Xerophyte

Central Spines

1 to 4 (rarely to 6), (2-)3-5(-9) cm long.

Seeds

Black, minute, 1-1,3 mm x 0,8-1 mm, covered with low depressed tubercles.

Description

Melocactus oreasSN|2280]]SN|2280]] is a strongly spined solitary cactus easily recognizable by its cephalium. This plant is characterized by its greatly elongated spines, these being longer than those of most other species of the genus. The central spine often significantly shorter than the longest lowermost radial spine. It's a highly variable taxon with several more or less similar forms that could be described as geographical varieties or, in some cases, critical species.

Cephalium

1,5 to 13 cm high, 4-8 cm in diameter, composed of white wool and many soft dark reddish brown hairs.

Flowers

Pinkish to dark pinkish magenta, 17-22 mm long, 7-10 mm in diameter often somewhat flattened, especially below apex.

Chromosome Number

2n = 44

Spines

14 to 20 flexible, greatly elongated, of which 4 to 6 are central, yellowish brown, reddish brown or brown, but paler toward the tips, slender, nearly straight, subulate, much elongated, flexible, terete, round in cross section.

Ribs

10 to 13 (or more) round to obtuse in cross section but with somewhat acute edges, about 20 mm high.

Stem

Depressed globose, globose, ellipsoid or somewhat conical, 8-35 (rarely to 45) cm tall, 10-18 (occasionally more) cm in diameter, medium to dark glossy green.

Fruits

Elongate clavate, 14-28 mm long, bright red at the tip and magenta to pinkish.below often remaining partly sunken in the cephalium and drying up.

Habit

Usually stay solitary, mature plants are easily recognizable by their cephalia, that have a covering of wool and dark reddish-brown bristles.The immature plant looks like a smallish barrel cactus, and there is nothing in its appearance that would suggest a melocactus.

Radial Spines

8-11, slender, flexible, straight or curved, 4-8 cm long, the lowermost greatly elongated up to 14 cm long.

Areoles

1-2 cm apart round creamy or yellowish woolly.