Gymnocalycium baldianum? anisitsii?

If you have a cactus plant and need help identifying it, this is the place to post it.
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loyall
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Gymnocalycium baldianum? anisitsii?

Post by loyall »

I picked up this cute fellow last week at a local garden center. He was only $3.99, and at 6½cm diameter was cramped in a 2.5in square pot. Now in a 4.5 inch round pot he appears more comfortable. I think he is Gymnocalycium baldianum; differing id's would be welcome. There are five pink buds on his eight ribs. What I would like to know is what causes the attractive dark blushes on the underside of each tubercle.
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Last edited by loyall on Mon Mar 28, 2022 7:39 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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hiawog
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum?

Post by hiawog »

Not sure if this is helpful but I have recently been seeing an increasing number of Gymno hybrids in garden centers. G. baldianum certainly looks right (those flowers will help to confirm) but it's also possibly a hybrid.
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MrXeric
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum?

Post by MrXeric »

Not baldianum, but it does bear a resemblance to G. anisitsii.
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Tom in Tucson
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum?

Post by Tom in Tucson »

MrXeric wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 5:36 am Not baldianum, but it does bear a resemblance to G. anisitsii.
I agree.
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Lucy_V
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum?

Post by Lucy_V »

You can also find it under the name of G.damsii ssp.rotundum = G.anisitsii
http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/CACT ... rotundulum
DaveW
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum?

Post by DaveW »

The "blushes" are what is often known as "sun colour", akin to slight sun tanning in humans and nothing to worry about. When developed to a greater degree it is often called "stress colouration", which unlike "normal plants" cacti are often used to in habitat. Obviously like humans if you are subjected to too much sun you can sunburn and that is then a problem. As long as it is not destroying the tissue its usually OK.

There are some Gymnocalycium's that are greenish to reddish bodied normally depending on how much sunlight they get, such as some of the G. mihanovichii complex.

http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/GYMNOC ... i_L373.htm

An article on stress colouration here:-

https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3030

Strangely enough it was often the attractive stress coloured Succulents in habitat that encouraged the original collector to collect them, but when returned to cultivation in less sunny climates the plants tended to just go green.
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loyall
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum?

Post by loyall »

Thank you MrXerik, Tom in Tucson, and Lucy_V. Seems more likely anisitsii than baldianum. If it successfully blossoms, then pink would tend to confirm anisitsii, red baldianum, except that it also might be a hybrid.
Thank you once again DaveW for your educational links.
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loyall
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum?

Post by loyall »

G anisitsii_20220316_04.jpg
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Ten days after my previous photo, the flower buds are progressing. Remember this is a closeup; the plant is really small. I am now labelling the photo G anisitsii. What is the forum protocol? should I now try to edit, if that is possible, my earlier photos to read G anisitsii instead of G baldianum?
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jerrytheplater
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum?

Post by jerrytheplater »

I would not worry about the file name. I think the only way you could fix the file name would be to delete the photo from the post and then upload it again with the correct file name. I have seen some forums that save what we upload. Not sure what this one does. You could check.
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loyall
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum?

Post by loyall »

Twenty-two days after my first bud photo. Watching these flowers form is a new experience. This inexpensive little fellow just tickles me.
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Cactimaniac
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum?

Post by Cactimaniac »

Very Nice. My own mystery gymnocalycium is blooming its almost there i will post a picture in The coming days. I think mine is Baldinanum because i hint a red flower
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loyall
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum? anisitsii?

Post by loyall »

Tweny-six days since my first bud photo. First bud is ready to open.
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loyall
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum? anisitsii?

Post by loyall »

Its first blossom opened today. Since the flower is pink, I think this confirms it is G anisitsii not baldianum. This cactus may be a common one but I am delighted with it. Four more buds still to open!
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greenknight
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum? anisitsii?

Post by greenknight »

This is just the first flush of blossoms - it's a very free-blooming species, expect it to repeat this all summer.
Spence :mrgreen:
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loyall
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Re: Gymnocalycium baldianum? anisitsii?

Post by loyall »

Another day another blossom. Note the pretty blushes.
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