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Gymnocalycium cardenasianum
P209 .
This is one of the finest gymnocalyciums with
incredibly strong curved spines but extremely slow growing. If you only
have one Gymnocalycium, this is the one to have!.
Description: Solitary,
slowly growing cactus, densely covered with incredibly strong twisted
spines
Stem: Grey green, compact, globular up to 12 (-15) cm wide 10 cm
tall in cultivation (in nature it is partially underground) with a
slightly concave woolly apex. Will not (usually)
offset.
Spines: Long, stout, eagle claw-shaped, typically-twisted, up to 6cm
long. Usually whitish or pale brown.
Flowers: Open petaled, funnel-shaped, about 4(-7) cm in diameter,
3(-5) cm tall and pinkish in color. They grow near the apex. The flowers
of Gymnocalycium cardenasianum have a tough time trying to force
themselves through the fierce spines, and is quite rare to see an open
flower because the spines prevent the flowers from opening properly.
Blooming season: They will bloom at an early age and bloom
sparingly in mid-summer.
Cultivation: Keep this plant almost dry in winter at a minimum
temperature of 0°C. It prefers a
low pH
compost; otherwise
growth will stop altogether. The plant tolerates
extremely bright situations (grow it hard, at a high position in
the greenhouse, to try and develop the spines, which are strong and
twisted)
but it enjoys some shade during the hottest part of the day in summer.
Propagation: Seeds (seldom produces offsets)
Seed
Collecting: Permit
fruit to
ripen.Fruit must be significantly
overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds
Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of
Gymnocalycium spegazzinii.
(This
Taxon shows a great degree of variation in
stem and spines colouration, and also in size depending on the site of
origin.)
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