Xerophyte

Habit

It is essentially a miniature plant simple at first, that readily forms a clustering mound of tiny heads.

Seeds

Hemispheric to helmet-shaped. black, papillate.

Description

Rebutia heliosaSN|5204]]SN|5204]] (Aylostera heliosaSN|5205]]SN|5205]]) is a small cactus with heads densely covered covered in brown areoles with white short pectinate spines, giving it a silvery appearance. This odd cactus is unmistakable and very distinctive. It is considered by many one of the nicest species.

Phenology

It flowers profusely in spring. (Rebutias are self-fertilizing but aylosteras are not, and the latter can be fooled by introducing foreign pollen and then re-pollinating with its own pollen.)

Roots

Fleshy tap root.

Flowers

Large, funnel-shaped, long-necked, 4 cm in diameter, 4,5-5,5 cm long, orange-red. Tube up to 3 cm long 2-3 mm across, solid for more than half its length, deep rose to orange pink. Tepals orange with lilac mid-stripe.

Spines

24-26 all radials, short, about 1 mm long, distinctively silvery-white, dense, spreading laterally and pectinate, covering almost completely the small stems in a spiral pattern.

Stem

Heads compressed spherical to shortly cylindrical 2,5 cm wide, rarely higher than 3 cm or more.

Fruits

4 mm in diameter, deep crimson to purple.

Areoles

Small, brown and narrow, elongated 1-2 mm long, less than 0,5 mm broad, forming 35-40 spirals.