This is a photograph taken by Franj, one of our more active members and is one of a number of beautiful plants in his collection.
NB: Most of us would know this plant as Gymnocalycium rotundulum, or as I have named it Gymnocalycium damsii v. rotundulum. Gymnocalycium damsii is in fact a synonym of Gymnocalycium anisitsii, so perhaps it should be called Gymnocalycium anisitsii v. rotundulum. Whatever name you have on your label it is a beautiful plant and well worth having.
Habits: The body of the plant is virtually round, solitary or slowly forming offsets, up to 4 inches tall (10 cm), 3 inches in diameter (8 cm). As can be seen from the photograph the body can take on a nice plum colour
Scientific name: Gymnocalycium anisitsii
Common names: Plaid Cactus
Synonym: Gymnocalycium griseopallidum, Echinocactus joossensianum, Gymnocalycium tucavocense, Gymnocalycium damsii var. tucavocense, Gymnocalycium joossensianum, Echinocactus damsii, Echinocactus anisitsii, Gymnocalycium damsii
Etymology: Gymnocalycium: From the Greek words gymnos, meaning naked and kalyx, meaning bud.
Origin: Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia.
Light: This plant does not like too much sun and will do much better in partial shade where it will show itself off to best advantage.
Compost: Use your normal compost mix for this plant.
Water: Can be watered freely during the summer months, but do not allow it to become water-logged. Keep dry in winter.
Flower: The flower is pink shading to white and is raised away from the body of the plant, so typical of Gymnocalycium (some of the most beautiful in the cacti world) and can last for two or three days.
Fruit: No information, but would imagine it is typical of most Gymnocalycium.
Min. temp: 50f. (10c.) I find that my own Gymnos flower better if kept slightly cooler than this, but cannot guarantee it would work for everyone.
Cultivation: This plant like most Gymnocalycium is relatively easy to keep and is not too demanding of the grower. A dilute dose of fertiliser once a month is beneficial to the plant. It is a relatively quick grower and throws offsets on a regular basis. These can be detached if desired to form a new plant. The plant requires some shade and young plants in particular respond badly to long periods of drought or too much sunshine.
Habitat: The plants grow in rather damp areas where they receive some shade from other vegetation.
Comments: Room can usually be found for one of these as it is not a particularly large cactus, although if it is allowed to offset freely it can make quite a large clump. As with most other cacti the size of the body is governed by whether you leave the offsets on the main plant or remove them for cuttings. Once it has reached maturity it will usually reward the grower with a good show of flowers each year.