Mammillaria spinosissima

Mammillaria spinosissima
M. spinosissima var. 'rubrispina' ('Super Red')
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Genus:	Mammillaria
Species:	M. spinosissima
Binomial name
Mammillaria spinosissima (Kuntze) Lem.[1]
Synonyms
Mammillaria auricoma Mammillaria pitcayensis Mammillaria pilcayensis Mammillaria centraliplumosa Mammillaria haasii Mammillaria gasterantha Mammillaria crassior Mammillaria virginis

Mammillaria spinosissima (/ˌmæmɪˈlɛəriə ˌspɪnoʊˈsɪsɪmə/), also known as the spiny pincushion cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, endemic to the central Mexican states of Guerrero and Morelos, where they grow at elevations of approximately 1,600 to 1,900 metres (5,200 to 6,200 ft). The species was described in 1838 by James Forbes, gardener of the Duke of Bedford. Botanist David Hunt collected a specimen in 1971, when he located one near Sierra de Tepoztlan, Mexico.

M. spinosissima thrive in well-drained soils that are sandy or loam, with a pH ranging from acidic to neutral. They prefer low humidity and full, filtered sun. Plants are typically watered once every two or three weeks, and kept nearly dry during the winter months. They require no pruning and make good patio and container plants. They are relatively disease resistant, but susceptible to pests such as mealybugs. Synonyms of M. spinosissima include Mammillaria centraliplumosa, Mammillaria haasii, and Mammillaria virginis.