Notocactus scopa var. murielii Hofacker

 Notocactus scopa var. murielii Hofacker

Origin and Habitat: Uruguay.
Habitat: Native to the grasslands.

Description: Parodia scopa f. murielii, only published under the genus Notocactus, is one of the varieties of the wide ranging and very variable Parodia scopa distinguished for its silvery spined stems. The flowers are very showy, glossy yellow.
Habit: It is 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, purple, red-brown.
Radial spines: Shorter, very numerous 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.

http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/CACTI/Family/Cactaceae/15947/Notocactus_scopa_var._murielii