Since the middle of the 90s, further, slightly divergent populations of G. chiquitanum are known. The plants there grow together with Echinopsis hammerschmidii Cardenas and Frailea amerhauseri Prestle in a height of 270 metres.

The forms north-west of San Jose are identical with the plants in the type location as far as the structure of flowers, fruits and seeds are concerned. There are only slight differences in their habitus. Plants in the plains grow bigger and their thorns are mostly straight and often shorter than those of the specimen south of San José de Chiquitos. Populations from the flatlands sprout more strongly, groups with a dispersion of up to one metre are no rarity. The plants there grow on large slabs of stone, in mould-filled crevices and slots within clear terrain, often protected by small bushes, grasses, ferns or Bromeliaceae.

G. chiquitanum Cardenas, Cactus (Paris) 18 (78), pp. 95-97, 1963

Flattened flobular, 2-4 cm high, 6-9 cm diameter, greyish-green in colour.

Ribs 6-7, with tubercles, 5 mm high, 2,5 cm wide at the base. Areoles are 1-2 cm apart, circular or elliptical, 5 mm long, covered with white to grey felt.

6 rim spines, curved, 15-23 cm long. 1 central spine, short, 12 mm long, sometimes not present. Acuate needle-shaped, grey-white in colour, brownish at the top.

Flowers grow from the depression at the apex, 4-6 cm long, funnel-shaped, pink. Ovary spherical, curved, 5 mm in diameter, dark magenta in colour, with 3mm wide, reddish scales with white edges. Tube 2,5 mm long, violet-red, with scales that are 5 mm wide. Exterior tepals spatulate to lanceolate, 2 cm long, pink in colour. Interior tepals 2,5 cm long, pointed, pinkish-lilac, violet at the base. Filaments magenta, 5 mm long; anthers yellow. Style 22 mm long, violet-red; 8 stigma lobes, yellow, 3 mm long.

Fruit elliptical, 2 cm long, first bluish in colour, later violet. Seeds small, 1 mm in diameter, light brown, granular testa.

Habitat: Bolivia, province Chiquitos, department Santa Cruz, south of San Jose, 600 m.

The seeds are 1,0 to 1,2 millimetres large, fuliginous, gleaming and tubercular. The seeds belong to the seed group Microsemineum Schütz.

Fruit elliptical, 2 cm long, first bluish in colour, later violet. When ripe, the bluish fruit tears vertically.

Flowers grow from the depression at the apex, 4-6 cm long, funnel-shaped, pink.