




Your support is critical to our success.
Cactaceae (Britton & Rose) 3: 200, pl. 22. 1922 [12 Oct 1922]
Family: CACTACEAE
Accepted Scientific Name: Parodia mammulosa (Lem.) N.P.Taylor
Bradleya 5: 93. 1987

Origin and Habitat: Parodia mammulosaSN|20022]]SN|20022]] is distributed throughout southern Brazil(Rio Grande do Sul), all of Uruguay and northern Argentina(Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Córdoba, La Pampa, Mendoza, La Rioja, Santiago del Estero, Río Negro and San Luis provinces). This species is abundant, but some subpopulations in Brazil are declining.
Altitude range: 0 to 1,500(-1,800) metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: This cactus grows on rocky outcrops, in grasslands or pampas, monte desert and high altitude grasslands. In Brazil the major threats are cattle grazing, agriculture and forestry. The subpopulations in Argentina and Uruguay, however, are not exposed to any major threats. This species is used as an ornamental in specialized collections, but the specimens are usually not collected from the wild.
Synonyms:
- Parodia mammulosa (Lem.) N.P.Taylor
- Echinocactus mammulosus Lem.
- Malacocarpus mammulosus (Lem.) Britton & Rose
- Notocactus mammulosus (Lem.) A.Berger
- Ritterocactus mammulosus (Lem.) Doweld
Parodia mammulosa (Lem.) N.P.Taylor
Bradleya 5: 93. 1987
Synonymy: 51
- Parodia mammulosa (Lem.) N.P.Taylor
- Echinocactus mammulosus Lem.
- Malacocarpus mammulosus (Lem.) Britton & Rose
- Notocactus mammulosus (Lem.) A.Berger
- Ritterocactus mammulosus (Lem.) Doweld
- Echinocactus mammulosus var. hircina Speg.
- Echinocactus mammulosus var. typica Speg.
- Echinocactus pampeanus var. charruana Arechav.
- Echinocactus pampeanus var. rubellianus Arechav.
- Echinocactus pampeanus var. subplana Arechav.
- Notocactus floricomus var. spinosissimus Frič ex Buining
- Notocactus hypocrateriformis (Otto & A.Dietr.) Herter
- Echinocactus hypocrateriformis Otto & A.Dietr.
- Notocactus mammulosus f. cristatoides (F.Ritter) N.Gerloff & Neduchal
- Notocactus cristatoides F.Ritter
- Notocactus mammulosus f. floricomus (Arechav.) N.Gerloff & Neduchal
- Echinocactus floricomus Arechav.
- Notocactus floricomus (Arechav.) A.Berger
- Notocactus mammulosus var. floricomus (Arechav.) Havlíček
- Notocactus mammulosus f. macambarensis (Prestlé) N.Gerloff & Neduchal
- Notocactus macambarensis Prestlé
- Notocactus mammulosus var. megalanthus (H.Schloss. & Bredero) N.Gerloff & Neduchal
- Notocactus megalanthus H.Schloss. & Bredero
- Ritterocactus megalanthus (H.Schloss. & Bredero) Doweld
- Notocactus mammulosus var. pampeanus (Speg.) A.Cast. & Lelong in Descole
- Echinocactus mammulosus var. pampeanus (Speg.) Speg.
- Echinocactus pampeanus Speg.
- Malacocarpus mammulosus var. pampeanus (Speg.) Speg.
- Malacocarpus pampeanus (Speg.) Hosseus
- Notocactus pampeanus (Speg.) A.Berger ex Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
- Notocactus mammulosus var. paulus (H.Schloss. & Bredero) Havlíček
- Notocactus paulus H.Schloss. & Bredero
- Notocactus ritterianus Lisal & Kolarik
- Notocactus roseoluteus Vliet
- Notocactus cupreatus
- Notocactus herteri f. roseoluteus (Vliet) N.Gerloff & Neduchal
- Notocactus velenovskii Frič
- Notocactus floricomus var. velenovskii (Frič) Krainz
- Parodia mammulosa f. cristata (P.V.Heath) hort.
- Notocactus mammulosus f. cristatus P.V.Heath
- Parodia mammulosa f. monstruosa cristata hort.
- Parodia mueller-moelleri (Frič ex Backeb. & F.M.Knuth)
- Parodia orthacantha (Link & Otto) Hofacker
- Echinocactus orthacanthus Link & Otto
- Malacocarpus orthacanthus (Link & Otto) Herter
- Melocactus orthacanthus Link & Otto
- Notocactus mammulosus var. orthacanthus (Link & Otto) N.Gerloff & Neduchal
- Notocactus orthacanthus (Link & Otto) Vliet
- Wigginsia orthacantha (Link & Otto) Backeb.
- Parodia submammulosa subs. minor R.Kiesling
Parodia mammulosa subs. brasiliensis (Havlíček) Hofacker
Cactaceae Consensus Init. 6: 11 11 1998
Synonymy: 3
- Parodia mammulosa subs. brasiliensis (Havlíček) Hofacker
- Notocactus mammulosus var. brasiliensis Havlíček
- Ritterocactus mammulosus subs. brasiliensis (Havlíček) Doweld
Parodia mammulosa subs. erythracantha (H.Schloss. & Bredero) Hofacker
Cactaceae Consensus Init. 6: 11. 1998
Synonymy: 4
- Parodia mammulosa subs. erythracantha (H.Schloss. & Bredero) Hofacker
- Notocactus erythracanthus H.Schloss. & Bredero
- Notocactus mammulosus var. erythracanthus (H.Schloss. & Bredero) N.Gerloff & Neduchal
