Aylostera amblypetala description


The original description of Rebutia (Aylostera) rosalbiflora var. amblypetala was published in Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten 28(4): 76, 1977, the journal of the Deutsche Kakteen-Gesellschaft, by Friedrich Ritter. Further details were given in Ritter’s book Kakteen in Kakteen in Südamerika vol. 2 (1980).

The description is mainly of Rebutia rosalbiflora, with a subsequent section saying how var. amblypetala differs. R. rosalbiflora is now often accepted to be a form of A. eos, but Mosti & Papini (2011) have given Aylostera amblypetala specific status.

In Kakteen in Südamerika, Ritter stated that amblypetala was extremely rare, with only one plant having been found, and which had died before the book was written. Subsequent plants have been found by others but whether they are the same as Ritter’s we can’t be sure. A black and white photograph is shown in the book.

Here is the text of descriptions of both plants, but you should look up the original description for more details. The English translation below is my own.

Rebutia rosalbiflora Ritter spec. nov.

Corpus 2-3 cm diam., saepe proliferans, radice paulum rapacea; costae 10-11, dissolutae; areolae 1,5 mm longae, angustae, lana exigua rufa instructae, 3 mm inter se remotae; spinae solum marginales, 8-11, aciculares, rectae, pectinatae, 4-7 mm longae, primum fulvae vel brunneae, postea pallide rubrae, basi obscura.

Flores 35-40 mm longi ; ovarium rubrum, lana exigua et interdum 1-2 saetis albis instructum; stylus 1-6 cm cum tubo coalitus; camara nectarifera 6-7 mm longa, angusta; tubus floralis supra earn 9-13 mm longus, infundibuliformis; filamenta purpurea; lacuna inter insertiones filamentorum; petala oblanceolata, 13-17 mm longa, 4-6 mm lata, pallide purpurea; semina nigribrunnea, 1 mm longa, tuberculata; habitat M a l Paso, Prov. Sud-Chichas, Bolivia.

Collected as FR 1115

Rebutia rosalbiflora Ritter var. amblypetala Ritter var. nov.

Ab var. rosalbiflora recedit corpore 1,5 cm crasso; areolis lana exigua brunneola instructis, spinis adpressis, 3-4 mm longis, basi brunnea; stigmatibus 4, 2 mm longis; petalis 10 mm longis, 5 mm latis, obtusis, purpureoroseis, paulum magis saturis; habitat Impora ad occidentem versus, Prov. Sud-Chicha, Bolivia.

Collected as FR 1119

Rebutia rosalbiflora Ritter spec. nov.

Body 2-3 cm diam. often proliferating; small tap root; 10-11 ribs, much broken up; areoles 1,5 mm long, narrow, with reddish wool, arranged 3 mm apart; spines 8 -11, marginal only, straight, pectinate, 4 – 7 mm long, at first yellow or brown, later pale red, dark base.

Flowers 35-40 mm long; ovary red, occasionally with one or two white bristles; style 1-6 mm inside the tube; nectary 6 – 7 mm long and narrow; outer floral tube 9-13 mm long, funnel-shaped; stamen filaments purple; a gap between the placement of the filaments; petals oblanceolate, 13-17 mm long, 4 – 6 mm wide, pale pink; seeds blackish-brown, 1mm long, warty.

Habitat Mal Paso, Prov. Sud-Chichas, Bolivia.

Collection number FR 1115

Rebutia rosalbiflora Ritter var. amblypetala Ritter var. nov.

From ssp. rosalbiflora, body differs as 1.5 cm thick; areoles with some brown wool; spines lying flat, 3 – 4 mm long, the base brown; 4 stigmas, 2 mm long; petals 10 mm long, 5 mm wide, blunt, ruby-pink, a little more saturated; habitat more to the west, Prov. Sud-Chicha, Bolivia.

Collection number FR 1119