Rebutia heliosa

R. heliosa Rausch, Kakt.u.a.Sukk. 21(2)30 (1970); Analauff, Kakt.u.a.Sukk. 26(5):116 (1975); Backeberg, Cact. Lex. (Engl.ed.) 78 (1978) - as Aylostera; Donald, Ashingtonia 3(5 & 6): 141 (1979); CITES Cact. Checklist 125 (1992)  = good species; Bauer, Kakt.u.a.Sukk. 44(6)&(7):122, 138 (1993); Pilbeam, Cactus File 1(9):20-22 (1993)

Subgenus Aylostera

This individual species rapidly became popular after its introduction to cultivation, and a large clump is a stunning sight in or out of flower.

Described as solitary in the wild, it clumps quite rapidly in cultivation with stems to 20mm tall or more, 25mm wide, with up to an incredible 38 ribs, on which the tiny areoles and spines are geometrically arranged in spirals. Areoles have prominent brown wool. The 24 to 26 spines are all radial, tiny, at 1mm long, lying flat to the body, white, at the base brown. Flowers are orange, 4.5 to 5.5cm long with narrow tube, 4cm wide, with white stigma.

Although it does make a clump in cultivation, as mentioned above, it is a difficult species to keep growing well, and a hand-sized clump is often as large as many growers achieve before problems force them to start again from scratch with pieces retrieved. The most common cause of problems seems to be, as usual, overwatering.

Reported from Bolivia, Tarija, near Tarija on the road to Narvaez, at 2,400 to 2,500m (7,300 to 7,600ft) altitude.

Collectors' numbers referred here are WR 314 (deposited at Vienna and Zurich); KK 844.

Rebutia heliosa WR 314

Rebutia mamillosa

R. mamillosa Rausch, Succulenta 51(4):69 (1972); Backeberg, Cact. Lex. (Engl.ed.) 436 (1978); Ritter, Kakt. Südamer. 2:610, fig.524 (1980); CITES Cact. Checklist 125 (1992)  = R. spegazziniana

Subgenus Aylostera

R. mamillosa is not by any means a common plant in cultivation correctly identified.

It was described as sparingly clustering, with globose stems, 2cm in diameter, becoming taller in cultivation, coloured dark greenish-brown, with 14 to 16 ribs, distinctly broken into prominent tubercles. Areoles are oval, with brown wool. Radial spines number 8 to 10, in 3 or 4 pairs directed sideways, with one pointing upwards and one downwards, to 4mm long, yellow with brown tips, thin and bristle-like; the bicolouring of the spines is distinctive. There is one similar central spine, not always present, 2mm long, brown. Flowers are red, 4cm long and wide, outer petals brownish-pink with greenish midstripe, throat violet-pink, stigma white to greenish.

Reported from Bolivia, Chuquisaca, Sud-Cinti, west of Camargo, at 3,300m (10,800ft) altitude; Potosi, Sud Chicas, far west of Impora, and east of Mal Paso.

Collectors' numbers referred here are WR 302 (deposited at Zurich, not as cited at Vienna); FR 341b.

Rebutia mamillosa WR 302

Rebutia supthutiana

R. supthutiana Rausch, Kakt.u.a.Sukk. 27(6):121 (1976); Donald Ashingtonia 3(5 & 6):146, fig.24 (1979); CITES Cact. Checklist 126 (1992)  = R. steinmannii; Bauer, Kakt.u.a.Sukk. 44(6)&(7):122, 138 with fig. (1993)

Subgenus Aylostera

This species has only in recent years started to get into cultivation. It is an attractive, brown-bodied plant, bearing a superficial resemblance to R. pygmaea 'iscayachensis' in its colouring and flowers.

It is described as solitary, globose, to 3.5cm wide, blue-greyish green or brownish, with thick fleshy roots, and about 15 ribs. Areoles are oval, 2mm long, with brown wool. Radial spines number 11 to 13, lying close to the body or upstanding, 3 to 5mm long, thin to bristle-like, glassy-white, thickened and brown at base. There is one central spine, sometimes not present, to 5mm long, similar to the radials. Flowers are bright red, 5cm long, 4cm wide, with pink ovary and tube, outer petals brown with pink edges, and stigma green.

The referral by the 1992 CITES Cactaceae Checklist to R. steinmannii, and consequential move from Aylostera to Mediolobivia is not understood. Ralf Bauer (ref. above) is of the opinion that it is more closely related to the R. heliosa complex.

Reported from Bolivia, Tarija, O'Connor, at Tambo.

Collectors' numbers referred here are WR 629 (deposited at Zurich), 741.

Rebutia supthutania WR 629