Melocactus peruvianus

Cactacea with a globular shape, slightly depressed at the apex, of a glaucous green and opaque stem, with deep, well symmetrical longitudinal ribs. Along the coasts there are large white and rounded areoles from which sturdy and slightly curved radial spines emerges. They are arranged in a radial pattern and of a reddish-yellow hue; only rarely is there also some central spine that turns outwards and can even exceed 4 cm in length. When Melocactus peruvianus reaches mature age, like all specimens of its genus, it develops a wonderful cephalium at the apex consisting of white and reddish bristles: from the moment it appears, the plant will stop growing, but the cephalium will continue to grow and increase its height.