Mammillaria vetula ssp. lacostei (Plein & Weber)

First description: PLEIN & WEBER ssp nova, MART. ssp lacostei, MAfM 27(4): 203-212 (2003)

Body: Stems cylindrical, to 13 cm long, 1 - 3 cm in diameter. Strongly offsetting, forming large clumps, heads oblong, bright greenish, in the lower part greenish-yellow, to 6 cm long and 3 cm in diameter.

Roots: 4 mm wide, conical to nearly cylindrically, 6 mm long, at the point rounded.

Sap: No latex.

Tubercule: 2 mm in diameter, somewhat inclined, with whitish-yellow wool, later naked.

Axil: Naked.

Radial spine: 20 - 22, irregularly radiating, somewhat protuding, into one another interweave, to 7 mm long, glassily, straight, needle-like.

Central spine: 6 - 8, usually 8, pointing upwards, to 11 mm long, stronger than the radials, straight, needle-like, amber coloured, to the base dark brown.

Flower: Small, about 15 mm long and 10 mm in diameter, whitish cream with greenish midstripe.

Fruit: Red, club-shaped, to 15 mm long, to 4 mm in diameter.

Seed: Black, 1,2 mm long.

Geographic Distribution: Guanajuato, Mexico. Altitude 1.800 - 1.950 m.

Habitat Substrate: Lime plates.

Bibliography: AfM journal (4) 2003