Xerophyte

Habit

Usually solitary.

Central Spines

0 or 1, slightly heavier but not very different from the the radials.

Seeds

1 mm, long, black.

Description

Parodia sellowiiSN|20106]]SN|20106]] best known asvery woolly stem apex. It is a widespread, extremely variable species that has received numerous unnecessary names (at least 120), representing no more than local phenotypes.

Note

When the plants become older they look quite different from the juvenile forms, and this is evident when we can observe a seedling growing next to an older plant - the younger plant is smoother and the older plants have ribs and tubercles - one would almost think they were different species.

Flowers

Lemon yellow with glossy petals (sometime shaded with pink), up to about 4-5 cm in diameter, and standing near the top, decorated with about 8 to 10 red pistil lobes which emphasize the yellow of the petals. The buds are tomentose.

Blooming Season

They bloom annually around July.

Ribs

(12-)16-18(-22), at maturity well marked, shallow more or less sharp, with scarcely prominent chinned tubercles. The crest of the ribs typically turns a purple red colour in full sun.

Stem

Broadly orbicular flattened and growing partly underground, but the plant's stem in cultivation is usually globular or ovoidal and aerial, up to 20 cm tall, 15 cm in diameter, bright glossy green, dark green or grey-green. The apex is depressed and filled with whitish-grey wool.

Radial Spines

4 to 10 (-12), yellowish, sturdy, about 20 mm long, curved down or backward.

Fruits

Fleshy reddish to purple, about 10 mm long.

Areoles

Well spaced, woolly, recessed, 15-20 mm in diameter.