Xerophyte

Central Spines

1(-2) stouter, ascending, of the same colour up to 1,5 cm long.

Seeds

1-1,3 mm long, 0,8-0,9 mm wide, strongly tuberculate at end opposite hilum.

Description

This is a small species with highly attractive bluish stems and tall creamy-white cephalia.

Terminal Cephalium

up to 10 cm high, crowned by a concentration of short bristles almost hidden by thick, creamy-white wool.

Note

Isolated plants of Melocactus glaucescensSN|23685]]SN|23685]] rarely produce fruits (presents self-incompatibility and allogamy).

Flowers

2,1 mm long, 6 mm wide, delightful lilac-magenta .

Ribs

7-15 (but most frequently 11) acute.

Stem

Solitary, rounded or pyramidal 14-18 cm tall, 14-25 cm in diameter, waxy, light blue colour when young, becoming greyish-green with age.

Radial Spines

4-6(-7) brown-grey, the lowermost up to 2,5 cm long..

Fruits

Rounded to egg shaped, up to 12 mm long x 6 mm wide, deep magenta, or dark red, developing from the fertilised flowers.

Areoles

Widely spaced 1-1,8 cm apart.