All the information and photos in cactus art file are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.

The spines are very strong, stiff and impressive.
 

Description: Solitary, strongly armed cactus.
Stem: Dark green, depressed globose, up to 13 cm in diameter, 6-7 cm tall.
Ribs: Deeply notched, with prominent, chin-like tubercles.
Spines: Subulate, stout, thick and curving,  yellowish or amber-coloured with darker tips, becoming grey with age.
Central spine: 1(-2), 18 to 20 mm long.
Radial spines: 7-11, unequal, 6 to 22 mm long.

Note: The taxonomy of this species is not clear.  The former synonym Gymnocalycium castelanosii (As indicated by Backeberg) seems to be incorrect, and Slaba  also separated it  from Gymnocalycium hybopleurum (Gymnocalycium hybopleurum v. ferox backbg).  Prevalently, this controversial species is now considered as Gymnocalycium mostii ssp. ferocior.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Gymnocalycium mostii complex (This Taxon has lots of synonyms ( like many other cacti) whit several controversial varieties and subspecies ):

• Gymnocalycium ferox var. ferocior (G. mostii ssp. ferocior)
• Gymnocalycium valnicekianum (G. mostii)

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Gymnocalycium ferox var. ferocior (Backeberg) Slaba nom. inval. (Art. 41.3b,  43.1)
Kaktusy 20(4): 77-83 (1984) und 20(5): 99-104 (1984).

Scientific name: Gymnocalycium mostii ssp. ferocior H. Till & Amerhauser 2002

Origin: Cordoba, Argentina

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

• Gymnocalycium ferox (Backeberg) Slaba nom. inval. (Art.41.3b)
  Kaktusy 20(4): 77-83 (1984) und 20(5): 99-104 (1984).
• Gymnocalycium hybopleurum var. ferox Backeberg nom. inval. 1966.
• Gymnocalycium hybopleurum var. ferocior Backeberg nom. inval. 1966
• Gymnocalycium castellanosii  Backeb. 1936
• Gymnocalycium ferocior (?Uhlig?) nom. nud.
  Samenliste Uhlig U 1040.

This species has exclusive heavy spines.
 If you only have one Gymnocalycium, this is the one to have!.
What a beauty!

Cultivation: Summer-growing and pretty easy, water regularly in summer, and keep rather dry in winter. However it can handle excessive water to little water. It grows well in full sun or half sun, too (but in full sun it will form stronger spines).

Propagation: Seeds (it seldom produces offsets)

Seed Collecting: Permit fruit to ripen.  Fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds

All the information and photos in cactus art file are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.