Badmin: Created page with "{{Taxobox | name = Melocactus | image = Melocactus_intortus.jpg | kingdom = Plantae | family = Cactaceae | subfamily = Cactoideae | tribe = Cereeae | subtribe = Cereinae | genus = '''Melocactus''' | authority = (Linnaeus) Link & Otto (1827) | notes = Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). Melocactus is famous for its terminal cephalium, which appears once the plant reaches maturity. }} == Etymology == The name is derived from the Latin ''melo'' (melon)..."

2026-04-10T12:28:40Z

Created page with "{{Taxobox | name = Melocactus | image = Melocactus_intortus.jpg | kingdom = Plantae | family = Cactaceae | subfamily = Cactoideae | tribe = Cereeae | subtribe = Cereinae | genus = '''Melocactus''' | authority = (Linnaeus) Link & Otto (1827) | notes = Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). Melocactus is famous for its terminal cephalium, which appears once the plant reaches maturity. }} == Etymology == The name is derived from the Latin ''melo'' (melon)..."

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{{Taxobox
| name = Melocactus
| image = Melocactus_intortus.jpg
| kingdom = [[Plantae]]
| family = [[Cactaceae]]
| subfamily = [[Cactoideae]]
| tribe = [[Cereeae]]
| subtribe = [[Cereinae]]
| genus = '''Melocactus'''
| authority = (Linnaeus) Link & Otto (1827)
| notes = Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). Melocactus is famous for its terminal cephalium, which appears once the plant reaches maturity.
}}

== Etymology ==
The name is derived from the Latin ''melo'' (melon), referring to the globose, melon-like shape of the plant's body.

== Description ==
'''Melocactus''' is one of the most easily recognized genera due to its unique growth stages: the vegetative stage (growing the body) and the reproductive stage (growing the cephalium).
* '''Body''': Solitary (rarely clustering), globose to shortly cylindrical, with well-defined, usually straight ribs.
* '''Cephalium''': A specialized structure at the apex composed of dense wool and bristles. It can grow quite tall over many years and is the only part of the plant that produces flowers.
* '''Spines''': Generally strong, stiff, and radiating from the areoles.
* '''Flowers''': Diurnal, small, tubular, and typically pink or reddish. They are often hidden within the wool of the cephalium.
* '''Fruits''': Smooth, club-shaped (clavate), and fleshy. They are often edible and range from white to deep pink or red.
* '''Seeds''': Small, black, and shiny.

== Habitat ==
Primarily coastal plants, often found growing on limestone cliffs, volcanic rocks, or sandy soil near the ocean. They thrive in tropical, humid environments but require excellent drainage.

== Distribution ==
* '''Caribbean''': Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, etc.
* '''South America''': Brazil (center of diversity), Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela.
* '''Central America & Mexico'''.

== Species and Subspecies List ==
Following the classification of Joël Lodé (2015), here are the 38 recognized species:

* [[Melocactus acunae]]
** [[Melocactus acunae subsp. lagunaensis]]
* [[Melocactus andinus]]
** [[Melocactus andinus subsp. hernandezii]]
* [[Melocactus azureus]]
** [[Melocactus azureus subsp. ferreophilus]]
* [[Melocactus bahiensis]]
** [[Melocactus bahiensis subsp. amethystinus]]
* [[Melocactus bellavistensis]]
** [[Melocactus bellavistensis subsp. onychacanthus]]
* [[Melocactus braunii]]
* [[Melocactus broadwayi]]
* [[Melocactus caroli-linnaei]]
* [[Melocactus concinnus]]
* [[Melocactus conoideus]]
* [[Melocactus curvispinus]]
** [[Melocactus curvispinus subsp. caesius]]
** [[Melocactus curvispinus subsp. dawsonii]]
* [[Melocactus deinacanthus]]
* [[Melocactus ernestii]]
** [[Melocactus ernestii subsp. longicarpus]]
* [[Melocactus estevesii]]
* [[Melocactus evae]]
* [[Melocactus ferreophilus]]
* [[Melocactus glaucescens]]
* [[Melocactus guitartii]]
* [[Melocactus harlowii]]
* [[Melocactus intortus]]
** [[Melocactus intortus subsp. domingensis]]
* [[Melocactus lanssensianus]]
* [[Melocactus lemairei]]
* [[Melocactus levitestatus]]
* [[Melocactus macracanthos]]
* [[Melocactus matanzanus]]
* [[Melocactus mazelianus]]
* [[Melocactus neryi]]
* [[Melocactus oreas]]
** [[Melocactus oreas subsp. cremnophilus]]
* [[Melocactus pachyacanthus]]
** [[Melocactus pachyacanthus subsp. viridis]]
* [[Melocactus paucispinus]]
* [[Melocactus matanzanus]]
* [[Melocactus peruvianus]]
* [[Melocactus praerupticola]]
* [[Melocactus salvadorensis]]
* [[Melocactus schatzlii]]
* [[Melocactus smithii]]
* [[Melocactus violaceus]]
** [[Melocactus violaceus subsp. margaritaceus]]
** [[Melocactus violaceus subsp. ritteri]]
* [[Melocactus zehntneri]]
** [[Melocactus zehntneri subsp. canescens]]

== Taxonomy ==
Joël Lodé maintains ''Melocactus'' in the tribe '''Cereeae''', subtribe '''Cereinae'''. The genus is stable, although the definition of species often varies due to high levels of endemism on different Caribbean islands and isolated Brazilian rock outcrops.

[[Category:Cactaceae]]
[[Category:Cactoideae]]
[[Category:Cereeae]]
[[Category:Cereinae]]

Melocactus - Revision history