MAMMILLARIA MATUDAE

Mammillaria matudae is a small cactus with cylindrical stems with conical tubercles, each tipped with dense clusters of short spines, almost completely hiding the stem. The stems can grow solitary or slowly clumping, reaching a length of 12 inches (30 cm) and a diameter of 1.2 inches (3 cm). They tend to recline as they grow, giving the mature plant a characteristic sprawling habit. Each areole bears 18 to 20 radial spines and one central spine. The radial spines are very short, appressed, translucent white with a yellowish base, while the central spine is up to 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) long, pointed upward, white to nearly black, becoming brownish or grayish with age.

During the spring, the plant forms a distinctive brilliant pink to purplish-red ring of flowers, 2 to 3 flowers thick, usually just an inch or two (2.5 to 5 cm) from the tips of the stems. The flowers are funnel-shaped and up to 0.5 inches (1.2 cm) long. The fruits are club-shaped, red with a greenish tint, up to 0.5 inches (1.2 cm) long, and contain light brown seeds.