Parodia subterranea LH668 North of Culpina, Potosi, Bolivia
In habitat this species reputedly grows almost completely hidden below the soil.
 

Description: Usually simple or rarely basally branched, white-topped cactus.
This species reputedly grows almost completely hidden below the soil (in habitat) and is extremely hard to find unless it is in bloom.
Stem: Flattish to globose, dull green to olive green with white wool apically, thick and growing mostly underground, but the plant's stem in cultivation is usually globular or ovoidal and aerial. Dimension: 6-12 cm in diameter.
Ribs: 11-13 spiralling, forming distinct conical tubercles.
Areoles: Young areoles are filled with abundant white wool.  Later they are naked.
Central spines: One (or sometime as many as 4), short, thick black, clawlike, more or less erect, straight or hooked and twisted (depending on population), 7-14 mm long.
Radial spines: Up to 10, radiating, ± flattened against the plant's body, mostly whitish or yellowish (but also blackish), 5-8 mm long.
Flowers: Funnel-shaped, usually red (but ranging from yellowish-orange to dark purple), about 3 cm wide.
Pericarpel and floral tube covered with white or brown hairs and black bristles.  Dried flowers remain for a long time on the plant's body after blooming.
Blooming season: Late spring.
Fruit: Red or green, with white hairs.
Seeds: Purse shaped, black
 

Cultivation:  Water these plants regularly, and fertilize them with a low nitrogen fertilizer every 6 to 8 weeks, from mid-spring to late summer. This plant should remain rather dry at other times (especially in winter), except for a quick, periodic misting on warmer days in late winter.  If it is kept absolutely  dry for a long period, it tends to lose its roots in winter.  It can  tolerate light frost (- 4C°) but rots easily if wet and cold.
If the local  climate is warm enough to grow this plant outside, be sure that soil is well drained and sun is full, but with protection from strong midday rays.
 
Propagation: By Seeds that are very fine

Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Scientific name: Parodia subterranea F. Ritter
In: Succulenta, 43 : 43, 1964

Origin: Native to Bolivia, Chuqisaca (Culpina, Cinti)
 

• Parodia maassii var. subterranea (Ritt.) Krainz
  in Städtische Sukkulentensammlung, Zürich (katalog), p. 102, 1967
• Parodia occulta F. Ritter 1980
• Parodia miranda F. H. Brandt 1981
• Parodia culpinensis F. H. Brandt 1973
• Parodia zaletaewana F. H. Brandt 1973
• Parodia nigresca F. H. Brandt 1981
• Parodia salitrensis. F. H. Brandt 1981a

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Parodia maassii complex (This Taxon has lots of synonyms (like most Parodia) with several controversial varieties and subspecies):

• Parodia masii
• Parodia commutans (maxima) forma cristata (P. maassii forma cristata)
• Parodia subterranea (P. maassii var. subterranea)