Origin and Habitat: Bahia, Tocantins, Goiás and Minas Gerais.(Brazil, Southern America)
Altitude: 450 to 870 meters above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: The species occurs in mata calcárea (seasonal dry forest on calcareous rocks), growing specifically on silurian Bambuí limestone. Melocactus levitestatusSN|20602]]SN|20602]] has a very wide range and it is often abundant where it occurs. The major threat is quarrying for limestone, minor threats are collection for human consumption, agriculture and ranching.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Melocactus levitestatus
back
Accepted name in llifle Database:Melocactus levitestatus Buining & BrederoCact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 45: 271, figs. 1-5. 1973Synonymy: 6
back
Description: Melocactus levitestatusSN|18932]]SN|20602]] is one of the larger species recognizable by the pale green to bluish-green body with brownish or pinkish-grey spines. It is distinctive but quite variable and some authors consider it only a variety of Melocactus azureusSN|20602]]SN|18932]].
Stem: Depressed globose to cylindrical,15-30 cm tall (rarely to 70) and 14-22(-30) cm in diameter, pale grey-green to dark green, sometimes glaucous.
Ribs: 9-15 acute, triangular in cross section with straight grows.
Cephalia 10 to 18 cm tall, 7-12 cm across, with bright red bristles and creamy white wool.
Areoles: At first with white wool, later almost naked 1,5-2,5 cm apart.
Spines: Brownish red, overlaid with grey, sometimes hooked in seedlings.
Central spines: 1 to 6, erect, 17-33 mm long, occasionally curved downward.
Radial spines 7-10, strongly curved backward, shorter 21-33 mm long.
Flowers: Up to 20-27 mm long, 6-9 mm broad, red or red outside, deep magenta within.
Blooming season: Spring to summer and opening late in the afternoon.
Fruit: Short, club shaped,1,2-2 cm x 7-12 mm, pure white or pale pink. Usually not produced on isolated plants (self-sterile).
Seeds: 1,2-1,8 mm long.
Chromosome number: 2n = 22
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Melocactus levitestatus group
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Stuart Max Walters “The European garden flora. 3.[Angiospermae], Dicotyledons. [Casuarinaceae to Aristolochiaceae]” Cambridge University Press, 1989
2) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton "Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names" Birkhäuser 2004
5) Edgar Lamb, Brian Lamb “The Illustrated Reference on Cacti & Other Succulents” Volume 5 Blandford Press, 1978
6) Taylor, N.P., Machado, M. & Braun, P. 2013. Melocactus levitestatus. In: "IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 12 November 2013.
7) Taylor, N. P. 1991. "The genus Melocactus (Cactaceae) in Central and South America." Bradleya 9: 1–80.
8) Nigel Taylor, Nigel P. Taylor, Daniela C. Zappi, “Cacti of Eastern Brazil” Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 15/gen/2004
9) Juliana P. Castro, Luiz G.R. Souza, Lânia F. Alves, Ana E.B. Silva, Marcelo Guerra & Leonardo P. Felix. 1073 Marhold (ed.) “IAPT/IOPB chromosome data 15” TAXON 62 (5) • October 2013: 1073–1083
Cultivation and Propagation: These tropical cacti are not the easiest things to grow and aren’t plants for beginners.
Growth rate: It is a relatively rapidly growing given the best conditions.
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil.
Repotting: The root system is weak and generally resents being repotted and can take a long time to re-establish. Use pot with good drainage.
Light: They preferes very bright light, not as much as the most arid growing cacti, but plenty nonetheless. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy spine production.
Watering: Melocacti grow from April to October and cannot endure long stretches of total dryness, and also too much water will rot them, as their 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.
Fertilization: Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh then, feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards as this can cause lush growth which can be fatal during the darker cold months.
Hardiness: Melocactus rest from October to April but can’t stand cold, or even fairly cool temperatures, so is indispensable to keep them 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. (but hardy to 4 C ° C for short periods). However warmth throughout the year will increase the grower's success ( minimumum12° to 20° C during rest season). In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! (Temperature Zone: USDA 10-12)
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: they may be effectively rubbed up by misting the vulnerable plants every day
- Mealy bugs: occasionally they develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Sciara Flies: they are one of the major problems for seedlings. It is a good practice to mulch your seedlings with a layer of grit, which will strongly discourage the flies.
- Scales: they are rarely a problem.
It is wise to treat your whole collection with a systemic insecticide twice a year in spring and autumn.
- Rot: it is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
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.
Melocactus diersianus Buining & Bredero: Distribution: it is found only on Barreiro Vermelho, Minas Gerais, Brazil
