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Extremely free flowering G. baldianum 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.
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Morphology (Identifying
Characteristics):
Habit:
Small usually
unbranched,
Stem:
Flat to
globose depressed, up to 13cm
in width,
greyish-brown to blue-green (rather variable in colour in
cultivation, and in some specimens it is almost blue-black). The
9 to 10 broad
ribs are divided by deep grooves into
tubercles.
Areoles : deep-set
Spines:
5 to 7 thin radial spines
that are straight or curved toward the stem, short, curved, pale
brown or grey, tinged with red at the base.
Flower:
on the crown,
measuring 3 to 4 cm in length and the same across, open wide in
sunlight, and commonly of a most rich purple-red colour,
sometimes pinkish-purple (but also white, pink or orange). The
stamens are purple, the
anthers and the 6
lobed
stigma whitish yellow. This plant blooms in early summer
when it is only 2.5 cm. It is fast growing and can bloom one year
after being sown.
Fruit:
The
ripened
ovary is green, long and
dehisces (splits) down its length.
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The
scale on the
flower tube.
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Notes:
The synonym name Gymnocalycium venturianum is very common
in collections,
and even at cactus nurseries. It is a very variable
species in its general appearance.
There are
also many hybrids with a wide range of flower colours.
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Photo by Jean-Yves Cretin
(France)
Gymnocalycium baldianum
with a common mimicry Hover-Fly (Eupeodes corollae) |
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)
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Family:
Cactaceae
(Cactus Family)
Scientific
Name:
Gymnocalycium
baldianum
(Spegazzini) Spegazzini 1925
Published in:
Nuevas
Notas Cactologicas.-Anales
de la Sociedad Cientifica de Argentina 99:135, 1925
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Basionym:
Echinocactus baldianus
Spegazzini 1905
Published in:
Cactacearum Platensium Tentamen.-
Anales del Museo Nacional de Buenos Aires Ser.3, 11(4): 505-506 (1905).
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Distribution: Argentina (Catamarca Province)
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
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Synonyms:
- Echinocactus baldianus
- Echinocactus sanguiniflorus
- Gymnocalycium venturi
Gymnocalycium venturianum
- Gymnocalycium platense var. baldianum
- Gymnocalycium sanguiniflorum
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Cultivation and Mail Sale 
