Common Name:

General Information

Melocactus braunii is a spiny, evergreen cactus, producing a single, depressed-globose stem that can be 8cm tall and 15cm in diameter. Flowers are produced in a cephalium, a perennial structure up to 4cm high and 6cm in diameter that develops atop the adult cactus
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Melocactus braunii has a very small range, being known from only one location. There is an inferred continuing decline of the population as a result of mining in the area and, in addition, the species is also collected locally for food and horticulture. .The plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - eastern Brazil (Bahia)

Habitat

Montane savannah; at elevations around 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Critically Endangered
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.08 m
Pollinators	Hummingbirds, Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The plant is used for making candy[]. 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[]

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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