Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family)
Scientific name: Cochemiea
maritima G. E Lindsay
Published In: Cactus
and Succulent Journal 8(9): 144, f. s.n. (p. 144). 1937. (Cact. Succ. J.
(Los Angeles))
Origin:
Mexico: endemic to Pacific coast of the peninsula Baja California
(Approx from Punta blanca to punta rosalia, west of Punta prieta)
Habitat:
Grows in non calcareous rocks
on slopes and rocky marine cliffs.
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
Synonyms:
- Cochemiea maritima
Shurly
In: Cact. Jour.
[British] 4:12, 1935. Nomen nudum.
- Mammillaria
maritima (G.E. Linds.) D. R. Hunt 1971
- Mammillaria
pondii ssp. maritima (G.E. Linds.) D.R. Hunt
In: Mammillaria
Postscripts 6: 5. 1997.
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Description: Clumping
cactus, irregularly forming
clusters up to 1 m across or
more.
Stems: 20 to 50 cm long, 7 cm in diameter,
cylindrical, narrow, eventually clumping near the base of the plant,
somewhat jointed, initially erect then procumbent sometimes trailing and
densely spiny.
Glaucous-green
then grey and corky in age but often reddish
if grown in full light,
Tubercles: Conical or slightly flattened laterally, woolly when
young.
Areoles: At first bearing grey wool then naked.
Radial spines: 10 to15, reddish brown, acicular up to 12 mm long.
Central spines: 4 reddish brown the upper three ascending,
spreading, 1-2 cm long, straight. The lowermost stronger, longer and
hooked 3 – 5 cm long.
Roots: Fibrous or
moderately thickened.
Flowers: Produced near the plants tip from axils of tubercles ,
long, scarlet, 3-4 cm long, 2 cm wide. zygomorphic with a long
hypanthium, segment flaring and tips reflexed, style as twice as
corolla, stamens exerted half as far as style, filaments and anthers
red.
Blooming season (Europe):
March - April.
Fruit: Red, obovoid or globose.
Seeds: 0,5 mm long, black minutely pitted.
NOTE: Cochemiea pondii has thinner and several
hooked spines per areole while Cochemiea maritima has
usually only one hooked spine per areole.
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Cultivation: This plant isn't famous
for being easy to cultivate, but in good conditions with excellent
ventilation, it grows without difficulty.
It is especially sensitive to over-watering.
So careful watering and an open
mineral
potting soil are a must.
Avoid
the use of
peat or other
humus sources in the
potting mixture.
Don't add
limestone to the potting mix,
which must be moderately acidic. Can be
sensitive to frost. Requires
maximum
sun exposure to reach its full
potential. and in order to achieve success in
flowering.
A winter rest that allows the plant to shrivel will encourage flowering
and long term survival. Be careful to encourage slow growth.
Propagation: Seeds or offsets.
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