Origin and Habitat: This species grows in Jujuy and Salta, Argentina, and in Chuquisaca, Oruro, Potosí and Tarija, Bolivia.
Altititude range: It can be found at altitudes from 2,950 to 4,300 metres above sea level.
Habitat: The species occurs on rocky outcrops in the puna grasslands often on steeply sloping ground where water rarely stands for any length of time. Rebutia pygmaeaSN|4416]]SN|4416]] is not exposed to any major threat due to its wide range, stable population and its presence in a protected area.

• Rebutia pygmaea (R.E.Fr.) Britton & Rose
• Aylostera pygmaea (R.E.Fr.) Mosti & Papini
• Echinopsis pygmaea R.E.Fr.
• Lobivia pygmaea (R.E.Fr.) Backeb. in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Mediolobivia pygmaea (R.E.Fr.) Krainz

• Rebutia pygmaea (R.E.Fr.) Britton & Rose
• Aylostera pygmaea (R.E.Fr.) Mosti & Papini
• Echinopsis pygmaea R.E.Fr.
• Lobivia pygmaea (R.E.Fr.) Backeb. in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Mediolobivia pygmaea (R.E.Fr.) Krainz
• Rebutia amblypetala (F.Ritter) Mosti
• Aylostera amblypetala (F.Ritter) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia rosalbiflora var. amblypetala F.Ritter
• Rebutia atrovirens (Backeb.) Pilbeam
• Aylostera atrovirens (Backeb.) Mosti & Papini
• Digitorebutia atrovirens (Backeb.) Buining
• Digitorebutia haagei var. atrovirens (Backeb.) Donald
• Lobivia atrovirens Backeb. in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Mediolobivia atrovirens Backeb. ex Krainz
• Mediolobivia haagei var. atrovirens (Backeb.) Don
• Mediolobivia pectinata var. atrovirens (Backeb.) Backeb.
• Rebutia pygmaea var. atrovirens (Backeb.) Buining & Donald
• Rebutia brunneoradicata F.Ritter
• Aylostera brunneoradicata (F.Ritter) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia canacruzensis Rausch
• Aylostera canacruzensis (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Digitorebutia canacruzensis Rausch
• Lobivia haagei var. canacruzensis (Rausch) Rausch
• Rebutia crassa (Rausch) Mosti
• Aylostera crassa (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Lobivia haagei var. crassa Rausch
• Rebutia diersiana Rausch
• Aylostera diersiana (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Lobivia pygmaea var. diersiana (Rausch) Rausch
• Rebutia pygmaea var. diersiana (Rausch) Lodé
• Rebutia diersiana var. atrovirens Rausch
• Aylostera diersiana subs. atrovirens (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Lobivia pygmaea var. nigrescens Rausch
• Rebutia digitiformis hort.
• Digitorebutia digitiformis (Backeb.) Buining
• Digitorebutia haagei var. digitiformis (Backeb.) Donald
• Lobivia digitiformis Backeb. in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Mediolobivia digitiformis (Backeb.) Backeb. ex Krainz
• Mediolobivia haagei var. digitiformis (Backeb.) Donald
• Mediolobivia pectinata var. digitiformis (Backeb.) Backeb.
• Rebutia pectinata var. digitiformis hort. sensu Backeb.
• Rebutia pygmaea var. digitiformis hort.
• Rebutia elegantula (Rausch) Šída
• Aylostera haagei subs. elegantula (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Lobivia haagei var. elegantula Rausch
• Rebutia haagei var. elegantula (Rausch) Mosti
• Rebutia eos Rausch
• Aylostera eos (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Digitorebutia eos Rausch
• Lobivia haagei var. eos (Rausch) Rausch
• Rebutia eos var. roseiflora Rausch
• Rebutia friedrichiana Rausch
• Aylostera friedrichiana (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Digitorebutia friedrichiana Rausch
• Lobivia pygmaea var. friedrichiana (Rausch) Rausch
• Rebutia pygmaea var. friedrichiana (Rausch) M.Erikss.
• Rebutia fuauxiana (Backeb.) Šída
• Mediolobivia fuauxiana Backeb.
• Rebutia pygmaea f. fuauxiana (Backeb.) Buining & Donald
• Rebutia gavazzii Mosti
• Aylostera gavazzii (Mosti) Mosti & Papini
• Mediolobivia pygmaea var. gavazzii (Mosti) hort.
