cephalium

{{Short description|Cactus structure}}

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 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

Image:Espostoa lanata-IMG 1935.jpg|Lateral cephalium of Espostoa lanata