Melocactus bahiensis
(Britton & Rose) Luetzelb.
Cactaceae
The name Melocactus bahiensis is commonly misapplied in Brazilian literature to the wide-ranging Melocactus zehntneri (Britton & Rose) Luetzelb.[
1997- Title
- The genus Melocactus (Cactaceae) in Central and South America
- Publication
- Bradleya 9, 1991 pp 1-80
- Author
- Taylor N.P.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Cactus bahiensis Britton & Rose
Melocactus acispinosus Buining & Brederoo
Melocactus amethystinus Buining & Brederoo
Melocactus ammotrophus Buining & Brederoo
Melocactus glauxianus Brederoo & C.A.L.Bercht
Melocactus grisoleoviridis Buining & Brederoo
Melocactus lensselinkianus Buining & Brederoo
Melocactus oreas bahiensis (Britton & Rose) Rizzini
Common Name: Cabeca de Frade
General Information
Melocactus bahiensis is a spiny, evergreen, cactus producing a single, globose, depressed globose, or pyramidal stem 9 - 21cm tall and 11 - 21cm in diameter. Flowers are produced in a cephalium, a perennial structure rarely more than 50mm high and 65 - 85mm in diameter that develops atop the adult cactus[
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.
Melocactus bahiensis has a wide range and numerous subpopulations. There are some localized threats but none affect the species as a whole. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
,
1997- Title
- The genus Melocactus (Cactaceae) in Central and South America
- Publication
- Bradleya 9, 1991 pp 1-80
- Author
- Taylor N.P.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
Range
S. America - eastern Brazil
Habitat
Exposed crystalline rock formations (quartzitic-arenitic, granite/gneiss), quartz gravel, rarely on limestone, under and between shrubs, in caatinga and campo rupestre; at elevations from 300 - 1,300 metres[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Perennial |
| Height | 0.15 m |
| Pollinators | Hummingbirds, Insects |
| Self-fertile | Yes |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
The stems are used in making candy[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. We have no more information for this species, but in a similar species in Mexico, cubes of the plant's flesh are cooked in a concentrated sugary solution and turned into sweets - the cactus merely acts as a vehicle for the sugary flavour[
1997- Title
- The genus Melocactus (Cactaceae) in Central and South America
- Publication
- Bradleya 9, 1991 pp 1-80
- Author
- Taylor N.P.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]
Medicinal
The plant is used medicinally[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. No more information
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
