Melocactus zehntneri
Melocactus zehntneri (Britton & Rose) Luetzelb.
Melocactus zehntneri is a Turk's turban cactus native to the state of Bahia in northeastern Brazil. It was first described in 1923 by Luetzelb. and is also known as Melocactus giganteus and Cactus zehntneri. The species is characterized by a round lower body with approximately eleven vertical ribs and an elongated upper body called the cephalum, which can reach up to 72 cm in length and display up to 16 annual rings. The species has a phyllotaxis of 34/55 and was discovered in 1968 by Leopoldo Horst and A.F.H. Buining.
Description
Melocactus zehntneri belongs to the Cactaceae family and is part of the genus Melocactus. It is distributed in the northeastern region of Brazil, specifically in the state of Bahia. The plant has a distinct structure with a photosynthetic lower body and a capitate inflorescence known as the cephalum. The cephalum is notable for its length and the number of annual rings it can display, making it one of the longest-living inflorescences known. The species was first described in 1923 and later rediscovered in 1968 by Leopoldo Horst and A.F.H. Buining.
Distribution
BR · Brazil Northeast
Synonyms
Melocactus helvolilanthusCactus zehntneriMelocactus macrodiscusMelocactus curvicornisMelocactus zehntneri var. curvicornisMelocactus giganteusMelocactus helvolilanatusMelocactus canescensMelocactus canescens var. montealtoiMelocactus zehntneri subsp. canescensMelocactus zehntneri var. viridisMelocactus arcuatispinusMelocactus douradaensisMelocactus saxicolaMelocactus saxicolaMelocactus zehntneri f. douradaensisMelocactus zehntneri f. douradaensisMelocactus zehntneri subsp. arcuatispinusMelocactus zehntneri subsp. douradaensisMelocactus zehntneri var. ananas
