Melocactus pushing out white, cotton-like mass

[Belfair]

I have been given this cactus and was told it was a Melocactus. I have read that there is a great number of them with different names. This one has this cottony stuff coming out on top of it, inside of which are small hard bodies. Can anyone explain?

[Download]

Have you done any research on Melocactus?

[SoilSifter]

I don't think that is a Melocactus. I'd guess it is an Echinocactus polycephalus cotton top.

[Steve-0]

I don't think that is a Melocactus. I'd guess it is an Echinocactus polycephalus cotton top.

I would second that.

[Belfair]

Thank you for answering.
This stuff on top is loose and spilling out of the inside. Is it seeds!

[Belfair]

Could it be a reaction to extreme heat or cold or lack of water? Is it dying?

[7george]

Could it be a reaction to extreme heat or cold or lack of water? Is it dying?

No, it is rather fruiting. If pollinated there can be some seeds inside that felt.

Or maybe some bird is setting a nest atop of that cactus? Or maybe that fake Melocactus was created intentionally by transferring extra fruits from other plans to trick the buyer?

[Steve-0]

That species thrives on extreme heat and lack of water. Cold...not so much. I have several of them. They are native to some very arid, very hot, Southwest US deserts in California, Nevada and supposedly Utah ( not confirmed in Utah though, IMO ).

A cactophile here in the Salt Lake Valley of Utah has 5 or 6 mature clusters growing in his south facing front year for nearly a decade. So they can take some cold in the winter.

I think those "small hard bodies" under the "cotton" are flower buds...but I could be wrong and they might be fruits full of seeds. Mine haven't bloomed yet.

[Belfair]

Yes! I think we are getting close to solving the mystery! I am posting two pics of the little hard body inside the fluff, cleaned of the fibers. It has dried up and is broken. But you can see some little seeds ? inside the part I cut open. The white fluff will help the seed capsule disperse in the wind (of which we have plenty in the Socal desert) and it will absorb moisture to help the seeds germinate. I'm again totally amazed at the intelligence in Nature!

[SoilSifter]

Actually, looks like the flower was not pollinated and viable seeds were not produced. From this cactus I expect the seeds would be much more plentiful and black.

[Steve-0]

Actually, looks like the flower was not pollinated and viable seeds were not produced. From this cactus I expect the seeds would be much more plentiful and black.

Agreed...

[7george]

Actually, looks like the flower was not pollinated and viable seeds were not produced. From this cactus I expect the seeds would be much more plentiful and black.

Right, good seeds are large as of F. cylindraceus, dark and 50 or more in a pod.