Parodia scopa

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Parodia scopa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Parodia
Species:
P. scopa
Binomial name
Parodia scopa
(Spreng.) N.P.Taylor

Parodia scopa (syn. Notocactus scopa), the silver ball cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to upland southern Brazil and Uruguay. It is a ball- or cylinder-shaped cactus growing to 5–50 cm (2–20 in) tall by 10 cm (4 in) broad, with a spiny, woolly crown and pale yellow flowers in summer.[1]

The specific epithet scopa means "broom" and refers to the long spines. The species was transferred from Notocactus to Parodia in 1997 by David Hunt.[2]

In cultivation it requires a minimum temperature of 10 °C (50 °F), therefore in temperate regions it must be grown under glass or as a houseplant.

The subspecies P. scopa subsp. scopa has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3][4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  2. ^ "Notocactus scopa". Old Cactuspedia. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  3. ^ "Parodia scopa subsp. scopa". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  4. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 72. Retrieved 17 April 2018.