About Melocactus ernestii Vaupel
Melocactus ernestii Vaupel produces bodies that range from light yellowish green to dark green, and are shaped from nearly spherical to short cylindrical. Mature plants reach 9 to 45 centimeters in height and 7 to 35 centimeters in diameter. This cactus has 9 to 13 more or less rounded ribs with slightly sharp edges; each rib bears a row of spines that are typically 2.5 to 5.1 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) long. Spines are colored in bands of red and yellow, or are solid reddish or brownish. There are 3 to 8 central spines; the lowest central spines may be curved or straight, and occasionally grow as long as 25 centimeters (10 inches) – a length only exceeded by the spines of Ferocactus emoryi subspecies rectispinus. The 7 to 13 radial spines are straight or curve outward, and reach 4 to 15 centimeters in length. This species produces a columnar, red cephalium constructed from more or less pink-red bristles, and it is rarely topped with white wool. The cephalium can grow up to 18 centimeters high and 8 centimeters in diameter; it is made up of hundreds of small, tightly packed flowers, and increases slightly in length each year. The flowers themselves are light to dark magenta pink, 1.95 to 2.9 inches long, and 9 to 18 millimeters in diameter. Fruits are deep pink to red at the top, and measure 1.4 to 4.5 centimeters long. Melocactus ernestii is distributed in northeastern Brazil. Two subspecies are currently recognized: Melocactus ernestii subsp. ernestii, and Melocactus ernestii subsp. longicarpus (Buining & Brederoo) N.P.Taylor.
