Melocactus matanzanus
| Melocactus matanzanus | |
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| Melocactus matanzanus at the Huntington Library | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Tribe: | Cereeae |
| Genus: | Melocactus |
| Species: | M. matanzanus |
| Binomial name | |
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Melocactus matanzanus Leon, 1934 |
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| Synonyms | |
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Melocactus matanzanus, common name Dwarf Turk's-cap cactus or Turk's-cap cactus, is a cactus in the genus Melocactus belonging to the family Cactaceae. The epithet matanzanus is derived from the Cuban province of Matanzas.
Melocactus matanzanus is a perennial fleshy globose plant. It can reach a height of 7–9 centimetres (2.8–3.5 in) and a diameter of 8–9 centimetres (3.1–3.5 in). On the bright green body there are 8-9 (or more) ribs. The thorns are brownish-gray or white. The central spine is up to 2 inches long, while the 7 to 8 radial spines are 1.2 to 2 inches long.
When the plant has reached a certain age it shows at the growing tip a cephalium (hence the common name of "Turk's Cap"), a globose structure covered with reddish-brown bristles. This structure, where the flower buds will form, reaches a height of up to 9 centimetres (3.5 in) and a diameter of 5–6 centimetres (2.0–2.4 in). The flowers are carmine, about 2 inches long.
This plant is native to the north-central area of Cuba. It is a popular and desirable species throughout the world as an ornamental plant.
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Wikipedia