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Melocactus peruvianus is a species of succulent flowering plant in the genus Melocactus, within the family Cactaceae. It is native to southwestern Ecuador and Peru. It is characterized by its cephalium, an apical reproductive structure covered with wool and spines from which flowers and fruits are borne.
Melocactus peruvianus is cultivated primarily as an ornamental. Its cultivation requires some experience, and is not recommended for beginner cactus growers. Its root system is weak, making it difficult for the plant to absorb water from moist soils; this makes the plant susceptible to both long periods of drought and excessive moisture, the latter of which can cause root rot.
Due to its tropical origin, this species requires a relatively high level of watering, although the substrate should be allowed to dry out completely between irrigation. It does not tolerate cold or cool temperatures, so it is necessary to keep it at a temperature above 8-12 ºC (46.4-53.6 ºF). Low temperatures can severely damage or kill the plant, even in conditions that other cacti can tolerate without problems.
Melocactus peruvianus is native to the western slope of the Andes, from the province of El Oro in southwestern Ecuador to the departments of Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Áncash, Lima, and Arequipa in western Peru.
Turk's Cap Cactus · Melocactus bahiensis · Melocactus bellavistensis · Melocactus braunii · Melocactus caroli-linnaei · Cone Like Turk's Head Cactus · Melocactus curvispinus · Wonderful Bristle Turk's Head Cactus · Melocactus ernestii · Melocactus estevesii · Cactus · Melocactus harlowii
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Melocactus peruvianus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
