Description
Parodia scopa f. splendens is a nomen nudum, a name never officially described, used to indicate a cultivated form of the wide ranging and very variable Parodia scopa. With the exception of the somewhat brighter silvery-white and red spination, all the other characteristics are absolutely identical with standard Parodia scopa, namely size and form of stems, number of spines, size and colour of flowers, and the two plants are not readily distinguishable. The flowers are very showy, glossy yellow.
Habit: It is a perennial stem succulent often clustering. The stems are almost hidden by soft tufts of bristly spines somewhat similar to small brushes.
Stem: Dark green, at first globular, becoming bit columnar to clavate with age, depressed apically, up to 45 cm tall, 6-10 cm in diameter.
Ribs: 25-30 (sometime up to 40 or more) low, obtuse, finely notched into low warts tipped with areoles, which may spiral slightly.
Areoles: White woolly.
Central spines: About 4 (but varying from 2 to 12) medium length (6-12 mm long), needle-like, stouter than radials, purplish.
Radial spines: Shorter, fine, bristles-like, glassy white 5-7 mm long, spreading around.
Flowers: A cluster of satiny, bright yellow flowers spring in the upper part of the stem forming a ring, The are 2-4 cm long and 3,5-4,5 cm in diameter. , Pistil with about 10, rayed, bright crimson stigma lobes. Tube short. Scales on the ovary woolly with brown bristles.
Blooming season: June-July.
Fruits: Globose, about 7 mm in diameter, opening at maturity, with numerous seeds.
Seeds: Dull black tuberculate.
Origin and Habitat
Cultivated form.
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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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 Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006
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Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001