This is Mammillaria duwei, currently considered to be a subspecies of Mammillaria crinita, just like Mammillaria zeilmanniana. Which, by the way, just keeps getting better and better!
M. crinita is apparently a hugely variable species. This is why I'm a "splitter," not a "lumper." I'm going to keep calling these duwei and zeilmanniana.
The duwei subspecies is native to central Mexico and like the zeilmanniana, is critically endangered in the wild. It's threatened by habitat loss and overcollection, with only an estimated 500 or so individuals left in its natural habitat. This is so sad, because it's a beautiful species (which of course led to the overcollecting). Mine is seed grown from a nursery.
I am completely enchanted by the feathery spines.
They almost look like jellyfish larvae that have drifted down onto the plant.
Just beautiful.
No comments:
Post a Comment