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Gymnocalycium megatae
Y. Itô 1957
Photograph Gymnocalycium megatae in habitat

2011, Bolivia, Santa Cruz

 

Surveys

2011, Bolivia, Santa Cruz, Boyuibe, A&M 656 Show on map

Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
01-1100289
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
02-1100282
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
03-1100283
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
04-1100285
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
05-1100284
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
06-1100299
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
07-1100300
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
08-1100301
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
09-1100277
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
10-1100278
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
11-1100279
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
12-1100264
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
13-1100265
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
14-1100268
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
15-1100273
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
16-1100271
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
17-1100261
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
18-1100258
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
19-1100259
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
20-1100262
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
21-1100257

 

2011, Bolivia, Santa Cruz, road to Charagua, A&M 664 Show on map

Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
22-0127
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
23-0106
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
24-0105
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
25-0107
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
26-0108
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
27-0111
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
28-0102
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
29-0104
Preview photo Gymnocalycium megatae
30-0103

 

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Synonyms

Gymnocalycium marsoneri ssp. megatae, Gymnocalycium brevistylum, Gymnocalycium eytianum, Gymnocalycium fricianum, Gymnocalycium hamatum, Gymnocalycium matoense, Gymnocalycium marsoneri ssp. matoense, Gymnocalycium onychacanthum, Gymnocalycium tortuga, Gymnocalycium tudae

Distribution

Bolivia (Santa Cruz, Tarija), Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul), Paraguay (Alto Paraguay, Boquerón)

Conservation status

(5)   Least Concern, LC

Comments

At present the relationship between Gymnocalycium megatae Y. Itô and Gymnocalycium marsoneri Fric ex Y. Itô does not appears so evident to us. G. megatae is considered in Anderson (2001, 355) to be a synonym of G. marsoneri, in Hunt et al. (2006, text: 130) a synonym of Gymnocalycium marsoneri ssp. matoense (Buining & Brederoo) P. J. Braun & Esteves, and in Charles (2009, 241) subspecies of G. marsoneri. It is our opinion that G. megatae was probably a widespread species, which starting from the line Charagua-Boyuibe-Palos Blancos in the Bolivian Chaco, and crossing the Chaco Boreal (i.e. the Dptos of Boquerón and Alto Paraguay in Paraguay, where there are still populations of the taxon), it arrived in the area of Porto Murtinho, Mato Grosso do Sul (BR) where the Chaco becomes Pantanal. The taxon known as Gymnocalycium matoense Buining & Brederoo, which we could not to locate, and that is probably near extinction (Braun & Esteves 2001, 63), was at the edge of the area, to the east of the populations of G. megatae. The photographic documentation available (ibid., 123; Charles 2009, 239-240) confirms that the two taxa are closely related. On the contrary, in addition to the distance of the distribution area, which by itself might be weak data [as in populations of Gymnocalycium pflanzii (Vaupel) Werdermann]; when not also supported by a real diversity between the taxa, in habitat the appearance of G. megatae (A&M 656, photos 1-21; A&M 664, photos 22-30) is completely different from G. marsoneri (A&M 509, photo 1-26). The first has acute, sharp, angular ribs (a character which unites it with G. matoense), the second has ribs that are divided into large rounded tubercles. The first has thin spines spreading from the stem, the second has large spines, wide at the base, appressed on the stem surface. We do not understand where the idea that these two taxa are related came from. Concerning the distribution of G. megatae, we must stress that the taxon currently occupies a strip of land between the Charagua-Boyuibe-Palos Blancos line, in Bolivia, and the Mennonite colonies, in the Paraguayan Chaco. As highlighted in the comment on Gymnocalycium anisitsii (K. Schumann) Britton & Rose, the populations known as Gymnocalycium pseudomalacocarpus Backeberg and Gymnocalycium anisitsii ssp. holdii Amerhauser, attributed by Charles (2009, 244-245, 285) to G. megatae, are to be attributed to G. anisitsii. (Quoted from: Anceschi & Magli 2013b, 59-60)

Genus

Gymnocalycium

Other species

alboareolatum
andreae
anisitsii
baldianum
bayrianum
bodenbenderianum
borthii
bruchii
buenekeri
calochlorum
capillaense
cardenasianum
castellanosii
chiquitanum
denudatum
eurypleurum
ferrarii
fischeri
glaucum
horridispinum
horstii
hossei
kieslingii
marsoneri
megatae
mesopotamicum
mihanovichii
monvillei
mostii
nigriareolatum
oenanthemum
paediophilum
paraguayense
pflanzii
reductum
ritterianum
robustum
saglionis
schickendantzii
schroederianum
spegazzinii
stellatum
stenopleurum
uebelmannianum
uruguayense