Xerophyte

Central Spines

1-4 (or more) up to 20 mm long, not easily distinguishable from the radials, usually flattish, thicker, straight and more than twice as long white, yellow to brown with a brown tip, one usually flattened.

Seeds

Bell to helmet shaped, with obvious corky hilum, matte brown.

Description

Parodia mammulosaSN|20022]]SN|20022]] is a usually solitary cactus more or less covered by interlacing spines.

Note

Parodia (Notocactus) mammulosa is among the the most wide-spread of the Parodia species and is very variable in appearance. The great variability of Parodia mammulosaSN|20022]]SN|20022]] is due to the fact that cross pollination among different forms and different species (in habitat and especially in collections) is very frequent and it can be quite difficult to determine what is the "pure type" and the cross, and the differences among individuals may be remarkable. Plants may differs considerably about the form and arrangement of the spines, stems, ribs and flowers colour with unclear morphological limits between the different forms. It can happen that two individuals of two different populations can look very similar and also, two plants of the same population can look very different. The P. mammulosa complex comprises lots of questionable names and lots of different population and its taxonomic history has undergone several changes. This species, however, needs taxonomic review, and it might split into different species that will need to be assessed separately.

Flowers

Pale pink to golden yellow beautifully emphasized by the purplish/red stigma lobes, 4 cm in diameter, with a short tube covered with white wool and brown bristles.

Ribs

18 to 20(-25) straight, well distinct, with prominent, rounded tubercles with chinlike protrusion.

Stem

Globose, that elongates to a height of 5-10 cm and a diameter of 7-13 cm with a depressed, spineless apex. The epidermis is shiny, greysh-green to dark green.

Radial Spines

8 to 30 slender whitish to brownish, needlelike, usually less than 10 mm long.

Fruits

Globose, elongating at maturity, thin walled.

Areoles

Small or large deeply embedded between the tubercles and set about 5 mm apart.