This month’s ‘Mini-Show Plant of The Month’ Cactus is ‘Mammillaria & Cochemiea, Single Headed’, regardless of the size. Some examples that are generally known as ‘single headed’ can remain as solitary plants their whole lives, while others will only clump later in life. If your plant currently has one head, you are welcome to enter the show.
In 2021 As a result of molecular phylogenetic studies of the “mammilloid clade”, some Mammillaria were re classified as Cochemiea.
Mammillaria consists of around 300 species. Most are native to Mexico, some are native from southwestern USA, Caribbean, Central America, or even a couple in northern South America. In their range you can find Mammillarias from sea level to high elevations. They also vary in size from miniature 1 inch in diameter (2.5 cm), to columnar types 1 foot tall (30 cm).
The name Mammillaria comes from the Latin for “nipple”, because the areoles (structures carrying the spines) are carried by nipple like structures instead of being organized in ribs like many other cacti. Another significant difference is that the flowers are not coming from the areoles, but from the area at the juncture of 2 tubercles.
As could be expected from so many species, their growing requirements are quite varied. Many species are easy and fast to grow and bloom while young, which is why they are very popular. Some are quite hardy while others will rot easily if kept too cold. All of them require excellent drainage. This is more easily accomplished by using a good cactus soil mixture, and using a shallow pot.
In general the Mammillarias bloom easily, but many species need a rest period in winter during which they are kept cool in order to bloom. Furthermore flowers form a ring on tissue grown the previous growing season, so it is important to get them to grow every year, which means regular watering and fertilizing during their growing period.
Cochemiea is a genus of cactus. It had previously been synonymized with Mammillaria, but molecular phylogenetic studies have shown they are different, and Cochemiea has been accepted as a separate genus. The genus Cochemiea has been expanded to include a large number of species previously placed in Mammillaria. As of writing there are currently 58 species in the genus Cochemiea, only some of which are single headed.
The name Cochemiea comes from the Cochimi Indians which used to live in Baja California where many of these cacti are found. Their habitat ranges from Southwestern and South Central United States to Mexico.
All species of Cochemiea feature short cylindrical stems that form small clumps of a dozen or more stems that prefer to grow in the cracks of rocks in habitat. The stems are tuberculate and heavily armed with stout spines, many featuring prominent hooked central spines. The flowers can be many different colors. In common with Mammillaria, the flowers are borne from the axils of the tubercles on second-year growth.
LATIN LOOKUP – Loquerisne Latine (Do you speak Latin)?
The meanings of latin plant names on this page – from https://davesgarden.com/guides/botanary/
- albicans [AL-bih-kanz]
Whitish. - Cochemiea [ko-ke-MEE-a]
From the name of an Indian tribe that inhabited southern California, where the plants are native. - columbiana [kol-um-bee-AH-nuh]
Of or from western North America. - formosa [for-MOH-suh]
Beautiful. - herrerae [her-ER-ah-ee]
1. Named for Alfonso Herrera, 20th century Mexican biologist at the National Autonomous University in Mexico City.
2. Named for Gerardo Herrera, Costa Rican field botanist. - lasiacantha [lay-zee-uh-KAN-thu]
Hairy or wooly spines or thorns. - longiflora [lon-jee-FLO-ruh]
Long flower. - Mammillaria [mam-mil-AR-ee-uh]
Nipple- or teat-like. - petrophila [pet-roh-FY-la]
From the Greek petros (rock) and philos (to love); lover or inhabiter of rocks. - polythele [pol-lee-THEL-e]
From the prefix poly (many) and the Greek theles (nipple) Many nipples. - rhodantha [rho-DAN-tha]
With rose-colored flowers. - spinosissima [spin-oh-SIS-ee-muh]
Most spiny, spiniest.