Xerophyte

Central Spines

Absent.

Seeds

Of the microsemineum type +/- 0.9 mm.

Description

Gymnocalycium spegazziniiSN|996]]SN|996]] is a flattened solitary cactus with very characteristic spines pointing sideways or downward. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and subsp. cardenasianum (F.Ritter) R.Kiesling & Metzing.

Flowers

Infundibuliform on the plant apex 70 mm long, 50 mm in diameter. Outer tepals spatulated whitish or pinkish with a glaucous green midrib. Inner tepals smaller, lanceolated white with a pink midrib and basally crimson coloured (red throated). Filament crimson or violet, anthers pale-yellow, style white to violet-pink, stigma with 10-16 white to rose-coloured lobes. Scales on the ovary few and broad.

Blooming Season

Flowers are produced in late spring and remain open for up to twelve days.

Ribs

10-33 (usually about 13-15) broad an low, evenly subdivided in confluent rounded tubercle, not chinned. Transversal grooves rudimentary or absent.

Stem

Noticeably flatten, in nature it is partially underground, greyish-green, brownish-grey to almost black up to 18 cm (or more) in diameter, 6 cm tall (up to 10 cm tall in cultivation). Apex depressed an woolly. Will not offset.

Radial Spines

5-7(-9) strong, subulate, +/- flattened, 25-55 mm long, typically recurved, and add-pressed against the body and most attractive, the young spines are yellowish or blackish and become brownish-grey as they ages.

Fruits

Elonged up to 35 mm long, green covered with bluish pruine.

Areoles

Elongate 8-10 x 4-6 mm yellowish or greyish.