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Mammillaria vetula, the thimble cactus, is a species of nipple cactus in the subfamily Cactoideae. It is native to the Mexican states of Hidalgo, Guanajuato and Querétaro. Two subspecies are recognized M. vetula subsp. vetula and M. vetula subsp. gracilis. While the former is usually considered too plain to be grown as an ornamental plant, the latter is one of the most widespread mammillarias in cultivation.
Mammillaria vetula comprises both the least common mammillaria in cultivation and the most common one. Sometime after the 1970s or 1980s, the type subspecies, M. vetula subsp. vetula, fell out of popularity. The cacti nurseryman John Pilbeam speculates that, because of its plain spination and inconspicuous flowers, it was replaced by showier species. Plants grown in full sun develop the best spination and produce the best blooms, and Pilbeam considers such plants to be "a worthy addition to any collection". Pilbeam estimates that, because it breaks up into propagable pieces at the slightest touch and poses no problems in cultivation, M. vetula subsp. gracilis is "probably the most commonly grown" mammillaria. He notes that it is commonly offered at plant sale events, "except paradoxically at cactus-oriented events, where it would be ignominious to offer it".
Mammillaria vetula are tough plants, but require good drainage and do best in sandy soil left to dry out between waterings. Plants require a winter rest in a cold location, without watering, to encourage springtime blooming.
Mammillaria vetula grows primarily in the desert and dry shrubland. M. mammillaria subsp. vetula is found in the Mexican states of Hidalgo, Guanajuato, and Querétaro, at altitudes of 1,600 to 3,350 meters. At the highest altitudes it is often covered by snow and ice. Specific locations include San José del Oro, La Encarnación, Sierra de Jalapa, and Vizarrón. M. vetula subsp. gracilis is known from Hidalgo and Querétaro, occurring at altitudes of 1,200 to 1,850 meters. Locations include Puente de Dios, San Onofre, Tolantongo, Barranca Xilitla, San Pedro Gilo, Ixmiquilpan, Metztitlan. The type specimen was collected in leaf litter under shrubs on limestone rocks.
Mammillaria albicoma · Mammillaria albiflora · Mammillaria albilanata · Bernal Cactus · Mammillaria aureilanata · Mammillaria backebergiana · Mammillaria baumii · Mammillaria beneckei · Powder Puff Cactus · Mammillaria bombycina subsp. perezdelarosae · Mammillaria bombycina · Mammillaria brandegeei
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Mammillaria vetula by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
