Aylostera oculata

: Rebutia oculataSN|4397]]SN|4397]] is one of the many geografical form of the widespread and morphologically variable Rebutia aureifloraSN|4396]]SN|4396]]. Many of its morphological and geographical variant was early classified as different independent species, but nowadays all this plant are considered part of a multiform species, where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics. Rebutia oculataSN|4397]]SN|4397]] has distinctive deep lateral incisions between areoles, few (6-8) radial spines less than 12 mm long, white or yellowish with brown base. Flowers 4,5 cm long, 5 cm wide, crimson with whitish throat. Outer tepals crimson. Stigma pale green.
Habit: It is a mound-forming, perennial cactus.
Stem:: Globular or almost cylindrical in cultivation, 4-6 cm in diameter, leaf-green often brownish-red deep-purple tinged, becoming caespitose from the base, eventually forming clumps 10 cm in diameter.
Ribs: Spiralling with deep lateral incisions between areoles.
Areoles: Elliptical with white wool.
Spines: Not strongly differentiated into centrals and radials. Centrals1-4, bristle-like, rigid, stiff, white or yellowish with brown base. Radials 6-8, less than 12 mm long.
Flowers: Very large, broadly funnel-shaped, about 45 mm long and 50 mm in diameter, typically crimson with whitish throat with white throat. Outer tepals dark crimson. Tube pale brownish-orange, scales small tipped greenish red, with thin flexuous hairs up to 10 mm long and an occasional bristle in the axils. Stigma pale green.
Blooming season: Late spring.
Fruits: Flattened-spherical about 8 mm in diameter, brownish-orange to reddish, densely covered with long hairs.
Seeds: Bell- to cap-shaped, coat warty, dull brownish-black.

Rebutia aureiflora var. albiseta (Backeb.) Borg: has 10 mm long white spines.
Rebutia aureiflora var. albi-longiseta (Backeb.) W.T.Marshall: has long pure white bristles.
Rebutia aureiflora f. boedekeriana (Backeb.) Šída: has has 11-12 thin radial spines and pale orange flowers.
Rebutia aureiflora var. elegans (Backeb.) Buining & Donald
Rebutia aureiflora f. rubelliflora (Backeb.) Buining & Donald: has orange-red flowers.
Rebutia aureiflora f. rubriflora (Backeb.) Buining & Donald: has red flowers. Distribution: Salta, Argentina.
Rebutia einsteinii Frič in Möller: (subs. einsteinii)
Rebutia einsteinii subs. aureiflora (Backeb.) Hjertson: Has large mostly yellow or orange flowers with white throat. It is very variable. Distribution: North-west Argentina near to the Salta – Jujuy border around Quebrada del Toro.
Rebutia einsteinii subs. gonjianii (R.Kiesling) Hjertson: has minuscule, thin finger-like stems branching from the base or higher in the manner of a miniature saguaro, from a thick, fleshy taproot. Spines pectinated less than 1 mm long. Distribution: Huacalera, Tilcara (Jujuy, Argentina).
Rebutia einsteinii subs. gonjianii f. cristata hort.: Crested form.
Rebutia euanthema (Backeb.) Buining & Donald
Rebutia oculata Werderm.: has deep lateral incisions between areoles, few (6-8) radial spines less than 12 mm long and crimson flowers 4,5 cm long, 5 cm wide. Stigma pale green. Distribution: Challapata, Bolivia.

: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
3) 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
4) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
5) John Borg “Cacti: a gardener's handbook for their identification and cultivation” Blandford P., 1970
6) B. Fearn and L. Pearcy, “The Genus Rebutia, 1895-1981” Matlock: Abbey Brook, 1981

KK973 (Collector: Karel Kníže) Locality: Challapata, Bolivia Altitude: 4000m (4100m in 1977 list) (Rebutia oculata) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Aylostera oculata (Rebutia oculata) Photo by: Diego Armentano

: Rebutia oculataSN|4397]]SN|4397]] is a summer grower species that is easy to cultivate.
Growth rate: It is a relatively rapidly growing and easily flowering species that will make clumps given the best conditions.
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil. Prefer a neutral or low pH compost, avoid substrata rich in limestone.
Repotting: It is better that they are repotted regularly. Repotting will increase the number and size of stems and will increase the number of flowers produced. Repot yearly until reaching about 100 mm 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. Do not water for a couple of weeks after repotting to reduce risk of root rot via broken roots. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: Needs moderate to copious waterings in summer, but do not overwater (Rot prone), keep dry in winter at a minimum temperature of 0°C.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Hardiness: Reputedly resistant to frost if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather (hardy to -4 C ° C, or less for short periods).
Exposition: The plant tolerates 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 a variety of insects, 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. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by watering the plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- 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! Seed Collecting: Permit fruit to ripen. Fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds. 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.

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