Parodia is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of cacti

Cactus

A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...

. This genus has about 50 species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

, ranging from small globose plants to 1-m tall columnar cacti.

It is named after the Argentine botanist Lorenzo Raimundo Parodi (1895-1966).

Synonymy

The following genera have been brought into synonymy with Parodia:

• Acanthocephala Backeb.
• Brasilicactus Backeb.
• Brasiliparodia F.Ritter
• Brasilocactus Fric
  Alberto Vojtech Fric
  Alberto Vojtěch Frič was a famous Czech botanist, ethnographer, writer and explorer. He undertook 8 voyages to America, discovered, described and catalogued many species of cactus....
  
  (nom. inval.)
• Chrysocactus Y.Itô (nom. inval.)
• Dactylanthocactus Y.Itô
• Eriocactus Backeb.
• Eriocephala Backeb.
• Friesia Fric
  Alberto Vojtech Fric
  Alberto Vojtěch Frič was a famous Czech botanist, ethnographer, writer and explorer. He undertook 8 voyages to America, discovered, described and catalogued many species of cactus....
  
  (nom. inval.)
• Hickenia Britton
  Nathaniel Lord Britton
  Nathaniel Lord Britton was an American botanist and taxonomist who founded the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York. Britton was born in New Dorp in Staten Island, New York...
  
   & Rose
  Joseph Nelson Rose
  Joseph Nelson Rose was an American botanist. He was born in Union County, Indiana. His father died serving during the Civil War when Joseph Rose was a young boy. He later graduated from high school in Liberty, Indiana....
  
  
• Jauhisoparodia Gabriel Blackhat
• Malacocarpus Salm-Dyck
• Microspermia Fric
  Alberto Vojtech Fric
  Alberto Vojtěch Frič was a famous Czech botanist, ethnographer, writer and explorer. He undertook 8 voyages to America, discovered, described and catalogued many species of cactus....
  
  
• Neohickenia Fric
  Alberto Vojtech Fric
  Alberto Vojtěch Frič was a famous Czech botanist, ethnographer, writer and explorer. He undertook 8 voyages to America, discovered, described and catalogued many species of cactus....
  
  
• Notocactus (K.Schum.) Fric
  Alberto Vojtech Fric
  Alberto Vojtěch Frič was a famous Czech botanist, ethnographer, writer and explorer. He undertook 8 voyages to America, discovered, described and catalogued many species of cactus....
  
  
• Sericocactus Y.Itô
• Wigginsia D.M.Porter

Note that the inclusion of Notocactus (the type genus

Type genus

In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...

 of the tribe

Tribe (biology)

In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...

) into Parodia was a move of the International Organization for Succulent Plant Studies at the end of the 80's. This inclusion is still controversial today.