• Rebutia pygmaea var. gavazzii (Mosti) E.F.Anderson
• Rebutia gracilispina F.Ritter
• Digitorebutia gracilispina (F.Ritter) hort.
• Mediolobivia gracilispina (F.Ritter) hort.
• Mediolobivia pygmaea var. gracilispina (F.Ritter) hort.
• Rebutia pygmaea var. gracilispina FR 1118 Tupiza to Impora, moutains above Mal Paso, pass top, Potosí, Bolivia, 4000 m. (F.Ritter) hort.
• Rebutia haagei Frič & Schelle
• Acantholobivia haagei (Frič & Schelle ex Werderm.) Y.Itô
• Aylostera haagei (Frič & Schelle) Mosti & Papini
• Digitorebutia haagei (Frič & Schelle) Frič ex Buining
• Echinolobivia haagei (Frič & Schelle) Y.Itô
• Lobivia neohaageana Backeb.
• Mediolobivia haagei (Frič & Schelle) Backeb.
• Rebulobivia haagei Frič & Schelle
• Rebutia haefneriana (Cullmann) Šída
• Aylostera haefneriana (Cullmann) Mosti & Papini
• Digitorebutia atrovirens var. haefneriana Wahl
• Digitorebutia haefneriana (Cullmann) Donald
• Lobivia atrovirens var. haefneriana (Cullmann) Rausch
• Lobivia steinmannii var. haefneriana Rausch
• Mediolobivia atrovirens var. haefneriana (Cullmann) Rausch
• Mediolobivia haagei var. haefneriana hort.
• Mediolobivia haefneriana Cullmann
• Mediolobivia pygmaea var. haefneriana hort.
• Rebutia atrovirens var. haefneriana hort. in Šída
• Rebutia atrovirens cv. haefneriana Pilbeam
• Rebutia pygmaea f. haefneriana (Cullmann) Buining & Donald
• Rebutia huasiensis Rausch
• Aylostera huasiensis (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Lobivia atrovirens var. huasiensis (Rausch) Rausch
• Rebutia atrovirens cv. huasiensis..... (Rausch) Pilbeam
• Rebutia iridescens F.Ritter
• Aylostera iridescens (F.Ritter) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia iscayachensis Rausch
• Aylostera iscayachensis (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Digitorebutia iscayachensis Rausch
• Rebutia pygmaea var. iscayachensis (Rausch) Rausch
• Rebutia knizei (Rausch) Mosti
• Aylostera knizei (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia pygmaea var. knizei Rausch
• Rebutia lanosiflora F.Ritter
• Rebutia minor (Rausch) Mosti
• Aylostera minor (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Digitorebutia diersiana var. minor Rausch
• Lobivia pygmaea var. minor (Rausch) Rausch
• Rebutia diersiana var. minor Rausch
• Rebutia mixta F.Ritter
• Rebutia mixticolor F.Ritter
• Aylostera mixticolor (F.Ritter) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia mudanensis Rausch
• Aylostera haagei subs. mudanensis (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Digitorebutia mudanensis Rausch
• Lobivia haagei var. mudanensis (Rausch) Rausch
• Rebutia haagei subs. mudanensis (Rausch) Mosti
• Rebutia pygmaea var. mudanensis (Rausch) Lodé
• Rebutia nazarenoensis (Rausch) Mosti
• Aylostera nazarenoensis (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Digitorebutia nazarenoensis Rausch
• Lobivia haagei var. nazarenoensis (Rausch) Rausch
• Rebutia pygmaea var. nazarenoensis (Rausch) Lodé
• Rebutia odehnalii Halda, Šeda & Šorma
• Aylostera odehnalii (Halda, Šeda & Šorma) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia odontopetala F.Ritter
• Rebutia pallida Rausch
• Aylostera pallida (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Digitorebutia pallida Rausch
• Lobivia haagei var. pallida (Rausch) Rausch
• Rebutia pauciareolata F.Ritter
• Aylostera pauciareolata (F.Ritter) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia paucicostata F.Ritter
• Rebutia pelzliana (Rausch) Mosti
• Aylostera pelzliana (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Lobivia haagei var. pelzliana Rausch
• Rebutia polypetala (Rausch) Mosti
• Aylostera polypetala (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Lobivia pygmaea var. polypetala Rausch
• Rebutia pseudoritteri (Rausch) Šída
• Aylostera pseudoritteri (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Lobivia atrovirens var. pseudoritteri Rausch
• Rebutia atrovirens var. pseudoritteri (Rausch) Mosti
• Rebutia pygmaea var. colorea (F.Ritter) Lodé
• Aylostera colorea (F.Ritter) Mosti & Papini
• Lobivia pygmaea var. colorea (F.Ritter) Rausch
• Mediolobivia colorea hort. sensu F.Ritter
• Rebutia colorea F.Ritter
• Rebutia pygmaea f. flavovirens (Backeb.) Buining & Donald
• Lobivia neohaageana var. flavovirens Backeb.
