Mammillaria beneckei
| Mammillaria beneckei | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mammillaria beneckei var. balsasoides | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Mammillaria |
| Species: | M. beneckei |
| Binomial name | |
| Mammillaria beneckei | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Mammillaria beneckei is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to western and central Mexico.[2]
Description
Mammillaria beneckei is a small, variable cactus, typically forming low-growing clusters. It is usually solitary at first, later offsetting to form clumps that can reach 50 cm (20 in) or more in width.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to western and central Mexico, occurring in the states of Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, México, Nayarit, Oaxaca, and Sinaloa.[4][3]
Its natural habitat is tropical deciduous forests and dry shrublands at elevations from sea level up to 1,600 m (5,200 ft).[3] The species is often found growing on rocky slopes in association with other cacti and succulents, such as Backebergia militaris, Stenocereus marginatus, and Mammillaria mazatlanensis.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was first described by the German botanist Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg in 1844 in Botanische Zeitung (Berlin).[2][5] The specific epithet honors the Berlin-based trader Stephan (Etienne) Benecke (1800–1877), who emigrated to Mexico, where he was the German consul of Mexico and in 1875 founded the Camara Nacional de Comercio.[6]
The species is highly variable, and several forms have been described as separate species or varieties, including Mammillaria balsasoides, Mammillaria colonensis, and Mammillaria guiengolensis. These are now considered synonyms.[2]
Conservation
Mammillaria beneckei is listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.[1] The species is widespread and abundant within its range, and no major threats have been identified.[1] However, like all cacti, it is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates international trade to prevent unsustainable harvesting.[3]
Cultivation
Beyond its native Mexico, M. beneckei has become a widely grown ornamental cactus in India.[7]
Common names
Common names for Mammillaria beneckei include:[4][8]
- Benecke's fishhook cactus (English)
- Benecke's nipple cactus (English)
- Guiengola cactus (English)
- Biznaga de benecke (Spanish)
- Biznaga del cerro guiengola (Spanish)
References
- 1 2 3 "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammillaria beneckei". IUCN Red List. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Mammillaria beneckei C.Ehrenb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Dolichothele beneckei". LLIFLE – Encyclopedia of living forms. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
- 1 2 "Mammillaria beneckei C. Ehrenb". eFloraMex. Instituto de Biología, UNAM. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
- ↑ "Mammillaria beneckei Ehrenb". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Retrieved 2026-04-06.
- ↑ Renate Hauschild-Thiessen. Wilhelm und Etienne Benecke aus den Anfängen der Hamburger Turnerschaft von 1816. Hamburgische Geschichts- und Heimatblätter, vol. 11. pp. 159-173
- ↑ "Flowering Mammillaria beneckei in Pune.jpg". Wikimedia Commons. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
- ↑ "Mammillaria beneckei". Flowers of India. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
External links
Data related to Mammillaria beneckei at Wikispecies- Mammillaria beneckei at Tropicos