Scientific: Mammillaria lasiacantha
Common: lacespine nipple cactus (sometimes you just can't make this stuff up), golf ball cactus
Family: Cactaceae
Origin: Found in Chihuahuan Desert desert scrub communities on rocky hills, gravelly slopes, usually on limestone from west Texas south into Mexico (Durango, Chihuahua and Coahuila). Also, reported to occur in New Mexico and Arizona at elevations up to 6,000 feet.

Pronounciation: Mam-a-LAR-ee-a la-see-a-CAN-tha

Hardiness zones
Sunset 11-13
USDA 8-11

Landscape Use: This is an excellent accent plant for small desert, rock and succulent gardens.

Form & Character: Rounded, diminuative, dainty, fragile, charming, pure.

Growth Habit: Mostly a diminuative succulent, barrel cactus, but with age will develop a slight columnar habit to 6 inches tall and "knobby" branches, mostly smaller.

Foliage/Texture: Spines 25 or more per areole, in several series but all equally thin, mostly appressed, white or very pale pink, often minutely tipped pinkish brown; fine texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Produces a ring of small and delicate striped, white, brown, orange to pink flowers, fruit inconspicuous.

Seasonal Color: Flowers profusely in early spring.

Temperature: Very heat tolerant, but freeze sensitive.

Light: Full sun to partial shade, not western sun in Phoenix. Does best in an eastern exposure.

Soil: Does best in alkaine, rocky, well-drained soil.

Watering: Rarely needs supplemental irrigation.

Pruning: None.

Propagation: Seed, rare.

Disease and Pests: None.

Additional comments: Mammillaria are generally smaller and more delicate cacti with much visual appeal when used in intimate landscape settings such as desert rock gardens.