| Melocactus azureus Shipped in a 6.5cm pot Description:
Melocactus azureus is one of most desirable of the Brazilian melocacti because of its striking frosty blue epidermis, this plant has a reputation for being more difficult to cultivate than most. Stem:
Globose, to cylindrical (9-)14-30(-45 cm) tall and 14-20 cm in diameter, green, grey-green, never glaucous (subsp. ferreophilus) or intensely glaucous, especially when young (subsp. azureus), with mucilage present in the chlorophyllous cortical tissues Ribs:
9-10(-12, acute, triangular in cross section. Areoles:
1,5-2 cm apart. Spines:
Spines black to reddish, overlaid with grey, some hooked in seedlings. Central spines:
1-3(-4) slightly curved to straight 2-4,6 cm long. Radial spines:
7-11 very stout, lowermost longest up to 5 cm long. Cephalium:
3,5-12 tall, 7-10 cm wide, with white wool (subsp. ferreophilus) or brown wool (subsp. azureus) and conspicuous reddish bristles that protrude noticeably from the cephalia in subsp. ferreophilus (but never exerted in subsp. azureus). Flowers:
Small 15-23 mm long 4-11 mm in diameter pink to magenta, with approx. 25 perianth-segments visible from above. Flowering Time:
Spring to late autumn (fall). Fruits:
Small, white to pale pink above 15-29 mm long, 3-10 mm across. Not produced on isolated plants (self-sterile). Seeds:
Smooth 1-1,7 x 0,9-1,5 mm wide. Chromosome number:
2n = 44. Origin and Habitat:
Central and northern Bahia, eastern Brazil. Altitude:
450-800 metres above sea level. Habitat:
This species has a small range and is restricted to low-lying outcrops of limestone. The species occurs in subpopulations of a few hundred individuals, however, in some there are millions. Habitat loss for agriculture is a major threat, the vegetation gets destroyed when the surrounding caatinga forest is cleared for cultivation causing a continuing decline of the natural populations. Also, the change in the surrounding vegetation has an impact on the outcrops were the species grows, making them prone to invasive species. -
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