About Melocactus actinacanthus and M. matanzanus

[blueondrive]

Is there any articles I can read about the current status of M. actinacanthus especially if it's still M. matanzanus? I couldn't seem to find anything especially the works of Dr. Gonzales Torres.

[Steve Johnson]

Is there any articles I can read about the current status of M. actinacanthus especially if it's still M. matanzanus? I couldn't seem to find anything especially the works of Dr. Gonzales Torres.

According to llifle.com, actinacanthus is a subspecies of M. matanzanus. Couldn't find any photos of what the subspecies looks like. Too bad, because matanzanus is my favorite Melocactus, and I'd love to see the difference with actinacanthus.

[DaveW]

Presume this was the work you meant?

https://www.conservationleadershipprogr ... anthus.pdf

There is a picture of it on a Cuban postage stamp, but the flower looks abnormally large for a Melocactus?

https://www.canstockphoto.com/postage-s ... 54260.html

You might find it in Paul Klaassen's book Cactus Trip Diaries Cuba 2010. If you click on the cover in the link below the next page opens and if you then click on the right hand page the next opens, click on the left to go back. Also you can make it full screen to read it.

https://www.blurb.co.uk/books/5340469-t ... -cuba-2010

Most seem to consider it merely a synonym of M. matanzanus.

[Cactipack]

Melocacti of Cuba by Zoltan Rigerszki, Gerard Delanoy, Endre Ujreti, Anselme Vilardebo is an excellent book that addresses this topic. They have concluded it to be a subspecies of M. matanzanus, distinguished by it's lack of central spine. Unfortunately it is extremely threatened with less than 10 species in the wild. Thankfully there are conservation efforts being made to protect this species.