Flowers open during the day and close at night.

Etymology: The genus name "Notocactus" derives from the Greek words “notos” meaning “south” indicating that the plants of this genus are from of the South (America) and the word “cactus” ( an old genus name)
(The genus name implies: “cactus of the south”).
The species name "scopa" derives from the Latin word “scopa ( pl. scopæ ) ” meaning “a broom”,  referring to the long and dense spination.  
(The specific name implies: “broom like”)

Morphology (Identifying Characteristics):
Habit: Clumping columnar cactus
Stem: At first globular, becoming bit columnar up to 45 cm tall, 10 cm in diameter.
Spines: Red central spines and shorter white around.
Flower: Diurnal, opening in during the day and closing at night. Yellow with red pistil, 4cm in diameter.

Cultivation: This is an easy plant to cultivate. Can support quite some water during the growing season. Watering Needs:Keep rather dry in winter, rots easily if soil is wet and cold. Relatively cold hardy, Sun Exposure: Light shade to full sun but doesn't like full, hot blazing sun in the central summer month.

Reproduction: seed.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Notocactus scopa complex:

• Notocactus scopa (Parodia scopa)
• Notocactus scopa "inermis" (Parodia scopa 'inermis')
• Notocactus scopa "inermis" forma cristata (Parodia scopa 'inermis' cristata)
• Notocactus rudibuenekeri "ALBISSIMO" (Parodia scopa 'rudibueneckeri)
• Notocactus schlosseri (Parodia erubescens)
• Notocactus schlosseri  forma cristata (Parodia erubescens cristata)
• Notocactus sulphureus ( P. scopa succinea)

Scientific Name: Notocactus scopa (Sprengel) Backeberg 1935  Published in: Backeb. & F. M. Knuth, Kaktus-ABC, 256, 1935
(Notocactus scopa  (Spreng.) A.Berger 1929 Published in:  A.Berger -- Kakteen, 208, 343 (1929).

Basionym: Cactus scopa Sprengel 1825, Published in: Systema Vegetabilium, 2:494, Göttingen 1825

Distribution: Southern Brazil, Uruguay, northern Argentina

Conservation status: Listed in CITES Appendix II

The Notocactus scopa aggregate is an ensemble of related species comprising N. scopa, N. schlosseri, N. scopa var. xicoi, N. sucineus

NOTE: This plant  has been Transferred to Parodia in 1997 by David Hunt.

Synonyms:

• Parodia scopa (Sprengel) N.P. Taylor 1987
• Malacocarpus scopa (Sprengel) Britton & Rose 1922
• Notocactus scopa (Sprengel) A. Berger 1929
• Notocactus scopa (Link & Otto) A.Berger – in: Kakteen (Berger) 343. 1929
• Notocactus soldtianus
• Peronocactus scopa

Yellow bloom with contrasting red pistil.