Xerophyte

Seeds

Large a about 1 mm.

Description

Gymnocalycium glaucumSN|17866]]SN|17866]] is a solitary slow growing gymno with a very peculiar glaucous grey skin, remembering at first glance of Acanthocalycium glaucumSN|52]]SN|52]], however the Acanthocalycium has a rather bluer epidermis, its areoles are differently sited and the horizontal cleft below the areole is absent. The flower of the Acanthocalycium is yellow and is produced from a brown furry bud quite unlike a Gymnocalycium flower bud.

Flowers

Featuring with varies shade of white or pale pink with a reddish or pinkish flush in the throat.

Spines

5–8, grey, needle shaped, somewhat bent, cream to brown coloured, with grey coating, the lower is downward directed, the other sideward directed, 1–2 cm long, variable in stoutness.

Stem

Simple, flattened globular, distinctive bluish-grey (rather variable in colour in cultivation, and in some specimens it is almost greysh-purple)

Fruits

Globate or fusiform, 20-40 mm long bright glaucous blue with few white bordered scales.