Xerophyte

Habit

It is a perennial stem succulent rising only a few centimetres above ground level.

Central Spines

One, sometimes missing, 20-25 mm long straight, similar in colour to the radials.

Seeds

Spherically-truncated, 1,2 to 1,5 mm long and wide, black and wrinkled, with a protective coat that detaches and thus appears brownish. Hilum-micropylar region, terminal, egg-shaped and depressed.

Description

Gymnocalycium marianaeSN|28333]]SN|28333]] is a is a very peculiar species that differs from most gymnocalyciums in its flower colour, it has very showy red flowers.

Roots

Turnip-like up to 3 cm long and 2 cm in diameter with numerous lateral fine fibrous roots.

Tubercles

5 mm high, 2,5 cm wide at the base.

Flowers

Campanulate growing from the depression at the apex, often several at a time, within a ring, red-magenta, sometimes pink to orange with magenta throat, 35-50 mm long and 30-50 mm in diameter. Flower tube externally pale green and covered with rounded scales with a white border. The scales are about 5 mm long and become gradually longer (up to 10 mm) above. Outer perianth green with a white edge. Inner segments spatulate to somewhat pointed, 15-20 mm long, 5-7 mm wide red, magenta, pink to orange in colour. The flowering period extends over several days, thereby changing the flower colour. Stamens inwardly curved, in two concentric rows, the first spirally whorl at the top and the second with a higher number in the inner lower part of the flower tube. Filaments red, 15 mm long. Anthers yellow. Style cylindrical 15 mm long, red with 9 stigma lobes, yellow at the tip, 4 mm long.

Ribs

13-16 acute, at their base 13 mm deep and 11 mm wide, with prominent chinlike protrusions under the areolae, divided by transverse furrows.

Stem

Depressed-spherical, dark green, sometimes bronzed in full sun, up to 11 cm high and 16 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

5-11, straight or curved, 15-20 mm long, rigid, blackish grey darker at the base, two to five of which in two rows at the side of the areola and an individual one oriented downward.

Fruits

Spindle shaped.

Areoles

4-6, sometimes up to 10 per ribs in mature specimens, 1-2 cm apart, circular or elliptical, 5 mm long and 3 millimeters wide, when young densely covered with white-yellow felt later becoming grey and almost bare.