Cephalium is a frequently brightly coloured structure of wool and bristle at the growing tip of certain
cacti. It is most commonly found on cacti of the genus ''
Melocactus
''Melocactus'' (melon cactus), also known as the Turk's cap cactus, is a genus of cactus with about 30–40 species. They are native to the Caribbean, western Mexico through Central America to northern South America, with some species along the ...
'' and can take a number of colours, forms and shapes.
The cephalium will only begin growing after a cactus has reached a certain size or age. Once flowering begins the flower buds will form from the cephalium.
Image:Arrojadoa penicillata.jpg, Flowers emerge from cephalium of '' Arrojadoa penicillata''.
Image:Melocactus matanzanus 1.jpg, Cephalium of ''Melocactus matanzanus
''Melocactus matanzanus'', common name dwarf Turk's-cap cactus or Turk's-cap cactus, is a cactus in the genus ''Melocactus'' of the family Cactaceae. The epithet ''matanzanus'' is derived from the Cuban province of Matanzas.
Description
''Meloc ...
''
Image:Espostoa lanata-IMG 1935.jpg, Lateral cephalium of '' Espostoa lanata''
External links
* http://www.cactus-art.biz/note-book/Dictionary/Dictionary_C/dictionary_cephalium.htm
{{Cactus-stub
Cacti
Plant morphology