Melocactus levitestatus
Buining & Brederoo
Cactaceae
Melocactus diersianus Buining & Brederoo
Melocactus rubrispinus F.Ritter
Melocactus securituberculatus Buining & Brederoo
Melocactus uebelmannii P.J.Braun
Melocactus warasii E.Pereira & Buenecker
Common Name:
General Information
Melocactus levitestatus is a spiny, evergreen globose to cylindrical cactus, producing a single stem that can be 15 - 68cm tall and 14 - 30cm in diameter. Flowers are produced in a cephalium, a perennial structure up to 18cm high and 7 - 12cm 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.
Melocactus levitestatus has a very wide range and it is often abundant where it occurs. It does needs monitoring, however, due to the potential threat from limestone quarrying. 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 - central and eastern Brazil (Bahia, Tocantins, Goiás and Minas Gerais)
Habitat
Seasonal dry forest, growing on calcareous rocks, specifically on silurian Bambuí limestone; at elevations from 450 - 780 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 |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Perennial |
| Height | 0.50 m |
| Pollinators | Hummingbirds, Insects |
| Self-fertile | Yes |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
The stems are 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
None known
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.
