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Melocactus

Melocactus

126 species Cactaceae

Morphological Summary

Genus of globose cacti characterized by the development of a CEPHALIUM — a specialized woolly and bristly structure that grows at the apex of mature plants (after 5–15 years) from which flowers and fruits emerge. It is the most diagnostic feature of the genus and one of the most fascinating in the entire Cactaceae family. Contains ~35–40 species distributed in the Caribbean, coasts of Central and South America (Colombia, Venezuela, NE Brazil, Peru, Bolivia). Name derived from Latin melo (melon) + cactus, for the shape of its fruits. Historically the first cactus described by Linnaeus (1753, as Cactus melocactus).

Distribution Caribbean (Antilles: Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad, Curaçao, Bonaire and other islands); coasts of Central America (Mexico Jalisco/Nayarit) and South America (Venezuela, Colombia, NE Brazil, Peru, Bolivia)
Conservation CITES Appendix II (all cacti). Many species under pressure from coastal habitat loss, tourism, and illegal collection. Several considered Vulnerable or Endangered.
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eco

Melocactus acunae León

Acuna's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00001
Origin Cuba (Pinar del Río: bosques espinosos y matorrales costeros calcáreos, 0–400 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus andinus R.Gruber ex N.P.Taylor

Andean Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00002
Origin Perú (Huánuco, Junín, Pasco) y Bolivia (La Paz): valles secos interandinos, 1500–2800 m
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus azulensis Buining & Bredero

Azulensis Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00003
Origin Brasil (Bahia: región de Azul, caatinga y campos rupestres, 200–800 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus azureus

Blue Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00087
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus azureus Buining & Bredero

Blue Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00004
Origin Brasil (Bahia: campos rupestres y caatinga, región de Morro do Chapéu y Jacobina, 400–1000 m)
Type Cactus
eco
CrestedForm

Melocactus azureus f. cristata

Crested blue Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00088
Origin Brazil
Type form
eco
Species

Melocactus bahiensis

Bahia Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00089
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus bahiensis (Britton & Rose) Werderm.

Bahia Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00005
Origin Brasil (Bahia, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe: caatinga y campos rupestres, 100–800 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus bellavistensis

Bellavista Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00090
Origin Peru
Type species
eco

Melocactus bellavistensis Rauh & Backeb.

Bellavista Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00006
Origin Perú (Piura y Tumbes: costas áridas del Pacífico norte y valles adyacentes, 50–500 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus borhidii Mészáros

Borhidi's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00007
Origin Cuba (Pinar del Río y Matanzas: bosques espinosos y mogotes kársticos, 50–300 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus braunii Esteves

Braun's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00008
Origin Brasil (Minas Gerais: campos rupestres y zonas calcáreas del norte del estado, 500–1000 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus broadwayi

Broadway's Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00091
Origin Trinidad and Tobago
Type species
eco

Melocactus broadwayi (Britton & Rose) A.Berger

Broadway's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00009
Origin Caribe (Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada, Barbados) y Venezuela continental norte (costas y colinas, 0–500 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus canescens F.Ritter

Canescent Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00010
Origin Brasil (Bahia y Pernambuco: caatinga y campos rupestres, 200–700 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus caroli-linnaei N.P.Taylor

Linnaeus' Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00011
Origin Islas ABC (Curaçao, Bonaire, Aruba) y costa norte de Venezuela (Falcón, Miranda: matorrales xéricos costeros, 0–300 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus communis (L.) Link & Otto

Turk's Cap Cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00012
Origin Jamaica y Caribe occidental (costas rocosas y matorrales secos costeros, 0–300 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus concinnus

Elegant Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00092
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus concinnus Buining & Brederoo

Elegant Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00013
Origin Brasil (Bahia: campos rupestres y caatingas, 300–800 m)
Type Cactus
eco
SpeciesEndangered

Melocactus conoideus

Conical Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00093
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus conoideus Buining & Brederoo

Cone-shaped Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00014
Origin Brasil (Bahia: afloramientos rocosos calcáreos de la caatinga, 200–600 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus cremnophilus Buining & Brederoo

Cliff-dwelling Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00015
Origin Brasil (Bahia y Minas Gerais: acantilados y paredes rocosas verticales de la caatinga)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus curvispinus

Curved-spine Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00094
Origin Mexico, Caribbean, Venezuela, Colombia
Type species
eco

Melocactus curvispinus Pfeiff.

