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.