Accepted Scientific Name: Gymnocalycium neuhuberi H.Till & W.Till
Gymnocalycium 5(1): 59 (1992)
Gymnocalycium pseudoneuhuberi Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
VS8 (Collector Vladimír Šorma) Locality: Suyuque Nuevo, San Luis, Argentina. Altitude: 1550m
Origin and Habitat: Suyuque Nuevo, San Luis, Argentina.
Altitude: Around 1550 metres above sea level.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Gymnocalycium neuhuberi
back
Accepted name in llifle Database:Gymnocalycium neuhuberi H.Till & W.TillGymnocalycium 5(1): 59 (1992)Synonymy: 3
back
Description: Gymnocalycium pseudoneuhuberiSN|31133]]SN|31133]] is a provisional name (nom. prov.) used to indicate a white blooming form of Gymnocalycium neuhuberiSN|25934]]SN|25934]]. It is a beautiful species, of modest size, particularly attractive for its beautiful white flowers with a usually creamy-white or yellowish spination. Not only the pseudoneuhuberi has a beautiful flower for a Gymno, but it is also scented. However the white flowers and paler spines of Gymnocalycium pseudoneuhuberiSN|31133]]SN|31133]], appear to fall within the natural variation of Gymnocalycium neuhuberiSN|25934]]SN|25934]] and it should be fully synonymized with the latter. Even if Gymnocalycium pseudoneuhuberiSN|31133]]SN|31133]] is not accepted by many botanists that treat it as synonym, it still has a value for a collector because they identify plants with particular characters.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Gymnocalycium neuhuberi group
- Gymnocalycium neuhuberi H.Till & W.Till: has pink flowers, yellowish, orange or brown spines. Distribution: Suyuque Nuevo and Suyuque Viejo, and southwest flank of the Sierra San Luis, Argentina.
- Gymnocalycium pseudoneuhuberi n.n., Šorma: has cream coloured spines and white flowers. Distribution: Suyuque Nuevo, San Luis, Argentina.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Demaio, P., Perea, M. & Trevisson, M. 2013. Gymnocalycium neuhuberi. In: IUCN 2013. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 04 January 2014.
2) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) 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
5) “Gymnocalycium neuhuberi H.Till & W.Till” in: Gymnocalycium (Austria), 2 (5), 1992
Cultivation and Propagation: Gymnocalycium pseudoneuhuberiSN|31133]]SN|31133]] is a summer grower species that is easy to cultivate.
Growth rate: It is a relatively rapidly growing and easily flowering species that will make clumps given the best conditions.
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil. Prefer a low pH compost, avoid substrata rich in limestone; otherwise growth will stop altogether.
Repotting: This plant needs plenty of space for its roots, repotting should be done every other year or when the it has outgrown its pot. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: During cold weather periods keep rather dry, but it can handle excessive water to little water, keep dry in winter at a minimum temperature of 0°C. Make sure that soil gets the chance to dry out in between waterings.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Frost Tolerance: Reputedly resistant to frost if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather, but for safe cultivation it is best to avoid severe freezing temperatures.
Exposition: The plant tolerates extremely bright situations but enjoys filtered sunlight or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy spine production, 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.
Uses: It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small. It look fine in a cold greenhouse and frame or outdoor in a rockery.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by watering the plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: This species is particularly easy and accommodating, seldom suffer of cryptogamic diseases. Rot it is only a minor problem with gymnocalyciums if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Propagation: Mainly through seeds. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove gradually the glass cover as soon the plants will be well rooted (ca 1-2 weeks) and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants!
Seed Collecting: Permit fruit to ripen, fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds.