Mammillaria mammillaris

(Linnaeus) Karsten

Cactaceae Edible: Fruit 10 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Mammillaria mammilllaris, common name woolly nipple cactus, is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is the type species of the genus Mammillaria. It has been described by Carolus Linnaeus as Cactus mammillaris in 1753. The specific epithet mammillaris comes from the Latin mammilla, meaning nipple, with reference to the characteristic tubercles.

Description

A cactus. It can occur singly or in clumps. The stems are rounded or short cylinder shape. They are green and shiny. They are 20 cm across. There are 3-5 central spines with dark tips and 7-8 mm long. Then 10-16 spines around these. They are 5-8 mm long. The flowers are funnel shaped and creamy white. They are 10-12 mm long. The fruit are club shaped and red. They are 10-20 mm long. The seeds are small, brown and rough.

Edible Uses

The fruit are eaten fresh. The plant yields a milky juice that is sweet and wholesome.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten. The plant yields a milky juice that is sweet and wholesome.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical America.

Where It Grows

America, Aruba, Central America, Colombia, Lesser Antilles, South America, Trinidad, Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies, Winward Is.,

Synonyms

Cactus mammillaris LinnaeusMammillaria simplex HaworthMammillaria pseudosimplex Haage & Backebergand others

Also Known As

Buchito

References (5)

Anderson, E.F., 2001, The Cactus Family, Timber Press. p 429
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 64 (As Mammillaria simplex)
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 400 (As Mammillaria simplex)
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 516
Kew Plants of the World onLine