Melocactus curvispinus

Botanical Description

Melocactus curvispinus is a spiny, evergreen depressed-globose to very shortly cylindrical cactus, producing a single stem that can be 6 - 30cm tall and 8 - 27cm in diameter. Flowers are produced in a cephalium, a perennial structure that is usually up to 4cm high and 7cm in diameter (exceptionally up to 20cm high and 11cm in diameter) that develops atop the adult cactus The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. The fruits are much appreciated as a wild food in Guatemala[ 1996 Title Las Cactáceae de Guatemala Publication Author Véliz M.E. Publisher Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala Year 2008 ISBN 99922-2-551-3 Description ]. The plant is grown as an ornamental in gardens. Melocactus curvispinus has an extremely large range and is very abundant in the southern parts of its range. However, there are significant threats in the northern parts of its range. Some of the subspecies, especially in the northern parts of the range, would probably be listed as threatened because of their small ranges, small population sizes, and ongoing threats. Overall, however, 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. ].