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A fishhook Mammillaria
Fishhook cactus is a common name for any hook-spined species of the genera Mammillaria, Echinomastus or Sclerocactus. They are small cacti, usually growing up to 6-7 inches (20 cm) high, and are shaped similar to a barrel cactus. They are not to be confused with the fishhook barrel cactus (Ferocactus wislizenii) of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts. The Fishhook cactus is a large category of around 150 species.[1]
Good places to see "fishhook" Mammillaria are the Sonoran Desert on the U.S. - Mexico border, and the Mesa Verde National Park. Often found growing in desert and rocky locations.[2]
Notable species
The genus Mammillaria also contains "pincushion" and other cacti.
- Mammillaria barbata – green fishhook cactus
- Mammillaria dioica – California fishhook cactus, strawberry cactus
- Mammillaria grahamii – Arizona fishhook cactus
- Mammillaria grahamii var. oliviae – pitahayita
- Mammillaria tetrancistra – common fishhook cactus
- Mammillaria thornberi – Thornber's fishhook cactus
References
- ^ "fishhook cactus | plant". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
- ^ Calscape.com. "Fish Hook Cactus, Mammillaria dioica". Calscape. Retrieved 2017-05-02.