Melocactus intortus

Melocactus intortus, referred to in the caption by its older synonym Melocactus communis, is a species of the genus Melocactus, which comprises about thirty-six species. This group of plants belongs to the family Cactaceae and can be found in the West Indies, Mexico, and South America.

 The distinctive cephalium, visible at the top, forms when the plant attains full growth. It is this cephalium that bears flowers, usually reddish in color, and fruit. These plants can take up to seven years to reach maturity, which is part of the reason this species is endangered in the wild.

The caption reads in the original French: MeloCacte commun (Melocactus communis).