Melocactus matanzanus | Cactaceae | the dwarf Turk’s cap
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Melocactus matanzanus, the dwarf Turk’s cap, is an unusual little cactus with an interesting biology. Endemic to the Matanzas and Las Villas provinces of Northern Cuba, the cactus occupies coastal shrublands in serpentine outcrops. However, the species’ natural habitat has been highly degraded by forestation, and the dwarf Turk’s cap is critically endangered in the wild. As a result, the species is rare in cultivation, and no specimens can be found on the University Arboretum grounds.
Several species of cacti develop a “cephalium”, an orange, woolly structure at the apex of cacti that signals the shift from juvenile development to maturity. Once the cephalium is fully formed, the dwarf Turk’s cap cactus will never grow again, and will remain the same size for the duration of its lifespan.
One of the differences between animal and plant growth is that plants are predominantly “indeterminate”, and will continue to grow after reaching sexual maturity. However, most animals stop growing once the adult stage has been reached. Cacti that develop a cephalium, however, possess the “determinate” growth of animals, with a developing “juvenile” stage, and a mature “adult” stage. The dwarf Turk’s cap is also the smallest species of cacti that develops a cephalium, lending further value to its presence in the conservatory collection.
Several species of cacti develop a “cephalium”, an orange, woolly structure at the apex of cacti that signals the shift from juvenile development to maturity. Once the cephalium is fully formed, the dwarf Turk’s cap cactus will never grow again, and will remain the same size for the duration of its lifespan.
One of the differences between animal and plant growth is that plants are predominantly “indeterminate”, and will continue to grow after reaching sexual maturity. However, most animals stop growing once the adult stage has been reached. Cacti that develop a cephalium, however, possess the “determinate” growth of animals, with a developing “juvenile” stage, and a mature “adult” stage. The dwarf Turk’s cap is also the smallest species of cacti that develops a cephalium, lending further value to its presence in the conservatory collection.
You can learn more about Melocactus matanzanus by visiting the Plant Science Club webpage!
