Parodia dichroacantha f. cristata

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Parodia microsperma subs. horrida (F.H.Brandt) R.Kiesling & O.Ferrari
Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 62: 198. 1990
Synonymy: 2

Parodia microsperma subs. horrida (F.H.Brandt) R.Kiesling & O.Ferrari

Parodia horrida F.H.Brandt

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Description: The typical Parodia dichroacanthaSN|16562]]SN|11751]] is a globular to cylindrical cactus covered with strong hooked central spines at the top of which emerge bright orange-red flowers. The crested form (Parodia microsperma var. dichroacantha f. cristataSN|11751]]SN|16562]]) is very rare and blooms profusely from the linear meristem forming very showy fans of flowers.
Stem: Fan-shaped, 4-7 in thick and up to 20 or more cm in width, dark green to reddish-grey.
Central spine: Hooked, strong, pale-brown, grey-brown, red-brown or brown-chocolate.
Radial spines: Rigid.
Flowers: Orange, orange-red to Scarlet (but also yellow).
Blooming season: Summer.

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Parodia microsperma group

Parodia microsperma (F.A.C.Weber) Speg.: is very variable and has received a large number of names. It has green globose stems with long, hooked central spines, the radials are thin and flexible, and the flowers yellow to orange to red. Distribution: southern Bolivia and northern Argentina.
Parodia microsperma subs. aureispina (Backeb.) Brickwood: has dense white and yellow spines and bright yellow flower. Distribution: Southern Bolivia, northern Argentina.
Parodia microsperma var. dichroacantha (F.H.Brandt & Weskamp) Brickwood: has strong hooked central spines, rigid radials spines and bright orange-red flowers. Distribution: Salta, Northwest Cafayate (and Tucumán?)
Parodia microsperma var. dichroacantha f. cristata hort.: Crested form.
Parodia microsperma var. herzogii (Rausch) Brickwood: has deep orange to blood red flower to 4 cm across.
Parodia microsperma subs. horrida (F.H.Brandt) R.Kiesling & O.Ferrari: has reddish-grey cylindrical stems with either hooked or straight central spines, the radials are rigid, and the flowers yellow. Distribution: Salta, Argentina.
Parodia microsperma var. malyana (Rausch) Brickwood: has short reddish central spines and flowers ranging from yellow to orange and red. Distribution: Catamarca, Argentina.
Parodia microsperma var. mutabilis (Backeb.) Brickwood: has strong, yellow spination and yellow flower. Distribution: Salta, Northern Argentina.
Parodia microsperma var. rubristaminea (F.Ritter) Brickwood: has filaments of the stamens bright carmine to brownish-cinnabar.
Parodia microsperma subs. sanguiniflora (Backeb.) Brickwood: has blood red flowers. Filaments of the stamens carmine. Stylus reddish to pale yellowish; Stigma light-yellow to nearly white. Distribution: Southern Bolivia, northern Argentina.
Parodia microsperma subs. sanguiniflora f. brevispina (monstruosa) hort.: monstrous plant with short spines and short red flowers. It is a highly branching cactus that forms clumps.
Parodia microsperma var. setifera (Backeb.) Brickwood: Characteristic of this cactus are its thin bristly radial spines and its yellow flowers. Distribution: Salta, Argentina.
Parodia microsperma var. weberiana (F.H.Brandt) J.G.Lamb.: has large orange red to golden yellow flowers. Distribution: Salta (El Naranjo, El Tala), Argentina.
Parodia talaensis F.H.Brandt: has bright orange flowers and dense white and yellow spines. Distribution: Salta / Tucuman

Parodia dichroacantha f. cristata (Parodia microsperma var. dichroacantha f. cristata) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Parodia dichroacantha f. cristata (Parodia microsperma var. dichroacantha f. cristata) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Parodia dichroacantha f. cristata (Parodia microsperma var. dichroacantha f. cristata) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Parodia dichroacantha f. cristata (Parodia microsperma var. dichroacantha f. cristata) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Parodia dichroacantha f. cristata (Parodia microsperma var. dichroacantha f. cristata) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Parodia dichroacantha f. cristata (Parodia microsperma var. dichroacantha f. cristata) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Parodia dichroacantha f. cristata (Parodia microsperma var. dichroacantha f. cristata) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

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Cultivation and Propagation: Although regarded as a choice and difficult plant is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although grows quite slowly. It is sometime seen as a grafted plant but grows very well on its own roots too.
Soil: Use mineral well permeable mineral soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Exposure: They need a good amount of light shade to full sun this help to keep the plants healthy, although slow growth.
Watering: Water sparingly from March till October (weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough) , with a little fertilizer added. Less or no water during cold winter months, or when night temperatures remain below 10° to prevent root loss. It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone).
Fertilization: Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh then, feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards as this can cause lush growth which can be fatal during the darker cold months.
Hardiness: Keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (but it is relatively cold resistant and hardy to -5° C, or possibly colder for short periods) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! (Temperature Zone: USDA 9-11)
Crested growth: Unlike 'monstrose' varieties of plants, where the variation from normal growth is due to genetic mutation, crested growth can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it's due to variances in light intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are unknown. A crested plant may have some areas growing normally, and a cresting plant that looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for no apparent reason. If you have any of the crested part left you need to remove the normal growth and leave the crested part behind this will need to be done regularly.
Propagation: Grafting or cuttings. Plants are usually grafted onto column-shaped cacti but proved to be able to produce their own roots if degrafted. Cuttings will take root in a minimum temperature of 20° C (but better in hot weather). Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer. Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks. Large crested piece must be placed on the soil surface without burying the plant base down in the soil.

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Cite this page: "Parodia dichroacantha f. cristata" Text available under a CC-BY-SA Creative Commons Attribution License. www.llifle.com 14 Nov. 2005. 22 Nov 2024. </Encyclopedia/CACTI/Family/Cactaceae/16563/Parodia_dichroacantha_f._cristata>