Aylostera (Rebutia) oculata was originally described by Erich Werdermann in Blühende Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten pflanzen, table 99, in 1935. The brief description for subspecies tilcarensis (under Lobivia euanthema) was published in Lobivia 85, p. 138 by Walter Rausch in 1987. A translation for this is given at the bottom of this page.

Here is the text in Latin, as published. You should look up the original description for further details, including extensive additional notes in German, and a colour photograph. The English translation of the Latin and German is my own.

Rebutia oculata Werdermann nov. spec.

Globosa vel subcylindrica, basi proliferans, viridis. Costae ca. 10-14, continuae, ± regulariter tuberculatae. Areolae oblongae, primum subfloccose lanuginosae mox glabrescentes. Aculei 6-8, omnes radiales, divaricati, setiformes, recti vel curvati, albi interdum flavescentes, basi incrassati atque ferruginei.

Flores ex parte inferiore corporis orti. Ovarium applanatum, extus pallidum squamisque viridibus in axillis lanam sparsam setasque minutas gerentibus obsitum. Tubus brevis atque late infundibuliformis pro rata, extus albidus, squamis lanceolatis, viridibus, in axillis sparsissime lanatis atque interdum setam solitariam gerentibus praeditus. Phylla perigonii interiora oblonga, submucronata, apicem versus ferrugineo- vel violaceo-kermesina, basin versus flavida. Filamenta basi breviter tubo adnata dein libera, saturate kermesina. Antherae flavidulae. Stylus liber, pallide viridis, stigmatibus ca. 8, viridi-flavidulis stamina parum superans.

Habitat: Northern Argentina; apart from that, location unknown.

English translation, & further notes.

Rebutia oculata Werdermann spec. nov.

(Body) globose to subcylindrical, sprouting at the base, green. Ca. 10 – 14 ribs, continuous, with more or less regular tubercles. Areoles oblong, at first downy then becoming glabrous (hairless). Spines 6 – 8, radial only, spreading, bristly, erect to curved, white or sometimes yellowish, thicker and rust-coloured at the base.

Flowers arise from the lower part of the body. Ovary flattened, the outside with pale green scales, sparsely hairy in the axils, with a few small bristles. Tube short with proportionately extensive funnel, externally whitish, scales lanceolate, green, sparsely hairy in the axils, occasionally with bristles. Inner perianth oblong with a very short tip, ferruginous becoming crimson and violet, with a yellow base. Filaments deep crimson, attached briefly to the tube. Anthers yellow. Style free, pale green, with ca. 8 yellow-green stigmatic lobes extending a little past the stamens.

Further notes translated from the German.

Most important characteristics: body (grafted) strongly sprouting at the base, spherical to short cylindrical, up to about 7.5 cm high and 5-5.5 cm thick. Colour matt green. Ribs about 10 to 14, about 5-8 mm high, running down straight or slightly twisted in a spiral, sharply separated from each other, not broken up into warts, but tubercular by more or less deep incisions between the areoles. The individual cusps are rounded like a teat, not completely divided up to the base of the rib and slightly deepened at the tip, the seat of the areole. Areoles about 5-6 mm apart, somewhat elongated, weakly flaky-white woolly when young, later almost glabrous.

Spines typically 6 to 8, on existing specimens all marginal, of unequal length, the upper lateral ones usually the longest, up to about 12 mm long, usually shorter, bristle-shaped, flexible, straight or bent, white or rarely a little yellowish, at the base knotty thickened and brown.

Flowers from the lower half of the body, on the whole about 4.5 cm long, 4.5-5 cm wide when opened. Flat-spherical ovaries, about 4: 6 mm in diameter, whitish on the outside with light green scales, which have pale yellowish, somewhat felty wool in the axils and about 1 to 4 straight or twisted, about 2-5 mm long, whitish hair bristles. Tube relatively short and relatively broad, funnel-shaped, overall about 1-1.2 cm long, on the outside a dull, whitish shine, with lanceolate, succulent green scales and cobweb-like fine, light-coloured wool, occasionally with a hair ruff in their axils. Outer bracts up to 2.3 cm long and 0.5 cm wide, greenish on the outside, with a reddish tinge on the edge, mostly pointed, occasionally with a coarse spike on top. Inner bracts about 2-2.3 cm long, at the upper end up to 0.9 cm wide, somewhat spatulate, at the upper edge white with a pointed tip and often irregularly deeply slit, carmine-violet on the outside, pale at the base, on the inside in the upper half fiery or slightly bluish carmine, in the lower half yellowish to gold-bronze tinted. Throat whitish. Stamens at the base only attached to about 1.5 mm of the tube, then free, distributed over the tube wall, deep carmine-violet. Anthers pale yellow. Style about 2.3 cm long, pale greenish, with about 8 pale yellow-greenish stigmas 2.5-3 mm long, which stand together like a brush and protrude slightly above the stamens. The species is well characterised by continuous ribs, spider-like thorns, distinctive flowers and red stamens. The species name oculata – provided with an eye – refers to the drawing of the flower.

Lobivia euanthema var. tilcarensis var. nov.

• var. tilcarensis Rausch var. nov.
  Differs from the type by fewer, shorter and close-fitting spines, as well as the strong red flower with purple-pink flower tube. This population is very uniform.
  The habitat is Jujuy, Argentina, on the mountain tops east of Tilcara.