Xerophyte

Central Spines

Usually 1 in young specimens, later 4, forming a cross in adult plants a little longer than the radials.

Seeds

Helmet shaped, 1,2 x 1 mm, black, testa with slightly raised cells. Hilum and micropylar area large, flat, nearly spherical. The seeds are covered with a thin dry skin, which can be easily detached.

Description

Gymnocalycium neuhuberiSN|25934]]SN|25934]] is a beautiful species, of modest size, particularly attractive for its beautiful lilac flowers with a usually yellowish (sometimes orange or brown) spination. Not only the neuhuberi has a beautiful flower for a Gymno, but it is also scented. When it was discovered, probably because of the large pink colour of its flowers, this taxon was put in relation with Gymnocalycium monvillei. In fact it grows together with the local form of Gymnocalycium monvillei and a beautiful form of Gymnocalycium fischeri named Gymnocalycium fischeri ssp. suyuquense by Berger in 2003.

Roots

Branching.

Flowers

From young areoles near the apex, funnelform, pale violet or lilac, 27-36 mm long, 26-34 mm in diameter and sometimes even larger. Pericarpel short conical, 6-7 mm long, 9-10 mm in diameter, light green, shiny, with broadly rounded or slightly pointed, pale brownish scales, upper scales longer than the outer petals. Outer perianth segments linear-lanceolate, up to 21 mm long, 6 mm wide, with a mauve relatively wide, medium green stripe. Inner segments lanceolate, becoming gradually shorter toward the centre (20 mm long and 5 mm wide decreasing to 13 mm long and 4 mm broad) lilac with darker purple mid-stripe. Filaments thin, white, 5-6 mm long. Anthers circular, about 0.8 mm in diameter; pollen pale yellow. Pistil slender, white, 12-14 mm long, 1.5 mm in diameter. Stigma with 9 creamy white, slender, lobes 3-4 mm long exerted beyond the stamens. Nectar chamber 3.5 mm wide, 1-2 mm high. The cavity of the ovary is 5 x 5 mm, shaped like a urn, with white walls and densely filled with white ovules.

Spines

Aciculate, sharp, terete to slightly curved, the base thickened, yellowish, but occasionally orange or brownish.

Ribs

9-12, wavy, conspicuously divided into pentagonal tubercles with a small blunt chin, tubercles at the base of plants flattened and often wider than tall (15-20 mm wide). .

Stem

Spherical or hemispherical, usually much depressed, gray-green, to 4,8 cm tall and 7 cm across. Epidermis dull, fine-grained.

Fruits

Oval, dark green, 15-18 mm long, 10-12 mm in diameter with dried flowers remnants..

Habit

Gymnocalycium neuhuberiSN|25934]]SN|25934]] is a slowly growing succulent species, usually solitary.

Blooming Season

Flowers are produced in late spring and remain open for up to twelve days. The flowers are diurnal and open in the afternoon.

Radial Spines

About 9, lower ones15-22 mm long., upper two pairs shorter, 11-12 mm long, the old plants often have 1-3 small bristly spines in the uppermost edge of the areola.

Areoles

Round to oval, about 6-7 mm in diameter, slightly depressed, 15-20 mm apart, naked or with some short woolly felt just on top of the areola.