Xerophyte

Habit

Usually solitary.

Central Spines

2 erect or spreading, rigid, up to 35 mm long.

Description

Melocactus guitartiiSN|17710]]SN|17721]] is the the rarest of these Cuban species, nowadays considered nothing else than one of the local or morphological form of the very variable Melocactus curvispinusSN|17721]]SN|17710]]. It is about 10 cm broad and 12 cm high, densely armed with long spreading rigid spines. There are no other clear distinguishing features, and they must all be regarded as the same species.

Cephalium

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

Flowers

From the cephalium, pink, 18 to 43 mm long and 3 to 4 cm long. It is self-fertile!

Blooming Season

Spring to summerand opening late in the afternoon.

Spines

Dirty white to almost black more or less curved.

Ribs

10 to 16 sharp.

Stem

Depressed globular to short cylindrical, light to dark green, slightly glaucous, 10-16 cm in diameter, 6 to 30 cm tall.

Radial Spines

9 to 10.

Fruits

Club-shaped, pink to red-violet slightly lighter at the base.

Areoles

Slightly sunken in the notches.