Aylostera einsteinii (Frič ex Kreuz. & Buining) Mosti & Papini
One of the southernmost species, and quite variable over its range, becoming like A. aureiflora in places, to which it is closely related. As a result, several different varieties have been named in the past, but these are not constant. They include var. atrospinosa, var. columnaris, var. conoidea, var. karreri, var. neumanniana, var. pseudoeinsteinii, var. rubriviridis, var. schmiedcheniana and var. steineckei, some of which have been regarded as separate species at one time.
Characterised by its softish, bristly spines, hairy buds and thick-tubed yellow / orangish flowers with yellow centres and styles that are not fused to the tube. The form “kesselringiana” has a pink flower and may be closer to A. aureiflora than to A. einsteinii.
Aylostera gonjianii, given specific status by Mosti & Papini (2011), was formerly regarded as a variety of A. einsteinii.
The description is here.
Plants of this species in the collection include:
Aylostera einsteinii, Niña Paula, Sierra Grande
Aylostera einsteinii HJK12
Aylostera einsteinii MN106
Aylostera einsteinii MN220
Aylostera einsteinii WR794