Origin and Habitat: Gymnocalycium anisitsii has a fragmented population spread over a large area in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay (extent of occurrence = 25,000 km2).
Altitude: It occurs at elevations of 70-400 metres above sea level.
It grows in open areas in semi-shade under the protection of low xerophyllous bushes that have no or very few leaves and rarely occurs on rocks in hills and in sandy mountain regions.
The light filters through. The soil is usually a rich sandy loam. Rains are frequent during the summer. It often form large groups and is extremely variable. There are no known major threats to this species.
Gymnocalycium anisitsii is a very easy to grow and very free-flowering cactus, it may be solitary or freely offsetting with white flowers (but also pink).
Spines 5 to 7, tortuous, up to 6 cm long. It is a very polymorphic species with a large range of variability. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and subsp. multiproliferum.
Stem: Spherical-depressed to short cylindrical, 5-8(-10) cm tall, 8-10 cm in diameter, green, pale-green bronzing in full sun, and highly decorative, often with horizontal clear and dark strips.
Ribs: 8-11, acute, and more or less notched into chin-shape protrusions or warts.
Radial spines: 5-7 (rarely to 9), straight or slightly tortuous, 1-6 cm long, subulate, somewhat angled, nearly useless in terms of defence.
Young spine are pastel-white, yellowish or brownish with a darker tip, later becoming pale-grey.
Central spines: Usually absent, sometimes one.
Flowers: From the centre, funnel form, typically greenish white, but also pale pink or bright vivid pink and showy, about4- 6 cm long.
Scales and outer perianth-segments broad, greenish margins, internal tepals white, broadly oblong, acute or greenish spreading. Tube thin.
Blooming season: It produces flowers almost continuously during the year.
Fruits: Oblong, 2,5 cm long, 6-10 mm in diameter, reddish at maturity.
Seeds: Almost spherical, 1 mm, pale brown, hilum inconspicuous.
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