• Mediolobivia haagei var. flavovirens (Backeb.) Backeb.
• Mediolobivia pygmaea var. flavovirens (Backeb.) Backeb.
• Rebutia haagei f. flavovirens (Backeb.) Šída
• Rebutia pygmaea f. neosteinmannii (Backeb.) Buining & Donald
• Mediolobivia pectinata var. neosteinmannii Backeb.
• Rebutia pygmaea var. pectinata (Backeb.) Šída
• Digitorebutia haagei var. pectinata (Backeb.) Donald
• Digitorebutia pectinata (Backeb.) Buining
• Echinorebutia pectinata (Backeb.) Frič & Kreuz.
• Lobivia pectinata Backeb.
• Mediolobivia haagei var. pectinata (Backeb.) Donald
• Mediolobivia pectinata Backeb. ex Krainz
• Rebutia pygmaea var. pygmaea (F.Ritter)
• Rebutia raffaellii Mosti & Papini
• Aylostera raffaellii (Mosti & Papini) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia rosalbiflora F.Ritter
• Rebutia rovidana Mosti & Papini
• Aylostera rovidana (Mosti & Papini) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia rutiliflora F.Ritter
• Digitorebutia pygmaea var. diersiana 'rutiliflora'. hort. sensu F.Ritter
• Digitorebutia rutiliflora (F.Ritter) Wahl
• Lobivia pygmaea var. rutiliflora (F.Ritter) Rausch
• Mediolobivia pygmaea var. rutiliflora R.Hillmann
• Mediolobivia rutiliflora (F.Ritter) hort.
• Rebutia pygmaea var. diersiana 'rutiliflora' hort.
• Rebutia salpingantha F.Ritter
• Rebutia tafnaensis (Rausch) Šída
• Aylostera tafnaensis (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Lobivia pygmaea var. tafnaensis Rausch
• Rebutia tafnaensis (Rausch) Mosti
• Rebutia torquata F.Ritter & Buining
• Aylostera torquata (F.Ritter & Buining) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia tropaeolipicta F.Ritter
• Aylostera tropaeolipicta (F.Ritter) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia villazonensis F.H.Brandt
• Rebutia violaceostaminata (Rausch) Šída
• Aylostera violaceostaminata (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Lobivia pygmaea var. violaceostaminata Rausch
• Rebutia violaceostaminata (Rausch) Mosti
• Rebutia violascens F.Ritter
• Aylostera violascens (F.Ritter) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia haagei var. violascens (F.Ritter) Rausch
• Rebutia yuncharasensis (Rausch) Šída
• Aylostera yuncharasensis (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Lobivia atrovirens var. yuncharasensis Rausch
• Rebutia yuncharasensis (Rausch) Mosti
• Rebutia yuquinensis Rausch
• Aylostera yuquinensis (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Digitorebutia yuquinensis Rausch
• Lobivia atrovirens var. yuquinensis (Rausch) Rausch
• Rebutia yuquinensis Rausch

Description: Rebutia pygmaeaSN|4416]]SN|4416]] is a very small clumping species, widespread and extremely variable that has received numerous unnecessary names. Some of its variable forms don't really look like the same species.
Habit: It is a small geophyte cactus solitary or clustering and barely rising above ground level.
Roots: It has a heavy tap root that may exceed the size of the plant above soil level. Tap root more or less branched whitish.
Stem: 10-30(-40) mm tall, 12-20 mm wide, spherical to slightly oblong, becoming short-cylindrical in cultivation. The colour of the epidermis vary from grey-green or olive-green to dark purple-green with violet tints.
Ribs: About 10 more or less spiralling, slightly tuberculate.
Tubercles: About 2-4 mm wide and 1,5 mm high.
Areoles: Oval, 1-1,5 mm long, about 0,5 mm wide, slightly brownish or whitish tomentose, 2 mm long, with abundant white or light brown felt, a little far apart.
