Gymnocalycium anisitsii is a globular cactus belonging to the family Cactaceae. The specific epithet honors the Hungarian pharmacist Dániel Anisits J. (1856-1911).

Gymnocalycium anisitsii
Gymnocalycium anisitsii at the Orto Botanico dell'Università di Genova
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Genus:	Gymnocalycium
Species:	G. anisitsii
Binomial name
Gymnocalycium anisitsii (K.Schumann) Britton & Rose, 1922
Synonyms
Gymnocalycium damsii (K. Sch.) Br et R. Gymnocalycium griseopallidum Backeb. Gymnocalycium joossensianum (Boed.) Br. et R.

Description

Gymnocalycium anisitsii can be solitary or slowly clustering. It reaches a diameter of 8–15 cm and a height of about 10 cm. Sometimes a central spine is present, but it is usually absent. The spines are yellowish to brownish, slender, twisted and 1–6 cm long. The flowers are white to pink, funnel-shaped, up to 4 inches long. The red fruits are long and cylindrical, up to 2.5 cm long with a diameter of 1 cm.

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  Gymnocalycium anisitsii subsp. anisitsii. Illustration from Blühende Kakteen - Iconographia Cactacearum (1904)

Distribution

Gymnocalycium anisitsii is widespread in southern Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia.

Habitat

This species prefers open areas with the protection of low bushes.

Subspecies

• Gymnocalycium anisitsii subsp. anisitsii
• Gymnocalycium anisitsii subsp. multiproliferum (P.J.Braun) P.J.Braun & Esteves

References

• Biolib
• Cactus-art
• Desert-tropicals

Bibliography

• Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton: Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names. Birkhäuser 2004
• N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose: The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family. Band III, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1922

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