California Pincushion, Viejito
Scientific Name: Mammillaria tetrancistra Englm.
Synonym: Bartschella tetrancistra, Cactus phellospermus, Cactus tetrancistrus, Mammillaria phellosperma, Phellosperma tetrancistra
Family: Cactaceae
USDA: 9-10
Frost Tolerance: Hardy to at least 20°F (-7°C)
Sun Exposure: Light shade
Origin: Southwestern USA (southwestern Arizona, southeastern California), northwestern Mexico (northeastern Baja California, northwestern Sonora)
Growth Habits: Solitary or clumping, 4 to 10 inches tall (10-25 cm), 2 to 3 inches wide (5-7.5 cm); tubercles 0.16 to 0.28 inch long (4-7 mm); axils of young tubercles woolly with a few bristles; 3 or 4 hooked or straight central spines, 0.12 to 0.4 inch long (3-10 mm), the lower one the longest; 40 to 60 thin white needle-like radials, in 2 series, 0.2 to 0.4 inch long (5-10 mm).
Similar looking to Mammillaria grahamii, it might be difficult to identify which one is which. The one absolute way, is the shape of the seeds.
Blooming Habits:
Large pink flowers, 1.4 to 2 inches in diameter (3.5-5 cm), in April, and occasionally again in late summer after the monsoon rains. Red fruits.
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