= Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. nobile (Haw.) Y.Itô
Cacti (Borg), ed. 2. nom. inval. (Art. 33.1) Borg
Accepted Scientific Name: Gymnocalycium gibbosum (Haw.) Pfeiff. ex Mittler
Taschenb. Cactuslieb. 2: 124 (1844); et: Abbild. Beschr. Cact. 2: sub t. 1. 1845 Mittler
Cactus nobilis (Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. nobile) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
This variety is easily recognized by the very dark olive-green body and the strong, more numerous, longer, overlapping, spines that are white with a darker base.
Origin and Habitat: This species is distributed in the mountains of Argentina of up to Patagonia .
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Gymnocalycium gibbosum
Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Black Chin Cactus
Description: Gymnocalycium gibbosumSN|8057]]SN|8057]] var. nobile is a local or morphological form of the very variable and widely spread Gymnocalycium gibbosumSN|8057]]SN|8057]] characterized by strong, more numerous, longer, overlapping, white yellow spines; it is usually larger than the typical gibbosum.
Stem: Deep olive-green to almost black, flat to almost spherical, 3-5(-10) cm tall, up to 12 cm in diameter, the apex is slightly woolly.
Ribs: 10-16 straight, divided in well distinct, angular ribs.
Areoles: Whitish-grey, elongated.
Radial spines: 7-10 (-12) 25-35 mm, strong, long, erect, overlapping, pastel-white (but also yellow or black), with a darker (reddish or brownish) base when young, that becomes whitish-grey as they age.
Central spines: 0-2 very similar to the radials.
Flowers: Infundibuliform in the nearest periphery just around the apex, 45-60 mm long, 60-65 in diameter. Tepals ivory white with a brownish mid rib or occasionally reddish.
Blooming season: Will flower without a distinct resting period.
Fruits: Globose or fusiform, 20-40 mm long green with white bordered scale.
More...Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Gymnocalycium gibbosum group
Gymnocalycium gibbosum has lots of synonyms (like many other Gymnocalyciums) whit several controversial varieties and subspecies and comprises a multitude of different forms, but where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics:
Gymnocalycium gibbosum (Haw.) Pfeiff. ex Mittler: It is a small solitary cactus with deep glaucous-green to grey-black, discoidal stem up to 12 cm in diameter. Flowers in the nearest periphery just around the apex ivory white with a brownish mid rib or occasionally reddish, throat greenish with a basal reddish area.- Gymnocalycium gibbosum subs. borthii (Koop ex H.Till) G.J.Charles: has dark green, round, low ribs with tubercles, large white flowers. Distribution: Quines, San Luis, Argentina
- Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. brachypetalum (Speg.) Papsch: has grey-black body and large white flowers. Distribution: La Pampa and Río Negro Argentina.
- Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. chubutense (Speg.) Papsch: has dark green to nearly black stem and cream-white or pinkish flowers. Chubut, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina
- Gymnocalycium gibbosum f. cristatum hort.: crested form.
- Gymnocalycium gibbosum subs. ferox (Labour. ex Rümpler) Papsch: has very robust radial spines and no centrals. Distribution Chubut province.
- Gymnocalycium gibbosum f. longispinum hort.: The form “longispinum” has longer and stiffer spines but is practically identical to the normal form in stem and flowers characteristics. (Only known in cultivation)
- Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. nigrum Backeb.: has very dark green to almost black stems.
- Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. nobile (Haw.) Y.Itô: This variety is easily recognized by the very dark olive-green body and the strong, more numerous, longer, overlapping, spines that are white with a darker base.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) 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
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume 4, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
5) Curt Backeberg “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde” Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1982–1985
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Cactus nobilis (Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. nobile) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Cactus nobilis (Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. nobile) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Cactus nobilis (Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. nobile) Photo by: Cactus Art
Cactus nobilis (Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. nobile) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Cactus nobilis (Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. nobile) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Cactus nobilis (Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. nobile) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Cactus nobilis (Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. nobile) Photo by: Cactus Art
Cactus nobilis (Gymnocalycium gibbosum var. nobile) Photo by: Valentino VallicelliCultivation and Propagation: Gymnocalycium gibbosumSN|8057]]SN|8057]] var. nobile 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 (Hardy down to -12° to -32° C), 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.
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