Cactaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Melocactus intortus

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Melocactus intortus is a spiny, evergreen globose to cylindrical cactus, producing a single stem that can be up to 100cm tall and 15 - 40cm in diameter. Flowers are produced in a cephalium, a perennial structure up to 100cm high that develops atop the adult cactus[ 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.. ] The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a source of food and drinking liquid. Melocactus intortus is widely distributed in many of the Caribbean Islands and is locally abundant in many places.The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeCaribbean - Bahamas to Turks-Caicos Islands, Puerto Rico to Lesser Antilles..

HabitatIn sand or gravel, or on rocks, in arid areas of southern Jamaica; at elevations up to 120 metres[ 426 Title Flowering Plants of Jamaica Publication Author Adams. C.D. Publisher University of the West Indies; Jamaica. Year 1972 ISBN Description A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc. ]. Coastal limestone areas and cliff formations. In the southernmost portion of the range, it inhabits volcanic rocky areas[ 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. ].