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Gymnocalycium platense
(Syn: Gymnocalycium gibbosus var. platensis)

CACTUS ART
NURSERY

Cultivation and Mail Sale
of Cacti and Succulents.


Extremely free flowering G. platense makes a splendid show.
This is a plant to be suggested to all cactophiles for its very eye-catching flowering even at a very small size.
It flowers readily from an early age
,
and offers no cultivation difficulties.
 

Description: Small usually unbranched,
Stem: Flat to globose depressed, cm in width, green, greyish-brown to blue-green (rather variable in colour in cultivation depending on growing conditions). 8-10 cm high, 6-10 cm broad.
Ribs: 10-14 broad, divided by deep grooves into distinct rounded tubercles.

Areoles : deep-set
Radial spines: 3 to 7 thin, needle like, straight or slightly curved flattened against the stems surface pale brown-red or grey, with whitish tips up to 1 cm long.
Central spines:
Usually absent.
Flower: On the crown, with long floral tube measuring 3 to 6 cm in length and up to 4 cm across, open wide in sunlight, and commonly white with a reddish reddish throat and a hint of dark shading at the tips of the tepals.
Blooming season: This plant blooms in early summer when it is only 3-4 cm
.
FruitThe ripen
ed ovary is green, long and dehisces (splits) down its length.
 

Gymnocalycium platense flowers when quite small, and it had a pristine white flower with a reddish throat and a hint of dark shading at the tips of the tepals.

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Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Scientific Name: Gymnocalycium platense (Speg.) Britton & Rose var. platense
In:
Contr. fl. Sierra Vent. 1 28. 1896.

Distribution & Habitat:  Argentina (Córdoba and Buenos Aires Province). This plant comes from the arid hills of Pampas (Sierra de la Ventana, Curámalál, Olavarria etc.) mainly in the cracks of the rocks. Altitude 300-700 m. The original specimens was collected in Prov. Buenos Aires, Ventana, Valle de las Vertientes in 1895 by Spegazzini.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Synonyms:

  • Gymnocalycium gibbosus var. platensis (Speg.) A. Castellanos & Lelong 1940
  • Echinocactus platensis

This species is strictly relate with G. stellatum and G. baldianum and it is very similar (if not the same) to G. quehlianum.
 

 

 


 

 

Cultivation: Very easy to grow, these plants offer no cultivation difficulties. Watering Needs: Moderate to copious in summer, keep dry in winter.
Frost Tolerance: Quite frost resistant if kept dry  -10° C  (
Temperature Zone: USDA 8-10 )
Cultural Practices: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer  in summer.
Sun Exposure: Full sun to light shade

Propagation: Seeds (seldom produces offsets)

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Gymnocalycium gibbosum complex (This Taxon has lots of synonyms ( like many other Gymnocalyciums) whit several controversial varieties and subspecies and comprises a multitude of different forms, but where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics):

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

Photo gallery Gymnocalicium

 

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.