| Place of origin:
Paraguay, Bahia Negra, in the limit with Brazil.
Description: Small globular plant of between
3 and 6 cm. wide, with grayish green with reddish tones stem.
The ribs are arranged in number of 8. They are acute and divided
by cross-sectional protuberances.
Areolas are separated 1 cm. to each other and are small.
Radial spines are curved, of grayish color and 1 cm. long,
they are about 5 or 6.
The flowers are abundant, they appear near apex and they measure
between 4 and 6 cm. long. The petals are obtuse, of dark red
color by the outside and greenish yellow or yellow by the
interior.
There are many varieties, among them pirarettaense, with pink
flowers; or rubrum, of totally red stem, which is frequently
found in the market grafted on Hylocereus. This last variety
has been obtained using genetic selection and lacks totally
of chlorophyll, reason why it cannot survive if it is not
this grafted.
Growing tips: The species prefers partial
shade in summer. Propagation is made by rooting offsets. |
