Description: G. stellatum 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 rounde, without prominent chin-like protrusions.
Spines: 3-5 dark 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, 4.5cm. diameter.
Fruit: Cylindical.
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: Summer grower, water regularly in
summer, keep this plant almost
dry in winter at a minimum temperature of 0°C, prefer a
low pH
compost otherwise
growth will stop altogether. The plant does not like
extremely bright situations. Give it some shade during the hottest
part of the day.
Photo of conspecific
taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants
belonging to the Gymnocalicyum
stellatum
complex
|