Xerophyte

Central Spines

Absent.

Description

Gymnocalycium calochlorumSN|16401]]SN|16401]] (clustering chin cactus) is a small flattened cactus forming low, flat-topped clusters of many stems that grow level to soil. The spines are wispy and mostly pinkish brown. The light pink flowers are trumpet shaped over 5 cm across at the widest point. They does not open completely.

Flowers

Usually solitary, born near apex, trumpet-shaped, not opening as widely as most chin cactus flowers, pale pink, about 5-6 cm long and 5-6(-7.5) cm in diameter, throat rose-carmine. Flower tube is robust about 1 cm in diameter, dark shining leaf-green, with rounded, mucronate, white scales 4 mm wide. Outer perianth segments pink with grey-green tip.

Ribs

Broad, flat and tuberculate 8 to 12 (but generally 11), the tubercles are polygonal +/- rounded divided by short transversal grooves .

Stem

Solitary to very clumped in habitat, depressed-spherical, about 6 cm wide and 4 cm high, shining pale green, grey-green or blue-green,

Radial Spines

9-13, thin, flexible, slender, rough of different length, 5-10 mm long, curved sideways and downwards, very close to each other and often interlacing. They are white to pinkish brown, sometime with a reddish basal portion at first, later greyish white.

Fruits

Ovoidal to clavate 1,2-3,5 cm long more or less elonged, epidermis is greenish with a grey-bluish pruine coat. It is covered by small rounded scales bordered with white and contains a large quantity of seeds with the length of 1 mm.

Areoles

Oval, covered with a yellowish tomentum that tends to whiten as they age.