Xerophyte

Habit

Compact small to medium-sized cacti densely covered in dense white and yellow spines. Usually solitary, but can forms small clusters.

Central Spines

4, Short, hooked of which the upper three are honey-yellow to reddish-brown with a reddish tip, while the lower one is more long and strong.

Seeds

Very small 0,4mm long, brown smooth and shining.

Description

Parodia aureispinaSN|5784]]SN|11728]] is only a variant of the extremely variable Parodia microsperma. Characteristic of this frequently offered cactus are its strong, yellow spination and its yellow flowers.

Similar Species

It is very similar (if not the same) with Parodia mutabilisSN|11730]]SN|11730]] and Parodia aurihamata, and the three plants are not readily distinguishable, if not for the geographical provenance.

Flowers

Bright yellow, infundibuliform on the plant apex 2,5 mm long, 40 mm in diameter. External tepals spatulate or lanceolate, denticulate yellowish-orange.The throat is yellow, the filaments bear cream-yellowish anthers. Stile white-yellowish bearing a 12 lobed stigma.

Blooming Season

Produces several flowers simultaneously in early summer (while at Parodia maassiiSN|11728]]SN|5784]] they usually appear one by one), the flowers remain open for about three days.

Ribs

13-21 spiraling with conical tubercles 4-5 mm in diameter 3 mm long.

Stem

Globose or cylindrical, light green or bluish-green up to 6-7(-9) cm in diameter and 10 cm tall (or more)

Radial Spines

11-13 thin,bristly, white, up to 7 mm long.

Fruits

Ovoidal 6x5 mm, with basal dehiscence.

Areoles

1,5 mm in diameter with white-yellowish tomentum that fade away as they age.