Melocactus neomontanus

This cactus differs from other Melocactus by its fine and long spines, slightly twisted, of a quite bright reddish-orange color. The body of this plant is spherical, but depressed at the apex, of an intense green color. It has large downy white areoles, that pleasantly contrast with the bright colors of the ribs and the spines. At a certain age of the plant, when the cactus stops growing, a whitish spherical cephalium develops at the apex of the plant, formed by red bristles, from which small light or dark magenta flowers with thin petals bloom. The cephalium tends to grow, not in diameter, but only in height, assuming a characteristic cylindrical shape, that also gives an idea of the age of the plant.