Xerophyte

Habit

It is a geophyte stem succulent plant usually solitary and barely rising above ground level with a swollen underground root system.

Central Spines

At first absent or one only in adult specimens 1,2 -1,4 cm long.

Description

Gymnocalycium amerhauseri is a small single headed, flattened cactus, with peculiar dark green bodies with short adpressed spines in spider-like clusters. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and Gymnocalycium amerhauseri subsp. altagraciense H.Till & Amerh. however subsp. altagraciense is considered to be a synonym by Charles.

Taxonomy

The species is doubtfully distinct from Gymnocalycium erinaceum J.G.Lamb. It is very likely that the species will be merged with G. erinaceum.

Flowers

Near the apex, funnel-shaped, creamy white to pale pink up to 3 centimetres at anthesis. Throat reddish. Scales green, bordered pinkish-white.

Blooming Season

Blooms appear recurrently from June to autumn. It flowers quite readily as a young seedling.

Spines

Oval, initially covered with yellowish white wool, becoming naked as they olden.

Ribs

Mostly 8 rounded and tuberculate.

Stem

Flattened spherical to spherical, plump, glossy dark green, bluish green or greyish-green, up to 2,5 cm tall, 5-6 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

The 5-6, radiating, straight to slightly backward curved 6-12 mm long, white with a darker brownish-red base.

Fruits

Dark green, oval to spindle-shaped, about 3,3 cm long and up to 1,9 cm in diameter.