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Sulcorebutia tiraquensis var. aguilarii
(Syn: Sulcorebutia aguillari)

Sulcorebutia tiraquensis var. aguilarii
HS 220 Pojo 2km, Carrasco, Cochabamba, Bolivia 2900 m TL (From the typical locality)
A beautiful variety, sought after by collectors for its attractive mahogany
red spines and rings of light purple flowers in spring
 

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Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Sulcorebutia steinbachi 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):

• S. steinbachii
• S. augustinii (S. steinbachii subvar. augustinii )
• S. augustinii forma cristata
• S. heinzii HS151 (S. steinbachii subvar. totorensis)
• S. polymorpha (S. steinbachii var. polymorpha)
• S. taratensis var. minima (S. steinbachii)
• S. tiraquensis (S. steinbachii ssp. aguillarii)
• S. tiraquensis var. aguillari  (S. steinbachii ssp. aguillarii)

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Sulcorebutia tiraquensis var. aguilarii K. Augustin & W. Gertel
in: Augustin K., Beck S., Gertel W. et Hentzschel G.: Two new Varieties of Sulcorebutia tiraquensis (Cárdenas) Ritter, Cactus & Co., 3:117, 1999

Accepted Scientific Name: Sulcorebutia steinbachii Werderman 1931


Distribution: Grows in the Cordillera de Cochabamba, in southern Bolivia.

Habitat:  S. steinbachii grows mainly on a flat, dry, stony area,  while the  tiraquensis populations grows in a moister zone. Altitude 2950 – 3900 m.

Ecology: Thanks to the fog banks coming from the tropical lowlands of the Chaparé, the plants have enough humidity all year round to capture with their numerous spines.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Synonyms:

• Sulcorebutia tiraquensis v. lepida fa. Aguilarii
• Sulcorebutia aguilarii n.n.
• Sulcorebutia steinbachii subvar. aguilari W. Gertel, Kakteen und Andere Sukkulenten 47 (6): 135, 1996A

Cultivation: S. tiraquensis are easy plant that grow large clumps and form beautiful specimens with time. During the summer it is best to keep the plants outside where the temperature can rise to over 30 C with no harm to the plant. It loves a very permeable, coarse mineral soil.  From March onwards the plant will begin to grow and watering should be increased gradually until late May when the plant should be in full growth. Water regularly during the summer so long as the plant pot is allowed to drain and not sit in a tray of water. During hot weather you may need to water the plants more frequently so long as the plant is actively growing. From late September watering should be reduced to force the plant to go in to a state of semi dormancy, by October you should be back in to the winter watering regime . From November to march they must be kept strictly dry since they are very sensitive to any moisture excesses.
To prevent rottenness it is also advisable to surround its root neck by very rough sand or grit, this help a fast water drainage and an appropriate air circulation. For its sensitive roots this species is often grafted to avoid root problems.
Plants are and quite frost hardy -10 (or possibly colder)° C but preferably overwinter  in a cool place (at 0/10°C)  this is important for the flowers as well as for plants health. Without this cool winter period they normally wont get any buds. Sun Exposure: Need full sun avoiding only the harshest summer sun, if kept too dark they may become overly lush and greener and could be prone to rotting due to over watering. Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh then, feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards as this can cause lush growth which can be fatal during the darker cold months.

Propagation: Seed, cutting, grafting.

NOTE: Sulcorebutia steinbachii  is one of the most variable cactus species. The colour of the flower, the spines length, the body shape and pigmentation is extremely variable, even within a population. There are also many localized phenotypes capable of maintaining their separate identity, even though only a few kilometers apart and by former authors considered as separated species and varieties. They are nowadays considered just phenotypes of a highly polymorphic specie. These subpopulations are not only morphologically based but also geographically and can be grouped as follow:

Group 1a: Cochabamba to Chapare, northward and eastward to Tiraque

• Sulcorebutia glomerispina
• S. tuberculato-chrysantha
• S. polymorphaS. kruegeri
• S. hoffmannianaS. glanduliflora Card. n.n.
• S. cochabambina
• S. steinbachii & vars. australis, gracilior, etc.A

Group 1b: Province Tiraque to Epizana an eastward to Comarapa, 2,800 m-3.000 m.

• Sulcorebutia tiraquensis & vars. longiseta
• S. spinosior & aglaia (bicolorispina)
• S. lepida
• S. krahnii

Group 2: Cerro Tunari-south and east of Cochabamba-Izata to Anzaldo, 3,400-3,900 m

• Sulcorebutia verticillacantha
• S. tunariensis
• S. taratensis & var. minima
• S. mizquensis
• S. pojoniensis Rausch n.n.A

Group 3: West of Cochabamba-Ayopaya, 2,000-2,500 m

• Sulcorebutia arenacea
• S. candiae
• S. menesesii & vars. kamiensis
• S. muschii
• S. glomeriseta

Group 4: Around Totora and southward toward Epizana, 2,600-3,000 m

• Sulcorebutia oenanthaA
• S. totorensis
• S. pampagrandensis

Group 5: A limited area around Pasopaya and eastwards, 2,000 m

• Sulcorebutia cardenasiana
• S. langeri

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