Xerophyte

Habit

It is a clumping globular cactus forming clusters up to 15 cm tall and wide.

Description

Rebutia krainziana cv. brevispinaSN|15968]]SN|15968]] is a mutant cultivar with very sort spines. The specially notable characteristics of this cactus are the dark stem colour, emphasized by small white areoles and the bright orange flowers. But the most peculiar trait of this plant are the vestigial leaves subtending the small areoles on each tubercle. This is an ancestral trait not manifested in the normal plant. This trait is revealed thanks to a mutation that permits this odd cultivar to show the characteristic of bearing leaves, reminding us of an ancient era when its cacti ancestors were normal leafed plants.

Tubercles

In two downward spirals, in ratio 8-13.

Flowers

Orange or yellow, 3,5 cm wide, develops from the base of each head, resulting in a superb display in mid season.

Blooming Season

it is usually one of the earliest rebutias to flower in spring.

Spines

Extremely reduced, straw-coloured, very thin, very short, and soft, but they can still poke.

Stem

Individual stems up to 6 cm tall, globose, dark green, that begins to offset in about its third or fourth year, eventually making a moderately tight clump, with the individual stems standing out a little on their own.