Xerophyte

Habit

This is a geophytes plant with a swollen underground root system.

Description

Gymnocalycium kieslingiiSN|21441]]SN|21441]] f. castaneum (Occasionally misspelled “castanea”) is a local or morphological form of Gymnocalycium kieslingiiSN|21441]]SN|21441]] characterized by a distingushing chestnut brown colour. Moreover it possesses less conspicuous chin humps.

Roots

Large taproots.

Flowers

From young areoles near the apex, funnelform, 70 mm in length and 60 mm in diameter

Blooming Season

The flowers appear recurrently from June to autumn.

Spines

The spines are pale brown to pastel and have a dark base.

Ribs

9-13, usually 12, low, rounded, with tubercles separated by distinct furrows. The castaneum form has less significant chin humps below the areoles.

Stem

Fattened to depressed globose, greenish to red-violet-brown, up to 2 cm high, 6-9 cm in diameter.

Areoles

Large, woolly and peculiar.