Origin and Habitat: Southern Ecuador ( Valleys of Catamayo and Loja province) and northern Peru (Amazonas, Cajamarca and La Libertad regions ). Western South America.
Altitude: 400 to 1600 metres above sea level.
Habitat: In Ecuador, only a very few individuals of Melocactus bellavistensisSN|20610]]SN|20610]] (about 70) grow in remote, inaccessible areas on steep, rocky, north-facing slopes in the driest part of the Catamayo Valley alongside with Acacia macracantha, Anadenanthera colubrina, Ceiba insignisSN|33376]]SN|33376]] and Echinopsis pachanoiSN|8470]]SN|8470]], amongst others. Similar information is lacking for its range within Peru where it grows along with succulents such as Espostoa mirabilis, Espostoa hyalea, and Matucana madisoniorumSN|2238]]SN|2238]].

• Melocactus bellavistensis Rauh & Backeb.

• Melocactus bellavistensis subs. onychacanthus (F.Ritter) N.P.Taylor
• Melocactus onychacanthus F.Ritter
• Melocactus onychacanthus var. albescens F.Ritter
• Melocactus onychacanthus var. conicus F.Ritter

Description: Melocactus bellavistensisSN|20610]]SN|20610]] is a rare species with red bristly cephalia. Unlike most other melocacti, it is rather uniform in vegetative characters but with spines variable in stoutness.
Stem: Depressed globose to somewhat elongate and conical, 6-25 cm high, 8-25 (or more) cm in diameter glossy dark green.
Ribs: 9-18, sharply acute, with straight grows.
Areoles: Conspicuous sunken into notches in the ribs, at first with white wool, later almost naked.
Spines: Whitish to reddish yellow, with grey coating, usually curved downward, variable in stoutness depending on growing condition, age, and geographical provenance.
Central spines: Usually absent or 1 to 3, located in the upper parts of the areoles, sometimes very weak, 1-17 mm long.
Radial spines: 6-12, lower ones longest, to 25 mm, upper ones 1-8 mm long.
Cephalia: Up to 15 (or more) cm high, 6-10 cm in diameter, with exserted reddish bristles and creamy white wool.
Flowers: Deep pink, 18-26 mm long, 5-10 mm in diameter.
Blooming season: Spring to summer and opening late in the afternoon.
Fruits: Red, 15-29 mm long.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Stuart Max Walters “The European garden flora. 3.[Angiospermae], Dicotyledons. [Casuarinaceae to Aristolochiaceae]” Cambridge University Press, 1989
2) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton "Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names" Birkhäuser 2004
5) Gunnar Harling, ‎Benkt Sparre “Flora of Ecuador” Department of Systematic Botany, University of Göteborg, Section for Botany, Riksmuseum., 1989
6) Ostalaza, C. & Loaiza, C. 2013. Melocactus bellavistensis. In: IUCN 2013. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 November 2013.
7) Brako, L. & J. L. Zarucchi. (eds.) 1993. "Catalogue of the Flowering Plants and Gymnosperms of Peru." Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 45: i–xl, 1–1286.
8) Jørgensen, P. M. & S. León-Yánez. (eds.) 1999. "Catalogue of the vascular plants of Ecuador." Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 75: i–viii, 1–1181.
9) Madsen, J. E. 1989. 45. "Cactaceae." 35: 1–79. In G. W. Harling & B. B. Sparre (eds.) Fl. Ecuador. University of Göteborg and Swedish Museum of Natural History, Göteborg and Stockholm.
10) Rauh, W. 1958. "Beitrag zur Kenntnis der peruanischen Kakteenvegetation." Stizungsber. Heidelberger Akad. Wiss., Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 1–542.
11) Ritter, F. 1981. "Peru". 4: 1239–1692. In F. Ritter "Kakteen Südamer.." Friedrich Ritter Selbstverlag, Spangenberg.
12) Taylor, N. P. 1991. "The genus Melocactus (Cactaceae) in Central and South America." Bradleya 9: 1–80.

Cultivation and Propagation: These tropical cacti are not the easiest things to grow and aren’t plants for beginners.
Growth rate: It is a relatively rapidly growing given the best conditions.
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil.
Repotting: The root system is weak and generally resents being repotted and can take a long time to re-establish. Use pot with good drainage.
Light: They preferes very bright light, not as much as the most arid growing cacti, but plenty nonetheless. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy spine production.
Watering: Melocacti grow from April to October and cannot endure long stretches of total dryness, and also too much water will rot them, as their weak root systems tends to be inefficient at sucking up water from wet soil. Nonetheless, again as a result of their tropical origins, they need a fair amount of water, but allow the soil to dry quite a bit before watering again.
Fertilization: Do not feed in winter.
Hardiness: Melocacti rest from October to April but can’t stand cold, or even fairly cool temperatures, so is indispensable to keep them above 8-12°C at all times, severe damage or death occurring at temperatures that the great majority of cacti wouldn’t mind in the least and prefer more frequent water in winter than other cacti, say once a month. (but hardy to 4 C ° C for short periods). However warmth throughout the year will increase the grower's success (minimumum 12° to 20° C during rest season).
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: they may be effectively rubbed up by misting the vulnerable plants every day
- Mealy bugs: occasionally they develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Sciara Flies: they are one of the major problems for seedlings. It is a good practice to mulch your seedlings with a layer of grit, which will strongly discourage the flies.
- Scales: they are rarely a problem.
It is wise to treat your whole collection with a systemic insecticide twice a year in spring and autumn.
- Rot: it is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Propagation: Exclusively by Seeds. Sow in February-march in a light, sandy, porous soil. Cover germinating tray with glass to prevent seed from drying out. Germination is most successful at a temperature of 18 to 22° C.