Publication: Cactaceae Consensus Init. 6: 11 11 1998.
Description
Parodia mueller-melchersii subs. winkleri, best known as Notocactus winkleri, is one of the varieties of the wide ranging and variable Parodia mueller-melchersii It has less numerous ribs (about 20), only one central spine, as many as 12 radials, and large citron yellow flowers opening in the afternoon (not pinkish or lavender).
Habit: It is a perennial stem succulent. Plants usually solitary. Multiple branches may also been produced when the apex is damaged.
Stem: Globose to shortly columnar , dull green, to 8-10 cm tall and 5-6 cm in diameter or slightly larger in cultivation. Crown woolly and spiny.
Ribs: (18-)20-24, vertical or weakly spiralling, not distinctly tuberculate with chin-like humps below the areoles more evident near stem apex.
Areoles: Initially white felted .
Central spines: 1, straight, not flattened, stiff, light brown to dark reddish brown 7 or more mm long.
Radial spines: 12 slender, needle-like, diverging, pale yellow or whitish, darker-tipped 5 mm long.
Flowers: Several produced together around the stems apex, citron yellow becoming paler to yellowish in the throat or pale golden yellow, to 3-4 cm long and 5-6 cm in diameter; pericarpels and floral tubes with white wool and dark bristles. Stigma pale carmine.
Blooming season: Summer.
Fruits: Club shaped elongating at base, 1,5 cm long thin-walled.
Origin and Habitat
Tacuarembo, Uruguay.
Cultivation 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 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.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Tony Mace “Notocactus: a review of the genus incorporating Brasilicactus, Eriocactus and Wigginsia” Editorial Board/National Cactus & Succulent Society, 1975
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Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
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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
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David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
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Larocca, J., Machado, M. & Duarte, W. 2013. Parodia mueller-melchersii. In: IUCN 2013. “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 28 October 2013.
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H. Krainz “Die Kakteen: eine Gesamtdarstellung der eingeführten Arten nebst Anzucht- und Pflege-Anweisungen,” Parts 1-16” Franck, 1956
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Hans Hecht “BLV-Handbuch der Kakteen” BLV-Verlagsgesellschaft, 1982
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Haustein, Erik. “Der Kosmos-Kakteenführer.” Kosmos / Gesellschaft der Naturfreunde., Stuttgart, 1983
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Walther Haage “Kakteen von A bis Z”, Quelle & Meyer Verlag: Heidelberg, 1986
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Willy Cullman, Erich Gotz, Gerhard Groner “The Encyclopedia of Cacti” Alphabooks, 1986
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