Melocactus conoideus

Restricted to the state of Bahia in eastern Brazil. Found in Serra do Periperi, Vitoria da Conquista, in south-eastern Bahia, at 900-1,050 m above sea level. Melocactus conoideus grows in the transition area between the following habitats:
• Cerrado/ Savanna – a low, open, seasonal, semi-evergreen woodland or parkland-like area on nutrient-deficient, acid soils. This area is often subject to fire during the dry (winter) season.
• Campo rupestre – rocky upland habitat, with diverse geology, drainage and atmospheric humidity. This area is often described as a complex mosaic of micro-habitats.
• Caatinga – seasonally very hot and dry thorn forest, where the majority of plants lose their leaves during the dry (winter) season.

The stem of this cactus is shaped like a sphere that has been squashed from above, or tending to hemispherical, and is 10-17 cm in diameter. The stem has 11 to 15 ribs, which are very low and rounded, and are up to 2.5 x 4 cm. The areoles (small, cushion-like areas from which the spines arise) are 6.5-7.5 x 6.5 mm. The spines are dark brown overlaid with grey. Each areole has one central spine of 20-22 x 1.5 mm and 8-11 radial spines, which are straight to slightly curved at the tips. The pinkish-magenta flowers are about 22 x 10 mm, and the lilac-magenta fruits are 18-21 x 5-6 mm, both borne in the fairly short, reddish-bristly cephalium, which caps the vegetative part of the stem.

Melocactus conoideus in the wild in Brazil (Image: Marlon Machado)

The extent of occurrence of Melocactus conoideus is less than 100 km2 and the area of occupancy is estimated to be less than 10 km². Its survival in the wild continues to be severely threatened by extraction of the quartz gravel in which it grows. It has also been affected by commercial collection for the European horticultural market. It has been listed on CITES Appendix I since June 1992. M. conoideus appeared to be close to extinction in the Serra do Periperi above Vitoria da Conquista in 1989, but healthy extensions of the population exist in similar habitat in adjacent areas (some of these including thousands of individuals).

Kew scientist Nigel Taylor helped evaluate a bid to the British Cactus & Succulent Society's Conservation Committee, which resulted in a grant to fence the reserve area created by the municipality of Vitoria da Conquista. This reserve area is maintained by local enthusiasts, who have since successfully planted seedlings to reinforce the population.

How you can help Kew save the world’s plant life and habitats at risk of extinction

Melocactus conoideus is cultivated as an ornamental, particularly in Europe.

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership aims to save plant life world wide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future. Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault.

Description of seeds: Seed 1.05 -1.25 x 0.9-1.05 mm, testa-cells strongly convex at periphery.
Number of seed collections stored in the Millennium Seed Bank: None.

Melocactus conoideus is grown in the Tropical Nursery, one of the behind-the-scenes areas of Kew.

Dried and alcohol-preserved specimens are held in the Herbarium, where they are made available to bona fide researchers by appointment. Details of some of these specimens can be seen in the on-line Herbarium Catalogue.

Search Kew's databases for more information on this species

Neotropical Cactaceae

Cacti of Eastern Brazil

British Cactus & Succulent Society