Origin and Habitat: San Antonio, Tarija, Bolivia
Altitude range: Around 3650 metres above sea level. Field number FR 341 a.

• Rebutia mamillosa var. australis F.Ritter

• Rebutia spegazziniana Backeb.
• Aylostera spegazziniana Backeb. in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Echinorebutia spegazziniana Backeb.
• Rebutia froehlichiana Rausch
• Aylostera froehlichiana (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia fusca F.Ritter
• Aylostera fusca (F.Ritter) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia mamillosa Rausch
• Aylostera mamillosa (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia mamillosa var. australis F.Ritter
• Rebutia mamillosa var. orientalis F.Ritter
• Rebutia patericalyx F.Ritter
• Aylostera patericalyx (F.Ritter) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia rubiginosa F.Ritter
• Aylostera rubiginosa (F.Ritter) Backeb.
• Rebutia spegazziniana var. atroviridis (Backeb.) Šída
• Rebutia spegazziniana var. boliviensis n.n., Rausch
• Rebutia boliviensis hort.
• Rebutia sumayana Rausch
• Aylostera sumayana (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia tarijensis Rausch
• Aylostera tarijensis (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia tarvitaensis F.Ritter
• Aylostera tarvitaensis (F.Ritter) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia tuberosa F.Ritter
• Aylostera tuberosa (F.Ritter) Backeb.
• Rebutia vulpina F.Ritter
• Aylostera vulpina (F.Ritter) Mosti & Papini
• Rebutia fiebrigii var. vulpina hort.
• Rebutia vulpes F.Ritter
• Rebutia waltheriana Backeb.
• Aylostera waltheriana (Backeb.) Y.Itô
• Rebutia zecheri Rausch
• Aylostera zecheri (Rausch) Mosti & Papini
• Lobivia atrovirens var. zecheri (Rausch) Rausch

Description: Rebutia mamillosaSN|5033]]SN|5045]] v. australis is a small cactus species with prominent ribs, tiny bristly spines and vibrant red flower which is distinguished from var. mamillosa by larger body and flowers to 45 mm long with white filaments. It is one of the many geographical or morphological form of the widespread and variable Rebutia spegazzinianaSN|19595]]SN|5033]].
Habit: It is a solitary or clustered stem succulent, branching at ground level to form low dense groups or mounds up to 15 cm wide. It grows quite close to the ground and offsets only with age. It would appear that in cultivation it grows larger and clusters more vigorously than in habitat.
Stems: Individual heads 20-30 mm wide, globose to flattened globose (sometime short-cylindrical in cultivation). The colour of the epidermis is very dark greenish brown becoming deeply bronzed purple in full sunlight.
Root: Taproot smaller than in var. mamillosa.
Ribs: 10-15, forming prominent tubercles.
Areoles: Small, brown, 1-1.5 mm.
Spines: Short glass-white with darker tips, bristly, awl-shaped to needle-like.
Radial spines: 12-20 all straight, 3-6mm long, white or yellowish.
Central spines: 0-4, equal in length.
Flowers: Diurnal, borne on the stems' side near ground level, 26-46 cm long and in diameter, bright red, with white filaments, 3-4 pale yellow stigma lobes.
Fruits: Globose, reddish green.
Seeds: Black.
Similar species: Rebutia mamillosaSN|5202]]SN|5045]] (comprising v. australis Ritt. FR 1138 and v. orientalis Ritt. FR341a ) is similar to Rebutia fulvisetaSN|5045]]SN|5202]] Rausch and Rebutia leucanthemaSN|5033]]SN|19595]] Rausch. Both them have somewhat smaller flowers, smaller bodies, and generally rather longer, thinner spines than shown by Rebutia spegazzinianaSN|5045]]SN|5033]]. All this species are individually isolated from each other yet they are morphologically very similar and difficult to distinguish when not in flower, especially R. mamillosa and R. leucanthema.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) 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
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
4) Donald, John Donald “The Classification of the Rebutias” Ashingtonia, vol. 2 1975
1) Ashingtonia 3(1): 29-30, January/February 1978
2) John Pilbeam “Rebutia” Cirio Pub. Services, 01/mag/1997

Cultivation and Propagation: Rebutia mamillosa var. australisSN|28406]]SN|28406]] is easy to grow and recommended for beginners. Prefer gritty, porous mix with a pH slightly on the acidic side. Full sun to light shade, Water regularly in summer but do not overwater (the root system is rot prone) and allow the pot to dry out between waterings. Keep dry in winter Hardy to -4°C it will take low temperatures when dry and do require a winter rest period. This species will occupy a small flower pot comfortably and remain a manageable sized house plant.
Pest and disease: This plants are subject to mealy-bug attack and to fungus and rot problems brought about by overwatering and high humidity.
Propagation: Seed or offsets.