Melocactus

Melocactus
Melocactus
M. acipinosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cereeae
Genus: Melocactus
Link & Otto
Species

Melocactus albicephalus
Melocactus andinus
Melocactus azureus
Melocactus bahiensis
Melocactus bellavistensis
Melocactus broadwayi
Melocactus caroli-linnaei
Melocactus concinnus
Melocactus conoideus
Melocactus curvispinus
Melocactus deinacanthus
Melocactus ernestii
Melocactus estevesii
Melocactus glaucescens
Melocactus grueberi
Melocactus harlowii
Melocactus horridus
Melocactus intortus
Melocactus lanssensianus
Melocactus lemairei
Melocactus levitestatus
Melocactus macracanthus
Melocactus matanzanus
Melocactus mazelianus
Melocactus neryi
Melocactus oreas
Melocactus pachyacanthus
Melocactus paucispinus
Melocactus perezassoi
Melocactus peruvianus
Melocactus praerupticola
Melocactus salvadorensis
Melocactus schatzlii
Melocactus smithii
Melocactus violaceus
Melocactus zehntneri

Melocactus (Melon cactus) is a genus of cactus with about 40 species. They are native to the Caribbean, northern South America, with some species along the Andes down to southern Peru, and a concentration of species in northeastern Brazil.

The genus Cactus Britton & Rose has been brought into synonymy with this genus.

Mature plants are easily recognizable by their cephalium, a wool- and bristle-coated structure at the apex of the plant, from which the inconspicuous flowers grow.