeei subsp. glareosa Mammillaria brandegeei subsp. lewisiana
Mammillaria capensis	—
Mammillaria carmenae	—
Mammillaria carretii	—

Species List 21-50

Species	Subspecies (according to Lodé)
Mammillaria coahuilensis	Mammillaria coahuilensis subsp. coahuilensis Mammillaria coahuilensis subsp. albiarmata
Mammillaria columbiana	Mammillaria columbiana subsp. columbiana Mammillaria columbiana subsp. yucatanensis
Mammillaria compressa	Mammillaria compressa subsp. compressa Mammillaria compressa subsp. centralifera
Mammillaria crinita	Mammillaria crinita subsp. crinita Mammillaria crinita subsp. leucantha Mammillaria crinita subsp. wildii
Mammillaria crucigera	Mammillaria crucigera subsp. crucigera Mammillaria crucigera subsp. tlalocii
Mammillaria decipiens	Mammillaria decipiens subsp. decipiens Mammillaria decipiens subsp. albescens Mammillaria decipiens subsp. camptotricha
Mammillaria deherdtiana	Mammillaria deherdtiana subsp. deherdtiana Mammillaria deherdtiana subsp. dodsonii
Mammillaria densispina	—
Mammillaria dioica	Mammillaria dioica subsp. dioica Mammillaria dioica subsp. angelensis Mammillaria dioica subsp. estebanensis
Mammillaria discolor	Mammillaria discolor subsp. discolor Mammillaria discolor subsp. esperanzaensis
Mammillaria dixanthocentron	—
Mammillaria duoformis	—
Mammillaria duwei	—
Mammillaria echinate	—
Mammillaria eichlamii	—
Mammillaria elongata	Mammillaria elongata subsp. elongata Mammillaria elongata subsp. echinaria
Mammillaria eriacantha	—
Mammillaria erythrosperma	—
Mammillaria evermanniana	—
Mammillaria fittkaui	Mammillaria fittkaui subsp. fittkaui Mammillaria fittkaui subsp. limonensis
Mammillaria flavicentra	—
Mammillaria formosa	Mammillaria formosa subsp. formosa Mammillaria formosa subsp. chionocephala Mammillaria formosa subsp. microthele Mammillaria formosa subsp. pseudocrucigera
Mammillaria gasseriana	—
Mammillaria geminispina	Mammillaria geminispina subsp. geminispina Mammillaria geminispina subsp. leucocentra
Mammillaria gigantea	—
Mammillaria glassii	Mammillaria glassii subsp. glassii Mammillaria glassii subsp. ascensionis
Mammillaria glochidiata	—
Mammillaria grahamii	—
Mammillaria grusonii	—
Mammillaria guelzowiana	—

Species List

Note: Due to the large number of taxa, the species list is organized alphabetically and by sub-groups. See the sub-pages for detailed descriptions of each species.

Mammillaria Species List (A-Z)

Taxonomy

Lodé rejects the extreme splitting of the genus but also excludes certain groups like Mammilloydia and Cochemiea (partially) based on modern molecular phylogenetics which show they are distinct lineages. His work in Volume 2 (pp. 6-111) remains the most comprehensive modern treatment of the genus.