Mamillaria pondii Greene, Pittonia, i, 268 (1889).
Oval or cylindrical, from low to 30 cm. high, simple or sparingly
branched: radial spines 20 to 30, white and slender; centrals 4
or 5, the longest over 25 mm, long, rigid and strongly hooked,
dark brown above the middle: flowers nearly 5 cm. long, bright,
scarlet: fruit unknown. Type, Pond specimens in Herb. Greene.
Cedros Island, off the west coast of Lower California. Fl.
February.
Unfortunately, the type specimen has been mislaid, so that no
examination of it could be made. Evidently related to C.
goodrichii, but differing in its much more robust habit, more
numerous radials, much longer spines, and larger scarlet flowers.