Xerophyte

Central Spines

Absent.

Seeds

0,9 to 1,1 mm long and equally broad, ovate, black.

Description

Gymnocalycium gibbosumSN|8057]]SN|8057]] subs. borthii is one of the several forms of the very variable Gymnocalycium gibbosumSN|8057]]SN|8057]] 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 that most authors choose to lump them together.

Roots

Semi-tuberose and branched.

Flowers

Funnel-shaped, laterally near the apex, white to pale violet-pink with a pink-coloured throat up to 4,5 cm. long and 5 cm in diameter. Outer tepals to 20 mm long and 5 mm wide, broadly lanceolate, brownish-coloured, inner tepals 26 mm long and 6 mm wide, lanceolate, sharp-pointed white to bright white, all pink-based. Floral tube dark grey-green to violet brown, covered with numerous small, widely rounded scales. Filament whitish to yellowish, anthers yellow, oval. Pistil (without stigmas) about 12 mm long greenish-yellowish above, with 10 to 13 pale yellow stigma lobes. Nectar chamber widely funnel-shaped, yellowish-pink.

Ribs

9 to 16 vertical with rounded or rarely square chin like projections. Tubercles about 8 mm high, 15 mm wide.

Stem

Flattened-globose to elongate, grey-green to purplish-brown up to 9 cm. in diameter and 10 cm. height.

Radial Spines

Usually 5 (but occasionally up to 9) flexible to stiff, straight (rarely twisted or bent), radiating more or less diagonally and up to 5 cm. long. One of them is directed downward, and often longer than the other. The spines are very variable in colour, whitish, yellowish at the base and dark grey to brown at the apex but turning grey as they age.

Fruits

Spindle-shaped to barrel-shaped, bluish to whitish (resembles the plant body, but considerably darker) up to 1,5 cm in diameter. Dehiscing on the side lengthwise, pulp is whitish and rather dry.

Areoles

slightly recessed, about 20 mm apart, oval, up to 5 mm long and up to 3 mm wide, covered with yellowish-grey felt.