Xerophyte

Habit

It is usually solitary, but can form small clusters.

Central Spines

3-4, short, of which the upper three are honey-yellow to reddish-brown or darker with a reddish tip, while the lowermost more long hooked at apex and strong 5-20 mm long, rarely to 50 mm.

Seeds

Very small, to only 0,4-0,5 mm long including the large white caruncle, seed-coat smooth, brown and shining.

Description

Parodia microspermaSN|5784]]SN|11718]] is a compact small to medium-sized, perennial cactus densely covered in dense white, yellow or brown spines and red, central spines, some of which are hooked. The new name refers to the small seeds. It bears blood-red, occasionally yellow flowers in spring. It is an extremely variable species with several local or morphological forms (previously considered independent species). Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and subsp. horrida.

Flowers

Bright yellow, orange or red, infundibuliform on the plant apex 2,5-3,5 mm long, 40-50 mm in diameter. External tepals spatulate or lanceolate. Pericarpel and tube with wool and bristles throughout. The filaments bear cream-yellowish anthers. Stile white-yellowish bearing a 12 lobed stigma.

Blooming Season

Produces several flowers simultaneously in early summer (while in Parodia maassiiSN|11718]]SN|5784]] they usually appear one by one), the flowers remain open for about three days.

Ribs

13-21 more or less divided into spiralled, conical tubercles 4-5 mm in diameter 3 mm long.

Stem

Spherical when young, but with age it often develops a short cylindrical shape, light green or bluish-green up to (5-)6-7(-10) cm in diameter and 5-20 cm tall (or more).

Radial Spines

(7-)11-13(-30) thin, bristly, white, up to 4-8 mm long.

Fruits

Nearly spherical to ovoidal about 4-5 mm in diameter, with basal dehiscence.

Areoles

1,5 mm in diameter with white-yellowish tomentum that fade away as they age.