Mammillaria elegans?

Howdy.

I'm new to this forum and to start things off, I'd like to ask for a little ID help of this plant.

It was one of my favorites, but unfortunately I lost it this winter to the cold and wet, and I'd like to replace it.

My best guess at this point is Mammillaria elegans or a close hybrid, but I would welcome any assistance from the many experts here!

Close-up of spine pattern and flower

The entire plant (small pic)

Thanks in advance!!!

--steve

it seems to me more similar to a m.albilanata.
here there are not colored central spines like in m.elegans

maurillio wrote:

it seems to me more similar to a m.albilanata.
here there are not colored central spines like in m.elegans

That seems more likely to me, thanks. The spines a very flat. The plant looks like you could pick it up without being stuck, however that's not quite true!

Hi Steve,
Maurillio is right, it might be a form of albilanata, but the flower position and shape doesn't seem quite right to me. M. albilanata also does have some central spines, so my thought were closer to the crucigera / huitzilopochtlii complex. There are an awful lot of intermediate forms in this grouping.
I'd like to see a bigger picture of the whole plant if it were possible. And I don;t suppose you know where it came from (in Mexico I mean, not Home Depot!!).

Hi,
Only Mam.psuedoperbella comes to my mind.
regards,
Walter

Chris43 wrote:

Hi Steve,
Maurillio is right, it might be a form of albilanata, but the flower position and shape doesn't seem quite right to me. M. albilanata also does have some central spines, so my thought were closer to the crucigera / huitzilopochtlii complex. There are an awful lot of intermediate forms in this grouping.
I'd like to see a bigger picture of the whole plant if it were possible. And I don;t suppose you know where it came from (in Mexico I mean, not Home Depot!!).

There is (was) a small central spine which is not obvious unless you look very closely or pick it up :-).

Unfortunately since it has now passed on, I don't have a larger picture. I believe that I originally bought it at a garden shop or a Home-Depot-like store, so I have no idea of the plant's true origin.

If this helps at all, it was always a solitary plant with no offshoots. It was a beautiful plant and it just killed me to lose it. I have one small piece from the top that the rot didn't reach, but I have my doubts if I will be able to root it as the central cortex is virtually gone.

The flowers were always very small and many barely poked above the spines.

The spines were always pure white regardless of the amount of sun it received.

I do appreciate the help, though!

--steve