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Parodia subterranea LH668
North of Culpina, Potosi, Bolivia
In habitat this species reputedly grows almost completely hidden
below the soil.
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Description: Usually simple or rarely basally branched, white-topped
cactus.
This species reputedly grows almost completely hidden below
the soil (in habitat) and is extremely hard to find unless it is in
bloom.
Stem: Flattish to globose, dull green to olive green with white
wool apically, thick and growing mostly underground, but the plant's
stem in cultivation is usually globular or ovoidal and aerial.
Dimension: 6-12 cm in diameter.
Ribs: 11-13 spiralling, forming distinct conical tubercles.
Areoles: Young areoles are filled with abundant white wool.
Later
they are naked.
Central spines: One (or sometime as many as 4), short, thick black, clawlike, more or less erect, straight or hooked and twisted (depending
on population), 7-14 mm long.
Radial spines: Up to 10, radiating, ± flattened against the plant's
body, mostly whitish or yellowish (but also blackish), 5-8 mm long.
Flowers: Funnel-shaped, usually red (but ranging from
yellowish-orange to dark purple), about 3 cm wide.
Pericarpel and floral tube covered with white or brown hairs and
black bristles. Dried
flowers remain for a long time on the plant's body
after blooming.
Blooming season: Late spring.
Fruit: Red or green, with white hairs.
Seeds: Purse shaped, black.
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family)
Scientific name: Parodia subterranea F.
Ritter
In: Succulenta, 43 : 43, 1964
Origin: Native to Bolivia,
Chuqisaca (Culpina, Cinti)
Synonyms:
- Parodia maassii var. subterranea (Ritt.) Krainz
in Städtische Sukkulentensammlung, Zürich (katalog),
p. 102, 1967
- Parodia occulta F. Ritter 1980
- Parodia miranda F. H. Brandt 1981
- Parodia culpinensis F. H. Brandt 1973
- Parodia zaletaewana F. H. Brandt 1973
- Parodia nigresca F. H. Brandt 1981
- Parodia salitrensis. F. H. Brandt 1981a
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Cultivation:
Water
these plants regularly,
and fertilize them with a low nitrogen fertilizer every 6 to 8 weeks,
from mid-spring
to late summer. This plant should remain rather dry at other times
(especially in winter), except for a quick, periodic misting on warmer
days in late winter.
If
it is kept
absolutely dry for a long period,
it
tends to lose its roots in winter. It
can tolerate
light frost (- 4C°)
but rots easily if wet and cold.
If the local climate is warm enough to grow this plant outside, be sure
that soil is well drained and sun is full, but with protection from
strong midday rays.
Propagation: By Seeds that are very fine.
Photo of
conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of
plants belonging to the Parodia
maassii
complex
(This
Taxon has lots of
synonyms (like most Parodia), with several controversial varieties and
subspecies):
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