Golden Halo Specialist: Mammillaria flavicentra ML 149

An exquisite specimen for the serious collector, featuring the dense, luminous golden spination characteristic of the documented Michel Lacoste field collection.

1. Origin & History of Name: The genus name Mammillaria comes from the Latin mammilla, meaning "nipple" or "teat," referring to the tubercle structure of the plant. The specific epithet flavicentra is a compound of the Latin flavus (yellow) and centrum (center), describing the vibrant yellow central spines. The field number "ML 149" designates the specific collection record of botanist Michel Lacoste.
2. Morphology: This species is characterized by a globular to cylindrical epidermis covered in tightly packed tubercles. It possesses a high count of radial spines and 4–6 stiff, golden-yellow central spines that create a "halo" effect. Unlike many cacti, it does not have costae (ribs); instead, it produces woolly axils between the tubercles, from which small, ringed pinkish-red flowers emerge during the spring.
3. Habitat & Origin: This is a wild species native to the arid regions of Oaxaca and Puebla, Mexico. The "ML 149" designation specifically links this lineage to the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley. Our plants are ethically propagated in a nursery environment from documented seed lines, ensuring no wild harvesting occurs.
4. Cultivation Profile:
   • Substrate: Use a high-drainage mineral-based mix consisting of 80% volcanic rock, crushed brick, or coarse sand and 20% organic compost.
   • Light: Thrives in full sun to very bright filtered light. In the Indian plains, morning sun is beneficial, but provide 30% shade cloth during the extreme heat of May and June to avoid yellowing the crown.
   • Water/Dormancy: Follow a "soak and dry" method. During the Indian monsoon, keep the plant under a transparent roof to avoid ambient moisture rot. Maintain a dry dormancy from December to February to encourage spring flowering.
5. Scientific/Historical Anecdote: The Mammillaria genus is one of the largest in the Cactaceae family, first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Mammillaria flavicentra was long considered a subspecies of M. dixanthocentron until collectors like Michel Lacoste highlighted its distinct, denser golden spination and specific locality, leading to its recognition as a standout species in the Supertextae series.