Xerophyte

Central Spines

Similar to radials slightly protruding.

Seeds

Brown, about 1,2 mm long, 0,7 mm wide, slightly tuberculate.

Description

Rebutia flavistila is one of the many geographical forms of the extremely variable Rebutia fiebrigii with glassy-white, silky, short spines and light green tubercles thickly covering the body. It produces vibrant orange-red flowers with distinctive yellow (Latin = flavus) filaments and pistil (hence the name).

Roots

Short white taproot.

Flowers

Produced at the base of the bodies, 30-40 mm long, startling bright orange, funnel-shaped, 4.5 cm. long, 4 cm diameter from the base of the stems. Ovary ball-shaped 4 mm wide, with few scales approx. 1 mm long, axil with white wool and a few white hairs. Flower tube campanulate, about 20 mm long, above about 6 mm wide, pale inside, outside, orange yellow, covered with scales. Tepals about 15 mm long, 4-5 mm wide, orange, outside reddish.Filaments and anthers pale yellow 5-7 mm long, . Style sulphur yellow. Stigma lobes lemon yellow.

Spines

Yellowish, later white, fine, soft, almost straight.

Ribs

15-27, curling, covered by distinctive tubercles similar to a Mammillaria, that are easy to see through the small spines. Tubercles 4-6 mm high, 4-5 mm wide at the base.

Stem

Spherical, flat, green, 4-5 cm wide, 4 cm tall.

Fruits

Tiny, berrylike, globose, 5-7 mm wide, pale green, hidden among the spines, bursting when ripe.

Habit

Single or 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.

Blooming Season

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

Radial Spines

15-22, somewhat pectinate, 6-10 mm long.

Areoles

Oblong, 1,5-3 mm long, yellowish, later white tomentose, 5-8 mm apart.