Origin and Habitat: South-East of Chocis, Chiquitos Province, Santa Cruz Dept., Bolivia (Western South America, Southern America).
Altitude range: Around 300-600 metres above sea level.

• Gymnocalycium damsii var. boosii Amerh.

• Gymnocalycium anisitsii (K.Schum.) Britton & Rose
• Echinocactus anisitsii K.Schum.
• Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. damsii (K.Schum.) G.J.Charles
• Echinocactus damsii K.Schum.
• Gymnocalycium damsii Britton & Rose
• Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. damsii f. cristatum hort.
• Gymnocalycium damsii f. cristatum hort.
• Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. damsii f. monstruosum hort.
• Gymnocalycium damsii f. monstruosum hort.
• Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. damsii f. variegata hort.
• Gymnocalycium damsii f. variegata hort.
• Gymnocalycium anisitsii var. griseopallidum H.Till & Amerh.
• Gymnocalycium griseo-pallidum Backeb.
• Gymnocalycium anisitsii var. tucavocense Backeb. ex H.Till & Amerh.
• Gymnocalycium damsii var. tucavocense Backeb.
• Gymnocalycium damsii var. boosii Amerh.
• Gymnocalycium damsii var. centrispinum Backeb.
• Gymnocalycium damsii subs. evae Halda, Horáček & Milt
• Gymnocalycium damsii var. rotundulum Backeb.
• Gymnocalycium joossensianum Britton & Rose
• Echinocactus joossensianus Boed.

• Gymnocalycium anisitsii subs. multiproliferum (P.J.Braun) P.J.Braun & Esteves
• Gymnocalycium damsii var. multiproliferum P.J.Braun

• Gymnocalycium anisitsii var. tucavocense cv. Red Form
• Gymnocalycium damsii var. tucavocense cv. Red Form

Description: Gymnocalycium damsiiSN|13319]]SN|13319]] var. boosii (Gymnocalycium damsii ssp. evae var. boosi) is a local or morphological form of the widespread and variable Gymnocalycium damsiiSN|13319]]SN|13319]]. It has longer, thin, flexible and usually twisted spines sometimes up to 6 cm long that make the plant resembling a broom or a besom. The flowers are bright pink or carmine-red (red flowers are quite unique and seldom seen in Gymnocalycium damsiiSN|13319]]SN|13319]]). Seedlings are very nice, the bodies are a chalky pale green (as in Gymnocalycium Griseopallidum in his youth), and the ribs are banded whit lilac brown markings across the areoles especially when young, and these sometimes have crossbands of lighter colours. However the distinguishing characteristics of var. boosii, appear to fall within the natural variation of Gymnocalycium damsiiSN|13319]]SN|13319]] and it should be synonymized with the latter.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Gymnocalycium damsii (K. Sch.) Br. & R. in: http://www.carciton.cz/kaktusy/clanky11_3.htm

Cultivation and Propagation: Gymnocalycium damsiiSN|13319]]SN|13319]] var. boosii 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: Needs moderate to copious waterings in summer, but do not overwater (Rot prone), keep dry in winter at a minimum temperature of 0°C.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Hardiness: Reputedly resistant to frost if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather (hardy to -5° C, or less for short periods).
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.
Propagation: Division, direct sow after last frost. 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! To make a cutting twist off a branch and permit it to dry out a couple of weeks, lay it on the soil and insert the stem end partially into the soil. Try to keep the cutting somewhat upright so that the roots are able to grow downward.