Unidentified Monster mammillaria

Hello,
Can anyone help to identify this species

Length > 70cm

My guess: M. polythele

It certainly has something of polythele in it, though I've never seen a polythele grow so long. I have heard that there is a cross between polythele and mollendorfiana, though I was told about that in 2005 or 6, I think. However, I've never seen one, though it would seem possible.

I thought of hybrid vigor too. Freak plants can show up almost anywhere. An example that comes to mind: While hunting for Grusonia marenae near Kino Bay Sonora, I came across a M. grahamii that was around 3 feet in length snaking through the coastal scrub. It would certainly not be typical for this species.

I think that it is related to M. rhodantha, because it has those thin radial spines, which polythele does not have.

Pilbeam book:
rhodantha: to 40 cm tall (and for aureiceps Pilbeam writes: to 40 cm or more)

In addition, rhodantha can undergo dichotomous division, which your plant seems to have started with.

Wolter ten Hoeve.

woltertenhoeve wrote:

I think that it is related to M. rhodantha, because it has those thin radial spines, which polythele does not have.

Pilbeam book:
rhodantha: to 40 cm tall (and for aureiceps Pilbeam writes: to 40 cm or more)

In addition, rhodantha can undergo dichotomous division, which your plant seems to have started with.

Wolter ten Hoeve.  

Seems very possible. The Mammillaria rhodantha shown at Agaveville shows a similar plant. I can't post the link yet.