Xerophyte

Central Spines

Up to four, brownish, reddish brown or yellowish 20-40 mm long.

Seeds

Bell shaped, glossy.

Description

Plant at first solitary that matures and flowers at an early age. With time it form small colonies. One of the peculiarity of this species is the tendency to produce basal suckers on the lateral roots.The "rubescens" is merely one of the several forms of the very variable Notocactus (Parodia) ottonis distinguished by its redder stems. However Parodia ottonisSN|748]]SN|748]] occurs over quite a wide area and "rubescens" is regarded as a mere ecotype with size or colour modified by more humid or arid conditions and merging into typical plants in cultivation. However redder forms occours at random elswhere.

Flowers

Yellow from the uppermost areoles, one or more appearing at a time, that open only during the dayt, 5-6 cm wide, floral tube with brownish wool and bristles. Perianth segments linear-oblong, acute, stamens about half the length of the perianth, segments, style yellow, stigma lobes red.

Spines

Bristly, acicular, slightly curved and spreading.

Ribs

8-9, broad and rounded, well defined.

Stem

Up to 8 cm in diameter, 4 cm tall, somewhat depressed, with white wool apically, more or less glossy green or bluish green which can take a purple colour in under stress condition or in full sun. The rich magenta colour of the stem sometime seen is due to a full sun exposure along with short water supply during cold winter month, otherwise the plant is green.

Radial Spines

7-9 up to 15 mm long, clearer.

Fruits

0,9-12 mm in diameter, ovoid to short cylindrical, thick walled, deishent often with large number of seeds.

Areoles

Few, circular up 1-2(-3) mm wide, 10-12 mm apart.