Melon cactus, Turk's cap cactus
Melocactus intortus

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. The plants are round or long. They are pale green and 1 m tall. They are 15-40 cm across. There are 14-17 ribs. They are broad and large. There are 9-21 spines grouped together. They are stout and yellow and 20-70 mm long. The flowers are pink and 15-20 mm long by 12-15 mm wide. The fruit are small and pinkish. They are club shaped and 20-25 mm long.

There are 33-35 Melocactus species. They grow in the tropics. Many have fruit which are edible.

Where it is found

A tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Caribbean, Central America, Cuba, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, Turks & Caicos, Virgin Islands, West Indies

How it is used for food

The small fruit are eaten raw. The juice of the plant is used to quench thirst.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cactus intortus P. Miller; Cactus melocactus var. communis Aiton; Melocactus communis (Aiton) Link & Otto; Cactus antonii Britton; Melocactus antonii (Britton) F.M. Knuth; Melocactus intortus var. antonii (Britton) Backeberg; Melocactus intortus subsp. domingensis Areces; Melocactus pedemalensis M. Meija & R. Garcia;