Xerophyte

Central Spines

(0-)1-4, pointing outward, 8-20 mm long.

Seeds

Seeds presents strongly marginal or uniformly convex testa-cells.

Description

Melocactus schatzliiSN|31102]]SN|31102]] is one of the few Andean Melocacti, characterized by a peculiar white cephalium with short bristles almost completely concealed in the wool. In time the cephalium forms a 12 cm column that towers over the body. The fruit are bright pink.Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and subsp. chicamochae Fern. Alonso & Xhonneux.

Cephalium

Up to 12 cm high, 6-10 cm in diameter, sometimes nearly as wide as the stem, with white to grey wool. The bristles are almost completely concealed in the cephalium.

Flowers

Diurnal, opening in late afternoon, pale to deep pink, 21-30 mm long, 9-12 mm in diameter, hardly protruding out of the cephalium.

Spines

Fairly weak, dark brown, becoming grey, straight or slightly curved.

Ribs

10-15, usually sharp-edged.

Stem

Flattened-spherical to ovoid, grey-green, slightly glaucous, 8-18(-34) cm tall, 10-20(-25) cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

(3-)5-10, similar to the centrals, 4-20 mm long, lowermost ones longest,uppermost often bristle-like and very short.

Fruits

Red at the tip, pink or white below, 18-25 mm long.

Areoles

Deep-setted in notches in the ribs.