Aylostera fröhlichiana (also spelled froehlichiana) description


The original description of Rebutia (Aylostera) fröhlichiana was published in the Dutch journal Succulenta 12 (1975) by Walter Rausch.

Here is an excerpt of the main points, but you should look up the original description for more details. Translated from Dutch.

Rebutia (Aylostera ) fröhlichiana Rausch spec. nov.

Simplex globosa, ad 25mm dlametiens, vlridls; costis 13-14, recte adscendentibus vel palum tortis, in gibberes 3mm longos et latos, rotundos, verrucosos divisis: areolis ovalibus, ad 2mm longis, albotomentosis; aculeis marginalibus ca.11, ad 5mm longis, circa corpus contextis, setosis vitreo-albis ad flavldis fusco-acuminatis et basi incrassata fuscls; aculeis centrallbus 1-2, ad 5 mm longis, fuscis ad nigris, validionbus et partim subarcuatis.

Floribus lateralibus, 30m.longis et 25mm diametientibus; ovario et receptaculo roseo, squamis fuscis, pilis et setis albis tecto; phyllis perigonii exterioribus lanceolatis, violaceo-roseis, medio-clarefusco-striatis; phyllis perigonii intenoribus spathulatis ad .acutls, aurantiacis; fauce I5mm longa, 5mm eius cum stylo connata, rosea; filamentis flavidis, basi violaceo-rosidis, stylo et stigmatibus (4) viridibus.

Fructu globoso, 3mmI dlametiente, pilis et setis albis tecto.

Seminibus globosemitraeformibus, 1mm diametientibus, nigris, tunica arillosa reliqua paululum tectis, hilo magno basali.

Patria: Bolivia, Cinti meridionalis apud Yuquina. 3.200m alt.

Typus: Rausch 649 in Herbario Städt. Sukkulentensammlung Zürich.

Unbranched. spherical, up to 25 mm diameter; ribs 13-14, straight or slightly twisted, divided, into 3 mm long and wide, round wart-like cusps; areoles oval. up to 2 mm long. white felt; edging spines ca 11, up to 5 mm long, braided around the plant body, bristly, glassy white to yellowish with brown tip and thickened brown base; central spines 1-2, up to 5 mm long, dark approaching black, slightly stronger and partly slightly curved.

Flowers appearing on the side, 30 mm long and 25 mm in diameter; ovary and flower tube pink with dark brown scales, white hair and bristles; outer petals lanceolate, violet-pink with light brown centre stripe; inner petals spatulate to pointed, orange-red; throat 15 mm long, of which 5 mm attached with the pistil; stamens yellowish with violet-pink base; pistil and stigma (4) green.

Fruit spherical, 3 mm diameter, with white hair and bristles.

Seeds spherical • cap-shaped. 1 mm diameter, black, covered with few wrinkles and with a large, basal navel.

Found: Bolivia, South · Cinti. at Yuquina at 3200 m.

Type Rausch 649. in the herbarium of the Städt. Sukkulentensammlung Zurich.

This little Aylostera grows together in one place with several Rebutia types, something that is more common in South Bolivia and North Argentina. Often 5 to 7 different types occur together without hybridizing. This species is characterized by its bushy, white spines, the black middle spines and the small, orange flowers, which can also have a pink edge.

I name this strain after Alfred Fröhlich, for many years the “engine” of the Swiss Kakteengesellschaft.