Xerophyte

Central Spines

0-4, equal in length.

Seeds

Black.

Description

Rebutia mamillosaSN|5033]]SN|5045]] v. australis is a small cactus species with prominent ribs, tiny bristly spines and vibrant red flower which is distinguished from var. mamillosa by larger body and flowers to 45 mm long with white filaments. It is one of the many geographical or morphological form of the widespread and variable Rebutia spegazzinianaSN|19595]]SN|5033]].

Roots

Taproot smaller than in var. mamillosa.

Flowers

Diurnal, borne on the stems' side near ground level, 26-46 cm long and in diameter, bright red, with white filaments, 3-4 pale yellow stigma lobes.

Spines

Short glass-white with darker tips, bristly, awl-shaped to needle-like.

Ribs

10-15, forming prominent tubercles.

Stem

Individual heads 20-30 mm wide, globose to flattened globose (sometime short-cylindrical in cultivation). The colour of the epidermis is very dark greenish brown becoming deeply bronzed purple in full sunlight.

Fruits

Globose, reddish green.

Habit

It is a solitary or clustered stem succulent, branching at ground level to form low dense groups or mounds up to 15 cm wide. It grows quite close to the ground and offsets only with age. It would appear that in cultivation it grows larger and clusters more vigorously than in habitat.

Radial Spines

12-20 all straight, 3-6mm long, white or yellowish.

Areoles

Small, brown, 1-1.5 mm.