Melocactus azureus f. variegated

The variegated form of this plant has yellow parts, due to the absence of chlorophyll in that point - a feature particularly appreciated by green collectors. 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 genus. 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.