Accepted Scientific Name: Parodia werdermanniana (Herter) N.P.Taylor
Bradleya 5: 93. 1987
Wigginsia werdermanniana (Parodia werdermanniana) Photo by: Diego Armentano
Origin and Habitat: Uruguay in Tacuarembó. It has a very restricted and severely fragmented range (extent of occurrence is only 35 km2)
Altitude: It grows at elevations between 50 and 200 metres above sea level.
Habitat: This species occurs on mountain tables in sandstone cliffs, as well as in vertical surfaces at lower elevations. Almost all subpopulations are facing south or south-east.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Parodia werdermanniana
back
Accepted name in llifle Database:Parodia werdermanniana (Herter) N.P.TaylorBradleya 5: 93. 1987Synonymy: 27
back
Description: Parodia werdermannianaSN|16481]]SN|16481]] (best known as Notocactus werdermannianusSN|16482]]SN|16482]]) is a poorly known species from Uruguay with delicate and colourful spines varying from yellowish-white to brown. Several of its colour and morphological variant was early classified in garden trade as different independent varieties, but nowadays all this plant are considered part of a multiform species, where each variant form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics. The flowers are very showy, glossy yellow.
Habit: Plants usually solitary. Multiple branches may also been produced when the apex is damaged.
Stem: Spherical to club shaped, yellow-green, slightly depressed apically, to 13 cm high and 10 cm in diameter.
Ribs: Numerous (up to 40), straight, low, with many fairly large chinlike humps below the areoles..
Central spines: 4, cross shaped, lowermost one longest, blunt, needle-like, stout, mostly yellowish,but also reddish or brownish, inclined outward, to 15 mm long.
Radial spines: 10-20, (5-merous) yellowish white, adpressed or more or less erect, to 5 mm long.
Flowers: 6 or more produced together around the stems apex, sulfur yellow, to 6 cm long and 7 cm in diameter.
Fruits:
Seeds: With a distinctive longitudinally-oriented fine striate cuticular sculpturing.
More...Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Tony Mace “Notocactus: a review of the genus incorporating Brasilicactus, Eriocactus and Wigginsia” Editorial Board/National Cactus & Succulent Society, 1975
2) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
3) 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
4) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
5) Duarte, W. 2013. Parodia werdermanniana. In: IUCN 2013. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 28 October 2013.
More...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.