Curved-spined Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00016
Origin México (Oaxaca, Guerrero) sur a través de Centroamérica, Colombia, Venezuela hasta Perú (múltiples subespecies; 0–2000 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus dawsonii (H.Bravo) Backeb.

Dawson's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00017
Origin México (Jalisco y Nayarit: costas rocosas del Pacífico, matorrales espinosos costeros, 0–200 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus deinacanthus

Formidable-spine Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00095
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus deinacanthus Buining & Brederoo

Terrible-spined Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00018
Origin Brasil (Bahia: caatinga pedregosa y campos rupestres, 200–700 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus diersianus P.J.Braun & Esteves

Diers' Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00019
Origin Brasil (Bahia: afloramientos rocosos de la caatinga y zonas de transición, 200–600 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus douradaensis P.J.Braun & Esteves

Dourada Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00020
Origin Brasil (Bahia: Serra do Dourado y zonas adyacentes, afloramientos cuarcíticos y calcáreos, 400–900 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus ernestii

Ernesto's Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00096
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus ernestii Vaupel

Ernesto's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00021
Origin Brasil (Bahia, Pernambuco, Piauí, Ceará: caatinga y campos rupestres, 100–800 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus erythracanthus Buining & Brederoo

Red-spined Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00022
Origin Brasil (Bahia: campos rupestres y caatinga, 300–700 m — complejo M. oreas)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus evae Mészáros

Eva's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00023
Origin Cuba (endémico: matorrales costeros rocosos de la zona oriental, 0–200 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus ferreophilus

Iron-loving Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00097
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus ferreophilus Buining & Brederoo

Iron-soil Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00024
Origin Brasil (Bahia: campos rupestres sobre sustratos ferruginosos, 300–700 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus florschuetzianus Buining & Brederoo

Florschuetz's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00025
Origin Brasil (Bahia: caatinga pedregosa y campos rupestres de transición, 200–600 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus fortalezensis Rauh & Backeb.

Fortaleza Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00026
Origin Perú (laderas áridas de la costa y valles interandinos occidentales, departamentos de Lima y Ancash, 100–600 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus giganteus Buining & Brederoo

Giant Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00027
Origin Brasil (Bahia y Minas Gerais: campos rupestres y caatinga, 300–900 m)
Type Cactus
eco
SpeciesEndangered

Melocactus glaucescens

Glaucous Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00098
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus glaucescens Buining & Brederoo

Blue Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00028
Origin Brasil (Bahia: restinga costera y campos rupestres litoral, 0–400 m — localidad tipo: norte de Bahia)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus griseus H.L.Wendl. ex Miq.

Gray Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00029
Origin Venezuela y Colombia (costas áridas del Caribe, matorrales xerofíticos costeros, 0–500 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus guanensis Xhonneux & Fern.Alonso

Guajira Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00030
Origin Colombia y Venezuela (Península de la Guajira: desierto costero, matorrales xerofíticos, 0–300 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus guaricensis Croizat

Guarico Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00031
Origin Venezuela (estado Guárico: sabanas y matorrales secos, 100–500 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus guatemalensis Gürke & Eichlam

Guatemalan Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00032
Origin Guatemala (vertiente del Pacífico: bosques secos tropicales y matorrales espinosos, 0–600 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus guerreroi

Guerrero's Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00099
Origin Mexico
Type species
eco
SpeciesEndangered

Melocactus guitartii

Guitart's Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00100
Origin Cuba
Type species
eco

Melocactus guitartii León

Guitart's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00033
Origin Cuba (endémico: matorrales costeros espinosos, 0–200 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus gutzowianus

