Xerophyte

Description

Small clumping cactus with fine silvery spines arranged on globes so that it looks like orbs covered with small, white spiders. It readily forms a clustering mound.The variety “Cajasensis” specifically describes the population from the Desfiladero de Cajas (altitude 2500 m) with orange-red or red flowers, larger heads with silvery pectinated spines. Some books state that Rebutia heliosaSN|5204]]SN|5204]] v. cajasensis looks pretty much like many of the forms of Rebutia heliosaSN|5204]]SN|5204]] v. condorensis but lighter spined. Indeed, some books make both these varieties synonymous, whereas.

Roots

Tap root.

Flowers

Large dark-orange to red, funnel-shaped, long -necked, 4 cm in diameter, 5 cm long.

Blooming Season

Profusely flowering 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.)

Spines

only radials 2-4(-5) mm long, silvery white, pectinated, spider-like, covering almost completely the small stems in a spiral pattern.

Ribs

Spiraling with very tiny tubercles.

Stem

Grey green, 2-3(-4) cm wide, rarely higher than 4 cm.

Areoles

Small, with brown felt and elongated.