About Mammillaria heyderi Muehlenpf.
Mammillaria heyderi Muehlenpf., commonly called the Little Nipple cactus, is a species of pincushion cactus belonging to the tribe Cacteae. This species is endemic to Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico, as well as New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma in the United States. It grows no more than 1.5 inches above ground on average, and can be difficult to spot in winter, when it sits nearly entirely below ground level. It occurs at lower to middle elevations on dry hillsides and in semidesert areas. It is characterized by a covering of short stems that grow up to around 8mm high and 4-5mm wide, with up to around 15 spines extending in all directions from the tip of each stem. Mammillaria heyderi is extremely drought resistant, is hardy to at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit, and can thrive in various types of dry terrain.
