Accepted Scientific Name: Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. multiproliferum (P.J.Braun) P.J.Braun & Esteves
Succulenta (Netherlands) 74(3): 131 (1995)
Gymnocalycium damsii var. multiproliferum (Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. multiproliferum) Photo by: Carolina González
Origin and Habitat: Gymnocalycium anisitsiiSN|13315]]SN|13315]] subs. multiproliferum grows in the southern Brazil.
Habitat and ecology: This species grows in a loamy soil, under scrubs and small trees, mostly in a light shadow. In times of drought often the plants retracts and appear almost completely buried in the ground. The population seems very healthy and the plants are very numerous. In the same area it is possible to find a rich variety of cacti comprising: Stetsonia coryneSN|19128]]SN|19128]], Monvillea sp., Cleistocactus baumanniiSN|4742]]SN|4742]], Opuntia sp., Echinopsis sp. and Frailea melitaeSN|3649]]SN|3649]].
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Gymnocalycium anisitsii
Description: Gymnocalycium anisitsiiSN|13315]]SN|13315]] subs. multiproliferum (Gymnocalycium damsiiSN|13319]]SN|13319]] var. multiproliferum) is one of the morphological or geographical form of the widespread and pretty variable Gymnocalycium anisitsiiSN|13315]]SN|13315]]. This particular form distinguishes for its neat appearance and heavily branched habit, it produces pups like mad! A single stems produces dozen of small offshoots, almost one from each areolae. These offshoots come off at the minimal touch, and take root nearby readily forming dense colonies. Due to its ease of propagation it is becoming common in cultivation.
Stems: In cultivation the stems grows up to 10 cm tall, 8-10 cm in diameter (but usually they are much smaller in habitat) olive green to bronze and highly decorative. It produces small offshoots, almost one from each arele.
Tubercles: Rounder and scarcely raised.
Spines: Nearly useless in terms of defence.
Flowers: From the centre, funnel form, white to pale pink, up to 6 cm long. External tepals greenish whit reddish margins, internal tepals white to light pinkish. Tube thin.
Blooming season: It produces flowers almost continuously during the year.
Fruits: Oblong, reddish at maturity.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Gymnocalycium anisitsii group
Gymnocalycium anisitsii is a very polymorphic species with a large range of variability. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and subsp. multiproliferum. There seems to be very little justification for vars. centrispinum, rotundulum, torulosum and tucavocense. Gymnocalycium griseopallidum from the salt-pan desert area on the Bolivia-Paraguay borders may well be another variety or local form which has become adapted to the peculiar local conditions of that region.
- Gymnocalycium anisitsii (K.Schum.) Britton & Rose: may be solitary or freely offsetting with white flowers. Spines 5 to 7, tortuous, up to 6 cm. long. It is a very polymorphic species with a large range of variability. Distribution: Bolivia, Paraguay.
- Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. damsii (K.Schum.) G.J.Charles: has stems to 10 cm tall, 8-15 cm in diameter, green to brownish-green, often with horizontal strips. Ribs broad to acute, and more or less notched. Distribution: Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil.
- Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. damsii f. cristatum hort.: crested form. Various clones. Garden origin.
- Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. damsii f. monstruosum hort.: monstrous form. Various clones. Garden origin.
- Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. damsii f. variegata hort.: variegated form. Various clones. Garden origin.
- Gymnocalycium anisitsii var. griseopallidum H.Till & Amerh.: has paler greyish-green, sharply ribbed stem and greenish-white flowers. Distribution: Santa Cruz (Salinas de San Jose, Cordillera ) Bolivia.
- Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. holdii Amerh.
- Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. multiproliferum (P.J.Braun) P.J.Braun & Esteves: has numerous violet-green stems, longer spines, and rose-colored flowers. Distribution Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
- Gymnocalycium anisitsii var. tucavocense Backeb. ex H.Till & Amerh.: has beautiful deep mauve to violet flowers, is remarkably prolific in branching and very precocious flowering.
- Gymnocalycium anisitsii var. tucavocense cv. Red Form: it is a garden selection characterized by an unusual bright red colouring of the body, this colour is due to a reduced production of chlorophyll pigments.
- Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. volkeri Amerh.
- Gymnocalycium damsii var. boosii Amerh.: has longer, thin, flexible usually twisted spines up to 6 cm long. Flowers bright pink or carmine-red. Distribution: S-E of Chocis, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
- Gymnocalycium damsii var. centrispinum Backeb.: has 7 radial spines and one long needle-like central spine to 2 cm long. The flowers are white. Distribution: Bolivia, in the vicinity of Roboré.
- Gymnocalycium damsii subs. evae Halda, Horáček & Milt
- Gymnocalycium damsii var. rotundulum Backeb.: it is characterized by rounder and scarcely raised tubercles. Distribution: Bolivia, Brazil & Paraguay.
- Gymnocalycium damsii var. torulosum Backeb.
- Gymnocalycium damsii cv. Purple Blush: has purple blushed stems and nice pink blooms. It seems related to Gymnocalycium damsii var. tucavocense to which it shares many characteristics.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) 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
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume 4, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
5) Curt Backeberg “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde” Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1982–1985
6) Pin, A. & Oakley, L. 2013. Gymnocalycium anisitsii. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 17 January 2014.
7) E. W Putnam “GYMNOCALYCIUMS: A Guide for Growers” National Cactus & Succulent Society. Handbook No. 5. 1978
Gymnocalycium damsii var. multiproliferum (Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. multiproliferum) Photo by: Viviana Alejandra Castro Gymnocalycium damsii var. multiproliferum (Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. multiproliferum) Photo by: Viviana Alejandra Castro Cultivation and Propagation: Gymnocalycium anisitsiiSN|13315]]SN|13315]] subs. multiproliferum is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties. Water regularly in summer (but do not overwater ) Keep this plant almost dry in winter at a minimum temperature of 0°C, prefer relatively rich substrate and low pH compost (if possible not limestone) otherwise growth will stop altogether. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer. It is quite frost resistant if kept dry (hardy to -5° C) This plant needs plenty of space for its roots, repotting should be done every other year or when the it has outgrown its pot. This species is particularly easy and accommodating, seldom suffer of cryptogamic diseases.
Sun Exposure: Light shade. It may tolerate bright situations but is likely to suffer from sun scorch or stunted growth if over exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day in summer.
Propagation: Seeds cuttings.