Radial spines: 8-11, thin, bristly, pectinate, short, brown to glassy white with a darker base, 2-3 mm long.
Central spines: usually absent, or rarely 1 yellowish, 1-2 mm long.
Flowers: From the basal parts of the stem, widely funnel-shaped about 20-30 mm long and 25-35 mm wide usually salmon pink, however the flowers of this species and its varieties (forms?) vary a lot and range from from white to pink, red, salmon and orange. Buds with few black scales with woolly axils and with 1-3 white bristles, 2-3 mm long. Tube funnel-shaped, 7-12 mm long, the top 6-9 mm wide, pale pink inside, outside with few scales and white hairs. Tepals pale red to dark purple (but also white, yellow orange) 10-15 mm long, 4-5 mm wide, rounded up with a small tapered tip. filaments magenta about 12 mm long. Anthers lemon yellow. Pistil light green, about 15 mm long, with 6 yellow-green stigma lobes, 2-4 mm long.
Fruit: Spherical, greenish, with thin skin, drying at maturity, about 6 mm large.
Seeds: Spherical to bell-shaped, rough, covered with remnants of the membrane with a large, straight, rarely slightly oblique hilum.
Blooming season: Flowers all tend to come in one late Spring rush, rather than spread over the Summer.
Reutia pygmaea var. pygmea: (Typical form) has 9 to 11, short, appressed radial spines, 2 to 3 mm long, acicular, somewhat swollen at base. Its flowers appears on the lower part of the plant, and are somewhat curved at base, becoming nearly erect, 18 to 25 mm. long, rose-purple; scales on ovary and flower-tube small, hairy in their axils.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume 4, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
5) Curt Backeberg “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde” Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1982–1985
6) Backeberg, Curt, "Das Kakteenlexikon" p. 271, 1966
7) Mosti, Stefano; "Digitorebutia" Buining & Donald (2), Cactus & Co., 4: 87, 2000
8) Pilbeam, John; "Rebutia" p. 73, 1997
9) Rausch Walter, "Lobivia '95", p. 109, 1986
10) Ritter, Friedrich; "Kakteen in Südamerika", 2: 616, 1980
11) Šída Otakar, "Rod Rebutia", p. 85, 1997
12) Šída, Otakar; "Atlas kaktus?", tab. 29, 2002
13) Lowry, M. 2013. Rebutia pygmaea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 April 2015.

Cultivation and Propagation: Rebutia pygmaeaSN|4416]]SN|4416]] is a summer grower species that is easy to cultivate and recommended for beginners. The whole Rebutia pygmaeaSN|4416]]SN|4416]] complex has delightful flowers and the plants remain compact, and clumps can easily be managed by division. Another advantage is that the plants are very cold hardy in Winter if kept dry.
Growth rate: It is a slow growing but easily flowering species that will make clumps given the best conditions.
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil with a pH slightly on the acidic side.
Repotting: This species will occupy a small flower pot comfortably and remain a manageable sized house plant, repotting should be done every other year or when the it has outgrown its pot. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: Needs moderate to copious waterings in summer, but do not overwater (the root system is rot prone) and allow the pot to dry out between waterings. Keep dry in winter at a minimum temperature of 0°C.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Hardiness: It is reputedly resistant to frost if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather and requires a winter rest period (hardy to -12 C ° C, or less for short periods), but for safe cultivation it is best to avoid freezing temperatures. It does not like high temperatures in summer, and will be perfectly happy in pots outdoors from April to September if protected from torrential rain and hail
Exposition: The plant tolerates extremely bright situations but enjoys filtered sunlight or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy spine production, but is likely to suffer from sun scorch or stunted growth if over exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day in summer.
Uses: It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small. It look fine in a cold greenhouse and frame or outdoor in a rockery.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to and liable to damage by spider mites and thrips but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation.
Rot: This species is particularly easy and accommodating, seldom suffer of cryptogamic diseases. Rot it is only a minor problem with rebutias if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Propagation: Division, direct sow after last frost. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove gradually the glass cover as soon the plants will be well rooted (ca 1-2 weeks) and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants! To make a cutting twist off a branch and permit it to dry out a couple of weeks, lay it on the soil and insert the stem end partially into the soil. Try to keep the cutting somewhat upright so that the roots are able to grow downward.
Note: It would appear that in cultivation they grow larger and cluster more vigorously than in habitat.