Origin and Habitat: Echinopsis saltensisSN|16319]]SN|16319]] has wide range and is locally common in Argentina (Salta and Tucumán provinces).
Altitude: 1200 and 2400 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: This cactus grows in shrublands on clayey soils.

• Echinopsis saltensis Speg.
• Echinocactus saltensis Speg.
• Lobivia saltensis Britton & Rose

• Echinopsis saltensis Speg.
• Echinocactus saltensis Speg.
• Lobivia saltensis Britton & Rose
• Echinopsis cachensis Speg.
• Lobivia cachensis (Speg.) Britton & Rose
• Lobivia haematantha var. cachensis (Speg.) J.Ullmann
• Echinopsis saltensis var. nealeana (Backeb.) J.G.Lamb.
• Echinopsis nealeana (Backeb.) Friedrich
• Hymenorebutia nealeana (Backeb.) Buining
• Lobivia nealeana Backeb.
• Lobivia saltensis var. nealeana (Backeb.) Rausch
• Echinopsis saltensis var. pseudocachensis (Backeb.) J.G.Lamb.
• Echinopsis pseudocachensis (Backeb.) Friedrich
• Hymenorebutia pseudocachensis (Backeb.) Buining
• Lobivia saltensis var. pseudocachensis (Backeb.) Rausch
• Lobivia emmae var. brevispina Backeb.
• Lobivia nealeana var. grandiflora Y.Itô
• Lobivia nealeana var. purpureiflora Y.Itô
• Lobivia pseudocachensis Backeb.
• Lobivia pseudocachensis var. cinnabarina Backeb.
• Lobivia pseudocachensis var. sanguinea Backeb.
• Lobivia saltensis var. emmae (Backeb.) G.D.Rowley
• Lobivia emmae Backeb.
• Lobivia saltensis f. emmae (Backeb.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia saltensis var. multicostata Rausch
• Lobivia saltensis var. zapallarensis Rausch

• Echinopsis saltensis subs. schreiteri (A.Cast.) M.Lowry
• Echinopsis schreiteri (A.Cast.) Werderm.
• Lobivia saltensis var. schreiteri (A.Cast.) Rausch
• Lobivia schreiteri A.Cast.
• Echinopsis stilowiana (Backeb.) J.G.Lamb.
• Lobivia saltensis var. stilowiana (Backeb.) Rausch
• Lobivia schreiteri var. stilowiana (Backeb.) Rausch
• Lobivia stilowiana Backeb.
• Lobivia schreiteri var. riolarensis Rausch

Description: Echinopsis saltensisSN|16319]]SN|16319]] (best known as: Lobivia saltensisSN|16320]]SN|16320]]) is a very interesting but variable species with several forms and variety. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and Echinopsis saltensisSN|16319]]SN|16319]]subsp. schreiteri (A. Cast) M. Lowry.
Habit: It is a small cactus, usually solitary, or heavily clustering.
Stem: Flattish, egg-shaped or slightly elongated, up to 12 cm tall, 9 cm in diameter, bright green to dark green or almost black.
Areoles: 5-7 mm apart.
Ribs: 17-18.
Roots: Tap root.
Radial spines: 12-14, thin, reddish.
Central spines: 1-4, whisker-like, twisted, asymmetrical, more or less long, interlaced up and in disorder curved up to 3 cm long. The length of spines greatly depends on sun exposure and plant's age.
Flowers: Pretty, shining, small up to 5 cm long, unscented, somewhat bell-shaped-bulgy, dark orange-red or crimson that appears almost black when starting to open. The stamen's filaments are dark red, and bear cream-white contrasting anthers. The stigma lobes are greenish.
Blooming season: The greater part of flowers appears in spring in the first flowering, but the plant can erratically produce some flowers in summer too.
Fruits: Globular, 5 mm in diameter, with little brown wool, up-drying.
Seeds: Globular, small grained.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
5) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
6) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
2) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) Friedrich Ritter "Kakteen in Südamerika: Ergebnisse meiner 20jährigen" Volume 2, Argentinien/Bolivien, Volume 2 Selbstverlag, 1980
5) Curt Backeberg “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde,” Volume 2 G. Fischer, 1959
7) Walter Rausch “Lobivia: The Day Flowering Echinopsidinae from a Geographical Distribution Point of View” Volumes 1-3 R. Herzig, 1975
8) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names.” Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg 2010.
9) N. L. Britton and J. N. Rose “The 'Cactaceae', Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the 'Cactus' Family” volume 2 Carnegie Institution, 1920
10) Ortega-Baes, P. & Méndez, E. 2013. Echinopsis saltensis. In: IUCN 2013. “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 31 October 2013.

Cultivation and Propagation: This is a a much decorative frost hardy cactus easily found in cultivation. It is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties.
Soil: Use a very a particularly draining substratum, as it is very sensitive to rottenness when in presence of humidity and low temperatures and let the soil dry out between waterings, since it's natural habitat is in volcanic soil, it has adapted to more acidic conditions.
Repotting: Repot in the spring, when their roots become cramped. Generally, they should be repotted every other year in order to provide fresh soil. After repotting, do not water for a week or more. Needs a large pot to accommodate a large root system.
Water: In summer, during the vegetative period, it must be regularly watered, but allowing the substratum to completely dry up before irrigating again (but do not overwater ); in winter, it’s to be kept dry. Preferable not to water on overcast days, humid days or cold winter days.
Hardiness: It is a quite frost resistant cactus, hardy to -5° C (- 10° C if very dry). However in cultivation it is better not to expose it to temperatures lower than -0° C, even if in an aerated and protected location, in order to avoid the formation of anti-aesthetic spots on the epidermis. In presence of high atmospheric humidity avoid any frost as it is particularly sensitive to root rot.
Exposure: Outside full sun or afternoon shade, inside needs bright light, and some direct sun, but, as a former mountain dweller, does not care for extremely high temperatures in summer.
Use: It is suitable for small “desert” gardens, in association with other xerophytes. Where the open air cultivation is not possible due to the climate, it is to be cultivated in pot in order to shelter it in winter.
Propagation: By seeds and by cuttings, provided left drying up well, in summer.