Cactus Bands Tell Their Age

The sunset cactus, alias pincushion cactus, is one of more than 200 very small cacti belonging to the genus mamunillaria which are often collectively referred to as fishhook cacti. This one is Mammillaria microcarpa and is about 3 inches high; its flowers are about an inch across and arc pale pink, occurring in the spring and then again in August and as this plant has 19 bands it is 19 years old. Botanically it is known as Echinocereus rigidissimus.