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Gymnocalycium stellatum var. paucispinum
(Syn: Gymnocalycium asterium "paucispinum")

Form flat greyish/brown stem with three strong addpressed spine spines
 

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Scientific name:  Gymnocalycium stellatum var. paucispinum (Backeb.) R.Strong

The 'Gymnocalycium asterias ( or asterium) ' synonym was recently deemed an illegitimate name during reclassifications, but it is still widely used.

Origin:  Argentina (Cordoba, Catamarca)

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Synonyms:  

• Gymnocalycium stellatum subsp. occultum (Frič ex Schütz) H.Till & W.Till, 1996
• Gymnocalycium obductum Piltz,
  Pubblished in: Succulenta 69(4): 74-78 + title plate, 1990 = stellatum
• Echinocactus stellatus Spegazzini
• Gymnocalycium asterias Y-Ito
• Gymnocalycium asterium A. castellanos 1957 (Illegitimate name)
• Gymnocalycium stellatum ssp. asterium
• Gymnocalycium occultum Fric ex Schütz 1962

Description: G. stellatum var paucispinum is a beautifull slowly growing plant with a noticeably flatten body,  at first solitary, later clustering.
Stem: Dark grayish-brown to olive coloured epidermis, flattened globose, 7.5-10 cm in diameter. Will offset after a considerable period of time.
Ribs: 7-11, flat rounded, without prominent chin-like protrusions.
Spines: Usually 3 (occasionally more) brown, becoming grey with age, spider-like, add-pressed, short, straight to slightly curved and flattened against the stem (rarely sticking out - easy cactus to handle)
Flowers: Creamy-white with a dull red throat, up to 6,5 cm long, 4.5 cm in diameter.
Fruit: Cylindical, tannish-green.
Blooming season: Flowers are produced in late spring and remain open for up to twelve days.
Two subspecies are recognized:
The “occultum” subspecies occurs in Catamarca.
The “stellatum” subspecies occurs in Cordoba.
 

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

• Gymnocalycium stellatum  ( G. asterias)
• Gymnocalycium stellatum var. paucispinum (G. stellatum 'paucispinum')
• Gymnocalycium occultum ( G. stellatum spp. occultum)
• Gymnocalycium ragonesii
• Gymnocalycium ragonesii forma cristata
• Gymnocalycium triacanthum (G. riojense)

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.