Autor: Ritter
• ETYMOLOGY
“Parodia of Brazil”, highlighting the origin of the genus, Brazil, because Parodia s.s. is mainly from Argentina.
• DESCRIPTION
A genus of small plants, solitary or forming clumps of more or less spherical to elongated stems, with the apex
depressed, with low ribs, well defined by areoles, divided into spiralled small tubercles, with long fibrous roots which
can reach up to 50 cm long. Areoles densely woolly. Radial spines rather small, setose, flexible, interlaced, more
abundant toward the apex; central spines longer and sturdier, straight, curved or hooked.
Flowers diurnal, apical, more or less funnel-shaped to bell-shaped, with a short tube, woolly and having some bristles, golden yellow with tepals striped dark reddish, lasting for several days, pollinated by insects. Fruits spherical, finely woolly, green, rarely red, usually drying on the plant without opening. Seeds similar to those of Acanthocephala (ex Brasilicactus), however smaller, finely warty, black.
• HABITAT
The genus Brasiliparodia grows in the mountains of southern Brazil at about 1000 m in altitude, in the shade, among grasses, mosses and ferns, forming large clumps, often on rocky outcrops and granitic or gneissic inselbergs, in cracks of rocks. The soil is well drained and contains many organic elements arising from the decomposition of the surrounding plant material. The pH may be very acidic (between 4 and 6). Annual rainfall is usually higher than for most of the other Cactaceae (100-200 mm and more).
• DISTRIBUTION
Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina).
Currently 2 probable or more species:
– Brasiliparodia alacriportana* (Backeberg & Voli) Ritter 1979
– Brasiliparodia rechensis (Burning) Ritter 1979
References: "TAXONOMY of the CACTACEAE" - ISBN 978-84-617-3723-9 (Vol. 1)