Melocactus bellavistensis

Melocactus bellavistensis has glossy, dark green, depressed, spherical to slightly elongated, conical shoots measuring 6–25 cm in height and 8–25 cm in diameter. It features 9–18 sharp-edged ribs separated by straight grooves, with areoles sunken into the ribs' notches. The spines are whitish to reddish-yellow with a gray tint, curved downward, and vary in strength. Central spines, if present, are 0.1–1.7 cm long; radial spines number 6–12, up to 2.5 cm long, with the longest at the bottom. The cephalium, consisting of creamy-white wool and reddish bristles, grows up to 15 cm tall and 6–10 cm wide. Flowers are deep pink, 1.8–2.6 cm long, and 0.5–1 cm in diameter. Fruits are red, 1.5–2.9 cm long.

Native to southern Ecuador and northern Peru at elevations between 400 and 1,600 m (1,300 and 5,200 ft). In Ecuador the plants grow among Vachellia macracantha, Anadenanthera colubrina, Ceiba insignis and Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi. In Peru the plants grow among Espostoa mirabilis, Espostoa hylaea, and Matucana madisoniorum.