Melocactus guaricensis Croizat
Published in: Contribuciones Ocasionales del Museo de
Historia Natural del Colegio "De La Salle" 1: 1, 1950
Scientific name:
Melocactus neryi K.
Schumann,
Published in: Monatsschrift fur Kakteenkunde 11: 168,
1901
Origin: Brazil (Amazonas), Venezuela, Suriname
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
Common Name: Turk’s cap, “melon cactus” (or
simply “melon”)
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The most
remarkable part of a Melocactus is its
cephalium a bristle-coated structure on the summit of the plant,
only Melocactus, and the similar genus
Discocactus
possesses this type of permanent, apical, hatlike appendage. It’s only
when a Melocactus reaches maturity that the cephalium begins to
grow. Cylindrical, with a diameter distinctly smaller than that of the
plant body below, the cephalium will keep growing for the rest of the
plant’s life, but the body of the plant stops growing the moment the
cephalium starts to form. . As the plants age the cephalium doesn’t
increase in circumference it will steadily grow taller
Cultivation: These cacti are not the easiest
things to grow and aren’t plants for beginners. Melocactus
guaricensis grows from April to October, it can’t endure long
stretches of total dryness, and also too much water will rot it, as its
weak root systems tends to be inefficient at sucking up water from wet
soil. Nonetheless, again as a result of their tropical origins, they
need a fair amount of water, but allow the soil to dry quite a bit
before watering again.
Melocactus rests from October to April but can’t stand cold, or even
fairly cool temperatures, so is indispensable to keep it above 8-12°C at
all times, severe damage or death occurring at temperatures that the
great majority of cacti wouldn’t mind in the least and prefer more
frequent water in winter than other cacti, say once a month. Do not feed
in winter.
The root system is weak and generally resents being repotted and can
take a long time to re-establish. The soil mix should be very quick
draining, prefers very bright light, not as much as the most arid
growing cacti, but plenty nonetheless.
Propagation: Exclusively by Seeds. Sow in
February-march in a light, sandy, porous soil. Cover germinating tray
with glass to prevent seed from drying out. Germination is most
successful at a temperature of 18 to 22° C. |