€21,20

🌱 Morphology
Solitary cactus with a globose to subglobose body that can elongate and become briefly cylindrical with age. The epidermis is grayish-green and may exhibit a marked pruina. It usually reaches about 12 cm in diameter, although adult specimens can attain greater height. It presents 12–13 ribs, occasionally up to 17, swollen below the areoles. The areoles are oval and, in young specimens, are covered with wool and a characteristic yellowish felt. It develops 1–4 robust central spines, up to about 2.5 cm, with a thickened base and strongly curved upward, accompanied by 7–12 radial spines of 1.5–2 cm. The spination of wild plants is usually especially robust.

The name Pyrrhocactus megliolii Rausch was described in 1974 for plants from the vicinity of Marayes, San Juan, and was characterized by its pruinose epidermis and its flowers with golden, orange, and pink hues. It is currently considered included in the broader concept of Pyrrhocactus bulbocalyx according to Lodé’s classification.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is distributed throughout northwestern Argentina, mainly in San Juan, La Rioja, and San Luis, in arid and semi-arid environments of monte and dry scrubland, on rocky and stony terrain. Populations historically attributed to P. megliolii originate especially from Marayes, in San Juan, where it grows on rocky terrain and, according to available field observations, shows an affinity for quartz-rich substrates. It belongs to the Cactaceae family.

❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 8b–11b
It is a species from arid continental environments, subject to a marked thermal amplitude in its habitat. It can be grown in cold winters as long as the substrate remains completely dry during dormancy. Proper acclimatization and the absence of moisture in the roots are especially important when frosts occur.

☀️ Lighting
During active growth, it requires very high lighting, approximately 18–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR, with several hours of direct sun. High light intensity favors the formation of a compact epidermis, strong spination, and proper flowering. In summer, when temperatures are exceptionally high, it may benefit from slight protection during the midday hours.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
It is a xerophyte adapted to scarce rainfall and large thermal oscillations between day and night. During the active growth period, abundant watering is recommended, allowing the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. The winter rest must be kept practically dry, especially when temperatures are low. The alternation between abundant watering and complete drying best reproduces the conditions of irregular water availability in its habitat.

🌸 Flowering
The flowers appear in the subapical zone and present a characteristic urceolate shape, with a relatively narrow opening. The outer tepals can show golden or orange hues, while the inner ones are pink, with a darker throat, a combination particularly characteristic of the plants originally described as P. megliolii. The stamens are yellow and the style and stigmas present magenta hues. In cultivation in Spain, flowering is expected mainly during the spring. The fruit is small, approximately spherical, brownish-red to violet in color, and with areoles covered in white felt.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low levels of nitrogen is recommended, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactáceas, applied once a month when watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Floración.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

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