Xerophyte

Habit

Usually solitary.

Description

Melocactus curvispinusSN|17710]]SN|17710]] is highly variable in shape, it has has been divided into several species and subspecies by hobbyists, but only 3 subspecies are valid (subsp. curvispinus, subsp. caesius and subsp. dowsonii).

Cephalium

Relatively small 3 to 4 cm tall and 7 to 11 cm in diameter with long reddish-brown bristles.

Flowers

From the cephalium, dark purple to light pink, 18 to 43 mm long and 10 to 25 mm in diameter.

Blooming Season

spring to summer open late in the afternoon.

Spines

Dirty white to almost black more or less curved. Central spines erect, 1 to 4 often missing, 15 to 52 mm long. Radial spines 6 to 11 (rarely more), 3-42 mm long, the lowest often longer.

Ribs

10 to 16 ribs sharp and sometimes tuberculated.

Stem

Depressed globular to short cylindrical, light to dark green, slightly glaucous, 8 to 27 cm in diameter, 6 to 30 cm tall.

Fruits

Club-shaped, pink to bright red to deep magenta slightly lighter at the base.subspecies by hobbyists, but only 3 subspecies are valid.

Areoles

Slightly sunken in the notches.