Gutzow's Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00101
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco
SpeciesEndangered

Melocactus harlowii

Harlow's Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00102
Origin Cuba
Type species
eco

Melocactus harlowii (Britton & Rose) Vaupel

Harlow's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00034
Origin Cuba (endémico: matorrales costeros calcáreos y bosques espinosos, 0–400 m)
Type Cactus
eco
VarietyEndangered

Melocactus harlowii var. sanctaeluciae

Saint Lucia Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00103
Origin Cuba
Type variety
eco

Melocactus helvolilanatus Buining & Brederoo

Pale-woolly Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00035
Origin Brasil (Bahia: campos rupestres y caatinga de transición, 300–700 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus holguinensis Areces

Holguin Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00036
Origin Cuba (endémico: provincia de Holguín — matorrales costeros calcáreos y bosques espinosos, 0–300 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus huallancaensis Rauh & Backeb.

Huallanca Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00037
Origin Perú (Ancash: cañón del río Marañón, valles interandinos áridos de Huallanca, 800–2000 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus inconcinnus Buining & Brederoo

Inelegant Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00038
Origin Brasil (Bahia: caatinga y campos rupestres de transición, 200–600 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus inortii

Inort's Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00104
Origin Caribbean
Type species
eco
Species

Melocactus intortus

Caribbean Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00105
Origin Caribbean
Type species
eco
CrestedForm

Melocactus intortus f. cristata

Crested Caribbean Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00106
Origin Caribbean
Type form
eco

Melocactus intortus (Mill.) Urb.

Turk's Cap Cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00039
Origin Puerto Rico, Islas Vírgenes y Antillas Menores (matorrales costeros espinosos, playas rocosas, 0–300 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus jakusii Mészáros

Jakus' Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00040
Origin Cuba (endémico: matorrales costeros calcáreos, 0–200 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus krainzianus Buining & Brederoo

Krainz' Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00041
Origin Brasil (Bahia: campos rupestres y caatinga, 300–700 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus lanssensianus

Lanssens' Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00107
Origin Venezuela
Type species
eco

Melocactus latispinus (Haw.) Pfeiff.

Wide-spined Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00042
Origin Caribe: Antillas Menores (Curaçao, Bonaire, Aruba, Trinidad, Venezuela costera — matorrales secos, 0–400 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus laui Antesb.

Lau's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00043
Origin México (Oaxaca: costa del Pacífico — matorrales costeros rocosos, 0–100 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus lensselinkianus Buining & Brederoo

Lensselink's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00044
Origin Brasil (Bahia: afloramientos rocosos calcáreos de caatinga, 200–600 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus levitestatus

Smooth-body Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00108
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus levitestatus Buining & Brederoo

Thin-skinned Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00045
Origin Brasil (Bahia: restinga costera y caatinga litoral, 0–400 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus loboguerreroi Cárdenas

Lobo Guerrero's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00046
Origin Colombia (laderas áridas del cañón del Chicamocha, Santander — matorrales xerofíticos, 500–1200 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus longicarpus

Long-fruited Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00109
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus longicarpus Buining & Brederoo

Long-fruited Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00047
Origin Brasil (Bahia y Minas Gerais: caatinga y campos rupestres, 200–700 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus longispinus Buining & Brederoo

Long-spined Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00048
Origin Brasil (Bahia: campos rupestres y afloramientos rocosos, 300–800 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus macracanthos (Salm-Dyck) Link & Otto

Large-spined Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00049
Origin Antillas ABC: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao; Venezuela costera (matorrales desérticos, 0–400 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus macrodiscus Werderm.

