Melocactus intortus

{{Expand language |langcode=fr |langcode2=es |langcode3=de |date=March 2022}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Melocactus intortus.jpg

|status = LC

|status_system = IUCN3.1

|status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Taylor, N.P. |year=2017 |title=Melocactus intortus |amends=2013 |page=e.T152029A121518413 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152029A121518413.en |access-date=28 November 2022}}

|genus = Melocactus

|species = intortus

|authority = (Mill.) Urb.

}}

Melocactus intortus, also known as the Turk's head cactus, is a species of cactus endemic to the Caribbean.

Etymology

The Turks Islands in the Turks and Caicos are named after this cactus, whose red cephalium resembles the fez worn by Turkish men in the late Ottoman Empire.{{Cite web |title=Turks and Caicos Islands |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/turks-and-caicos-islands/ |website=The World Factbook |date=3 March 2022 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=2022-03-15}}{{cite web |url=https://turksandcaicostourism.com/about-turks-and-caicos/ |title=About Turks and Caicos |author= |date= |website=Turks and Caicos Islands |series= |publisher=Turks and Caicos Tourist Board |access-date=2022-03-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211203428/https://turksandcaicostourism.com/about-turks-and-caicos/ |archive-date=2021-12-11}} A stylised version of the cactus appears prominently on the coat of arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

References

intortus

Category:Flora of the Caribbean