Origin and Habitat: Argentina, Córdoba province (Sierras grandes and Chicas de Córdoba) and San louis province. Gymnocalycium monvilleiSN|11438]]SN|11438]] has a relatively wide range and is abundant.
Altitude range. This species occurs at elevations of 500 to 2,700 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology:* The species grows in grasslands. The species is collected locally from the wild but this is not a threat to the species. There are no major threats affecting this species.

• Gymnocalycium monvillei (Lem.) Britton & Rose
• Echinocactus monvillei Lem.

• Gymnocalycium monvillei (Lem.) Britton & Rose
• Echinocactus monvillei Lem.
• Gymnocalycium monvillei var. coloratum Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium monvillei var. confusa Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium monvillei subs. gertrudae (Neuhuber) Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium monvillei var. gertrudae Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium monvillei var. orientale Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium achirasense var. orientale (Neuhuber) V.Gapon
• Gymnocalycium monvillei subs. achirasense var. orientale Neuhuber in H.Till & Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium monvillei var. safronovii V.Gapon
• Gymnocalycium monvillei var. steineri H.Till
• Gymnocalycium multiflorum f. steineri.
• Gymnocalycium multiflorum (Hook.) Britton & Rose
• Echinocactus multiflorus Hook.
• Gymnocalycium multiflorum var. parisiense (K.Schum.) P.Fourn.
• Echinocactus multiflorus var. parisiensis K.Schum.
• Echinocactus multiflorus f. parisiensis (K.Schum.) Schelle
• Gymnocalycium polyanthum var. parisiense (K.Schum.) Y.Itô
• Gymnocalycium ourselianum (Cels ex Salm-Dyck) Y.Itô
• Echinocactus ourselianus Monv., Cels ex Salm-Dyck
• Gymnocalycium multiflorum var. ourselianum (Cels ex Salm-Dyck) H.Till & W.Till

• Gymnocalycium monvillei subs. achirasense (H.Till & Schatzl) H.Till
• Gymnocalycium achirasense H.Till & Schatzl
• Gymnocalycium horridispinum subs. achirasense (H.Till & Schatzl) G.J.Charles
• Gymnocalycium horridispinum var. achirasense (H.Till & Schatzl) Lodé
• Gymnocalycium monvillei var. chacrasense Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium achirasense var. chacrasense (Neuhuber) V.Gapon
• Gymnocalycium monvillei subs. achirasense var. chacrasense
• Gymnocalycium monvillei var. echinatum Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium achirasense subs. echinatum (Neuhuber) V.Gapon
• Gymnocalycium monvillei var. kainradliae Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium achirasense subs. kainradliae (Neuhuber) V.Gapon
• Gymnocalycium monvillei f. villamercedense H.Till & Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium achirasense var. villamercedense (H.Till & Neuhuber) V.Gapon
• Gymnocalycium villamercedense F.Ritter

• Gymnocalycium monvillei subs. brachyanthum (Gürke) H.Till
• Echinocactus brachyanthus Gürke
• Gymnocalycium brachyanthum (Gürke) Britton & Rose

• Gymnocalycium monvillei subs. horridispinum (G.Frank ex H.Till) H.Till
• Gymnocalycium horridispinum G.Frank ex H.Till

Description: Gymnocalycium monvilleiSN|11438]]SN|11438]] is well-known in cultivation and particularly priced for its pink flowers and characteristic strong spination. It is quite variable and several unnecessary varietal names have appeared in the past.
Habit: Simple or eventually forming large clumps.
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, especially above, acute.
Areoles: Elliptic, 10 mm long.
Spines: Stout, thick, slightly curved, yellow with usually reddish bases, often translucent , but also orange, black or reddish.
Radial spines:5-7 up to 12, but usually less in young plants, 3-4 cm long, spreading, somewhat flattened against the body, stout, yellowish or whitish with a reddish tinge at the base, the longest one 3 cm long.
Central spines: Usually absent, or 1 to 4 erected.
Flower buds: Short ovoid and bullet-shaped, covered with imbricate scales.
Flowers: Are some of the largest in this genus, often growing larger than the plant!, funnel-shaped 4 to 8 cm long and wide, pink, white flushed with pink or, in some forms, pure white, and often double petaled. Scales on the ovary broad and rounded, their margins scarious.
Blooming season: Summer, It takes 5-6 years from seed before flowers.
Fruits: Green that became yellowish at maturity, globose, up to 2 cm in diameter.
Seeds: Up to 1 mm brownish-red.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug./2011
2) David Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006
3) Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001
4) E. W Putnam “Gymnocalyciums: Handbook No. 5.” National Cactus And Succulent Society, Smart & Co. (Printers) Ltd., Brackley, Northants. 1978
5) N.L. Britton, J.N. Rose. "The Cactaceae: Descriptions and illustrations of plants of the cactus family" Volume 3
6) Demaio, P., Lowry, M., Trevisson, M. & Méndez, E. 2013. Gymnocalycium monvillei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T152254A615177. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T152254A615177.en. Downloaded on 29 March 2016.
7) Kiesling, R. and Ferrari, O.E. 2009. 100 Cactus Argentinos. Albatros, Buenos Aires.

Cultivation and Propagation: It is a summer-growing species that offers no cultivation difficulty. Water regularly in summer (but do not over-water). Keep rather dry in winter. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer. Hardy as low as -5° C (or less) if kept dry. Sun Exposure: Light shade.

Propagation: Direct sow after last frost or offsets