A large number of taxa of the genus Melocactus has been described from the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, which most recent authors have viewed as a single very variable species, M. macracanthos. A detailed field study and morphological analysis of the genus in Aruba suggests that three species are found on the island, M. macracanthos, M. stramineus and M. curvispinus subsp. koolwijkianus, together with a semi-stabilised hybrid M. x bozsingianus. The nomenclature has been revised with reference to type specimens, and the combination M. curvispinus subsp. koolwijkianus (Suringar)-Thomson is published as new.
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28 September 2002
A re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of the genus Melocactus in Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
George Thomson
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Bradleya
Vol. 2002 • No. 20
September 2002
Vol. 2002 • No. 20
September 2002