Lobivia famatimensis
| Light | Bright light with some direct sun; a little shade from the harshest afternoon summer sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Regularly in the growing season, letting the mix dry between waterings; keep dry through a cool winter rest |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; roughly USDA zones 9a–11, but tolerates cold if kept bone dry |
| Propagation | Seed; occasionally offsets where clustering forms occur |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Lobivia famatimensis is a small, low-growing cactus from the mountains of northwestern Argentina, prized by collectors for its fine, comb-like (pectinate) spines pressed close to the body and its showy flowers, large in proportion to its small body. It is a notably variable species: flower colour ranges across yellow, orange, gold and dull red, and the body form shifts from population to population, which has made it a much-collected and much-debated plant among enthusiasts. It belongs to the genus Lobivia, a group of South American cacti famous for their brightly coloured blooms.
Description
Lobivia famatimensis forms a small, more or less globular to shortly cylindrical body, usually only a few centimetres across, sometimes remaining solitary and sometimes clustering slowly with age. The body is divided into many low, narrow ribs broken into small tubercles, each bearing an areole with short, fine spines. These spines are the plant's signature: typically pectinate — arranged like the teeth of a comb — and pressed flat against the body, giving the plant a neat, almost feathery outline rather than a fierce one.
The flowers are large in proportion to the small body, funnel-shaped, and open by day. Colour is the species' great variable: forms are known in clear yellow, deep gold, orange and dull red, and this range is a large part of the plant's appeal to collectors. Flowering usually comes in late spring and summer on plants given a proper dry, cool winter rest.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to northwestern Argentina, where it occurs in the provinces of La Rioja, Catamarca and San Juan; the type locality is the Sierra de Famatina in La Rioja, from which the plant takes its name. It grows in dry, sunny, well-drained ground at roughly 1,000–3,000 m altitude, often among rocks and sparse high-altitude grassland where drainage is sharp and winters are cold but dry. Plants in habitat sit low, sometimes pulling down among stones and grass, which helps them endure both drought and cold.
Cultivation
Lobivia famatimensis is a good-natured, rewarding plant for anyone who can resist overwatering. Grow it in a gritty, mostly mineral mix in a pot with excellent drainage, and give it plenty of light — bright conditions with some direct sun bring out the best form and the most reliable flowering. Water freely while it is in active growth, always letting the mix dry out before watering again, then keep the plant dry and cool through winter. This dry winter rest is important: it hardens the plant against cold and is what triggers the following season's flowers.
Like many high-altitude Argentine cacti, it is more cold-tolerant than its size suggests, provided it is kept completely dry when temperatures drop. It is slow-growing and often carried on a thick taproot, so the main risk in cultivation is rot from a soggy mix or winter wet. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the usual and most rewarding method, and because the species is so variable, seed-grown batches often produce a pleasing spread of flower colours and forms. Sow on a warm, gritty surface kept humid until germination, then grow the seedlings on hard in good light. Clustering forms can also be increased by removing rooted offsets. See Propagation — seed and Propagation — offsets for full walkthroughs.
Common problems
- Rot — the most common cause of loss, almost always from overwatering, a poorly draining mix, or wet soil over a cold winter; the body softens and discolours from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the body stretch and pale and spoils the tight, symmetrical spine pattern.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles and roots) and red spider mites (fine webbing, bronzed skin) are the usual offenders. See Pests and diseases.
Taxonomy note
Like much of Lobivia, this plant's naming is unsettled. It has at various times been placed in Echinopsis (as Echinopsis famatimensis) and in the segregate genus Reicheocactus (as Reicheocactus famatimensis), and many modern authorities fold Lobivia into a broadly defined Echinopsis. In the hobby the plant is still very widely grown, sold and discussed under its familiar Lobivia name.
See also
- Lobivia — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets · Pests and diseases