Lobivia pentlandii

Lobivia pentlandii, is a species of Lobivia found in Bolivia and Peru.

Description
Lobivia pentlandii usually grows in groups with spherical to ovoid, bright green and often glaucous shoots that reach a diameter of up to around 12 centimeters. The shoot apex is often sunken. There are twelve to 15 high ribs that are deeply notched and divided into long, hatchet-shaped, sharp-edged cusps. The areoles on it are about 2 centimeters apart. Variable thorns emerge from them. The single central spine, which can also be missing, is 3 to 9 centimeters long. The backward curved 5 to 15 marginal spines are yellowish brown and are up to 3 centimeters long.

The short, funnel-shaped flowers open during the day and are variable in flower color. It ranges from slightly purple-pink to red, orange or yellow. The flower throat is often lighter. The flowers are 4 to 6 centimeters long. Its very strong flower tube reaches a diameter of up to 1 centimeter. The spherical, juicy, sticky fruits have a diameter of 1 to 1.2 centimeters.

Distribution
Lobivia pentlandii is widespread in the Peruvian regions of Cusco and Puno and the Bolivian departments of La Paz, Oruro, Cochabamba and Potosí in the high altitudes of the Andes.

Taxonomy
The first description as Echinocactus pentlandii by William Jackson Hooker was published in 1844. The specific epithet pentlandii honors the Irish geographer and naturalist Joseph Barclay Pentland. Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose placed the species in the genus Lobivia in 1922. Further nomenclature synonyms are Echinopsis pentlandii (Hook.) Salm-Dyck ex A.Dietr. (1846), Cereus pentlandii (Hook.) J.F.Cels (1862) and Echinocereus pentlandii (Hook.) K.Schum. (1894). In addition, numerous other synonyms are known because the species is very variable.