Mammillaria spinosissima 'Un Pico'
Mammillaria spinosissima 'Un Pico is a striking single-spined cultivar of the pincushion cactus Mammillaria spinosissima, selected for the way each areole bears just one solitary central spine instead of the dense, bristly clusters typical of the species. The name — Spanish, literally "a point" or "a spike" (un pico), a nod to the single spine — describes the effect perfectly: the tubercles march up the body in tidy spirals, each tipped with a single spine, giving the plant a clean, architectural, almost geometric look prized by collectors.
Because it is a selected form rather than a distinct species, its care is identical to that of the parent species, Mammillaria spinosissima.
Description
Like the type species, 'Un Pico' forms a solid, cylindrical column that lengthens with age and may offset from the base to build a small cluster over time. The body is covered in firm, conical tubercles arranged in neat spiralling ranks, and it produces the same ring of small pinkish-purple flowers around the crown in spring and early summer.
The defining difference is spination. Where ordinary M. spinosissima crowds each areole with numerous radial and central spines — the "spinosissima" (very spiny) of its name — the 'Un Pico' selection reduces this to a single stout central spine per areole, with radials largely absent or greatly diminished. The result is a much less cluttered, more sculptural silhouette in which the spiral geometry of the tubercles reads clearly. The trait is reasonably stable in cultivation, though individual plants and growing conditions can influence how consistently the single-spine character is expressed.
Cultivation
Grow 'Un Pico' exactly as for the parent species, Mammillaria spinosissima. It appreciates bright light — good sun helps keep growth compact and encourages the spines and flowers — set in a very free-draining, mostly mineral potting mix. Water thoroughly once the soil has dried out during the growing season, then let it dry again; keep the plant dry and cool through winter to prevent rot and to promote the spring flush of flowers. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
One thing worth noting: because much of this cultivar's appeal lies in its clean, single-spined geometry, ample light is especially important. Grown too shaded, it can etiolate — stretching, paling and losing the crisp symmetry that makes the selection worth having in the first place.
Propagation
As with the parent species, 'Un Pico' is readily propagated by removing rooted or unrooted offsets from a clustering plant and allowing the cut surface to callus before potting. It can also be raised from seed, though seed-grown plants are more variable and not every seedling will show the single-spine trait as cleanly as a vegetative division from a good clone. For that reason growers who want to be sure of the character usually propagate it from offsets. See Pests and diseases for the common mealybug and spider-mite issues that affect Mammillaria generally.
See also
- Mammillaria — the genus overview
- Propagation — offsets · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting