Gymnocalycium saglionis
Spines are recurved
Large, mature Gymnocalycium saglionis in Hong Kong Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Gymnocalycium
Species:
G. saglionis
Binomial name
Gymnocalycium saglionis
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Brachycalycium tilcarense Backeb.
    • Echinocactus hybogonus Salm-Dyck
    • Echinocactus saglionis Cels
    • Gymnocalycium saglionis var. australe H.Till
    • Gymnocalycium saglionis f. columnare H.Till
    • Gymnocalycium saglionis var. jujuyense Backeb.
    • Gymnocalycium saglionis var. minus H.Till
    • Gymnocalycium saglionis f. splendens H.Till
    • ymnocalycium saglionis subsp. tilcarense (Backeb.) H.Till & W.Till

Gymnocalycium saglionis, the giant chin cactus, is a globular cactus species endemic to northwest Argentina.

The cacti's most common native habitats are withinin the Argentine provinces of Salta, Tucuman, Catamarca, San Juan, and La Rioja. It grows on rocky soil with other low vegetation.

Description

Named after J. Saglio, an important plant collector in France around 1840, Gymnocalycium saglionis is known to grow very slowly, and grow best in warm and part shady conditions, but tolerate extremely bright situations although they are likely to suffer from sun scorch or stunted growth if over exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day in summer.

The body can range from dull-green or blue-green, almost cylindrical more or less flattened up to 40 cm in diameter, up to 90 cm tall. Spines can grown to 3−4 cm long, colors varies from yellowish-brown, reddish or white becoming grey with time which contrast well against the green body, 1−3 centrals and 10−15 radials bent against the stem.

Spines become bright red when wet.

Flowers 1.4 inch (3.5 cm) long, white or reddish, often more than one simultaneously. Fruits globular, reddish or dark pink, splits sideways with tiny, shiny black brown seeds.

Cultivation

Gymnocalycium saglionis is cultivated as an ornamental plant around the world, and is commonly for sale.[3][4] Plants are large and have thick curved spines making this species popular among collectors.

In the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010-09-21. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  2. ↑ "Gymnocalycium saglionis (Cels) Britton & Rose". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  3. ↑ "Gymnocalycium saglionis forma cristata".
  4. ↑ http://www.kakteensammlung-holzheu.de/en/gymnocalycium_saglionis.html
  5. ↑ "Gymnocalycium saglionis". www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
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