Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar) The wild typecomes from the high mountains from Carrizal to Oroya in Bolivia.

• Parodia maxima f. cristata hort.
• Parodia commutans var. maxima f. cristata hort.

• Parodia maassii (Heese) A.Berger
• Bolivicactus maassii (Heese) Doweld
• Echinocactus maassii Heese
• Malacocarpus maassii (Heese) Britton & Rose
• Parodia belliata F.H.Brandt
• Parodia bermejoensis F.H.Brandt
• Parodia camargensis Buining & F.Ritter
• Parodia castanea (F.Ritter) F.Ritter
• Parodia camargensis var. castanea F.Ritter
• Parodia maassii f. castanea (F.Ritter) Krainz
• Parodia escayachensis (Vaupel) Backeb.
• Echinocactus escayachensis Vaupel
• Malacocarpus escayachensis (Vaupel) Britton & Rose
• Parodia haageana F.H.Brandt
• Parodia knizei F.H.Brandt
• Parodia koehresiana F.H.Brandt
• Parodia lamprospina F.H.Brandt
• Parodia maassii f. cristata hort.
• Parodia maxima F.Ritter
• Parodia commutans var. maxima (F.Ritter)
• Parodia maassii var. commutans f. maxima (F.Ritter) Don & G.D.Rowley
• Parodia maxima f. cristata hort.
• Parodia commutans var. maxima f. cristata hort.
• Parodia mendeziana F.H.Brandt
• Parodia obtusa F.Ritter
• Parodia obtusa var. atochana F.H.Brandt
• Parodia obtusa subs. atochana F.H.Brandt
• Parodia otaviana Cárdenas
• Parodia suprema F.Ritter
• Parodia thieleana F.H.Brandt

Description: Parodia maximaSN|19737]]SN|5779]] is one of the innumerable form of Parodia maassiiSN|5784]]SN|5784]] which is one of the most widespread and morphologically variable taxon. It is a globular cactus distinguished from the type species for its longer cream to straw-yellow hooked spines and yellow flowers. As its name suggests, this is one of the largest forms, which in time will make an impressive plant. The crested form Parodia maxima f. cristataSN|5779]]SN|19737]] - despite to its beauty - is still very rare and sought after by collectors, for its long and showy central spines.
Stem: Fan shaped, flattened on top, depressed along the line meristem, mid-green to intense green in colour, up to 15 cm thick, with the apical part densely covered with white wool.
Ribs: Chinned.
Areoles: Big and woolly at first, but they become naked with age.
Spines: Curved, dense, and variably coloured.
Radial spines: 8-10 (or more). Usually creamy-white, yellowish or amber at first and white later, 5-10 mm long, opened on the outside and a little curved inwardly.
Central spines: 1-4 (or more), strong, up to 7 cm long creamy-yellw to straw coloured and go upwards. In older parts they become greyish, and go downwards.
Flowers: Funnel-shaped, large usually yellow, 3 (or more) cm across.
Blooming season: Spring and summer, they usually appear one by one in succession.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) 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
2) David Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006
3) Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001

Cultivation and Propagation: Although regarded as a choice and difficult plant is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although grows quite slowly. It is sometime seen as a grafted plant but grows very well on its own roots too.
Soil: Use mineral well permeable mineral soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Exposure: They need a good amount of light shade to full sun this help to keep the plants healthy, although slow growth.
Watering: Water sparingly from March till October (weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough) , with a little fertilizer added. Less or no water during cold winter months, or when night temperatures remain below 10° to prevent root loss. It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone).
Fertilization: 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.
Hardiness: Keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (but it is relatively cold resistant and hardy to -5° C, or possibly colder for short periods) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! (Temperature Zone: USDA 9-11)
Crested growth: Unlike 'monstrose' varieties of plants, where the variation from normal growth is due to genetic mutation, crested growth can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it's due to variances in light intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are unknown. A crested plant may have some areas growing normally, and a cresting plant that looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for no apparent reason. If you have any of the crested part left you need to remove the normal growth and leave the crested part behind this will need to be done regularly.
Propagation: Grafting or cuttings. Plants are usually grafted onto column-shaped cacti but proved to be able to produce their own roots if degrafted. Cuttings will take root in a minimum temperature of 20° C (but better in hot weather). Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer. Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks. Large crested piece must be placed on the soil surface without burying the plant base down in the soil.