Mammillaria dioica PH286.01

In flower today, 25-5-08. M.dioica PH286.01 (Z). Location Km69, inland from EL Rosario along Hwy MX1, south Baja, 210m.

Similar body to PH285.01, but I'd suggest it is dioica on the basis of the more pointed flower petals, and the colour of the stigma. Flower colour of dioica can be almost white a sthis one is, and the body can be pretty spherical, especially the more northern forms in Baja and S. California.
But I could be wrong....have been before...and will be again!!

Another dioica this NPT 067. In flower today, 26-5-08

This is a typical dioica if you look at the flower. The PH numbers give me doubts if these are real dioica's, they could be more natural hybrids.

The NPT067 comes from Baja south, towards La Paza. The two PH's come from central Baja. PH 285 from South of Lazaro Cardenas and PH 286 about 60 km futher south at La Rosario. In the UK Mammallaria Journal (Feb 1989) Pilbeam mentions finding a form of M.louisiae along the turn off to Bahia De Los Angles (about another 60 km further south), which is a more robust plant, has larger flowers, more numerous radial spines, stronger centrals and clusters more readily.
I know that Chris has shown Pilbeam a photo of PH285 and he thinks it could be this form.

I've put also these two together: M. dioica Lau 001 and the one I've got from Chris M. dioca PH 285.01



Remarkable differences isn't it?