Melocactus intortus

Melocactus intortus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Genus:	Melocactus
Species:	M. intortus
Binomial name
Melocactus intortus (Mill.) Urb.

Turk's head cactuses in Puerto Rico (known in Spanish as melón de costa, "coast melon.")

View of the M. intortus flower, being pollinated by bees.

Melocactus intortus, also known as the Turk's head cactus, is a species of cactus endemic to the Caribbean.

Etymology

The Turks Islands in the Turks and Caicos are named after this cactus, whose red cephalium resembles the fez worn by Turkish men in the late Ottoman Empire. ^{[3] [4]} A stylised version of the cactus appears prominently on the coat of arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

References

1. Taylor, N.P. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Melocactus intortus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T152029A121518413. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152029A121518413.en . Retrieved 28 November 2022.
2. Fagua, J. Camilo; Ackerman, James D. (July 29, 2011). "Consequences of floral visits by ants and invasive honeybees to the hummingbird-pollinated, Caribbean cactus Melocactus intortus". Plant Species Biology. 26 (3): 193–204. doi:10.1111/j.1442-1984.2011.00319.x – via Wiley Online Library.
3. "Turks and Caicos Islands". The World Factbook . Central Intelligence Agency. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
4. "About Turks and Caicos". Turks and Caicos Islands. Turks and Caicos Tourist Board. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2022-03-15.