|
Rebutia leucanthema R305 Camargo - Culpina,
dpt.Chuquisaca, Bolivia.
This is one of the few white flowered Rebutias,
The
white blooms contrast with the dark painting of the body,
making it one of the most attractive species.
|
Description: Usually solitary in habitat (but
in culture it can unwillingly cluster).
Stem: Globose to short cylindrical, dark green to violet, up to 7
cm tall and 3,5 in diameter. It would appear that in
cultivation these plants grow larger and cluster
more vigorously than in habitat.
Ribs: 13-14 spiraling, with distinct tubercles.
Areoles: Oval brown.
Central spines: One or none, black to 7 mm long,
predominantly directed upward.
Radial spines: 7-8, brown, darker at the base, slightly bent
downward and covering the stem surface, up to 6 mm long.
Root: Thick fleshy taproot.
Flower: 2,5-3 cm in length and in diameter,
from the base of the stems. White (although there are
rarely seen plants with pink blooms).
Internal lobes white or pink with the a white base, external
pinkish with the a brown strip in the middle. The pistil
is green.
Blooming Season: IFlowers profusely
in early spring.
Fruit: Berrylike, hidden
among the spines, 4-5 mm in diameter, globose,
dark violet when ripe.
|
|
|
|
Advertising
|
|
|
Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family) |
Scientific name: Rebutia
leucanthema Rausch
Kakteen und Andere Sukkulenten 26 (6): 125, 1975 with
fig.
Origin: North and South of Cinti, dpt. Chuquisaca,
Bolivia, 3600 m
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
Synonyms:
- Lobivia atrovirens. Pilbeam
Cactus File 2(2):6-7 (1994)
This plant properly belongs to the subgenus
Mediolobivia and not subgenus Aylostera, where it was
originally placed by Raush. |
Rebutia leucanthema is one of the best white-flowered rebutias, but is
relatively hard to grow.
|
|
The buds sprout from the base of the stems.
Cultivation: This species
is relatively hard to grow. Grow it in a very
open mineral mix, (lots of pumice). It requires
full sun or light shade and careful watering to
keep plant compact . Keep dry in winter. Hardy to -4°C for a short
period. Rebutias grow in nature at high
altitudes and do not thrive well at high temperatures in cultivation.
They will often go dormant in mid-summer and resume growth again when
the weather cools in late August. They can tolerate amazingly low
temperatures for long periods of time. All species can take a frost even
when not bone dry. It is generally accepted that plants kept at too high
a temperature or watered too much during the winter rest period will not
bloom the following year. Give them airy spot
and ensure good drainage. It is better that they
be repotted regularly. Pots should be only
slightly larger than the plant and root system.
The roots can break during repotting, and
it is best to leave the compost dry for a while after repotting to avoid
rot. Repotting will increase
the number and size of stems, and will increase
the number of flowers produced. Repot yearly until reaching about 3 cm
in size, then every two or three years will suffice. Repotting is best
done at the end of winter, but can be done at
other times, too. All
plants, especially the young ones, are
susceptible to red spider mites.
Propagation: Seeds or
Offsets (If available)
|
|