''Gymnocalycium monvillei'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of ''

Gymnocalycium ''Gymnocalycium'', commonly called chin cactus, is a genus of about 70 South American species of cactus. The genus name ''Gymnocalycium'' (from Greek, "naked calyx") refers to the flower buds bearing no hair or spines. Their main area of distrib ...

'' from Argentina.

Description

''Gymnocalycium monvillei'' grows individually, rarely sprouting, with dark green, spherical to flattened spherical shoots, which reach heights of 6 to 8 centimeters with diameters of up to 20 centimeters and form a massive taproot. As plants age, they sometimes become short, columnar. The 10 to 17 wide, blunt ribs are clearly divided into humps with conspicuous chin-like projections. The areoles are oval and, in addition to the thorns, have a dirty-whitish wool felt. The strong, thick, slightly curved thorns are yellowish and have a reddish or purple base. There are one to four central spines up to 6 centimeters long, which can sometimes be missing. The 7 to 13 marginal spines are 3 to 4 centimeters long. The white, red-tinged, partially monoecious flowers reach a length of 3 to 8 centimeters and a diameter of 4 to 9 centimeters. The stamens are whitish with yellowish pollen, the style is whitish yellow. The spherical fruits are green to cloudy orange-red and reach a diameter of up to 2 centimeters. GymnocalyciumMonvillei

Subspecies

*''Gymnocalycium monvillei subsp. achirasense'' *''Gymnocalycium monvillei subsp. horridispinum'' *''Gymnocalycium monvillei subsp. monvillei''

Distribution

''Gymnocalycium monvillei'' is distributed in central and northern Argentina, in the provinces of Córdoba and San Luis at altitudes of 500 to 2700 m.

Taxonomy

The first description as ''Echinocactus monvillii'' was made in 1838 by Charles Lemaire. The specific epithet monvillei honors the plant collector Hippolyte Boissel de Monville.

Nathaniel Lord Britton Nathaniel Lord Britton (January 15, 1859 – June 25, 1934) was an American botanist and taxonomist who co-founded the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York (state), New York. Early life Britton was born in New Dorp, Staten Island, New ...

and

Joseph Nelson Rose Joseph Nelson Rose (January 11, 1862 – May 4, 1928) was an American botanist. He was born in Union County, Indiana. His father died serving during the Civil War when Joseph Rose was a young boy. He later graduated from high school in Liberty, ...

placed the species in the genus ''Gymnocalycium'' in 1922.

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q291771 monvillei Flora of Argentina