- Ritterocactus mammulosus subs. erythracanthus (H.Schloss. & Bredero) Doweld
Parodia mammulosa subs. submammulosa (Lem.) Hofacker
Cactaceae Consensus Init. 6: 11. 1998
Synonymy: 6
- Parodia mammulosa subs. submammulosa (Lem.) Hofacker
- Echinocactus mammulosus var. submammulosus (Lem.) Speg.
- Echinocactus submammulosus Lem.
- Notocactus submammulosus (Lem.) Backeb.
- Parodia submammulosa (Lem.) R.Kiesling
- Ritterocactus mammulosus subs. submammulosus (Lem.) Doweld
ENGLISH: Tom Thumb, Lemon Ball
Description: Parodia mammulosaSN|20022]]SN|20022]] is a usually solitary cactus more or less covered by interlacing spines.
Note: Parodia (Notocactus) mammulosa is among the the most wide-spread of the Parodia species and is very variable in appearance. The great variability of Parodia mammulosaSN|20022]]SN|20022]] is due to the fact that cross pollination among different forms and different species (in habitat and especially in collections) is very frequent and it can be quite difficult to determine what is the "pure type" and the cross, and the differences among individuals may be remarkable. Plants may differs considerably about the form and arrangement of the spines, stems, ribs and flowers colour with unclear morphological limits between the different forms. It can happen that two individuals of two different populations can look very similar and also, two plants of the same population can look very different. The P. mammulosa complex comprises lots of questionable names and lots of different population and its taxonomic history has undergone several changes. This species, however, needs taxonomic review, and it might split into different species that will need to be assessed separately.
Stem: Globose, that elongates to a height of 5-10 cm and a diameter of 7-13 cm with a depressed, spineless apex. The epidermis is shiny, greysh-green to dark green.
Ribs: 18 to 20(-25) straight, well distinct, with prominent, rounded tubercles with chinlike protrusion.
Areoles: Small or large deeply embedded between the tubercles and set about 5 mm apart.
Radial spines: 8 to 30 slender whitish to brownish, needlelike, usually less than 10 mm long.
Central spines: 1-4 (or more) up to 20 mm long, not easily distinguishable from the radials, usually flattish, thicker, straight and more than twice as long white, yellow to brown with a brown tip, one usually flattened.
Flowers: Pale pink to golden yellow beautifully emphasized by the purplish/red stigma lobes, 4 cm in diameter, with a short tube covered with white wool and brown bristles.
Fruits: Globose, elongating at maturity, thin walled.
Seeds: Bell to helmet shaped, with obvious corky hilum, matte brown.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Parodia mammulosa group
Notocactus roseoluteus Vliet
Parodia mammulosa (Lem.) N.P.Taylor: (ssp. mammulosa) Plants have 18-25 ribs, 2-4 central spines and 20-30 radials. It is widely distributed in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.
- Parodia mammulosa subs. brasiliensis (Havlíček) Hofacker: They have about 15 ribs, 1 central spine, 8-10 radials, it occur near Santos, Brasil.
- Parodia mammulosa f. cristata (P.V.Heath) hort.
- Parodia mammulosa subs. erythracantha (H.Schloss. & Bredero) Hofacker: They have about 16 ribs, 2 central spines and 10-14 radials it occour in Tacuarembo, Uruguay.
Parodia mammulosa f. monstruosa cristata hort.
Parodia mammulosa subs. submammulosa (Lem.) Hofacker: These plants have the fewest number of ribs (about 13), about 6 radial spines spreading out horizontally, and two long and flat central spines, of which one longer and pointing down, and another a bit shorter and pointing up. It occours in Uruguai and argentina.
Parodia mammulosa cv. Red Flowers: This red population is reported from the north of Argentina.
Parodia orthacantha (Link & Otto) Hofacker
Parodia roseolutea f. monstruosa hort.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001
2) Curt Backeberg “Cactus Lexicon” Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated, 1978
3) Hiroshi Hirao “Colour encyclopaedia of cacti” Japan 1979 (Japanese language and script)
4) Willy Cullmann, Erich Götz (Dozent Dr.), Gerhard Gröner “The encyclopedia of cacti” Portland, OR: Timber Press, 1986
5) David Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006
6) 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/August/2011
7) Larocca, J., Machado, M., Demaio, P. & Duarte, W. 2013. Parodia mammulosa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 27 December 2014.

