Gymnocalycium damsii

Description

Gymnocalycium damsii

Description: Gymnocalycium damsii  firstly described as Echinocactus damsii by K.Schum. In 1903, is a very easy to grow and very free-flowering cactus, it may be solitary or freely offsetting. This is a plump species with somewhat rounded ribs. It is generally included within (as a synonym of) Gymnocalycium damsii suggesting that there is not really a fundamental difference between the two and there remains a considerable confusion surrounding the true identity of this this plant. Flower colour is variable, typically white but in Bolivia they are usually more coloured, from pale pink to reddish violet. Typically it has shorter spines less than 12 mm long. In its resting state the plant assumes a characteristic deep brown pigmentation, while new growth emerges as a deep green colouration. Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. damsii will continue to flower and it is not unusual (in Europe) for blooms to be open on these during the Christmas period.
Stem: Simple, spherical-depressed to short cylindrical, up to 10 cm tall, 8-15 cm in diameter, green, pale-green or brownish-green, and highly decorative, often with horizontal clear and dark strips. Like other species of the subgenus Muscosemineum, G. damsii has a high proportion of a red pigment (betalain) in the epidermis.
Ribs: About 10, broad to acute, and more or less notched into chin-shape protrusions or warts.
Spines: All radials, 5-8, straight or slightly tortuous, short, the longest up to 12 mm (or more) long, nearly useless in terms of defence. Young spine are pastel-white or yellowish with a darker tip, later become pale-grey.