Melocactus pachyacanthus
Melocactus pachyacanthus
Melocactus pachyacanthus is a species of the genus Melocactus in the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The specific epithet pachyacanthus means, with thick spines '.
Description
Melocactus pachyacanthus grows with green to gray- green and sometimes glauken, depressed spherical to elongated bodies that reach heights of growth 15 to 30 centimeters in diameter and up to 20 centimeters. There are 9 to 11 low ribs available. The sharp thorns are reddish tinged brown and gray. The 1-3 central spines are spread out horizontally and 2.8 to 4.8 inches long. The 8-9 straight or slightly curved spines reach lengths of 2.5 to 4.9 centimeters. The cephalium formed of opaque pink bristles to 12 inches high, reaching a diameter of 10 centimeters.
The more or less pink magenta flowers protrude hardly out of the cephalium and sometimes open only partially. They are 2.2 to 2.5 cm long and have diameters of 7-10 millimeters. The slightly flattened fruits are white or pale pink, and 1.6 to 2 inches long.
Systematics, distribution and hazard
Melocactus pachyacanthus is widespread in the Brazilian state of Bahia.
The first description was in 1976 by Albert Frederik Hendrik Buining and Arnold J. Brederoo. We distinguish the following sub- types:
- Melocactus pachyacanthus subsp. pachyacanthus
- Melocactus pachyacanthus subsp. viridis N.P.Taylor
Melocactus pachyacanthus was in the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN in 2002 as " Endangered ( EN ) ', ie endangered classified. This was 2002 for the subspecies Melocactus pachyacanthus subsp. pachyacanthus. Melocactus pachyacanthus subsp. viridis was, however, as " Critically Endangered (CR ) ', ie threatened with extinction. In the 2010 update, the subspecies were not re-evaluated and removed from the red list. The species is regarded in 2013 as " Vulnerable (VU) ," ie, risk.