Xerophyte

Habit

It is a geophyte, stem succulent plant usually solitary and barely rising above ground level with a swollen underground root system.

Central Spines

Occasionally one central, brown, becoming grey with age up to 4 cm long.

Description

Gymnocalycium hosseiSN|14387]]SN|14387]] var. nidulans is one of the several forms of the very variable Gymnocalycium hosseiSN|14387]]SN|14387]] which form a complex of related taxon. It is still unclear whether this variable complex is one or several species. There is so much variation even in the same population that most authors choose to lump them together. The variety "nidulans" distingushes for the dense covering of stout grey interlacing spines. The plants typically got a dull brownish-green body colour and is one of the most decorative cacti of the genus Gymnocalycium.

Flowers

Near the apex, 70 mm in length and 60 mm in diameter whitish to reddish pink, sometimes with brownish tint, with short floral tubes.

Blooming Season

Blooms appear recurrently from June to autumn.

Ribs

About 17 straight, broad, flat, divided into angular warts with prominent angular chins below the the large woolly areoles , with narrow furrows between them..

Stem

Globular, somewhat flattened and slightly depressed at the centre (or slightly elongated in cultivation), dark grey-green, olive-green, dark chocolate brown or red-violet, up to 10 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

6-7, pinkish-brown, turning grey with dark tips spreading, curving backward encasing the brown body, one pointing downward, others to the sides, brown, becoming grey with dark tips, usually up to 30 (or more) mm long, but quite variable in length.

Areoles

Oval 10-15 mm apart, slightly furnished with yellowish grey wool.