Mammillaria mercadensis

Botanical Description

Mammillaria mercadensis is a spiny, evergreen, cylindrical cactus producing one or more stems, Individual stems are flattened globose to globose, up to 8cm in diameter[ 1987 Title The Cactus Family Publication Author Anderson E.F. Publisher Timber Press; Portland, Oregon Year 2001 ISBN 0-88192-498-9 Description An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation.. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. Mammillaria mercadensis is overcollected in many areas for medicinal and ornamental purposes. It is also threatened by the clearing of its native habitats for agave cultivation. In the past 10 years, large agro-industrial operations have caused a reduction of at least 30% in its available habitat. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].