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Mammillaria elongata DC.

Gold lace cactus

Native records: 2 botanical areas

Mexico Northeast, Mexico Gulf

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Natural distribution

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NativeIntroducedUncertain

Distribution is shown as WGSRPD Level 3 areas. It does not imply the species occurs throughout an entire area.

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Distribution last verified:

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Photograph of Mammillaria elongata

A small clustering cactus from the Cactaceae family, native to central Mexico, forming dense clusters of elongated finger-like stems covered in golden spines.

Description

A small clumping cactus that forms dense mounds of cylindrical, finger-like stems 1-2 cm in diameter and 10-20 cm long. The stems are covered with numerous tubercles, each bearing a radial cluster of fine golden to pale yellowish-brown spines that give the plant a lace-like golden appearance. In spring it produces small yellow to pale orange bell-shaped flowers near the stem apexes. The common names ladyfinger cactus and gold lace cactus refer respectively to the finger-shaped stems and the golden spines. Tough and prolific, it readily produces many offsets to form large colonies, and is widely cultivated as an ornamental succulent.

Habitat

Native to the arid semi-desert and dry shrubland of central Mexico, growing on limestone hills and slopes at elevations around 1500-2000 m. Adapted to strong sunlight and drought.

Distribution areas

  • Andorra

    • SpainIntroduced

  • Gibraltar

    • SpainIntroduced

  • Mexico

    • Mexico GulfNative
    • Mexico NortheastNative

  • Spain

    • SpainIntroduced

Climate of the native range

The Köppen climate classes found in the areas this plant is recorded as native to. It does not mean an entire area has that climate.

  • Aw Tropical, savannah
  • Am Tropical, monsoon
  • BSh Arid, steppe, hot
  • BSk Arid, steppe, cold
  • BWh Arid, desert, hot
  • Cwb Temperate, dry winter, warm summer

The same climate occurs in 143 areas worldwide, 141 of which have no record of this plant. See them on the map

A matching climate does not mean the plant can grow there. Range limits are also set by things other than climate — dispersal history, soils, competition. Source: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0 (observed period 1991–2020).

Other names

Gold lace cactus、Ladyfinger cactus

Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Mammillaria

Other species in Mammillaria

Sources

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Andorra · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Spain · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Gibraltar · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Mexico · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

Image information