Melocactus concinnus Live Cactus in 6 Inch

Origin and Habitat: Central Bahia to northern central Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Altitude: 700-1200 metres above sea level.

Habitat: It is a rare species that grows along with Melocactus conoideus on shallow, very drained, sandy substrata in the arid rocky upland habitat of the the campo rupestre / caatinga ecotone (transition area between different plant communities with diverse geology, drainage and atmospheric humidity). This area is often described as a complex mosaic of micro-habitats. The strongly depressed (squat) habit of this species is thought to be an adaptation to minimise the effects of fire, although it can still get scorched on occasion.

Description: Melocactus concinnus is one of the dwarfish and more elegant Brazilian tropical specie rarely getting up to 15 cm before maturing and forming a cephalium, (the curious bristly head of the plant, which is a specialised structure in which the flowers and fruits are borne and protected.). Pink buds of flowers sprout around and on top of the cephalium, providing additional colour to the plant.
Rots: The roots of Melocactus plants remain shallowly grounded in the soil, and they generally grow in a horizontal direction.
Stem: The bodies of the plants are small, shaped like a sphere that has been squashed from above, or hemispherical, grey-green and glaucous, 8-13 cm high, 11-16 cm in diameter.
Spines: At first red, black or yellowish passing to grey with the exception of the darker tips.
Central spine: One, bent upwards, 10-19 mm long.
Radial spines: 6-8, recurved, sometimes hooked at the tip, 15-26 mm long.
Cephalia: Fairly short, to 5,5 cm high, 4-9 cm in diameter, with fine, dense, pale pinkish red bristles and cream-coloured wool, which caps the vegetative part of the stem. The cephalia can become extremely hard and thick as these cacti get older.
Flowers: Barely to well protruding from the cephalia, deep pink, 20-23 mm long, 6-12 mm in diameter.
Blooming season: It flowers off and on all summer and spits fruits out constantly after the blossoms wither, apparently they take some time to form.
Similar species: For its small dimension and short recurved spines recurved Melocactus concinnus is similar in shape with the Melocactus matanzanus of Cuba or Melocactus braunii of Bahia, Brazil)

This is for one plant growing in a 6" inch container shipped bare root. All of our plants are grown in the beautiful Temecula Valley in sunny Southern California, and we ship within the United States. Shipping is done Monday thru Friday.

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