Among so many trails through the Caatinga, I found only a few friar’s crown cacti along the way

During my walks through the Caatinga, I found only a few friar’s crown cacti along the way. In Vassourinhas, I saw just a small number of them. On other trails, none at all. Then, in another direction within the district of Pilar, they quietly reappeared in the semiarid landscape.

The friar’s crown cactus belongs to the genus Melocactus and is one of the most striking plants of the Caatinga. Its rounded shape and reddish top make it a unique, almost silent presence within the landscape.

Some species in this group are threatened with extinction due to illegal removal from nature and habitat loss. Perhaps that is why encountering them along the way creates such a strong feeling.

Friar’s crown cactus, a cactus belonging to the genus Melocactus.

Small, slow, and resilient, the friar’s crown cactus seems to hold the time of the Caatinga — a great inspiration for future works.