Xerophyte

Central Spines

1-4 per areola, 10-53 mm long mostly straight-projecting

Seeds

1-1,35 x 1 mm somewhat tuberculate.

Description

Melocactus grisoleoviridisSN|2283]]SN|2293]] distinguishes from the standard Melocactus bahiensisSN|2293]]SN|2283]] subs. amethystinus for its larger green till silver body. It has also a taller cephalium with wool and brown bristles. It remembers a crowned head. Plants of this genus attract more attention in collections than those of any other cactus genera.

Cephalium

Mostly small with many brown bristles up to 5 cm high and 6,5-8,5 cm in diameter.

Flowers

18-23 mm long, 10-12 mm wide.

Ribs

10-12 acute and variable in shape.

Stem

Depressed-spherical, globose or pyramidal, light to dark green 10-21 cm tall, 11-21 cm in diameter in diameter.

Radial Spines

7-12 mostly straight. 13-50 mm long, the lowermost only a little longer than the others.

Fruits

Berry, club-shaped up to 25 mm long, 9 mm in diameter, red to crimson on the top, white or pale pink at the base.

Areoles

White 10-24 mm apart.