Xerophyte

Central Spines

1-3 almost straight

Description

The typical Gymnocalycium saglionisSN|12116]]SN|12116]] is a solitary barrel cactus, rather flattened, often very large, with long spreading and sometimes recurved spines. They are a rich brown and form a pleasing contrast against the grey green body.

Flowers

Broadly funnelform, white or pale pinkish, with reddish throat up to 3-4 cm long, 2-3 cm in diameter, with a very short flower’s tube; inner perianth-segments spatulate, acute; scales of the ovary nearly orbicular, rounded, with a scarious margin. The flowers forms a crown on the plant apex and have a hard time coming through the dense mass of spines.

Blooming Season

Appearing repetitively during the growing season.

Spines

8 to 10 on small plants but on old plants often 15 or more, 3-4 cm long, yellowish-brown, reddish or black becoming grey with time which contrast well against the green body at first ascending, afterwards more or less curved outward.

Ribs

10-32 according to the size of the plant, low, very broad, sometimes 4 cm. long, separated by wavy intervals, divided into large, low, rounded tubercles.

Stem

Flattened globose to shortly cylindrical more or less flattened up to 30 (40) cm in diameter, 15-30 cm tall (but often variegated specimens stay smaller), dull-green or blue-green variegated in yellow to orange-yellow or pink (depending on exposition to sun). Apex spineless.

Radial Spines

10-15 bent against the stem.

Variegated Form

Variegated Gymnocalycium saglionisSN|12116]]SN|12116]] are cultivated for their beautiful stem that have sectors, patches or stripes with two colours, yellow and green. There are several forms of variegation. The extent and nature of the variegation can vary, and sometimes the plant will return to the green form. In others it is stable and does not change under normal conditions. Flowers are produced only on the crown of mature specimens. Variegated specimens are sometime grafted on stronger species, called the stock, that can be any number of different columnar cactus.

Fruits

Red, globular.

Areoles

About 2 to 4 cm apart, large, felted when young.