Xerophyte

Habit

It is a compact small to medium-sized, perennial cactus usually solitary, but can form small clusters.

Central Spines

3-4, short, mostly yellow, but also reddish or brownish of which the lowermost more long hooked at apex and strong 4-10 mm long.

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]] var. mutabilis (Parodia mutabilis) is only a variant of the extremely variable Parodia microspermaSN|11728]]SN|11718]]. Characteristic of this frequently offered cactus are its strong, yellow spination and its yellow flowers.

Similar Species

It is very similar (if not the same) with Parodia aureispinaSN|11718]]SN|11728]] and Parodia aurihamata, and the three plants are not readily distinguishable, if not for the geographical provenance.

Flowers

Bright yellow, 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 on 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 d ivided 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

20-50 thin, or more, very fine, white..

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.