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]] subs. ferreophilus is one of the rarest of the Brazilian melocacti that distingushes from the standard Melocactus azureusSN|18932]]SN|18932]] for its green epidermis (never frosty blue) with white wool (never brown) and conspicuous reddish bristles that protrude noticeably from the cephalia (not exerted in subsp. azureus). 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 (never brown) and conspicuous reddish bristles that protrude noticeably from the cephalia.

Flowers

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

Blooming Season

Spring to late autumn (fall).

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, with mucilage present in the chlorophyllous cortical tissues

Radial Spines

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

Fruits

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

Areoles

1,5-2 cm apart.