Rebutia canigueralii subs. rauschii
Family
Cactacaea
Native
Bolivia
Description
Rebutia rauschii is a local or morphological form of the variable Rebutia canigueralii. It is a miniature clustering cactus (rarely solitary), readily forms clumps of many purple heads with characteristic very short, black spines form of a fishbone.
Sulcorebutia rauschii f. violacidermis has dark violet stems, covered by flat tubercles, up to 4 cm tall and up to 5 cm in diameter. In older Cactus tubercles are arranged in up to 16 spiral line merging in the apex. The areoles are long, narrow, with short white felt. The spines are short, black, completely flattened against the tubercles. The flowers are up to 5 cm long and wide wide, funnel-shaped, yellow-green, with tan colored scales, tepals deep magenta with a clearer throat. The fruit is reddish brown and up to 0.2 inch wide.
Environment
Rebutia rauschii is a mountainous Cactus with a thick taproots and is susceptible to overwatering, it grows rather slowly and need a very good drainage to avoid rotting. It requires also an appropriate air circulation and is sometime grafted to avoid root problems.It loves a very permeable, coarse mineral soil.
The Cactus grows best in light shade when young, full sun later.Give an occasional high potassium liquid feed during the active growing period.
Landscape Uses
It is a fine plant for a rock garden or container, contrasts well with agaves, yuccas, and low-growing flowering Cactus.