Mammillaria heyderi Var. Applanata f. variegata

Beautiful cactaceae with a globose stem, strongly depressed at the apex. In nature it often tends to flatten at ground level in the cold seasons to defend itself. It has rather pronounced conical tubercles, among which, especially when the plant is young, comes out a white and soft down. The radial spines are thin and straight, short and arranged radially, of a tenuous yellow, almost whitish. The central spines, on the contrary, are usually one or two, longer and reddish, protruding outwards. The overall appearance is that of a strongly spiny and wild plant, made "softer" only between spring and summer, when at the apex of the cactus bloom pretty cream or salmon-colored flowers that are arranged almost wanting to crown each head.