Hey people. I recently inherited this spikey-mama. I can't say no to a homeless cactus. She's been neglected for a while now, will need re-potting, but looks healthy nonetheless.

Does anyone know what it is?

Gymnocalycium. multiflorum (monvillei)?
nice old specimen.

NOID is it a mamm?

Its definitely a Gymno - but I don't know what it is.

am pretty sure thats a Gymnocalycium monvillei as i said above, you may find it under its old name of G. multiflorum though. Nice specimen, looks pretty old.

Woo woo! Thanks for the ID people.

Is it a rotten up at the biottom or am I missing something?

Yeh, i was thinking it was rotting aswell, but i dont know

Eek. I'll have a closer look.

The moss growing in the pot disturbed me at first, but I've hardly been home to have a look at the thing since I got it. It's hard to see past the spines too...

It was in a self-watering pot too

Poke the black area with your finger or something else lightly, if its saquishy and soft, it has rot.

its hard for me to tell from where im sitting whether or not it is rotten.
First impressions tell me its just the old spines, which will naturally darken with age on old specimens.
It probably has been overwatered, resulting in the growth of moss, but gymnocalyciums in general are more tolerant of moisture than most.
go through the procedure Michael said, and if it isn not rotten but the soil is saturated it would be a wise move to repot it into a better draining mix and pot for safety.

Nope, not rotting. That area is just brown with age. It was firm throughout to a touch with a pencil.

yep, thats what i thought. its a nice healthy plant,just old. a repotting into a more favourable mix and better draining pot wouldn't hurt though.

wish i could find a big G.monvillei down here. tis a beauty.

Here she is in flower.