- SulcorebutiarauschiHS1211flowercomp.jpg (50.55 KiB) Viewed 4361 times
Growth Habits: These plants are unusually coloured. Their colour ranging from an apple green to purple. They will form clumps of many heads and each head can be as much as 2-4 cm in diameter. The plant has small dark pectinate [comb like] spines sprouting from and almost totally covering the whitish areoles. The spines can number up to 8 or 10 and are very short and completely flattened against plant body. The ribs are somewhat tuberculate. The plant does extremely well if grafted and this gives much more leeway with watering, as the plant has a tendency to rot at the roots if water is not carefully administered.
Scientific name: Sulcorebutia rauschii.
Synonyms: Rebutia canigueralii, Sulcorebutia canigueralii, Weingartia canigueralii, Weingartia rauschii.
Common names: Unknown.
Etymology: Sulcorebutia: The generic name is from the Greek sulcus, meaning furrow and refers to the furrows or grooves that occur between the somewhat tuberculate ribs. Rauschii: Named after W. Rausch.
Origin: Bolivia; Cerro Flor de Aikampa, Zudañez, Chuquisaca, Bolivia 2700m
Light: This plant prefers light or dappled shade.
Compost: An extremely well drained compost is required. The addition of extra drainage material is essential to the well being of the plant.
Water: Be careful with your watering regime. However if the plant is grafted this will give a little more leeway on the amount of water given to the plant.
Flower: The flower is a deep magenta with yellow stamens and stigma that contrast well with the rich, vibrant colour of the petals.
Min. temp: The plant requires a cold winter rest 45°-50°f (7°-10°c) is ample. If the plant does not have this cool period the flowering the following year will be seriously affected.
Comments: This is one of several plants I have in the various colours from apple green to purple. Because of the unusual colour you either love them or hate them, but I love them. They grow on their own roots, and the above photograph shows Sulcorebutia rauschii HS121/ 1 (Collector: Heinz Swoboda). This is the natural colour of the plant when it is found growing in habitat. In this respect they are totally different to some of the brightly coloured Gymnocalycium mihanovichii ’Hibotan’ that will only survive on a graft because they do not contain any chlorophyll of their own and are only the bright red, yellow or purple colours they can be purchased in, because of the hybridising skills of the nurseryman. These little Sulcorebutia gems always reward you with an excellent flush of flowers that are quite large for the size of the plant. They take up very little room and are something a little different that will stand out in your collection.