| Melocactus azureus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Melocactus |
| Species: | M. azureus |
| Binomial name | |
| Melocactus azureus Buining & Brederoo | |
Melocactus azureus is a species of cactus. It is endemic to Brazil, where it is known only from Bahia. It is locally abundant but the populations are fragmented and vulnerable to habitat degradation. [1]
Melocactus azureus has a striking frosty blue epidermis. Its cylindrical stem is(9-)14-30(-45cm) tall and 14-20 centimeters in diameter, green, grey-green, but never glaucous like subspecies Melocactus azureus ferreophilus with mucilage present in the cortical tissues. It has 9-10 ribs and the spines are black to reddish, overlaid with gray, and some are hooked in seedlings while the central spines are slightly curved to straight and the radial spines are very stout. The flowers are small, 15-23mm long and 4-11 mm in diameter, and pink to magenta, it flowers in spring to late autumn. The fruits are small, white to able pink and seeds are smooth. It has the chromosome number 2n = 44. [2]
Melocactus azureus is endemic to central, northern, and easter Brazil at altitudes of 450-800 metres above sea level. This species has a small range and is only in low-lying outcrops of limestone, tt occurs in fragmented populations from a few hundred to millions. A major threat to the species is habitat loss for agriculture, vegetation is destroyed when the surrounding caatinga forest is cleared causing a decline of wild populations. The change has an impact on the outcrops were the species grows as well, making them prone to invasive species. [2]
Melocactus azureus has a relatively rapid growth rate given the best conditions. These tropical cacti are not recommended for beginners as they are not easy to grow. It grows well in very porous standard cactus mix soil, this cactus preferes very bright light however not as much as most arid growing cacti. [2]
Obregonia, the artichoke cactus, is a monotypic genus of cacti, containing the species Obregonia denegrii. The species is endemic to the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico.
Espostoopsis is a monotypic genus of cactus containing the single species Espostoopsis dybowskii. The generic name is formed from Greek opsis meaning "view", referring to its resemblance to the genus Espostoa, with which it is often confused. The plant is only known from northern Bahia, Brazil.
Facheiroa cephaliomelana is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae.
Melocactus conoideus is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitat is dry savanna. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is a species of cacti that originates in Vitória da Conquista, located in the southwestern portion of the state of Bahia, Brazil. This species of cactus was discovered by the German émigré Leopold Horst. This species spreads by bearing fruit with seeds that ants take and transport to other locations that it can grow.
Melocactus pachyacanthus is a species of cactus. It is endemic to Brazil, where it is known only from two locations in Bahia. Its populations are fragmented and it is vulnerable to habitat degradation.
Rhodocactus bahiensis is a species of tree-like cactus that is endemic to the Brazilian state of Bahia. First described as Pereskia bahiensis, it was transferred to Rhodocactus in 2016. Like all species in the genus Rhodocactus, and unlike most cacti, it has persistent leaves. In its native locality, it is used to form hedges.
Rhodocactus stenanthus is a species of cactus that is endemic to Brazil. First described as Pereskia stenantha, it was transferred to Rhodocactus in 2016. Like all species in the genus Rhodocactus, and unlike most cacti, it has persistent leaves. In its native locality, it is sometimes used in hedges.
Rhipsalis pilocarpa, the hairy-fruited wickerware cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family that is endemic to Brazil. Scarce in the wild, it is known only in a small number of isolated locations. Its status is listed as “vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List. However, it is cultivated as an ornamental houseplant and as such has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
Schlumbergera kautskyi is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to a small area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil where its natural habitat is rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is in the same genus as the popular houseplant known as Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus.
Uebelmannia buiningii is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitat is dry savanna. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Uebelmannia gummifera is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitat is dry savanna. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Uebelmannia pectinifera is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Selenicereus grandiflorus is a cactus species originating from the Antilles, Mexico and Central America. The species is commonly referred to as queen of the night, night-blooming cereus, large-flowered cactus, sweet-scented cactus or vanilla cactus. The true species is extremely rare in cultivation. Most of the plants under this name belong to other species or hybrids. It is often confused with the genus Epiphyllum.
Aztekium ritteri is a species of cactus native to the Mexican state of Nuevo León.
Pediocactus knowltonii is a rare species of cactus known by the common names Knowlton's miniature cactus, Knowlton's pincushion cactus, and Knowlton's minute cactus.
Mammillaria fraileana is one of about 200 species of the genus Mammillaria from the cactus family Cactaceae. This species is native to Mexico and can be found along the east coast of the southern part of Baja California Peninsula in Desert Scrub communities. They tend to grow in non-calcareous dry granite-based soil but can also grow in rocky habitats, either in rock fissures or directly on top of the rock surface even without the presence of soil. Thus, the mineral composition of the rocks in their habitat directly influences their abundance. The habitat of Mammillaria fraileana is home to succulent flora and is particularly rich in local endemics. Currently, no major threats to the species are known to exist.
Arthrocereus spinosissimus is a species of cactus in the subfamily Cactoideae from Brazil.
Melocactus lemairei is a species of cactus endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. It is named after French botanist and cactus expert Charles Antoine Lemaire.
Melocactus ernesti is one of the Turk's cap cacti, and is native to Bahia and Minas Gerais States, Brazil.
Melocactus bahiensis is a species of Melocactus found in Bahia, Brazil.
Media related to Melocactus azureus at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Melocactus azureus at Wikispecies  | This Cactaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
