Common Name:

General Information

Melocactus lanssensianus is a spiny, evergreen cactus, producing a single, depressed globose stem that can be up to 8cm tall and 14cm in diameter. Flowers are produced in a cephalium, a perennial structure up to 25mm high and 70mm in diameter that develops atop the adult cactus[]
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Melocactus lanssensianus has a very restricted range, being known from only two locations (although it may occur in intervening habitat) and there is a continuing decline in its habitat. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - northeast Brazil (Pernambuco).

Habitat

Dry forest, in open spaces on and between granite outcrops; at elevations around 900 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.06 m
Pollinators	Hummingbirds, Insects, Cleistogamous
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The stems are used to make 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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