Xerophyte

Habit

This species is usually solitary, sometimes forming clumps.

Central Spines

One increasing to four with time rose to whitish, not readily distinguishable from the radials.

Seeds

Black about 0.7 millimetres long and 0.5 millimetres wide, which are finely tuberculate.

Description

Parodia ritteriSN|5837]]SN|5837]] is a cute columnar cactus with beautiful rose to whitish spines and blood-red to yellowish-brown flowers. The several synonyms refers to previously described species, so similar and intermingled that it is almost impossible to name them accurately without knowing where they come from. It is not surprising to have caused so much difficulty, because you can find plants with slightly different characteristics growing cheek by jowl in many parts of the areal. Whatever they are called they are all lovely plants meriting a place in any cactus collection.

Flowers

Borne several at a time apically, funnel-shaped, blood-red, brownish-red or yellowish-brown , 2.5-3.5 cm long; pericarpels covered with white wool. Stigma lobes bright yellow.

Blooming Season

Flowering occurs in summer through early fall and will bloom several times during warm weather.

Ribs

15-21, tuberculate at first, later less so.

Stem

Globose at first, becoming cylindrical, green with white woolly tips, approx 30-50 cm tall, 8-10 cm Ø.

Radial Spines

10-14, more or less erect, rose to whitish, 14-40 mm long.

Fruits

4-8 mm long red with conspicuous white wool, usually thicker than long.

Areoles

Woolly, brownish to whitish.