# Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus (*mammillaria lasiacantha*)

The Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus is a fun and unique plant that has tiny, colorful spines that look like lace! It loves to soak up the sun and can survive in very dry places.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Dry, desert areas in Mexico and the southwestern United States.
- **Also known as:** Lace Cactus, Mammillaria, Nipple Cactus

![Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mammillaria_egregia_SB30.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Michael Wolf, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mammillaria_egregia_SB30.jpg)

## Appearance

The Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus is a small, spherical to short-cylindrical cactus densely covered in soft, white, intertwining spines that create a delicate, lacy appearance. It typically has small, pale pink to white flowers that emerge in a ring near its crown.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Caryophyllales
- **Family:** Cactaceae
- **Genus:** Mammillaria

## Interesting facts

- After flowering, this tiny cactus often grows small, bright red fruits!
- It can live for many, many years, patiently waiting for rain in harsh deserts.
- Its 'nipple' name comes from the little bumps (tubercles) on its stem where spines grow!
- Though spiny, some people say its densely woven spines feel like soft lace.

## Special abilities

- **Sun Shield:** Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus has dense, white spines that reflect intense desert sunlight, protecting its delicate skin from scorching heat.
- **Water Hoarder:** This cactus can store water in its thick, fleshy stem, allowing it to survive long periods without rain in dry environments.
- **Spine Armor:** Its intertwining, sharp spines create a formidable barrier, deterring most animals from trying to nibble on its juicy stem.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 2-5 cm
- **Spread:** 5-15 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees visit its small flowers, helping with pollination.
- **Eaten by:** [Collared Peccary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collared-peccary) (*Pecari tajacu*) — Peccaries sometimes eat cacti, despite their protective spines.
- **Symbiotic with:** Red Harvester Ant (*Pogonomyrmex barbatus*) — Ants collect its seeds, helping spread them around the desert.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Be careful of the spines; they can be sharp!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus?

Compare leaf arrangement, rosette shape, ribs, spines and flowers. Keep in mind that drought and strong sun can shift a plant's color and shape. Succulent Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus?

2-5 cm

### How wide does Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus spread?

5-15 cm

### How big are the flowers on Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus?

1-1.5 cm

### When does Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus bloom?

Spring

### Is Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus edible?

No

### Is Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus toxic?

None

### What is Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/organ-mountains-desert-peaks-national-monument) — New Mexico, US · National Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lace-spine-nipple-cactus)