Xerophyte

Central Spines

Usually absent, sometimes one.

Seeds

Almost spherical, 1 mm, pale brown, hilum inconspicuous.

Description

Gymnocalycium anisitsiiSN|13315]]SN|13315]] is a very easy to grow and very free-flowering cactus, it may be solitary or freely offsetting with white flowers (but also pink). Spines 5 to 7, tortuous, up to 6 cm long. It is a very polymorphic species with a large range of variability. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and subsp. multiproliferum.

Note

Seems to be a pretty variable plant you might get some other names which are effectively the same plant.... and also not sure all plants identified as this are really this.

Flowers

From the centre, funnel form, typically greenish white, but also pale pink or bright vivid pink and showy, about4- 6 cm long. Scales and outer perianth-segments broad, greenish margins, internal tepals white, broadly oblong, acute or greenish spreading. Tube thin.

Blooming Season

It produces flowers almost continuously during the year.

Ribs

8-11, acute, and more or less notched into chin-shape protrusions or warts.

Stem

Spherical-depressed to short cylindrical, 5-8(-10) cm tall, 8-10 cm in diameter, green, pale-green bronzing in full sun, and highly decorative, often with horizontal clear and dark strips.

Radial Spines

5-7 (rarely to 9), straight or slightly tortuous, 1-6 cm long, subulate, somewhat angled, nearly useless in terms of defence. Young spine are pastel-white, yellowish or brownish with a darker tip, later becoming pale-grey.

Fruits

Oblong, 2,5 cm long, 6-10 mm in diameter, reddish at maturity.