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Cacti in Argentina and Bolivia by Ralf Hillmann


Ralf Hillmann, Switzerland, recently sent us some fantastic photos. Take a look at the new genus/species described in "Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten" March 2001 - Yavia cryptocarpa R. Kiessling & Piltz. [New comments below!]

 Yavia cryptocarpa Yavia cryptocarpa in flower. This most interesting species is characterized by the small hidden fruits which are sunken into the stem for several months. In late spring, when new buds develops, they drop out. The new buds are yellow to lime green!
 Y. cryptocarpa Yavia cryptocarpa with its beautiful pink flowers (ca 20 mm in diam).
 Y. cryptocarpa Plant flowering in habitat, west of La Quiaca at the border Argentina - Bolivia.
 Y. cryptocarpa Note the sunken apex. Almost looking like a Rebutia heliosa ... or Epithelantha ... or Frailea ... or Lobivia famatimensis!
Lobivia pugionacantha v. versicolor RH 1989a Long spined Lobivia pugionacantha v. versicolor from NE Ocuri at 3850 m in Dept. Chuquisaca, Bolivia.
Lobivia pugionacantha v. versicolor RH 1989a Stem totally covered by sharp spines!
Lobivia pugionacantha v. versicolor RH 1993a A dark and long spined form growing at 3450 metres around Chini Mayu-Culpina, Dept. Chuquisaca, Bolivia.
Lobivia pugionacantha v. versicolor RH 1993a  
Lobivia spec. RH 2222a

A new fascinating form of Lobivia haematantha with blue epidermis and yellow flowers from Famatima-Carrizal, Prov. La Rioja in Argentina!

[Note from Martin Lowry: The "Lobivia haematantha with blue epidermis from La Rioja" is in fact a form of Acanthocalycium glaucum. We also saw the plant last year just west of Carrizal. It grows alongside L. famatimensis, L. formosa and Pyrrhocactus
straussianus. Omar Ferrari and Roberto Kiesling (and therefore probably WR) have known about it for some time.]

Ralf is still convinced this is not Ac. glaucum:

The same meaning was first Winkler and Rausch, because the Ferrari plant was without any sign of buds. Look the buds at the plants, not any sign of spines. The bud is very similar of v. hualfinensis. And the plant has a typical haematantha taproot!

Two photos of Lob. haematantha v. hualfinensis is also added (01-04-08) for comparison, see further down on this page.

Lobivia spec. RH 2222a Plant in bud. Springtime in Argentina.
Lobivia spec. RH 2222a Plant in flower!
Lobivia haematantha v. hualfinensis RH 2237a Lobivia haematantha v. hualfinensis RH 2237a with bud.
Lobivia haematantha v. hualfinensis RH 2237a Another dry and thirsty Lobivia haematantha v. hualfinensis in habitat. Waiting for the rain.
Pterocactus megliolii RH 2194b Pterocactus megliolii with a hairy bud from Termas la Lajas, 700 m, Prov. San Juan, Argentina.
Pyrrhocactus megliolii 'vertongenii' RH 2194a

Beautiful plant but not that easy in cultivation. I have tried to sow it twice but the seedlings rot very quickly!

[Note from Martin Lowry: "The Pyrrho at Las Lajas is of course just another location of P. megliolii"]

Pyrrhocactus megliolii is in Fred Kattermanns book "Eriosyce" placed as synonym to Eriosyce bulbocalyx. In "Cites Cactaceae checklist" the correct name is Eriosyce vertongenii.

Pyrrhocactus megliolii 'vertongenii' RH 2194a Close up of buds and flowers.
Rebutia pygmaea 'v. colorea' RH 1106 Reb. pygmaea v. colorea showing its reddish flowers in habitat at Yunchara, 3700 m, Dept. Tarija, Bolivia.
Rebutia pygmaea 'v. crassa' RH 1100 Plant in full flower at Yunchara, 3700 metres!
Rebutia pygmaea RH 1094 Reb. pygmaea in flower in cultivation. The flowers of Reb. pygmaea (syn. haagei) and its varieties (forms?) vary a lot. From white to pink, red and orange. This form comes from Dept. Tarijas, Patillas at 4000 metres.
Lobivia formosa RH 2207 & Ralf Hillmann Ralf Hillmann admires a Lobivia formosa growing high up in the San Juan mountains. What a scenery!