Parodia parody

Cactus family. The wide distribution range is Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Colombia, Uruguay, Northern Argentina, Central and Southern Brazil, mainly in rocky highlands, at an altitude of 2000-3000 m above sea level. The genus has about 50 species, many of which have been transferred from the genera Eriocactus, Notocactus and Wigginsia, others from independent species have been transferred to subspecies. The inclusion of the genus Notocactus in the genus Parody was produced by the International Organization for Succulent Plant Studies in the late 80s of the last century, and is still disputed by many biologists.

The last classification in the world was adopted by Edward Anderson (2005), according to her, the genus Parodia parody consists of three subgenera: Subgenus Parodia, Subgenus Eriocactus and Subgenus Brasilicactus.

In turn, the subgenus of parodies Subgenus Parodia includes the group of parodies Group Parodia and the Notocactus group Notocactus (which includes plants previously attributed to the genus Notocactus and the genus Wigginsia).

Studies of the genus Parody do not stop, disputes over the correctness of systematics too, the problem is that there is no law - which classification to adhere to. Some collectors use Anderson's classification, others use Bakkeberg, others use their own, the same plants appear under different names (one plant can have about a hundred synonyms). Particularly violent protest of cactusists causes the inclusion of Notocactus in the genus Parody. But since the changes in the latest taxonomy of cacti, the technical capabilities of studying plants have increased to unprecedented heights, now they are being investigated using a scanning electron microscope, which allows you to take detailed photographs of cactus seeds, find the smallest differences in their structure, and scientifically substantiate belonging to individual genera or subspecies. Therefore, perhaps in the near future we will have another change in systematics.

Cactus species Parody

Parodia microsperma (Group Parodia) - with a short cylindrical stem up to 20 cm long and about 10 cm in diameter. Ribs 15-30, located on the stem in a spiral, tuberous. Radial spines average 15-20, and more, they are almost white, up to 7 mm long. There are 4 central spines, reddish or brownish, one of them is longer, on average 1-1.5 cm long (sometimes up to 2.5 cm), with a hook at the end. Flowers 5-7 cm in diameter, golden yellow or orange. It blooms in early summer, several flowers bloom at the same time, hold open for about 3 days. This type of parody is very variable, in view of its wide distribution range (they live at altitudes from 500 to 3000 m above sea level, in Bolivia, Argentina), has more than 7 dozen synonyms, taxonomy is still controversial among botanists. So far, two subspecies have been identified:

Parodia microsperma ssp. microsperma - characterized by a spherical green stem, radial spines are thin, flexible, grayish in color, filiform, central spines with a hook, long, thin.
Parodia microsperma ssp. horrida - characterized by a cylindrical stem, green with a reddish tint. Radial spines are matte, gray, central spines bent or straight, strong, stiff, thick gray-brown.

Parodia chrysacanthion (Group Parodia) - the stem is initially spherical, slightly flattened, stretches with age, up to 10 in diameter and 20 cm tall. Ribs about 24, they are low, located spirally, areoles on small papillary tubercles, with short white pubescence. Radial spines from 30 to 40, they are thin, slightly golden. Central spines from 1 to 4, in color do not differ from radial, one longer, straight. The flowers are bright yellow, about 2 cm in diameter. Homeland Argentina. This parody prefers light shade during the hot hours of the day in summer and soil slightly richer in humus.
A parody of the beautiful Parodia formosa (Group Parodia) - the stem is spherical, flattened, ribs about 18-26, areoles are white, fluffy, on low tubercles. radial spines about 30, up to 8 mm long, gray-brown. Central spines 6-12, they are 8-10 mm long, of the same color, slightly darker at the ends. The flowers are lemon yellow. Homeland Bolivia.
Parodia nivosa (Group Parodia) - has a spherical stem, reaching 10 cm in diameter. Ribs 16-26, tuberous, areoles white, fluffy. Radial spines up to 40, they are 10 mm long, central 4, they are thicker, up to 1.5 cm long. All spines are white. The flowers are bright red, up to 5 cm in diameter. Homeland Argentina.
Parodia penicillata (Group Parodia) - the stems are cylindrical, rather long - in old specimens reach 60-70 cm in length and 15 cm in diameter. Ribs 17-19, located spirally, areoles on tubercles with white pubescence. Radial spines up to 40, thin. The central spines are thicker, strong, up to 5 cm long, about 10-15 of them. All spines are light brown. The flowers are red, up to 5 cm in diameter. Homeland Argentina.

