Origin and Habitat: Argentina. Endemic to the Córdoba and San Luis provinces.

• Gymnocalycium bruchii f. cristata Hosseus

• Gymnocalycium bruchii (Speg.) Hosseus
• Astrophytum bruchii (Speg.) Halda & Malina
• Frailea bruchi Speg.
• Gymnocalycium bruchii f. albispinum (Backeb.) W.Till
• Gymnocalycium albispinum Backeb.
• Gymnocalycium lafaldense f. albispinum (Backeb.) Oehme
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. atroviride Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii var. brigittae Piltz
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. matznetteri var. briggitae
• Gymnocalycium bruchii var. matznetteri f. brigittae (Piltz) Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii var. centrispina hort.
• Gymnocalycium bruchii f. cristata Hosseus
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. cumbresitense Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii var. deviatum (Oehme) U.Becker
• Gymnocalycium lafaldense f. deviatum Oehme
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. elegans Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii var. enorme (Oehme) Backeb.
• Gymnocalycium lafaldense f. enorme Oehme
• Gymnocalycium bruchii var. evolvens (Oehme) U.Becker
• Gymnocalycium bruchii var. glaucum Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii var. hossei Backeb.
• Gymnocalycium lafaldense f. hossei (Backeb.) Oehme
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. implexum Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. lacumbrense Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. lafaldense (Vaupel) Neuhuber
• Echinocactus lafaldensis (Vaupel) A.Berger
• Gymnocalycium bruchii var. spinossimum (Haage jr.) Y.Itô
• Gymnocalycium lafaldense Vaupel
• Gymnocalycium lafaldense f. spinossimum Haage jr.
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. matznetteri (Rausch) Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium andreae var. matznetteri Rausch
• Gymnocalycium matznetteri hort.
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. melojeri Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. melojeri var. rubroalabastrum Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii var. rubroalabastrum Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. multicostatum Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii var. niveum Rausch
• Gymnocalycium bruchii var. niveum f. cristatum hort.
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. pawlovskyi Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii f. proliferum hort.
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. renatae Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. shimadae Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii var. spinosior hort.
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. susannae Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium bruchii f. svecianum (Pazout ex H.Till) Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium andreae var. svecianum Pazout
• Gymnocalycium andreae f. svecianum Pazout ex H.Till
• Gymnocalycium bruchii subs. matznetteri f. svecianum (Pazout ex H.Till) Neuhuber
• Gymnocalycium lafaldense var. evolvens Oehme
• Gymnocalycium lafaldense f. fraternum Oehme

Description: This is a nice small crested cactus miniature that will slowly forms tangled groups up to 20 cm in diameter.
Stems: Blue/green up to 6 cm thick. The ribs are vertical thin and scarcely elevated.
Spines: Bristly, straight or curved
Flowers: Bell to funnel-shaped, 6 cm wide, are an unusual shade of lavender-white in early spring followed by green fruits.

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, page. 41
5) Curt Backeberg “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde” Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1982–1985
6) British Cactus & Succulent Journal, Volume 23, Page 174, Cactus & Succulent Society, 2005

Cultivation and Propagation: Although regarded as a choice and difficult plant is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although grows quite slowly. It is sometime seen as a grafted plant but grows very well on its own roots too.
Soil: Use mineral well permeable mineral soil with little organic matter (peat, humus). Prefer a low pH compost, otherwise growth will stop altogether.
Exposure: The plant tolerates extremely bright situations but enjoys some shade during the hottest part of the day in summer.
Watering: Water sparingly from March till October (weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough), with a little fertilizer added. Less or no water during cold winter months, or when night temperatures remain below 10° to prevent root loss. It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone).
Fertilization: Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh then, feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards as this can cause lush growth which can be fatal during the darker cold months.
Hardiness: Gymnocalycium bruchiiSN|14835]]SN|14835]] is one of the most cold-tolerant South American species. It can grow outdoors and is hardy to -15° C or less.
Crested growth: Unlike 'monstrose' varieties of plants, where the variation from normal growth is due to genetic mutation, crested growth can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it's due to variances in light intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are unknown. A crested plant may have some areas growing normally, and a cresting plant that looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for no apparent reason. If you have any of the crested part left you need to remove the normal growth and leave the crested part behind this will need to be done regularly.
Propagation: Grafting or cuttings. Plants are usually grafted onto column-shaped cacti but proved to be able to produce their own roots if degrafted. Cuttings will take root in a minimum temperature of 20° C (but better in hot weather). Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer. Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks. Large crested piece must be placed on the soil surface without burying the plant base down in the soil.