Mammillaria halei

Hello,

I was very lucky to find Mammillaria (Cochemiea) halei in bloom at Isla Magdalena while visiting Baja California Sur this february. The plants were easily to find on rocky hills behind the little village (there is only one) on the island. Most people know this cacti because, you won't believe, they collect the fruits for cooking jam.







Some people told about plants from the mainland near Puerto San Carlos too. I can't believe it because at the type locality M.halei grows only on solid rocks. Between Puerto San Carlos and Cd.Constitucion there are no rocks, just granite gravel everywhere. It's a totally different habitat. But it's true, I saw some pictures e.g. here at the page of Ian Priestley

We searched five days at the surroundings of Puerto San Carlos but without any success.
I hope this is the right place for showing pictures from habitat?!

Best regards
Robby

Beautiful plant, is my favorite.
My plants have never bloomed.

Marco

Hi Robert,

It is OK to post here and I hope to see more of your wonderful photo's. This a magnificent clump of M.halei and I hope you don't mind if I save these pictures in my files.
I did germiante some seed of SB 1662, Isla Magdalena, in 2006, of whch I only have one left, but they are very, very slow to grow. The single head is about the size of my small finger.
I was aware that it was suppposed to be found on the main land, fruit carried by a bird perhaps ?
I have not seen any other field colelctions of this species althougth Lau did collection Lau 40 from the lsland.