Feather Cactus
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Plant ID
GD-CAC-014-0050
Plant ID: Mammillaria plumosa F.A.C.Weber
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Mammillaria
Identification: Feather Cactus
Identification Confidence: High
Common Name(s)
- Feather Cactus
- Feather Mammillaria
- Featherball Cactus
Scientific Name
Mammillaria plumosa F.A.C.Weber
Plant Photograph
Figure 1. Mammillaria plumosa F.A.C.Weber — a dense clump of rounded cactus heads covered with exceptionally fine, white, feather-like spines.
Photo Caption:
A well-clustered Feather Cactus displaying its characteristic soft, white plumose spine covering. The numerous offsets have formed a compact mound, with the green cactus bodies largely concealed beneath the dense white spines.
Photography:
John Niño G. Ewa (@_____.5am)
Plant Description
Mammillaria plumosa is a small, clustering cactus distinguished by its rounded heads and remarkably dense covering of fine, white, feather-like radial spines. In this specimen, numerous offsets have developed closely together, creating a compact cushion-like cluster.
The dense spination gives the plant its characteristic soft, almost woolly appearance, while small areas of green stem remain visible between the overlapping spines. The specimen demonstrates the attractive mature clustering habit for which the species is especially valued in cultivation.
Life’s Whispers
“I gather my little spheres close together,
until many become one gentle cloud of green and white.
My spines may look like feathers,
but they are my quiet armor against the harshness of the desert.”
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References
For the complete list of botanical references, scientific literature, taxonomic information, and sources used by the Green Desert Botanical Library, please see the References page accessible from the Main Menu.
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