I've been growing Rebutia/Aylostera albiflora plants from seed.
From seed from one supplier I had a single seedling survive that was a bit larger than expected.
I assumed this was a seed that had scattered into the wrong pot so I just put it in a corner to wait for a flower.
As you can see it has a nice white flower that opened yesterday- it does not look like anything else I have.
The seedlings in the clay pot are R. albiflora -seed was from ADBLPS for comparison.
I guess this lone seedling is a hybrid of some sort?
That's an interesting comparison Simon and I should think you may be right. The plants in the larger pot look just like my albifloras. There are some very knowledgeable Rebutia/Aylostera growers here, so let's see what they say.
Croydon Branch member, growing mainly cacti and Echeverias
The plant on the right is "the real" Aylostera albiflora, as you say.
The one on the left is more puzzling, and I wouldn't even be certain which genus to put it in, without a closer look. Here's how to tell:
Rebutia: Flower tube and fruit smooth, or at most finely hairy
Aylostera: Flower tube hairy and bristly
The shape of the flowers doesn't seem quite right for Rebutia senilis 'Rose of York', to me, and I suspect it might be an Aylostera - but it doesn't seem to be one of the species that typically flowers white - so might be a hybrid. Aylostera albiflora does hybridise easily, and is involved in the parentage of many of the named Aylostera hybrids.
Hi
Thanks for the replies.
I think the plant is Aylostera from looking closely at it, so probably a hybrid with A. albiflora as a parent.
It turned out more interesting than a stray seed anyway.
I'll try to grow it up a bit more and see how it develops.
It could be Rebutia 'Meisterstuck', which has a body more like Rebutia marsoneri - but somehow the upright and pointy shape of the petals, with some behind others, seems more like Aylostera to me. That;s just a hunch.
