Melocactus azureus

It is a globular cactus, characterized by its typical icy-blue color, what allows to easily differentiate it from the rest of the species of the same family. It has deeply furrowed longitudinal ribs, from which short, robust, black-reddish spines emerge, which sometimes are slightly hooked inwards. During its growth the spines tend to turn grayish. When it reaches a certain age, a whitish spherical cephalium develops at the apex of the plant, formed by red shaded bristles, from which small magenta flowers with thin petals bloom between spring and autumn.