Xerophyte

Description

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. Melocactus arcuatispinusSN|20588]]SN|20588]] has long amber-brown arched spines.

Flowers

Small inconspicuous purple, self pollinating flowers grow at the top of the cephalium.

Spines

Very rather stout and arched, yellow, brown, or reddish, overlaid with gray except at the dark tips.

Stem

Strongly longitudinally ribbed globose or spheroid.

Fruits

White clavate.