CACTUS Adventure

These small Rebutias grow in the Andes on the border of Bolivia and Argentina. In the past, R. atrovirens v. pseudoritteri (Rausch) was described by Wessner as Rebutia ritteri. For this reason these plants are often confused in collections.

Rebutia atrovirens var. pseudoritteri (Rausch) grows on the road from Iscayachi (Iscayache, Escayache) to Tarija in Abra de Sama at an altitude of 3,650 m above sea level. Most of these plants in collections come from Walter Rausch (WR506) and Friedrich Ritter (FR1123) cacti discoveries. I also found R. atrovirens var. pseudoritteri on the road to Tarija in the 2004 and 2006. I had a lot of luck, because I saw plants with deep red flowers.

Rebutia atrovirens var. ritteri (Wessner) grows in the northern parts of Argentina on the road from La Quiaca to Santa Victoria. Plants grow in mountains at very high altitude - 4,370 meters above sea level and this is the highest altitude at which I was able to see any Rebutia. Plants grow hidden between stones. There are a lot of low clouds at that place which protect these small cacti against the strong sunshine. R. atrovirens var. ritteri which are in collections comes from W. Rausch (WR520) discovery.

Rebutia atrovirens var. ritteri clearly differs from Rebutia atrovirens var. pseudoritteri particularly in the colour and shape of the flower.