Xerophyte

Central Spines

Missing or 1 to 4 up to 6 cm long.

Seeds

Ovoidal-reniform, 1-1,1 mm long, 0,8-0,9 mm in diameter, dark brown to black,

Description

This is probably one of the many geographical forms of the extremely variable Vaupel's Melocactus peruvianusSN|12607]]SN|12607]].Melocactus peruvianusSN|12607]]SN|12607]] is a small solitary globose cactus.

Flowers

Actinomorphic, tubular, pink to red, emerging 2-3 cm over the cephalium, corolla 5-15 mm in diameter, tepals about 15 of which

Spines

Extremely variable yellowish to dark brown or black turning grey as they age

Ribs

10-15.

Stem

Erected, depressed globose to pyramidal or short cylindrical,13-20 cm tall and in diameter, glaucous green.

Radial Spines

4-15 up to 2-3(-6) cm long, 0,5-1 mm in diameter, straight to strongly curved, sometimes interlaced and pectinate and more or less angular and keeled above.

Fruits

Red at the tip, ellipsoidal to pear shaped, 18 mm long, 6-7 mm in diameter with persisting flowers remnants, pulp whitish with 60-120 seeds.

Areoles

up to 5 x 10 mm in size, roundish-elongated with brown felt.