Malacocarpus mammulosus (Parodia mammulosa) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Malacocarpus mammulosus (Parodia mammulosa) Photo by: Cactus Art

Malacocarpus mammulosus (Parodia mammulosa) Photo by: Cactus Art

Malacocarpus mammulosus (Parodia mammulosa) Photo by: Carolina González

Malacocarpus mammulosus (Parodia mammulosa) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
The gallery now contains thousands of pictures, however it is possible to do even more. We are, of course, seeking photos of species not yet shown in the gallery but not only that, we are also looking for better pictures than those already present. Read More...
Cultivation and Propagation: Frost Tolerant as low as -4°C (or possibly colder) but in cultivation it is best to avoid any frost when during the winter the temperature can go down to 2° C without any harm so long as the compost is very dry. During the summer it is best to keep the plants outside where the temperature can rise to over 30 C with no harm to the plant.
Allows good drainage and use a an open and free draining mineral compost that allows therefore roots to breath.
They like only a short winter's rest and should be kept almost completely dry during the winter months, If the soil is allowed to be dry for too long root loss could follow but equally the same result would occur if the plants are both wet and cold. From March onwards the plant will begin to grow and watering should be increased gradually until late May when the plant should be in full growth.
Water regularly during the summer so long as the plant pot is allowed to drain and not sit in a tray of water. During hot weather you may need to water the plants more frequently so long as the plant is actively growing. From late September watering should be reduced to force the plant to go in to a state of semi dormancy, by October you should be back in to the winter watering regime.
Need full sun avoiding only the harshest summer sun, if kept too dark they may become overly lush and could be prone to rotting due to over watering, they will also be shy to produce flowers.
Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh then, feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards as this can cause lush growth which can be fatal during the darker cold months.
Repotting should be done every other year or every three years, annual potting is not necessary. Do not be tempted to over pot as this will cause the unused compost to go stagnant and you may loose the plant.
Propagation: Seed sowing and cuttings.
Your Actions | |
---|---|
![]() |
Back to Malacocarpus index |
![]() |
Back to Cactaceae index |
![]() |
Back to Cacti Encyclopedia index |
Privacy stantement - Terms and conditions - How to cite - About us - Feedback - Donate
