Xerophyte

Seeds

With large caruncles, seed coat tuberculate, dark brown to black, 0.75-1 mm.

Description

The Golden Powder Puff (Parodia chrysacanthionSN|11716]]SN|11716]]) is a globular to columnar cactus, with a much-ribbed, green stem densely covered with bristle-like, golden spines. The crown bears a mass of large golden flowers in spring and, often, pale yellow wool.

Note

The epithet 'chrysacanthion'; from Greek 'chrysos', gold; and Greek 'akanthion', small spine, small thorn; refers to the colour of the dense fine spination.

Flowers

1 to 11 (or more in cultivation), central and radial spines similar, yellow, to 20(-30) mm long, 1-2 cm in diameter. Ovary mostly naked; floral tubes with bristles and wool.

Blooming Season

Spring.

Spines

30-40, straight, needle-like to bristly, golden yellow to whitish (or brownish), 1-2 cm long, all straight (not hooked).

Ribs

Spiraled, tubercled.

Stem

Usually simple, depressed globose at first, later short cylindrical, 5-12 cm high, eventually up to 10 cm in diameter, rarely larger, light green, very woolly and surrounded by rings of erectspines apically.

Fruits

Small, ovoid, fleshy.