Is this a mammillaria ?

Could not identify this plant. Is it a mammillaria ?

Andreas

I think it´s not a mammillaria

I thinks it's a Rebutia recovering from a bad attack of Red Spider Mite.

One key character to identify a Mammillaria is the axil. This is at the base of the tubercle in Mammillaria, whereas in many other genera it is joined into the areole.

This is good to know Chris. perphaps you can show a picture of what you mean so that it will be more clear to me. Maybe show a picture ?

Andreas

Take a look at item 5 of this article, which has images as well. I hope it explains the differences in function and in location.

Questions

OK what I understood is that in mammillarias and only in mammillarias the spines are produced at the tip of the tubercle while the flowers and new growth will be produced at the axil and not on the tip of the tubercle. I will need to check this when I go home tonight.

Therefore this will imply that on all the rest of the Cactus species the flowers will be produced at the tips of the areoles or anywhere else except the axil. Also this implies that unless you are familiar with the characteristics of the various Mammillarians the only way to be 100 % sure is to see the location of the flower.

Andreas

Looks like a Rebutia to me too. I don't see any down or flower remnants between tubercles of this plant.

Flowers and fruits of Coryphanthas and Escobarias also appear from the groove and not from the areole but on the top of stems.