Really beautiful plants.

Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Lobivia winteriana F. Ritter 1970

Currently accepted Scientific name:  Echinopsis backebergii Werderm. in Backeb.
In: Neue Kakteen 83, 84, fig. 1931 Fedde, Rep. Spec. Nov. 30: 64. 1932

Origin:  Peru, Huancavelica, Villa Azul altitudes about 3000 m.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2

Synonyms:  

• Echinopsis winteriana Ritter
• Lobivia wrightiana var. winteriana (Ritt.) Rausch
• Echinopsis backebergii subsp. wrightiana (Backeb.) M.Lowry
  In:  Cactaceae Syst. Init. 20: 15. 2005
• Lobivia backebergii winteriana
• Echinopsis backebergia Werdermann ex Backeberg 1931
• Lobivia backebergia (Werdermann ex Backeberg) Backeberg 1935
• Lobivia wrightiana Backeberg 1937
• Echinopsis wrightiana (Backeberg) G. D. Rowley 1982
• Neolobivia winteriana (F. Ritter) F. Ritter 1981

Lobivia winteriana
This species is one of the most remarkable Lobivia, with large, very colourful "shocking fuchsia pink" to purple-violet flowers with white centre. Everyone should have this plant.

Description: Lobivia winteriana are small solitary or branched at base cacti, older plants may form mats. They are very easy flowerers, if you keep them reasonably cool and absolutely dry during winter.
Stem: At first globular becoming cylindrical as it ages, diameter about 5-7 cm. Epidermis greys-green.
Ribs: 13-19 more or le spiralling
Root: Napiform (Carrot like)
Areoles: Oval with dull white felt.
Radial spines: 6-14 short, about 4-7 mm long, thin, unequal, curved backward  somehow pectinated, pale brown, yellow or amber when young, later greys.
Central spines: None or sometime 1 stouter about 1 to 3 cm long, darker with black tip.
Flowers: Large, funnel shaped, very colourful "shocking fuchsia pink" to purple-violet with white centre 7, 5 to 9 cm in diameter. Tepals lanceolate.
Fruit:: About 1,5 cm in long, tannish-green to brownish-red.
Seed: Black.

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Cultivation: It is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties.  Water regularly in summer (but do not overwater ) needs good drainage and very porous soil,  keep rather dry in winter. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer  in summer. It is quite frost resistant if kept dry (hardy to  -5° C or less).  Need a bright exposure, full sun or half shade in summer.

Propagation: Direct sow after last frost, offsets.

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