Xerophyte

Central Spines

2 (or more) up to 20 mm long (or longer) usually flattened, of which one longer and pointing down, and another a bit shorter and pointing up, thicker, straight, white, yellow to brown with a brown tip.

Seeds

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

Note

Parodia mammulosaSN|20022]]SN|20022]] and Parodia mammulosaSN|20022]]SN|20022]] subs. submammulosa areamong the the most wide-spread of the Parodia species and are quite variable in appearance. The great variability is due to the fact that cross pollination among different forms and different species (both in habitat and in collections) is very frequent and it can be quite difficult to determine what is the "pure type" and the cross, and the differences among individuals may be remarkable. Plants may differs considerably about the form and arrangement of the spines, stems, ribs and flowers colour with unclear morphological limits between the different forms. It can happen that two individuals of two different populations can look very similar and also, two plants of the same population can look very different. There is so much variation that most authors choose to lump them together.

Flowers

Pale pink, orange to golden yellow with a clear yellow centre, beautifully emphasized by the purplish/red stigma lobes, 2.5-4.5 cm in diameter, with a short tube covered with white wool and brown bristles.

Ribs

About 13 but occasionally up to 18, straight, well distinct, with prominent, rounded tubercles with chinlike protrusion.

Stem

Globose, that elongates to a height of 5-10 cm and a diameter of 7-13 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.