Publication: Cact. d’Argentine ed. 2 240. 1997 1998 Basionym not stated. (Brandt)
Description
Parodia microsperma var. weberiana, fistly decribed as Parodia weberiana by F.H.Brandt in 1969, is generally included within (as a synonym of) Parodia microsperma, suggesting that there is not really a fundamental difference between the two, and hard to name accurately without knowing where they come from. It has large, mostly orange red to golden yellow flowers. Regrettably most plants in cultivation under this name seldom match up to the original description, being usually raised from commercial seed which has often been wrongly identified.
Derivation of specific name: This member of the Cactaceae family was given this name by A. Weber. Weber’s Parodia.
Stem: Flattened-globose to globose, up to 7 cm high, 10 cm Ø, green.
Ribs: 21, dissolved in spiral tubercles.
Areoles: Almost nacked.
Radial spines: 15 up to 1 cm long, speading, whitish-yellow
Central spines: 4, variable, horn coloured to red brown, 1 of which approximately 1.5 cm long, the strongest, downward pointing, hooked and darker.
Flowers:* Buds grass green. Flowers 5 cm in diameter orange red to golden yellow. Stamens, anthers, style and stigma-lobes white.
Fruits: Brownish.
Seeds: Very small, round, testa smooth, shiny, brownish.
Note: This plant was previously known in cultivation as Parodia formosa var. roseiflora hort.
Origin and Habitat
Parodia microsperma var. weberiana is endemic to Salta (El Naranjo, El Tala), Argentina.
Altitude range: About 1100-2000 metres above sea level.
Habitat and ecology: This species grows among rocks on cliffs of river valleys.
Cultivation and Propagation
Parodia microsperma, and all it varieties, is relatively easy to grow on its own roots and quite resistant to cultivation. The only things that can kill this plant are cold and overwatering. Nevertheless, it is appropriate to provide adequate growing conditions in order to obtain compact plant with many flowers.
Soil: Use a an open and free draining mineral compost with little organic matter (peat, humus) that allows therefore roots to breath (as it is rot prone). Outdoors a well-draining rocky or sandy soil is ideal.
Pots: It needs a relatively shallow pot to accommodate its fibrous roots and provide a very good drainage. It may stay in the same pot for many years.
Watering: Needs regular water in summer. Keep rather dry in winter, tends to lose its roots in winter.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer during the growing season diluted to one-fourth potency and mix into the watering can for application.
Hardiness: Keep dry at 5- 10° C in winter, but can tolerate sporadic light frost if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather.
Exposition: The plant tolerates very bright situations, if kept too dark they may become overly lush and greener and could be prone to rotting due to over watering. Strong light encourages flowering and heavy wool and spine production, but is likely to suffer from sun scorch or stunted growth if over exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day in summer.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, watch carefully for any significant decline in health. This may signal a pest problem that should be dealt with quickly in order to prevent scarring, stunting and even death.
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by watering or misting the plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new growth among the leaves with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects. Eliminate mealybug infestations by dabbing the critters with cotton swabs dipped in alcohol or by soaking the succulent’s roots in a systemic insecticide.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: This species is particularly easy and accommodating, seldom suffer of cryptogamic diseases. Rot it is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won’t help all that much.
Propagation: By Seeds. The seed of this plant are extremely small and must be sown on the surface of the germination substrate (not buried!!) But the seedlings after germination are so minuscule and delicate that it is quite problematic to keep them alive. So for this species it is usually used the baggy germination technique (in a sterilized pot hermetically closed in a plastic sachet)
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Walther Haage “Kakteen von A bis Z” Neumann Verlag, 1981
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Parodia weberiana in Cacti collection-Holzheu www.Kakteensammlung- Holzheu.de