Xerophyte

Habit

Usually stay solitary, mature plants are easily recognizable by their cephalium, that have a covering of wool and orange or red bristles. The immature plant looks like a smallish barrel cactus, and there is nothing in its appearance that would suggest a Melocactus.

Central Spines

1-4,15-30 mm long.

Description

Melocactus salvadorensisSN|2264]]SN|26074]] is a large Melocactus recognizable by the bluish-green body and reddish brown spines. It is similar to Melocactus ernestiiSN|26074]]SN|2264]] but ribs more triangular-acute and spines shorter.

Cephalium

Up to 15 cm high, 6-10 cm in diameter, with dense reddish bristles but sparse grayish white wool.

Flowers

Small inconspicuous, barely exserted above the cephalia, opening in late afternoon, pinkish magenta, to 25 mm long and 12 mm in diameter.

Spines

Yellowish to reddish brown, overlaid with grey at first.

Ribs

8-14, triangular-acute.

Stem

Flattened-globose to pyramidal globose, greyish bluegreen, often very glaucous, 12-20 cm tall, 12-25 cm in across.

Radial Spines

7-10, 20-46 mm long.

Fruits

Club shaped, somewhat flattened, deep lilac magenta, to 17 mm long.