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Lobivia lateritia (classical form with brick-red flowers)
This is one of the most variable species with several related population that differ widely in flower colour, spine colour, number, length and thickness of central spines, and other characters.
 

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Lobivia lateritia (Gürke) Britton & Rose
In: The Cactaceae lll 1922

Accepted Scientific name: Echinopsis lateritia Gürke
In: Monatsschr. Kakteenk. XVII. 10. p. 151-152. 1907

Origin: Lobivia lateritia was collected at the turn of the last century by Fiebrig in Southern Bolivia

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Synonyms:  

• Lobivia lateritia (Gürke) Britton & Rose
• Lobivia camataquiensis Cárdenas
• Lobivia carminantha Backeb.
• Lobivia pentlandii
• Hymenorebutia torreana
• Hymenorebutia torataensis
• Hymenorebutia cintiensis
• Lobivia scopulina
• Lobivia cintiensis

The Echinopsis lateritia complex comprises a large number of infraspecific taxa, differing in various combinations of flower colour, spine colour, number and thickness of central spines, and other characters. The taxonomic and geographic boundaries among the segregate species or infraspecific taxa of E. lateritia remain nebulous and controversial. In no place do pure populations exist sympatrically, and all taxa appear completely interfertile.
 

Description: Lobivia lateritia is a pretty little species, with a low thick flat to cylindrical stem. Plant almost always grows solitary but sometime ramifies from the base to form clusters, size depending on the clone.
Root: Tap root.
Stem: Nearly globular or slightly elongated glaucous green. About 5-8 cm tall.
Ribs: About 18, broad at the base, acute straight or wavy, approx 1 cm high.
Areoles: Felted1-2 cm apart.
Radial spines: 9-10 straight or more or less curved, up to 5 cm long, whitish, yellowish or brownish.
Central spines: 1 to 2 ± longer than the radials curved upward, somewhat thickened at the base sometime slightly hooked. Older plant begins to produce very long spines (up to 10 cm in some clones)
Flowers: Short funnel-formed 3 to 5 cm long, 5-6 cm in diameter, yellow, orange, pinkish, brick-red to carmine in colour with a usual clearer centre. Inner perianth segments oblong, acute. Scales on the ovary and flower tube lanceolate, acute with black hairs in the axil. Filaments yellow to red. Stigma lobes about 7 or 8.
Blooming season: Bloom in the daytime, from late spring to summer and remain open for about three days.
 

Cultivation: It is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties.  Water regularly in summer (but do not overwater ) Needs a large pot to accommodate a large root system. Use a very draining and porous substrate, since it's natural habitat is in volcanic soil, it has adapted to more acidic conditions;  keep rather dry in winter.
It is quite frost resistant if kept dry (hardy to  -5° C) Outside full sun or afternoon shade, inside needs bright light, and some direct sun.

Propagation: Propagate by seed or shoots.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Lobivia lateritia complex (This Taxon has lots of synonyms  whit several controversial varieties and subspecies and comprises a multitude of different forms, but where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics):

• Lobivia lateritia
• Lobivia lateritia var. citriflora
• Lobivia lateritia var. kupperiana

All the information and photos in cactus art file are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.