Melocactus curvispinus aka Turk's Cap

Melocactus curvispinus is a small cactus in the Cactaceae family. Its native range runs from southern Mexico to Venezuela. It also grows in the Caribbean, including Cuba. This evergreen succulent lives for more than one year. It grows in tropical regions with a dry season. People grow it in gardens as an ornamental plant. They also gather wild plants for food and medicine.

The plant forms one short, thick stem with spines. Its shape ranges from a flattened ball to a short cylinder. The listed garden height is about 0.66 feet [0.2 metres]. Described stems reach 0.2–1 foot [0.06–0.3 metres] tall. Their width spans 0.26–0.89 feet [0.08–0.27 metres]. Adult plants form a lasting flower-bearing structure called a cephalium. This sits at the top of the stem. It usually reaches 0.13 feet [0.04 metres] in height. Its usual width reaches 0.23 feet [0.07 metres]. Rare examples grow much larger than these usual sizes.

Flowers grow from the cephalium rather than across the stem. Hummingbirds and bees visit them and act as pollinators. The plant can also pollinate itself and is self-fertile. Its fruit ranges from bright red to deep magenta. Most fruits measure 0.06–0.13 feet [0.018–0.04 metres] long. Some reach 0.2 feet [0.06 metres] in length. People eat the fruit raw and value its pleasant taste. It is a valued wild food in Guatemala.

Wild plants grow in dry, rocky ground and sand dunes. They also occur on sea cliffs and farther inland. Some grow in forest that sheds its leaves. Recorded substrates include lava, gravel, and both acidic and basic rock. These records show a broad range of wild growing sites. They do not establish a garden soil or watering regime. The supplied species account gives no frost limit or hardiness zone.

People make sweets from the flesh of the stem. They cut it into cubes and cook it in strong syrup. The flesh serves mainly as a base for the sugar. People also use the plant in medicinal drinks. The account gives no further details about that use. It reports no known hazards, but provides no pet-safety assessment. The species holds Least Concern status in the cited 2017 assessment. Its large range and southern abundance support that assessment.