Xerophyte

Habit

It is a slowly growing succulent species, usually solitary, but sometimes cespitose.

Seeds

Glossy chestnut-brown 1,5 by 1 mm broad.Hilum large, pale with spongy margins.

Description

Gymnocacalycium ragonesei (Sometimes wrongly spelled “ragonesi” or “ragonesii”) is a very small, dark skinned cactus resembling a round brown rock with white flowers usually in clusters from June to September.

Flowers

2-3 at any one time near centre of plant, funnel shaped with narrow floral tube, creamy-white with a dull red throat, up to 3-4(-5) cm long, 3-4(-4,5) cm diameter. Outer perianth segments greyish with white margins, inners ones white, often with light grey midstripe.

Blooming Season

Flowers are produced in late spring and remain open for up to twelve days.

Spines

Short, 5-5, usually 6, thin, almost hairlike, pale creamy-white to greyish-white, with darker tips, to 3 mm long, spidery, flattened against stem (rarely sticking out - easy cactus to handle).

Ribs

7-10, very flat, separated by poorly delineated transverse furrows.

Stem

Very flattened globose, almost disk shaped, greenish grey, dark greyish-brown, dull olive-green, purplish brown to almost brick-red coloured, barely rising above ground level (1,4-2,5 cm tall) and up to 5(-7,5) cm in diameter.

Fruits

Slender, ovoid or spindle shaped, greenish brown, to 2,5-4 cm long, grey with pale edged margins.