Publication: Revista Centro Estud. Farm. Cordoba 2 (No. 6): reimpr. pp. 16, 22 (1926); cf.Gray Herb. Card Cat., Issue 130. “capillense”
Description
Gymnocalycium capillaense is a weak spined small species notable for the comparatively large flowers that branches forming numerose offsets. This plant is part of a very confused group comprising Gymnocalycium siegelianum and Gymnocalycium sutterianum.
Stem: Dull blue-green, very flattened to globular, up to 9 cm tall and in diameter.
Root: Large tuberose root apparatus.
Ribs: Up to 13 with low, rounded, chin-like tubercles..
Areoles: Oval with white wool.
Spines: 5 up to 12 mm long yellowish or whitish, weak, long, stinging.
Flowers: Large wide delicate pink-white with red throat, up to 7 cm tall, 6 cm in diameter.
Fruits: Club-shaped, light blue when ripe.
Origin and Habitat
Gymnocalycium capillaense has a wide range north-western part of the province of Cordoba (Sierra Chica, Rio Tercera, Capilla del Monte, Cosquin, San Luis), Argentina. The plant is locally common and abundant.
Altitude range: This species grows at an altitude of 500-1500 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: The species grows in chaco forest and high-altitude grasslands. There are no major threats to this species.
Cultivation and Propagation
It 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)
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. 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.
Propagation: Direct sow after last frost. (seldom produces offsets). Seed Collecting: Permit fruit to ripen. Fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
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David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
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Demaio, P. & Trevisson, M. 2013. Gymnocalycium capillaense. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 11 August 2015.
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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
From llifle page Echinocactus sigelianus
Origin and Habitat
Córdoba (Argentina)
Source: Echinocactus sigelianus, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Echinocactus sutterianus
Description
It has a very flattened body and a strong tuberose root apparatus.
Flowers: pinkish-white with a contrasting red coloured middle
Remarks: This species is closely related to Gymnocalycium sigelianum (which has paler flowers and some differences in the number and the colour of spines)
Cultivation and Propagation
It is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties. Water regularly in summer (but do not overwater ) keep rather dry in winter. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer. It is quite frost resistant if kept dry (hardy to -5° C) Sun Exposure: Light shade.
Propagation: Direct sow after last frost.(seldom produces offsets)
Source: Echinocactus sutterianus, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
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