Xerophyte

Habit

Plants usually solitary but at times forming small clumps.

Central Spines

4-6 yellow with reddish tips, one somewhat bent or hooked at apex.

Seeds

Helmet-shaped, About 1 mm, broad, black, strongly tuberculate.

Description

Parodia alacriportanaSN|6122]]SN|6118]] subsp. brevihamata is a petite cactus species with dark stem covered with short hooked spines and showy golden yellow blooms in spring. It one of the several subspecies of the very variable Parodia brevihamataSN|6118]]SN|6122]] which form a complex of related taxon. It distinguish for the more numerous ribs and more closely set areoles. It is still unclear whether this variable complex is one or several species. There is so much variation in spination that most authors choose to lump them together until further studies are done.

Tubercles

Rounded

Flowers

Medium size, 26-40 mm long, 35-40 mm wide, golden yellow. Tube with brown wool and a few bristles.

Spines

Brownish, orange, yellow and white later grey, interlaced with those of adjacent ribs, often forming a brush-like bundle around the stem apex.

Ribs

24-32 more or less vertical. Tuberculate.

Stem

Globular to short cylindrical, about 3-5 cm across, but often more in cultivation, dark olive green or brownish green.

Radial Spines

About 16 yellowish-white, bristle-like, spreading.

Fruits

Fruit 8-10 mm broad, covered in wool.

Areoles

Closely set, white or yellowish felt-covered.