Melocactus oreas

Botanical Description

Melocactus oreas is a spiny, evergreen cactus producing a single, depressed-globose to elongate stem around 8 - 15cm tall (exceptionally to 35cm) and 10 - 18cm in diameter. Flowers are produced in a cephalium, a perennial structure up to 12cm high and 4 - 8cm in diameter 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.. , 1997 Title The genus Melocactus (Cactaceae) in Central and South America Publication Bradleya 9, 1991 pp 1-80 Author Taylor N.P. Publisher Year 1991 ISBN Description ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. Melocactus oreas has a relatively wide range and has many subpopulations. The part of the range occurring in dry forests is threatened by quarrying, cattle ranching and agriculture and needs conservation attention; otherwise the plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[ 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. ].