Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery selected form)

• Gymnocalycium spegazzinii var. major Backeb.

• Gymnocalycium spegazzinii Britton & Rose
• Echinocactus loricatus Speg.
• Gymnocalycium loricatum Speg.
• Gymnocalycium spegazzinii subs. armatum (F.Ritter) Halda & Šorma
• Gymnocalycium armatum F.Ritter
• Gymnocalycium cardenasianum f. armatum (F.Ritter) H.Till & Amerh.
• Gymnocalycium spegazzinii var. armatum (F.Ritter) Slaba & Šorma
• Gymnocalycium spegazzinii subs. fiambalense
• Gymnocalycium spegazzinii var. horizonthalonium Backeb.
• Gymnocalycium horizonthalonium Frič ex Kreuz.
• Gymnocalycium spegazzinii var. major Backeb.
• Gymnocalycium spegazzinii var. punillense H.Till & W.Till
• Gymnocalycium spegazzinii var. recii Milt
• Gymnocalycium spegazzinii subs. sarkae Halda & Milt
• Gymnocalycium spegazzinii var. unguispinum Slaba

• Gymnocalycium spegazzinii subs. cardenasianum (F.Ritter) R.Kiesling & D.Metzing
• Gymnocalycium cardenasianum F.Ritter

• Gymnocalycium cardenasianum cv. Japanese Selection

Description: This plant is an extreme form of this very variable rich in forms species, but it is not justified the attribution of the rank of variety.
The plants that are today in cultivation with the name “Major” are plants with high homozygosis levels derived from the first selected specimens originally used to describe the new form. This plants was at first multiplied asexually or by controlled pollination, so they remained - generations by generation - almost unchanged in appearance. So the initial extreme types with the long strongly open cluster of spines involuntary began in the course of time to be cultivated and is now in our collections as good form. A whole series of such "European” form and variety of cacti is now recognized, however in nature plants shows - in the same place too - all their intermediate forms and passages and grow one to each other.

Cultivation and Propagation: It is a summer grower species that, like many cacti of the Peruvian deserts, present some problems in cultivation. It is in fact somewhat rot prone if kept in a non ventilated place.
Soil: Require a very fast draining drying soil, prefer a low pH compost otherwise growth will stop altogether.
Water: Water regularly in summer, but do not overwater. Keep this plant almost dry in winter.
Exposition: The plant tolerate extremely bright situations but enjoy some shade during the hottest part of the day in summer.
Heat tolerance: Good.
Hardiness: Hardy to at least -5°C ( but probably can tolerate - 10° C for brief periods)
Propagation: Usually propagated from Seeds. (seldom produces offsets).