Common Name:

General Information

Melocactus salvadorensis is a spiny, evergreen globose to depressed globose cactus, producing a single stem that can be 12 - 20cm tall and 12 - 25cm in diameter. Flowers are produced in a cephalium, a perennial structure up to 15cm high and 6 - 10cm in diameter that develops atop the adult cactus[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
Melocactus salvadorensis has a relatively wide range, however the populations are decreasing steadily, and this is inferred based on observations made over the last 30 years. A decrease in 30% of the population is inferred; there are several threats throughout the species range, including habitat loss due to agriculture, cattle ranching, gathering of fuel wood, urbanization and collection of plants for ornamental use; in addition the plant is not found within any protected areas. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - eastern Brazil (Minas Gerais, southern Bahia)

Habitat

Usually found on or adjacent to exposed gneiss/granitic rocks/inselbergs and in stony soil of the dry forests; at elevations from 300 - 1,040 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.25 m
Pollinators	Hummingbirds, Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, 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

The plant is used medicinally[]. No more details

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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