Melocactus lemairei
(Monv. ex Lem.) Miq. ex Lem.
Cactaceae
Cactus lemairei (Monv. ex Lem.) Britton & Rose
Echinocactus lemairei Monv. ex Lem.
Melocactus communis conicus Pfeiff.
Melocactus communis macrocephalus Link & Otto
Melocactus conicus (Pfeiff.) Lawr.
Melocactus crassispinus Salm-Dyck
Melocactus hispaniolicus Vaupel
Melocactus macrocephalus (Link & Otto) Lawr.
Melocactus praerupticola Areces
Melocactus pycnacanthus Cels ex Miq.
Common Name:
General Information
Melocactus lemairei is a spiny, evergreen cylindrical to somewhat pyramidal cactus, producing a single stem that can be 20 - 30cm tall and 20cm in diameter. Flowers are produced in a cephalium, a perennial structure up to 10cm high 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 medicine. Whole plants are sold along roadsides for medicinal use[
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.
].
Melocactus lemairei is found in fewer than ten locations and it is threatened by collection from the wild and by land clearing for agriculture, industry, and urban development. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' 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..
Range
Caribbean - Haiti, Dominican Republic
Habitat
Dry rocky soils, sometimes in humid depressions; at elevations up to 200 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 | Near Threatened |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Perennial |
| Height | 0.25 m |
| Pollinators | Hummingbirds, Insects |
| Self-fertile | Yes |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
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 details
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.
