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Oroya peruviana  "minima"
This plant is easily distinguishable for the small size
and the profuse production of shoots all around the plant base.
 

Description: O. peruviana is a very variable species, with a (usually) solitary slow-growing flattened stem, that eventually becomes shortly columnar, up to 20 cm in diameter, 30 cm tall.
On the contrary the var. minima offsets strongly in almost  on each basal node of the stem on top of the ribs, with even small heads covered with numerous pups reaching only 2-5 cm across. In age forms clump up to 15 cm in diameter with up to 100 heads (or more), and generally the single heads stay smaller than the type.  The spines are more or less pectinated, and range in colour from pale yellow to brown.  They are relatively long, and widely spaced.
The flowers are small and pink with yellowish centres, in dense clusters at the plant apexes and open in the summer, sometimes in a ring.. They are followed by red, hollow berries.
 

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Scientific name:  Oroya peruviana 'minima' (K.Schum.) Britton & Rose 1922

The var. "minima" is a name that has appeared in some lists of seeds, but is not validly recognized by botanists.

Origin: Tarma, Central Peru 1800-3500 m.

Field numbers:
KK 1698  Tarma, Peru 2200m
KK 1873  Tarma, Peru 1800m (v. caespitose)
KK 1874  Tarma, Peru 2000m

Synonyms:

• Oroya peruviana (K.Schum.) Britton & Rose 1922
• Oroya peruviana v. minima Knize n.n.

The flowers are small pink with a yellowish centres, in dense clusters at the plant apex and open in the summer.
 

Cultivation: It is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties.  Water regularly in summer (but do not overwater ) keep dry in winter. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer. Repot yearly until reaching about 100 mm in size, then every two or three years will suffice. Repotting is best done at the end of winter but can be done at other times. Do not water for a couple of weeks after repotting to reduce risk of root rot via broken roots. Repotting will increase size of stems. This species needs a minimum temperature of 5° C. It will form ugly scars if exposed to too much cold, but it can survive a minimum temperature of – 7°C.  Need a bright exposure, full sun or half shade in summer.

Propagation: Seed, grafting, cutting.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Oroya peruviana complex (This Taxon has lots of synonyms, with several controversial varieties and subspecies, and comprises a multitude of different forms, but where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics):

• Oroya peruviana 'minima'
• Oroya neoperuviana (O. peruviana)

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.