Parody of Maas Parodia maassii (Group Parodia) - with a spherical-cylindrical stem, reaching a length of about 15 cm. Ribs 13-21, arranged spirally, tuberous. Areoles in young cacti are very pubescent, pubescence becomes very thin with age. 8-10 radial spines up to 1 cm long, amber. Central spines from 1 to 4, reach 5-7 cm, yellow-brown, slightly bent downward. With age, the radial and central spines brighten, acquire a gray or gray-brown color. The flowers are about 2.5 in diameter and bright yellow. Flowering in spring, flowers appear in turn one after another.
Parody majestic Parodia magnifica (Subgenus Eriocactus) - spherical bluish-green stem up to 15 cm in height and 12 cm in diameter. Pronounced deep ribs, areoles sit tightly to each other. Radial spines are thin, golden in color, up to 1 cm long, in the amount of 12-15 pieces. Flowers up to 5 cm in diameter, lemon yellow, during flowering several flowers bloom simultaneously. Synonyms: Eriocactus magnificus and Notocactus mignificus.
Ritter's parody Parodia ritteri (Group Parodia) is spherical at first, then a cylindrical stem, ribs 13-21, arranged slightly in a spiral. Areoles are large, white, woolly. Radial spines 10-14, they are white-pink, central spines 4, one long, dark brown at the end, bent, the other three are almost indistinguishable from radial. Flowers about 3.5 cm in diameter, dark red, brownish, long white hairs at the base. Berries up to 8 mm long, completely covered with white hairs. Seeds are black up to 0.7 mm long, tuberous. Synonyms: Parodia splendens.
Group Parodia) is a spherical stem, about 5-7 cm in diameter, ribs 13, sharp, areoles large, white fluffy. Radial spines up to 30, they are gray-white, up to 1 cm long. Central 4, 1.5 to 3 cm long, brownish. The flowers are small - about 1-1.5 cm in diameter, the fruits are olive-green, ovate, up to 4 mm long, the seeds are dark brown. Synonyms: Parodia laui, Bolivicactus hausteinianus.

Care for parody

Temperature: In summer, normal, room, the more fresh air, the better. In winter, the rest period at an average temperature of 8-10 ° C, with dry content. The permissible minimum is + 6 ° С, at temperatures above + 12 ° С, parodies continue to grow and can stretch out a lot .

In summer, it is advisable to place parodies in the fresh air - a balcony, or in a garden under cover from rain and wind. In their homeland, these plants live in conditions of wide fluctuations in daily temperatures, some species are able to tolerate even short-term frosts up to -1 ° C, but potted plants do not need to be kept at subzero temperatures. In the absence of cold wintering, even with a content of 15 to 18 ° C, parodies may not bloom.

Lighting: Bright sunlight, gradually accustomed to the sun in spring to avoid burns. Many species require shading during the hottest midday hours. Focus on the protectiveness of the cactus stem with spines - the more spines, the better adapted it is to the scorching sun.

Watering: Moderate in summer, after complete drying of the soil. Since the end of summer, with a cold snap, the frequency of watering decreases, and in winter during the cold period of rest without watering or with very rare (once a month a little) moisture. Parodies are prone to root and stem rot when the soil is waterlogged. Cacti are also sensitive to water quality, so it is better to use soft water, rainwater, boiled or filtered using a household filter. The point is not in the need for calcium, but in the deposition of salts, which cause ugly cork at the base of the stem.

Fertilizer: From late spring to mid-summer, they are fed with special fertilizer for cacti, at a dose two times less than for other cacti. Do not overdo it in care with top dressing - cacti do not tolerate overfeeding fertilizers.

Humidity: Parodies are resistant to dry air. In hot weather in summer, dust-like fog spraying can be used in the morning.

Transplantation: You can make a soil mixture of the following components: 1 part of the sod earth (sifted from sod, or from mole heaps), 1 part of coarse river sand, 1 part of brick crumbs, 1 part of fine gravel (2-3 mm). Plus a few pieces of birch coals. Young plants are transplanted annually, old (more than 5 years) after two years.

Reproduction

Seeds and some types of children. Seeds germinate better, and in the future seedlings develop well, with daily temperature fluctuations, when during the day the temperature is + 25-28 ° С, at night it drops to + 8-10 ° С. That is why it is good to sow parodies in the second half of August, keep crops on the balcony, covered with glass. As soon as seedlings appear, light up, especially if it is cloudy. For the first winter, cacti are grown warm, with fluorescent lamps and drip irrigation, as the substrate dries up. Some parody collectors advise to accelerate growth at an early age, to carry out more frequent pickings of seedlings - in a month and a half.

Read more about the features of various maintenance modes, transplantation and reproduction in the section Cacti.