Large-disc Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00050
Origin Brasil (Bahia: campos rupestres y caatinga, 300–800 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus margaritaceus Rizzini

Pearly Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00051
Origin Brasil (Bahia, Sergipe: restinga costera y caatinga de transición, 0–400 m)
Type Cactus
eco
CrestedForm

Melocactus matanzanus f. cristata

Crested Matanzas Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00110
Origin Cuba
Type form
eco

Melocactus matanzanus León

Dwarf Turk's Cap Cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00052
Origin Cuba (endémico: provincia de Matanzas — matorrales calcáreos costeros, 0–200 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus maxonii (Rose) Gürke

Maxon's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00053
Origin Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panamá (bosques secos tropicales del Pacífico, 0–800 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus mazelianus

Mazel's Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00111
Origin Venezuela
Type species
eco

Melocactus mazelianus Říha

Mazel's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00054
Origin Venezuela y Colombia (costas áridas del Caribe, Guajira, Andes bajos, 0–1500 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus melocactoides (Hoffmanns.) DC.

Northeastern Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00055
Origin Brasil (Bahia, Pernambuco, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte: restinga costera y caatinga litoral, 0–400 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus montanus F.Ritter

Mountain Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00056
Origin Perú (Andes occidentales: laderas áridas de altitud media, 1000–2500 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus mulequensis Buining & Brederoo

Angolan Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00057
Origin Angola (Mulequé, Namibe — matorral semiárido africano, 500–1200 m) — ÚNICA ESPECIE AFRICANA DEL GÉNERO
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus nagyi Mészáros

Nagy's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00058
Origin Cuba (endémico: matorrales costeros calcáreos, Cuba central y oriental, 0–200 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus neomontanus Van Heek & Hovens

New Mountain Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00059
Origin Perú (Andes occidentales: valles áridos interandinos, 800–2000 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus neryi

Nery's Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00112
Origin Venezuela, Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus neryi K.Schum.

Nery's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00060
Origin Brasil (Amazonia: Roraima, Pará; Venezuela: Bolívar — sabanas rocosas del escudo guayanés, 100–800 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus nitidus F.Ritter

Shiny Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00061
Origin Brasil (Bahia: afloramientos rocosos y caatinga, 200–600 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus oaxacensis (Britton & Rose) Backeb.

Oaxacan Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00062
Origin México (Oaxaca: costa del Pacífico — matorrales costeros espinosos, 0–200 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus onychacanthus F.Ritter

Claw-spined Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00063
Origin Brasil (Bahia y Minas Gerais: caatinga y campos rupestres, 200–700 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus oreas

Mountain Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00113
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus oreas Miq.

Campos Rupestres Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00064
Origin Brasil (Bahia, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, Sergipe: campos rupestres y caatinga, 100–900 m)
Type Cactus
eco
Species

Melocactus pachyacanthus

Thick-spined Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00114
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus pachyacanthus Buining & Brederoo

Thick-spined Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00065
Origin Brasil (Bahia y Minas Gerais: caatinga y campos rupestres, 200–800 m)
Type Cactus
eco
SpeciesEndangered

Melocactus paucispinus

Few-spined Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00115
Origin Brazil
Type species
eco

Melocactus paucispinus Heimen & R.J.Paul

Few-spined Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00066
Origin Brasil (Bahia: campos rupestres sobre sustratos cuarcíticos, 400–900 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus perezassoi Areces

Pérez Asso's Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00067
Origin Cuba (endémico: matorrales costeros calcáreos, Cuba oriental, 0–200 m)
Type Cactus
eco
SpeciesVulnerable

Melocactus peruvianus

Peruvian Turk's cap cactus

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00116
Origin Peru, Ecuador
Type species
eco

Melocactus peruvianus Vaupel

Peruvian Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00068
Origin Perú (costa árida y valles interandinos occidentales: Lima, Ancash, Ica, Arequipa, Piura, 0–1500 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus pescaderensis Xhonneux & Fern.Alonso

Pescadero Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00069
Origin Colombia (cañón del río Chicamocha, Santander — matorrales xerofíticos del cañón, 400–900 m)
Type Cactus
eco

Melocactus pruinosus Werderm.

Frosted Turk's Cap

Specimen ID RN-MELO-00070
Origin Brasil (Bahia y Pernambuco: caatinga y campos rupestres, 200–700 m)
Type Cactus

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