Gymnocalycium bodenbenderianum grows with brownish to grey-green, flat, disc-shaped shoots that barely protrude above the soil surface and reaches heights of 2 to 3 centimeters with diameters of up to 8 centimeters.

The three to seven strong, backwards curved, blackish brown thorns turn gray with age.

[2] Gymnocalycium bodenbenderianum is widespread in the Argentine provinces of Catamarca, Córdoba, La Rioja, San Juan and Santiago del Estero at altitudes of 100 to 1100 meters.

The first description as Echinocactus bodenbenderianus was made in 1928 by Carl Curt Hosseus.

The specific epithet bodenbenderianum honors the German geologist Wilhelm Bodenbender [de].