圓球狀的植株，外圍有10至12條凸起的縱向稜線，上面有星芒狀的刺，是典型的仙人掌模樣。最大的特徵是植株頂端的淡红色花座，像一塊波士頓派或是蛋糕，開在花座上的桃紅色小花就成了漂亮的點綴，果實紅色像蠟燭，上面的花柱就成了蠟燭芯。花座其實是突出球體的生長點，上面聚集的刺與毛特化而成的，具有保護花苞的功能。

Harlow’s Barrel Cactus, spherical in shape, bears 10 to 12 raised longitudinal ridges on the periphery and star-shaped spines, which is a typical appearance of cactus. The biggest feature is the pink areoles at the top of the plant, like a piece of Boston pie or cake and the pink areole is like the icing on the cake while the red fruits are candles, and the style above is a candle wick. The areole is actually the growth point of the protruding sphere, and the spines and hairs gathered on it are specialized and provide protection to the flower bud.

花座球屬多肉植物，原產古巴。單莖，卵形至圓柱形，高25cm，直徑10~20cm。10~12條稜。刺座白色；不易分辨中刺與側刺，總數約12支彎曲的刺，長1~4cm；新生刺黃色或紅色，成熟轉為灰色至褐色。植株成熟後球體停止生長，並從生長點長出直徑5~10cm的花座，花座外觀有白色棉毛與紅色鬃毛。桃紅色花，直徑1.5~2cm。果實粉紅至紅色。

A succulent plant of the genus Melocactus, native to Cuba. Stem solitary, ovate to cylindrical, 25 cm high, 10-20 cm across, with 10-12 ridges. Areoles white with 12 curved spines 1-4 cm long, central spines undistinguishable from radials; new spines yellow or red, and turning gray with age. When the plant is mature, the body stops growing and produces cephalia 5-10 cm in diameter from the growing points. The cephalium is covered with white wool and red bristles. Flowers pink, 1.5-2 cm across. Fruit pink to red.

栽培：全日照通風環境下可生長良好，日照充足時可促進開花。炎夏時切勿讓植株曝曬，以免產生日燒等曬傷跡象。為了防止爛根等情形，需採用排水透氣的介質。高溫期生長，可觀察介質乾透後才澆水；低溫期休眠，應節水或斷水以助越冬。

This plants thrive in full sun and airy conditions. Sufficient sunlight can promote flowering, however, direct exposure in high summer may cause signs of scorch, such as sunburn. Use draining and breathable soil to avoid root rotting and other problems. A summer grower, it requires watering when the soil appears dry and reducing or cutting off water use to help it overwinter when they go dormant in cold winters.

本屬仙人掌球體頂端的花座是最醒目的特徵，造型像派餅或蛋糕。開花時有如蛋糕上的裝飾，結果像是蛋糕上的小蠟燭，可愛的模樣十分吸引人。

The most eye-catching feature of this genus cacti is the apical cephalium which looks like a cake decorated with lovely candles when it fully blooms.