The original description (of Rebutia rovidana) was published in the Italian journal Cactus & Co., 1 (9) 2005, pp. 215 to 221.

Here is an excerpt of the main points, but you should look up the full description for more details.

Rebutia rovidana Mosti & Papini sp. nov.

Typus – Holotypus: Argentina, Jujuy, near Tafna, WR 333b. Cult. S. Mosti, s. d. (FT)

A R. nazarenoensi Fearn & Pearcy differt areolis longioribus (2-3 mm vice 1-2 mm); aculeis longioribus sive marginalibus (1-1.2 cm vice 0.3-0.8 cm), sive centralibus (1.5-1.8 cm vice ad 1 cm) flexilibus nec rigidis; floribus majoribus (5 cm vice 3.5 cm diametientibus), segmentis perianthii lanceolatis nec rotundis, roseis neque aurantiacis, staminum filamentis roseis nec stramineis; seminum tegumento cellulis magis elongatis minusque prominentibus.

English translation

Differing from Rebutia nazarenoensis Fearn & Pearcy by longer areoles (2 -3mm versus 1 -2mm); longer marginal spines (1cm – 1.2cm versus 0.3cm – 0.8cm), longer central spines (1.5mm – 1.8cm versus up to 1cm), flexible not rigid; larger flowers (5cm wide versus 3.5cm wide), petals lanceolate not rounded, pink not orange, stamens pink not straw-coloured; cells covering the seed more elongated and less prominent.

Notes on Description

Solitary to branching a little, short-cylindrical; diameter 3-4 cm, height 4-7 cm. Bodies dark green, reddish brown at the base of the conical tubercles which are 0.4 – 0.5cm in diameter. 12 – 15 ribs. Areoles 2 – 3mm long, with some light brown wool.

9-12 radial spines, 1-1.2 cm long; glassy white to cream-coloured with darker apex, flat against the stem or pointing slightly outwards. 1 (-2) central spine, 1.5-1.8 cm long, rather flexible and sometimes curved in the middle; brown and slightly bulbous at the base, central part light brown, dark brown at the apex.

Flowers 2.5-3 cm long and 5 cm wide. Flower tube pinkish brown with dark brown scales. Ca. 25 petals, lanceolate and with short point; outer petals pink or light brown with brown band of varying width; inner petals light salmon pink (darker when fresh) with central, more or less evident magenta stripe.

Stamens magenta pink lower down, salmon pink above; anthers yellow. Style l. 2 cm long, fused for 0.5 cm, green. 7 light yellow stimatic lobes.

Fruit 0.7 cm in diameter; red-brown with thin but evident brownish green scales and hair. Cells of seed coat slightly elongated and slightly protruding with tubular or compressed ridges on the sides, reaching from the base to the top of the cell, sometimes partially revealing an apical zone with much finer and more tightly packed ridges.