Melocactus lanssensianus
Melocactus lanssensianus
Melocactus lanssensianus is a species of the genus Melocactus in the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The specific epithet honors the Belgian cacti expert Etienne Lanssens.
Description
Melocactus lanssensianus grows with gray-green, depressed spherical bodies reach the stature heights of up to 8 centimeters in diameter and up to 14 centimeters. There are usually 12 sharp ribs available. The sharp spines are more or less pinkish gray to brownish to yellowish. The single central spine is bent upward and 3 to 3.5 inches long. 7 to 11 the bent-back edge spikes reach lengths of 3.5 to 4 centimeters. The cephalium formed from bright red to salmon-colored bristles to 2.5 inches high and reached a diameter of 7 centimeters.
The flowers are cleistogam, that is, they remain closed and are self-fertile. The fruits are pink and up to 1.7 inches long.
Distribution, systematics and hazard
Melocactus lanssensianus is widespread in the southeast of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. The first description was in 1986 by Pierre Joseph Brown.
In the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN 2002 was the species as "Data Deficient ( DD)", ie out with no sufficient data. In 2013, the species is considered " Endangered ( EN ) ', ie performed as endangered.