WILDFLOWERS OF NEW MEXICO

The round to cylindrical stems, single or clumping, of this showy cactus reach 8-inches tall and 4-inches in diameter and are covered with 3/8–1-inch long tubercles or nipples (not ribs). Magenta flowers grow from the stem apex, and the fruit is greenish.

FLOWER: May–June. From 1–5 or more flowers, 1 1/8–2 1/2-inches wide (27–55 mm), crowd the apex of the stem. The numerous petal-like tepals have pointed tips with the outer ones lined with hair-like fringe; stigma color varies from pink to white depending on variety. Fruits are green to dull red or brownish, oval, 5/8–1 5/8-inches long (15–41 mm).

SPINES: About 5 varieties in NM that vary from 10–40 white radial spins that can spread to obscure the stem; var. neomexicana has 5–11 white to straw-colored centrals with dark tips, and 25–35 radials that obscure the stem; var. vivipara has 4 central spines, bright-reddish on the upper stem half, and 10–26 bright-white radials that do not obscure the stem; var. radiosa has 4–7 straw-colored to white central spines, and 17–30 radials that do not obscure the stem.

HABITAT: Sandy, gravelly soils of desert scrub, pinyon-juniper hills.

ELEVATION: 3,700–8,000 feet.

RANGE: Widespread throughout western U. S. from TX to Canada.

SIMILAR SPECIES: The varieties in NM with slight differences noted above. The flower of var. vivipara has magenta to pink stigma lobes; var. neomexicana widespread in NM, and var. arizonica in the Four Corners have white sigma lobes; var. radiosa has a rose-colored stigma lobes. Two fishhook cacti, Mammillaria grahamii and M. wrightii, both widespread, have look-alike flowers but long, hook-tipped central spines.

NM COUNTIES: Nearly statewide (not reported in De Baca, Guadalupe, Mora, Quay cos.) in low- to mid-elevation, arid habitats.