Xerophyte

Habit

Mound-forming plant with bristly white spines. 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.

Description

Rebutia pulchellaSN|4932]]SN|4938]] is probably one of the many geographical forms of the extremely variable Rebutia fiebrigiiSN|4932]]SN|4932]]. It is a small mound-forming cactus spreading out to 15 cm, with clumping, heads 2.5 cm wide, 4 cm tall with light green tubercles thickly covering the body. The spines are glassy-white, silky, short. It produces vibrant orange-red flower.

Note

Nowadays, under the name of Rebutia fiebrigiiSN|4938]]SN|4932]], botanists include several different forms, that were previously regarded as independent species.

Flowers

Startling bright orange, funnel-shaped, 4,5 cm. long, 4 cm diameter from the base of the stems. Stigma lobes white.

Blooming Season

Flowers are produced profusely in spring, and remain open for up to six days.

Spines

White, fine and soft.

Stem

2.5(-3) cm wide, up to 4 cm tall, dark, flat, covered by distinctive tubercles similar to a Mammillaria, that are easy to see through the small spines.

Fruits

Tiny, berrylike, hidden among the spines, bursting when ripe.