About Mammillaria mercadensis Patoni
Mammillaria mercadensis Patoni is a cactus that grows either as a single individual plant or in a group. It takes a flattened, spherical, or slightly cylindrical shape, with stems that can reach up to 8 centimeters in diameter. Its surface is covered in conical or cylindrical bumps (called warts), which often contain milky sap when the plant is blooming. The plant's axils (the joints where stems meet the plant base) are very sparsely covered with fine, soft wool, and have no bristles. This cactus produces between one and seven central spines, which typically grow up to 14 millimeters long. These spines range in color from yellow to deep red or reddish-brown, and are lighter in color at their base. One, or occasionally two, of these central spines is hooked. In addition to central spines, Mammillaria mercadensis has 13 to 35 radial spines that are finely fluffy, and range in color from white to yellow. These radial spines are usually 6 to 9 millimeters long. When blooming, Mammillaria mercadensis produces bell-shaped flowers that are either extremely pale magenta or full magenta. The flowers measure 1 to 2 centimeters long, with an equal diameter. After flowering, the cactus forms reddish-green, club-shaped fruits that hold brownish-black seeds marked with fine pits. Mammillaria mercadensis is native to the northern and western Mexican states of Michoacán, Durango, Sinaloa, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, and San Luis Potosí. It grows among volcanic rocks in desert or semi-desert habitats, including dry shrubland, at elevations between 1,800 and 2,400 meters (5,900 to 7,900 feet).
