Xerophyte

Central Spines

1-3(-4) slightly curved to straight 2-4,6 cm long.

Seeds

Smooth 1-1,7 x 0,9-1,5 mm wide.

Description

Melocactus azureusSN|18932]]SN|18932]] is one of most desirable of the Brazilian melocacti because of its striking frosty blue epidermis, this plant has a reputation for being more difficult to cultivate than most.

Cephalium

3,5-12 tall, 7-10 cm wide, with white wool (subsp. ferreophilus) or brown wool (subsp. azureus) and conspicuous reddish bristles that protrude noticeably from the cephalia in subsp. ferreophilus (but never exerted in subsp. azureus).

Flowers

Small 15-23 mm long 4-11 mm in diameter pink to magenta, with approx. 25 perianth-segments visible from above.

Chromosome Number

2n = 44.

Spines

Spines black to reddish, overlaid with grey, some hooked in seedlings.

Ribs

9-10(-12, acute, triangular in cross section.

Stem

Globose, to cylindrical (9-)14-30(-45 cm) tall and 14-20 cm in diameter, green, grey-green, never glaucous (subsp. ferreophilus) or intensely glaucous, especially when young (subsp. azureus), with mucilage present in the chlorophyllous cortical tissues

Fruits

Small, white to pale pink above 15-29 mm long, 3-10 mm across. Not produced on isolated plants (self-sterile).

Blooming Season

Spring to late autumn (fall).

Radial Spines

7-11 very stout, lowermost longest up to 5 cm long.

Areoles

1,5-2 cm apart.