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  Melocactus onycacanthus var. chagualensis
(Syn: Melocactus bellavistensis ssp. onychacanthus)
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Melocactus onycacanthus var.chagualensis KK n.n. Chagual to Maranon, Peru
It is considered to be one of the most interesting member of the genus.
 

Description: Usually stay solitary, mature plants are easily recognizable by their cephalium, that have a covering of wool and orange or red bristles, The immature plant looks like a smallish barrel cactus, and there is nothing in its appearance that would suggest a melocactus. M. onychacanthus has amber arched spines.
Stem: Strongly longitudinally ribbed, globose depresse to somewhat elongate and pyramidal, shiny dark green, 6-25 cm tall, 8-25 cm across.
Ribs: 9-12, acute, straight or slightly sinuous.
Areoles: Suncken into notches in the ribs.
Spines: Whitish, amber or reddish (often coated in grey) curved downward, usually stout.
Central spines: Normally not present or occasionally 1-3, sometime inconspicuous 1-17 mm long, located in the upper pert of areoles.
Radial spines: 6 to 12, lower one longer 1 to 25 mm long (of variable stoutness)
Cephalium: Up to 15 cm tall, 6-10 cm in diameter, with long reddish bristles and pastel wool.
Flower: Small inconspicuous, pink 18-26 mm long, 5-10 mm in diameter at the top of the cephalium.
Blooming season: Spring to summer in mid to late afternoon.
Fruit: Red clavate15-30 mm long


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Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Melocactus onychacanthus Ritter
In: Nieuwe vondsten van cactussen in Peru. Succulenta 45 : 118 1966.

Accepted Scientific name:  Melocactus bellavistensis ssp. onychacanthus (Ritter) N.P. Taylor 1991

Origin:  The variety “onychacanthus” is endemic to a small area in Amazonas, Balsas, Northern Peru (South America) altitude 800-1800 m.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Common NameTurk’s cap,”  “melon cactus” (or simply “melon”)
 

The most remarkable part of a Melocactus is its cephalium a bristle-coated structure on the summit of the plant, only Melocactus, and the similar genus Discocactus possesses this type of permanent, apical, hatlike appendage. It’s only when a Melocactus reaches maturity that the cephalium begins to grow. Cylindrical, with a diameter distinctly smaller than that of the plant body below, the cephalium will keep growing for the rest of the plant’s life, but the body of the plant stops growing the moment the cephalium starts to form. . As the plants age the cephalium doesn’t increase in circumference it will steadily grow taller
 

 


Cultivation:
These cacti are not the easiest things to grow and aren’t plants for beginners. Melocactus onychacanthus grows from April to October, it can’t endure long stretches of total dryness, and also too much water will rot it, as its weak root systems tends to be inefficient at sucking up water from wet soil. Nonetheless, again as a result of their tropical origins, they need a fair amount of water, but allow the soil to dry quite a bit before watering again. Melocactus rests from October to April but can’t stand cold, or even fairly cool temperatures, so is indispensable to keep it above 8-12°C at all times, severe damage or death occurring at temperatures that the great majority of cacti wouldn’t mind in the least and prefer more frequent water in winter than other cacti, say once a month. Do not feed in winter.
The root system is weak and generally resents being repotted and can take a long time to re-establish. The soil mix should be very quick draining, prefers very bright light, not as much as the most arid growing cacti, but plenty nonetheless.

Propagation: Exclusively by Seeds. Sow in February-march in a light, sandy, porous soil. Cover germinating tray with glass to prevent seed from drying out. Germination is most successful at a temperature of 18 to 22° C.

 

Photo gallery: Alphabetical listing of Cactus and Succulent pictures published in this site.

Photo  gallery MELOCACTUS

Home | E-mail | Plant files | Mail Sale Catalogue | Links | Information | Search

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.