Xerophyte

Central Spines

0-4 (or more) up to 20 mm long, not easily distinguishable from the radials, usually flattish, thicker, straight and more than twice as long white, yellow to brown with a brown tip, one usually flattened.

Seeds

Bell to helmet shaped, with obvious corky hilum, matte brown.

Description

The typical Parodia mammulosa is a small, usually solitary cactus more or less covered by interlacing spines. It is popular and grown for the large yellow flowers. The crested form can also get very nice making a spectacular specimen. The Parodia mammulosaSN|20022]]SN|20022]] is among the the most wide-spread of the Parodia species and is very variable in appearance and also the several crested clones can appear quite different.

Flowers

Pale pink to golden yellow beautifully emphasized by the purplish/red stigma lobes, 4 cm in diameter, with a short tube covered with white wool and brown bristles.

Ribs

Straight, well distinct, with prominent, rounded tubercles with chinlike protrusion.

Stem

Fan-shaped to a height of 5-10 cm and a diameter of up to 30 cm with a depressed, spineless apex. The epidermis is shiny, greysh-green to dark green.

Radial Spines

8 to 30 slender whitish to brownish, needlelike, usually less than 10 mm long.

Fruits

Globose, elongating at maturity, thin walled.

Areoles

Small or large deeply embedded between the tubercles and set about 5 mm apart.