Origin and Habitat: It is a critically endangered species endemic to north-eastern Brazil. (Morro do Chapeu, Bahia)
Altitude: About 700-800 metres above sea level.
habitat: It grows in sympatry with other congeneric species and it has generated some natural hybrid like Melocactus x albicephalus (Melocactus ernestiiSN|2264]]SN|2264]] × Melocactus glaucescens).

• Melocactus erythracanthus Buining & Bredero
• Melocactus oreas f. erythracanthus (Buining & Bredero) P.J.Braun

• Melocactus ernestii Vaupel
• Melocactus oreas subs. ernestii (Vaupel) P.J.Braun
• Melocactus azulensis Buining & Bredero
• Melocactus oreas f. azulensis (Buining et al.) P.J.Braun
• Melocactus deinacanthus Buining & Bredero
• Melocactus diamantinus hort.
• Melocactus sp. Mercedes de Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
• Melocactus ernestii var. multiceps hort.
• Melocactus azulensis f. multiceps
• Melocactus multiceps
• Melocactus oreas f. multiceps
• Melocactus erythracanthus Buining & Bredero
• Melocactus oreas f. erythracanthus (Buining & Bredero) P.J.Braun
• Melocactus interpositus F.Ritter
• Melocactus longispinus Buining & Bredero
• Melocactus oreas var. longispinus (Buining & Bredero) P.J.Braun
• Melocactus nitidus F.Ritter

• Melocactus ernestii subs. longicarpus (Buining & Bredero) N.P.Taylor
• Melocactus deinacanthus subs. longicarpus (Buining & Bredero) P.J.Braun
• Melocactus longicarpus Buining & Bredero
• Melocactus florschuetzianus Buining & Bredero
• Melocactus deinacanthus subs. florschuetzianus (Buining & Bredero) P.J.Braun
• Melocactus deinacanthus var. florschuetzianus (Buining & Bredero) P.J.Braun
• Melocactus montanus F.Ritter
• Melocactus mulequensis Buining & Bredero
• Melocactus deinacanthus f. mulequensis (Buining & Bredero) P.J.Braun
• Melocactus neomontanus Van Heek & Hovens

Description: Melocactus erythracanthusSN|2264]]SN|2303]] is one of the innumerable local form of the very variable Melocactus ernestiiSN|2303]]SN|2264]] which distingushes for the green, not glaucous body and the areoles bearing very long, reddish spines up to 15 cm in length, giving it a very spiny appearance. The cephalium is reddish with intermixed white wool. It is also one of the larger melocacti.
Habit: It is a solitary perennial stem succulent with determinate growth in which the axis does not continue to elongate indefinitely being limited by the development of the flower bearing cephalium.
Stem: Globose to conical strongly longitudinally ribbed, up to 45 cm tall, 35 cm in diameter (but usually less). Mature plants are easily recognizable by their cephalium, that have a covering of wool and bristles. The immature plant looks like a smallish barrel cactus, and there is nothing in its appearance that would suggest a Melocactus.
Ribs: 10 to 13.

Notes: The most remarkable part of a Melocactus is its cephalium a bristle-coated structure on the summit of the plant, only Melocactus, and the similar genus Discocactus possesses this type of permanent, apical, hatlike appendage. It’s only when a Melocactus reaches maturity that the cephalium begins to grow. Cylindrical, with a diameter distinctly smaller than that of the plant body below, the cephalium will keep growing for the rest of the plant’s life, but the body of the plant stops growing the moment the cephalium starts to form. . As the plants age the cephalium doesn’t increase in circumference it will steadily grow taller

Bibliography: major references and further lectures
1) Willy Cullmann “Kakteen: Einführung in die Kakteenkunde und Anleitung zu erfolgreicher Kakteenkultur” E. Ulmer, 1972
2) Hirao, H. “Colour Encyclopedia of Cacti” Seibundo Shinkocha Pub. Co. 1979
3) Stuart Max Walters “The European garden flora. 3.[Angiospermae], Dicotyledons. [Casuarinaceae to Aristolochiaceae]” Cambridge University Press, 1989
4) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
5) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
6) John Borg “Cacti: a gardener's handbook for their identification and cultivation” Blandford Press, 1959
7) Curt Backeberg: “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde.” Vol. IV, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1984
8) Sara Oldfield “Cactus and Succulent Plants: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan” IUCN, 01/Jan/1997
9) Edgar Lamb, Brian Lamb ”The Illustrated Reference on Cacti & Other Succulents,” Volume 5 Blandford Press, 1978
10) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton "Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names" Birkhäuser 2004

Cultivation and Propagation: These cacti are not the easiest things to grow and aren’t plants for beginners.
Melocactus erythracanthus grows from April to October, it can’t endure long stretches of total dryness, and also too much water will rot it, as its weak root systems tends to be inefficient at sucking up water from wet soil. Nonetheless, again as a result of their tropical origins, they need a fair amount of water, but allow the soil to dry quite a bit before watering again. Melocactus rests from October to April but can’t stand cold, or even fairly cool temperatures, so is indispensable to keep it above 8-12°C at all times, severe damage or death occurring at temperatures that the great majority of cacti wouldn’t mind in the least and prefer more frequent water in winter than other cacti, say once a month. Do not feed in winter.
The root system is weak and generally resents being repotted and can take a long time to re-establish. The soil mix should be very quick draining, prefers very bright light, not as much as the most arid growing cacti, but plenty nonetheless.
Propagation: Exclusively by Seeds. Sow in February-march in a light, sandy, porous soil. Cover germinating tray with glass to prevent seed from drying out. Germination is most successful at a temperature of 18 to 22° C.