Xerophyte

Habit

It is a perennial stem succulent rising only a few centimetres above ground level, usually solitary in habitat, but plants in the plains grow bigger and sprout more strongly, groups with a dispersion of up to one metre are no rarity.

Central Spines

Usually absent, sometimes one, 1.5-2 cm long greyish with darker brown tip.

Seeds

Light brown 1,0 to 1,2 millimetres large and tubercular (granular testa). The seeds belong to the seed group Microsemineum Schütz.

Description

Gymnocalycium chiquitanumSN|26064]]SN|26064]] Cardenas is a small cactus with spines that wrap against the body of the plant.

Tubercles

5 mm high, 2,5 cm wide at the base.

Flowers

Funnel-shaped growing from the depression at the apex, very pale lilac-pink, sometimes white or salmon with magenta throat, 5-7 cm long and in diameter. Outer perianth segments spatulate to lanceolate, 2 cm long, pink in colour. Inner perianth segments 2,5 cm long, pointed, pinkish-lilac, violet at the base. Ovary spherical, curved, 5 mm in diameter, dark magenta in colour, with 3mm wide Tube up of long, reddish-brown or violet-red, externally with reddish scales with white edges that are up to 5 mm wide. Filaments magenta, 5 mm long; anthers yellow. Style 22 mm long, violet-red; 8 stigma lobes, yellow, 3 mm long.

Ribs

6-7 rounded with prominent chinlike protrusions divided by transverse furrows.

Stem

Depressed-spherical, grey-green to light green, sometimes bronzed in full sun, 2-4 cm or more high, 6-9 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

spines 5-9, yellowish brown to gray, with dark tips, adpressed, somewhat curved backward, 1-2.5 cm long.

Fruits

Spindle shaped, first bluish in colour, later dark bluish violet or purple, to 2 cm long and about 1 cm across.

Areoles

1-2 cm apart, circular or elliptical, 5 mm long, covered with white to grey felt.