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Gymnocalycium ragonesei (ragonesii)
(Syn: Gymnocalycium obductum)
CACTUS ART
NURSERY

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Perhaps the most unusual and desirable of the Gymnocalyciums.
 

Description: Gymnocacalycium ragonesei is a very small,  slowly growing (usually) solitary  cactus.
Stem: Dark grayish-brown to olive coloured epidermis, flattened, up to 7.5 cm in diameter.
Spines: Short pale spines flattened against cacti (rarely sticking out - easy cactus to handle)
Flowers: Creamy-white with a reddish throat, up to 5 cm. long, 4.5cm. diameter.
Blooming season: Flowers are produced in late spring and remain open for up to twelve days.
 


Photo and © copyright by Andrea B. (Bologna, Italy)
http://www.cactusfriends.com/Andrea/index.html 

Cultivation: This Gymnocalycium is supposed to be one of the most difficult species in cultivation, and very slow to get to a reasonable size. It will offset after a considerable period of time. It is a summer growing species that needs regular water in summer (but do not over-water ).  Keep rather dry in winter.  This plant does not like extremely bright situations. Give it some shade during the hottest part of the day.  Keep this plant in a low PH compost;  otherwise growth will stop altogether. Feed it with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.  It is quite frost resistant if kept dry (hardy to -5° C)

Propagation: Direct sow after last frost.(seldom produces offsets)

 

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Gymnocalicyum stellatum complex

Photo gallery: Alphabetical listing of Cactus and Succulent pictures published in this site.

Photo gallery Gymnocalicium


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Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Scientific name:  Gymnocalycium ragonesei A Castellanos,
Published in: Lilloa 23: 5-13, 1950

The species name is spelled ragonesii or ragonesei, but the Kew Index lists it as ragonesei.

Etymology: It is named after its collector whose name was Ragonese.

Origin Argentina (Catamarca, Cordoba) at low elevation.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Synonyms:  
  • Gymnocalycium obductum Piltz,
    Pubblished in: Succulenta 69(4): 74-78 + title plate, 1990 = stellatum


 

 

 

Home | E-mail | Plant files | Mail Sale Catalogue | Links | Information | Search

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.