Aylostera supthutiana description


Rebutia (Aylostera) supthutiana was first described by Walter Rausch in Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten 27(6): p.p. 121-2, the journal of the Deutsche Kakteen-Gesellschaft, in 1976. The description is reproduced here in the original Latin, together with further notes in German, and my own translations in English. You should look up the original for more details, including colour and black-and-white photographs.

Rebutia (Aylostera) supthutiana RAUSCH spec.nov.

Walter Rausch

Simplex, globosa, ad 35 mm diametiens, glauco-viridis, radice napiformi ; costis ca. 15, spiraliter tortis, in gibberes 3-4 mm longos et latos, verrucosus divisis; areolis ovalibus, 2 mm longis, clare-fusco-tomentosis; aculeis marginalibus 11-13, accumbentibus ad divaricatis, 3-5 mm longis, tenuibus ad setosis, vitreo-albis, basi incrassata clare-fuscis; aculeo centrali 0-1, ad 5 mm longo. Floribus lateralibus, 50 mm longis et 40 mm diametientibus; ovario et receptaculo roseo, squamis angustis fuscis, pilis et setis albis tecto; phyllis perigonii exterioribus lanceolatis, longeacuminatis, fuscis roseo-marginatis; phillis perigonii interioribus lanceolatis, longe acuminatis, rubris; fauce 20 mm longa, 12 mm eius cum stylo connata, violaceo-rosea; filamentis violaceo-roseis, stylo et stigmatibus (7) viridibus. Fructu et seminibus Aylosterae typo.
Patria: Bolivia, Cinti meridional’s, a Culpina et Inca Huasi ad septemtriones versus, 3 200 m alt.
Typus: Rausch 629 in Herbano Collectionis Plantarum Succulentarum Municipali Turicensi., Helvetia.

Additional notes

Aylostera sowie Digitorebutia zeigen als Eigenheit eine ± verwachsene Blütenröhre, lediglich die „Merkmale”, gerader, fortlaufender Rippen, und spiralig aufgelöste Höcker (Warzen), dienen zur Unterscheidung. Daß oft eine sofortige Trennung nicht leicht möglich ist, zeigt Rebutia albopectinata Rausch. Als ich diese Form beschrieb, glaubte ich, diese fortlaufenden Rippen zu erkennen, doch zeigte sich in gewissen Wachstumsstadien der Pflanze stark spiralige Tendenz. Somit nähert sie sich der Aylostera heliosa Rausch, mit der sie auch die sehr labile Blütenform gemeinsam hat. Zu dieser Aylostera-Gruppe gehört nun auch der hier beschriebene Formenkreis, er unterscheidet sich jedoch durch die groben, warzigen Höcker und durch die längere, spreizende Bedornung. Ich benenne diese Formen nach Dieter Supthut, dem sehr aktiven Leiter der Städtischen Sukkulenten-sammlung Zürich.

English translation

Rebutia (Aylostera) supthutiana RAUSCH spec.nov.

Walter Rausch

Solitary, spherical, up to 35mm in diameter, with a tap root, approx. 15 ribs, spirally divided into 3-4mm long and wide tubercles, blue-grey-green, areoles oval, 2 mm long, with light brown wool, 11-13 radial spines, prostrate to spreading, 3-5mm long, thin to bristly, glassy white with a thickened light brown base, no central spines or one, to 5mm long. Flowers appearing laterally, 50mm long and 40mm in diameter, ovary and tube pink with dark brown, narrow scales, white hairs and bristles, outer petals lanceolate with a long tip, brown and pink margins, inner petals lanceolate and also with a long tip, red. Throat 20mm long and 12mm of it fused with the style, violet-pink, stamens violet-pink, style and stigmas (7) green. Fruit and seeds typical of Aylostera.

Habitat: North-east of Culpina and Inca Huasi, South Cinti, Bolivia, at an altitude of 3,200 m.

Type Rausch 629, deposited in the Municipal Succulent Collection of Zurich, Switzerland.

Aylostera as well as Digitorebutia show a more or less fused flower tube, distinguished by the characteristics of straight, continuous ribs, and spirally arranged tubercles. An obvious separation is often not easy as shown by Rebutia albopectinata Rausch. In describing this form, I thought I saw these continuous ribs, but in certain stages of growth the plant showed a strong spiraling tendency, thus approaching Aylostera heliosa Rausch, with which it also shares the very variable flower shape. The group of forms described here is related to that group, but differs by the rough, prominent tubercles and the longer, spreading spines. I name these forms after Dieter Supthut, the very active director of the Zurich Municipal Succulent Collection.