Strongly spined and hardy species from Argentina with long stiff yellow translucent spines with a red base on a bright green background. This is one of the most admired species in cactus collections. Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family) Scientific name: Gymnocalycium monvillei (Lemaire) Britton & Rose 1922 Origin: Argentina, Córdoba province (Sierras grandes and Chicas de Córdoba) and San louis province. Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2. Synonyms: - Echinocactus monvillei Lemaire 1838
- Echinocactus multiflorus J. D. Hooker 1845
- Gymnocalycium multiflorum (J. D. Hooker) Britton & Rose 1918
- Gymnocalycium brachyanthum Gürke 1907
- Gymnocalycium monvillei subsp. brachyanthum (Gürke) H. Till 1993
- Gymnocalycium oursellianum (Cels ex Salm Dick) y. Itó - Not validly published
- Gymnocalycium schuetzianum H. Till & Schatzl 1981
- Gymnocalycium achirasense H. Till & Schatzl ex Till & Schatzl 1987
- Gymnocalycium monvillei subs. achirasense ( H. Till & Schatzl ex Till) H.Till 1993
- Gymnocalycium horridispinus G. Frank ex Till 1987
- Gymnocalycium monvillei subsp. achirasense (G. Frank ex Till) H. Till 1993
 Gymnocalycium monvillei
Strongly spined and hardy species from Argentina with long stiff yellow translucent spines with a red base on a bright green background.
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| Description: G. monvilley is a (usually) solitary geophytic cactus.
Stem: Flattened or globular, dark-green, grey-green to olive green, up to 20 cm in diameter, up to 8 cm tall. (but in cultivation plants can grow up to 30 cm in diameter)
Ribs: 10-17(-20), broad, obtuse, tuberculate with chin like protrusions.
Spines: Stout, thick, slightly curved, yellow with usually reddish bases, often translucent , but also orange, black or reddish.
Radial spines: 7-13, 3-4 cm long
5-7 up to 12, but usually less in young plants, flattened against the body.
Central spines: Usually absent, or 1 to 4 erected.
Flowers: Are some of the largest in this genus, often growing larger than the plant!, funnel-shaped 4 to 8 cm long and wide, white flushed with pink or pink and often double petaled.
Blooming season: Summer, It takes 5-6 years from seed before flowers.
Fruit: Green that became yellowish at maturity, globose, up to 2 cm in diameter.
Seeds: Up to 1 mm brownish-red. There are a number of different forms of this highly variable cactus species, but not all are universally recognized. Some authorities recognize the following subspecies: Subsp. monvillei. has 7-13 curving, ± compressed radial spines usually yellow (Origin Córdoba province)
Subsp. horridispinum Has 10-12 strong stiff radial spines ()
Subsp. achirasense Has 10-12 radial spines almost flat against the plant body (Origin San Luis province)
Subsp. Brachyanthum Has approx. 7 spines (Origin San Luis province)
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