Xerophyte

Habit

It is a small solitary or mound-forming cactus. It grows quite close to the ground and offsets only with age. It would appear that in cultivation they grow larger and cluster more vigorously than in habitat. It is a prolific bloomer.

Seeds

Oblong, about 1 mm long and 0,7 mm wide glossy black..

Description

Rebutia chrysacanthaSN|15391]]SN|15406]] is a variety or local form of the very variable Rebutia minusculaSN|15406]]SN|15391]] distinguished from the type species for having stiffer spines, yellowish with brown tips. The flowers are very showy, quite large reddish-orange and self-fertile.

Roots

Fibrous.

Note

The size and number of spines is greatly influenced by the conditions of culture, at lower light levels the spines are less numerous, delicate and whitish, while with strong solar radiation the spines are stronger with a yellowish-brownish tint. In some cases differences are referable to separate population, but often occurred over a long period of cultivation due to autogamy. Many such variants have been described as species in the past.

Tubercles

Low, flat conical.

Flowers

Funnel-form, bright reddish-orange, to 4 cm long about 3,5 cm wide. Flowers grow in profusion from the older areoles on the bottom half of the stem, often at the stem bases.

Spines

Thinly acicular, stiff, yellowish with brown tips, 5-10 (or more) mm long.

Ribs

Spiralled with distinct tubercles.

Stem

Flattened globose to globose, apex depressed, bright to dull green, 4-6 cm in diameter.

Fruits

Globose, red, to 3-4 mm in diameter, scarlet red when ripe, drying and cracking irregularly.

Areoles

Very small on top of tubercles, circular to slightly elliptical, brownish. Slightly covered with short whitish felt, soon bare.