Mammillaria FLAVICENTRA - Yellow-centered mammillaria, Mammillaria Flavicentra.
Mammillaria is a large genus of low-growing succulent plants in the cactus family (Cactaceae), comprising about 170-200 species distributed primarily in Mexico, as well as in the southern United States, Central America, the Caribbean region, and northern South America. In nature, members of the genus occur in deserts, semi-deserts, dry scrublands, tropical deciduous forests, on limestone slopes, stony plains, and in mountainous areas with bright sun and well-drained soils.
The plants typically develop as solitary or clustering globular, flattened-globular, cylindrical, or short-columnar cacti. Instead of ribs, they bear individual tubercles, or tuberosities, atop which areoles with radial and central spines are located. In many species, wool, bristles, buds, flowers, and fruits develop in the axils between tubercles.
Flowers typically form in a ring near the stem apex and can be white, cream, yellow, pink, red, or purple. After pollination, elongated or club-shaped fruits develop, often red or pink, containing tiny brown or black seeds with a pitted or reticulated surface.
Yellow-centered mammillaria is a compact cactus with solitary or weakly branching globular or short-cylindrical stems. The surface is covered with conical tubercles, on the tips of which areoles with white hairs are located. Radial spines are slender, whitish, arranged in a star pattern. One or two central spines may be longer and darker. A characteristic feature of the species is the presence of a yellow tint in the center of the areole, which is reflected in its name.
Flowering is observed in summer. The flowers are small, funnel-shaped, pale pink or cream, with a slight yellow tint at the base of the petals. They are arranged in a ring near the apex of the stem. The fruits are elongated, red, containing numerous tiny dark seeds.