= Parodia orthacantha (Link & Otto) Hofacker
Kakteen Sukk. 54: 225 2003. [Sep 2003]
Accepted Scientific Name: Parodia mammulosa (Lem.) N.P.Taylor
Bradleya 5: 93. 1987
Malacocarpus orthacanthus (Parodia orthacantha) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Origin and Habitat: Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul), Uruguay
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Parodia mammulosa
Description: Usually single stemmed, perennial, succulent.
Stem: Large, spherical, up to 15cm in diameter with flattened apex, and with a dark-green to bluish-green epidermis.
Ribs: Approx. 18, vertical, well defined, forming large, distinct, pointed tubercles with chin-like protrusion.
Areoles: Between tubercles.
Radial spines: About 12, up to 1 cm long, needle-like, whitish, radiating flattened against the stem, interlacing.
Central spine: One, dark, strong, up to 2 cm long stinging.
Flowers: 5 cm (or more) in diameter, shining lemon-yellow, in rare cases also orange or reddish with dark purple-red stigma. Pericarpel and floral tubes short and broad, with dense wool and few bristles.
Blooming season: Spring. It will usually flower within 3 to 5 years.
Fruit: Globose, elongating at maturity, thin-walled.
Seeds: Bell to helmet-shaped, with corky hilum, brown and finely tuberculate.
Flowers: Lemon-yellow.
More...Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Parodia mammulosa group
Notocactus roseoluteus Vliet- Parodia mammulosa (Lem.) N.P.Taylor: (ssp. mammulosa) Plants have 18-25 ribs, 2-4 central spines and 20-30 radials. It is widely distributed in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.
- Parodia mammulosa subs. brasiliensis (Havlíček) Hofacker: They have about 15 ribs, 1 central spine, 8-10 radials, it occur near Santos, Brasil.
- Parodia mammulosa f. cristata (P.V.Heath) hort.
- Parodia mammulosa subs. erythracantha (H.Schloss. & Bredero) Hofacker: They have about 16 ribs, 2 central spines and 10-14 radials it occour in Tacuarembo, Uruguay.
- Parodia mammulosa f. monstruosa cristata hort.
- Parodia mammulosa subs. submammulosa (Lem.) Hofacker: These plants have the fewest number of ribs (about 13), about 6 radial spines spreading out horizontally, and two long and flat central spines, of which one longer and pointing down, and another a bit shorter and pointing up. It occours in Uruguai and argentina.
- Parodia mammulosa cv. Red Flowers: This red population is reported from the north of Argentina.
- Parodia orthacantha (Link & Otto) Hofacker
- Parodia roseolutea f. monstruosa hort.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001
2) Curt Backeberg “Cactus Lexicon” Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated, 1978
3) Hiroshi Hirao “Colour encyclopaedia of cacti” Japan 1979 (Japanese language and script)
4) Willy Cullmann, Erich Götz (Dozent Dr.), Gerhard Gröner “The encyclopedia of cacti” Portland, OR: Timber Press, 1986
5) David Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006 ISBN 0953813444, 9780953813445
6) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug./2011
More...
Malacocarpus orthacanthus (Parodia orthacantha) Photo by: Cactus Art
Malacocarpus orthacanthus (Parodia orthacantha) Photo by: Cactus ArtCultivation and Propagation: It is easy to grow. It prefers a neutral to slightly acidic mineral-based potting mix with a good drainage. It likes a warm bright location, does great in partial shade but doesn't like full, hot blazing sun in the central summer month. Can support quite some water during the growing season but pot plants in winter are wet-sensitive and needs to be rather kept dry (rots easily if soil is wet and cold) tends to lose its roots in winter. Usually it is recommended to over-winter this plant in a bright and warm greenhouse with at least 8-10° C , but it has proved to tolerate temperatures as low as -5° C for short periods.
Propagation: Seeds, cuttings or root suckers (if available). Not too difficult to raise from seed.
