Scientific Name
Gymnocalycium monvillei (Lem.) Pfeiff. ex Britton & Rose
Synonym(s)
Echinocactus monvillei, Gymnocalycium monvillei subsp. monvillei
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Trichocereeae
Genus: Gymnocalycium
Description
Gymnocalycium monvillei is a small, slow-growing cactus with a spherical to flattened spherical stem with 10 to 20 somewhat tubercled ribs and clusters of long stiff spines. The stem grows up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) tall and 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter, usually solitary or sometimes producing few offsets to form a small clump. The woolly areoles are elliptical and up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) long. Spines are yellow with a reddish base and often translucent. They are up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long, spreading and somewhat adpressed towards the stem. Each areole bears 5 to 12 radial spines. The central spines are usually absent.
Flowers are funnel-shaped, up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) long, nearly equal in diameter, and appear from the areoles near the apex of the stem in summer. They are pink or white with a pink tinge. Fruits are spherical, up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) in diameter, at first green, becoming yellowish as they ripen.
Origin
Gymnocalycium monvillei is native to northwestern Argentina. It grows in grasslands in the Córdoba and San Luis provinces at elevations between 1,640 and 8,860 feet (500 and 2,700 m).
Etymology
The specific epithet "monvillei (mon-VIL-ee-eye)" honors Chevalier de Monville (1794-1863), a French botanist and plant collector.
How to Grow and Care for Gymnocalycium monvillei
Light: This cactus needs light shading from the sun in the hottest months, but overdoing this will result in the loss of flowers.
Soil: The balance of the potting mix should be sufficient to allow good drainage so that G. monvillei does not sit in soggy soil for more than a day or two after watering. Use a commercial cactus potting mix, or create your own.
Temperature: This cactus is heat tolerant but is not a cold-hardy plant, and if there is a risk of freezing temperatures, it must be brought indoors. G. monvillei can withstand temperatures as low as 25 °F (-3.9 °C). USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9b to 11b, 25 to 50 °F (-3.9 to 10 °C).
Watering: Watering during the growing season, from spring to fall, can be frequent, but always allow the soil to dry out nearly before rewatering. Cut back on the water during winter as G. monvillei becomes dormant.
Fertilizing: G. monvillei does not need much fertilizing, but giving it some extra nutrients occasionally helps keep the plant healthy and prolong the time you need to repot again. Suspend feeding during the winter when the plant goes dormant.
Repotting: Repot every two years into the same (or one that is the same size) or a slightly larger pot. The best time to repot your G. monvillei is late winter or early spring.
Propagation: Since it rarely produces offsets, G. monvillei is usually propagated by seed. Sow the seeds in late spring or summer.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Gymnocalycium.
Toxicity of Gymnocalycium spegazzinii
G. monvillei has no toxic effects reported.
Links
- Back to genus Gymnocalycium
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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