the genus rebutia 1895—1981 - Free

REBUTIA AUREIFLORA
Rebutia aureiflora Backbg. D. Kaktfrd. (1932) 124
Synonyms Mediolobivia aureiflora (Backbg.) Backbg.
Mediolobivia aureiflora var. albiseta Backbg.
Mediolobivia aureiflora var. albilongiseta Backbg.
Mediolobivia aureiflora var. albispina Backbg. nomen nudum
Mediolobivia spiralisepala Schutz
Rebutia aureiflora var. albilongiseta (Backbg.) Marshall & Bock,
comb. nud.
Rebutia aureiflora var. albiseta (Backbg.) Marshall & Bock. comb,
nud.
Rebutia aureiflora var. longiseta (Backbg.) Marshall & Bock. comb.
nud.
Rebutia aureiflora var. densispina Borg nomen nudum
Rebutia aureiflora subspec. aureiflora (Backbg.) Donald
Classification Section II Mediolobivia Subsection II Setirebutiae
Body 40mm. in diameter becoming caespitose from the base, eventually
forming clumps 100mm. in diameter.
Areoles elliptical with white wool
Spines c. 20, extremely variable not strongly differentiated into centrals
and radials. Seedlings and offshoots on older plants with short
spines 6-8mm. long yellowish at first, becoming all white and
tipped yellowish-brown. Older plants with extremely long thin
flexuous spines 50mm. or more in length, white tipped yellowish-
brown.
Flowers very large, 50mm. long and 45mm. in diameter, orange-yellow
petals, throat white, tube light brownish-orange with small
greenish-brown scales long thin flexuous hair and bristles are
produced up to 10mm. long. Stigma yellow, style and filaments
white, self sterile.
Fruit large, 8mm. in diameter brownish-orange densely covered with
long hairs.
Seeds dull brownish-black
Type locality Quebrada del Toro, Salta, Argentina. Map 2, No. 55.
Notes This species belongs to a group of slow growing plants which are
self sterile. Plants are rarely offered for sale mainly because what
seed is available germinates very erratically. In our experience
10% germination is all that can be expected. There are fourteen
described varieties and in all probability they can all be included
within the variation of the one species. For example var.
albilongiseta has long pure white bristles, var. albiseta has 10mm.
long white spines, var. boedeckeriana has 11-12 thin radial spines
and pale orange flowers, var. rubelliflora with orange-red flowers,
var. rubriflora with red flowers., In our opinion these differences do
not justify varietal status.
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