Melocactus ernestii
Vaupel
Cactaceae
Melocactus azulensis Buining & Brederoo
Melocactus deinacanthus florschuetzianus (Buining & Brederoo) P.J.Braun
Melocactus deinacanthus longicarpus (Buining & Brederoo) P.J.Braun
Melocactus deinacanthus mulequensis Buining & Brederoo) P.J.Braun
Melocactus erythracanthus Buining & Brederoo
Melocactus florschuetzianus Buining & Brederoo
Melocactus interpositus F.Ritter
Melocactus longicarpus Buining & Brederoo
Melocactus longispinus Buining & Brederoo
Melocactus montanus F.Ritter
Melocactus mulequensis Buining & Brederoo
Melocactus neomontanus Van Heek & Hovens
Melocactus nitidus F.Ritter
Melocactus oreas azulensis (Buining & Brederoo) P.J.Braun
Melocactus oreas ernestii (Vaupel) P.J.Braun
Melocactus oreas erythracanthus (Buining & Brederoo) P.J.Braun
Melocactus oreas longispinus (Buining & Brederoo) P.J.Braun
Common Name:
General Information
Melocactus ernestii is a spiny, evergreen globose to shortly cylindrical cactus, producing a single stem that can be 9 - 45cm tall and 7 - 22cm (exceptionally to 35cm) in diameter. Flowers are produced in a cephalium, a perennial structure up to 18cm high and 8cm in diameter that develops atop the adult cactus[
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
-
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. The plant is grown as an ornamental.
Melocactus ernestii has a wide range, is abundant, occurs in a protected area and only has very localised threats. 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 (Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia and Minas Gerais)
Habitat
Locally dominant in dry forest, growing on exposed crystalline/sandtone rocks and especially gneissic inselbergs, including outcrops[
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 | 0.30 m |
| Pollinators | Hummingbirds, Insects |
| Self-fertile | Yes |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
The stem is used to make 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 species is use locally as a medicine[
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.
].
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.
