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Melocactus violaceus
Pfeiffer 1835
Photograph Melocactus violaceus in habitat

2016, Brazil, Bahia

 

Surveys

2016, Brazil, Bahia, Imbassaí, A&M 1462 Show on map

Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
01-1450066
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
02-1450017
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
03-1450076
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
04-1450020
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
05-1450021
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
06-1450075
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
07-1450023
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
08-1450024
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
09-1450025
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
10-1450026
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
11-1450028
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
12-1450029
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
13-1450031
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
14-1450030
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
15-1450044
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
16-1450043
Preview photo Melocactus violaceus
17-1450034

 

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Synonyms

Melocactus violaceus ssp. violaceus, Melocactus depressus, Melocactus ellemeetii, Melocactus margaritaceus, Melocactus violaceus ssp. margaritaceus, Cactus melocactoides, Melocactus melocactoides, Melocactus violaceus ssp. natalensis, Melocactus pentacentrus

Distribution

Brazil (Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe)

Conservation status

(1)   Vulnerable, VU A2c

Comments

The study journey 2015-2016 (16 Nov. 2015 - 2 Aug. 2016), ended with a series of surveys conducted in the area of Imbassaí, Bahia, Brazil, on the northeast coast near the capital Salvador. Among these, A&M 1462 (photos 01-17) is related to Melocactus violaceus ssp. margaritaceus N. P. Taylor, one of the three ssp. in which Hunt et al. (2006, text: 190), divides the dominant Melocactus violaceus Pfeiffer; compare the population we detected with the photo representing the taxon in Hunt et al. (ibidem, atlas: 176, 176.3). In fact, the population encountered shows intermediate characters with  ssp. violaceus, a closeness also evident in the photo with which the authors identify the type species (ibidem, atlas: 177, 177.2). The small distinctions related to the floral character, of which we already know about the fallability in distinguishing taxa (Ritz et al. 2007; Lendel et al. umpubl. data & Nyffeler et al. umpubl. data in Nyffeler & Eggli 2010; Schlumpberger & Renner 2012; Anceschi & Magli 2013a; 2013b), and the color of the fruit, i.e. white for ssp. margaritaceus vs. lilac to pale pink for ssp. violaceus, they seem really laughable elements to try to somehow identify additional taxa within dominant and variable species such as M. violaceus, a taxon spread over an area involving as many as 9 states of Brazil (i.e. Alagoas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe). Despite that the third ssp. (ssp. ritteri), does not highlight particular distinctive features (Hunt et al. 2006, atlas: 177, 177.1), since we have not visited the places where the taxon is said to be endemic (ibidem, text: 190), we prefer to postpone opinion on its taxonomic position. For the reasons explained, we include M. violaceus ssp. margaritaceus in the synonymy of M. violaceus. (Quoted from Anceschi & Magli 2021, 74-75)

Genus

Melocactus

Other species

bahiensis
ernestii
levitestatus
peruvianus
violaceus
zehntneri