Rebutia (Aylostera) nitida was first described by Friedrich Ritter in Ashingtonia 3(1), p. 14, in 1978.

The description is rather brief, though contains a black-and-white photograph supplied by Buining. Unlike many other species, the description is not expanded upon, in Ritter’s self-published book “Kakteen in Sudamerika” volume 2, p. 615, in 1980 except to say that the original photograph had been lost by the English printers, and that Donald’s inclusion of this species with Rebutia pseudodeminuta on the basis that the seeds are the same is not valid because many Rebutia have indistinguishable seeds. The original description is given here in Latin as published plus Ritter’s own English translation but you should look up the original for the photograph.

Rebutia nitida Ritter spec. nov.

In natura paulum prolifera, viridis, radice rapacea; caules globosi, ca. 2cm diam.; costae dissolutae, tuberculis remotis; areolae brunneolae, in summis tuberculis; spinae marginales 8-10, aciculares, nitidae, albae, centralis singularis, perbrevis, brunnea; flores rubri; semina ca. 1 x 0,7 x 0,5mm diam., testa atra, opaca, tenuiter plane tuberculosa, hilum basale, album, micropyle in protuberantia; habitat Cajas, Prov. Mendez, Depart. Tarija, Bolivia. FR 769.

English translation

Rebutia nitida Ritt. spec. nov.

Sparingly caespitose [clustering] in nature, green, with tap root; stems globular ca. 20mm diam.; ribs resolved into separate tubercles; areoles brownish set on tip of tubercle; radial spines 8-10, acicular, shining white, a single central, shorter, brown; flowers red; seeds ca. 1mm by 0.5mm, testa opaque black, mostly finely tuberculate [bumpy], basal hilum white, micropyle in protuberance; habitat Cajas, Prov. Mendez, Tarija Dept., Bolivia.

Collected under Field number FR 769.