There are some who still refer to the silver ball cactus by way of the plant's previously accepted scientific name of Notocactus scopa. But the currently accepted scientific name has about 20 years of use behind it. The silver ball is reclassified, according to the International Organization for Succulent Plant Studies, as Parodia scopa, to honor Argentine botanist Lorenzo Raimundo Parodi [1895-1966].
Whatever the name, the thick, short, columnar cactus is native to the South American countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its stemreaches a mature height of 3 feet/90 centimeters. It has a silvery cover of long, silvery white, soft spines. In the wild, its crown shows a pronounced phototropism, by facing obviously towards the sun. It also shows a most attractive summer display of large, open faced clusters of flowers. Its base is curved, and surrounded with baby offsets once the cactus reaches about 5-10 years in age.
The silver ball cactus is a popular houseplant. But it doesn't like temperatures to fall below 45 degrees F/7 degrees C. It shares this aversion with the equally attractive, related golden ball or goldfinger cactus [Parodia leninghausii].
Cactus, like other plants, uses photosynthesis to get energy.
Cactus
Cactus plants use their stems for storage. So that's where starches are stored. In fact, stems are where a cactus plant stores everything. Other, non cactus plants may use their roots for storage. But cactus roots are much too fibrous and shallow.
A cactus competes with other plants for water.
The cactus wren
The most popular plant living in the desert is cactus. There are different kinds of cactus, for example barrel cactus. There are other plants like grasses, shrubs, trees, and wildflowers.
The seeds of a golden ball cactus are located in the funnel shaped flowers, which grow at the crown of the cactus. When the cactus is young, it begins to bear three to four of these yellow flowers at a time.
The size of a cactus depends upon the type. For example, some cactus plants are naturally taller, such as the 40 foot/12 meter giant saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea] and the 50 foot/15 meter old man cactus [Cephalocereus senilis]. And some cactus plants are naturally smaller, such as the 2 inch/5 centimeter living rock or fossil cactus [Ariocarpus fissuratus] and sea urchin or silver dollar cactus [Astrophytum asterias]. The size also depends upon environmental conditions. For example, cactus plants may not do as well outside their native habitat despite vigilant care. The normally towering old man cactus in the wild tends to grow no taller than 3 feet/90 centimeters in cultivation.
The cactus is a plant that usually thrives in a dry environment.
Cactus.
cactus
Cactus are in Mexico