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Melocactus (From Melon a Melon and Kaktos)

(from Melon, a Melon, and Kaktos, a name applied by Theophrastus to a spiny plant; the species of this genus are melon-formed, and their angles are beset with tufts of spines). Melon Thistle. ORD. Cacteae. A genus comprising about thirty species of stove succulent plants, inhabiting Mexico, Brazil, and the West Indies, a few being found in New Granada. Melocactuses are not often seen in cultivation, and are more grotesque than beautiful. They closely resemble each other in general characters, which are "a globular, unbranched, fleshy stem, 1ft. to 3ft. in diameter, regularly ribbed from base to summit, the ridges bearing a varying number of clusters of spines, and a cylindrical portion, termed the cap, produced from the apex of the stem, formed of a woolly substance, and closely-set, softer spines than those on the main stem. Upon this the small flowers are borne, tubular in form, and red or rose-coloured" (Castle, "Cactaceous Plants"). The species generally grow in exceedingly dry, rocky or sandy situations. The one most generally cultivated is M. communis, which is very difficult to grow with anything approaching success. Essential elements in its culture are a high temperature, very porous soil, plenty of drainage, and but little water.

M. communis (common). Melon Cactus; Turk's Cap. fl. rosy-red, tubular, 1in. long. Stems from 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high, 1ft. in diameter; ridges from twelve to twenty, 1in. to 1 1/2in. deep, conical, bearing clusters of eight or nine spines, 1/4in. to 1in. long. West Indies, 1788.

M. depressus (depressed). fl. rose-coloured. July. fr. a club-shaped berry, about 1in. long. Stem depresso-conical, not more than 6in. across, with rounded sides; ribs about ten, acute, each bearing four or five clusters of strong, spreading, pale brown or ashen-green spines, five to seven in a cluster; at the summit of the stem is a short crown, less than 3/4in. high, and about 2 1/2in. in diameter, of woolly substance, filled with exserted red aculei. Pernambuco. (B. M. 3691.) M. Ellemeetii (Ellemeet's). fl. rose-colour, rather small. Stems ovoid, depressed, ten-ribbed; ribs separated by broad sinuses; spines seven or eight, rather short, similar. Bahia, Brazil, 1872.

M. Schlumbergerianus (Schlumberger's). This species forms a globular, glaucescent, furrowed mass, about 6in. in diameter, and as much in height; the angles are fifteen in number, elevated about 1in., and bear clusters of about nine radiating spines, which are white, with black points; the terminating tuft, or cap, is about 1in. high and 2in. broad. St. Thomas' Island, 1861.