Origin and Habitat: Tarata to Rio Caine, Dept. Cochabamba, Bolivia
Altitude: 2500 metres above sea level.

• Echinopsis pentlandii subs. larae (Cárdenas) G.Navarro
• Lobivia backebergii var. larae (Cárdenas) Rausch
• Lobivia larae Cárdenas
• Lobivia pentlandii var. larae (Cárdenas) Rausch

• Echinopsis pentlandii (Hook.) Salm-Dyck ex A.Dietr.
• Echinocactus pentlandii (Hook.)
• Echinocereus pentlandii (Hook.) K.Schum. in Engl. & Prantl
• Lobivia pentlandii (Hook.) Britton & Rose
• Echinopsis pentlandii subs. hardeniana (Boed.) G.Navarro
• Lobivia hardeniana Boed. ex Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Lobivia pentlandii var. hardeniana (Boed.) Rausch
• Lobivia pentlandii f. hardeniana (Boed.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia rossii var. hardeniana (Boed.) Backeb.
• Echinopsis pentlandii subs. larae (Cárdenas) G.Navarro
• Lobivia backebergii var. larae (Cárdenas) Rausch
• Lobivia larae Cárdenas
• Lobivia pentlandii var. larae (Cárdenas) Rausch
• Echinopsis scheeri Salm-Dyck
• Lobivia scheeri (Salm-Dyck) Rausch
• Lobivia maximiliana var. lauramarca (Rauh & Backeb.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia lauramarca Rauh & Backeb. in Backeb.
• Lobivia multicostata Backeb.
• Lobivia multicostata Backeb.
• Lobivia pentlandii f. aculeata (Buining) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia aculeata Buining
• Lobivia pentlandii f. argentea (Backeb.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia argentea Backeb.
• Lobivia pentlandii f. aurantiaca (Backeb.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia aurantiaca Backeb.
• Lobivia boliviensis Werderm. non Britton & Rose
• Lobivia pentlandii f. boliviensis (Britton & Rose) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia boliviensis Britton & Rose
• Lobivia pentlandii f. brunneo-rosea (Backeb.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia brunneo-rosea Backeb.
• Lobivia pentlandii f. higginsiana (Backeb.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia higginsiana Backeb.
• Lobivia pentlandii f. johnsoniana (Backeb.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia johnsoniana Backeb.
• Lobivia pentlandii f. leucorhodon (Backeb.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia leucorhodon Backeb.
• Lobivia pentlandii f. leucoviolacea (Backeb.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia leucoviolacea Backeb. in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Lobivia pentlandii f. omasuyana (Cárdenas) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia omasuyana Cárdenas
• Lobivia pentlandii f. raphidacantha (Backeb.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia raphidacantha Backeb. in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Lobivia pentlandii f. schneideriana (Backeb.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia schneideriana Backeb.
• Lobivia pentlandii f. titicacensis (Cárdenas) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia titicacensis Cárdenas
• Lobivia pentlandii f. varians (Backeb.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia varians Backeb. in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Lobivia pentlandii f. wegheiana (Backeb.) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia wegheiana Backeb.

• Echinopsis pentlandii f. cristata hort.
• Lobivia pentlandii f. cristata

• Echinopsis pentlandii var. longispina Rümpler in C.F.Först.
• Lobivia pentlandii var. longispina (Rümpler) Backeb. in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth

• Echinopsis pentlandii cv. Yellow (forma albinica) hort.

Description: Echinopsis pentlandiiSN|10595]]SN|10595]] subs. Larae, better known as Lobivia laraeSN|10637]]SN|10637]], is one of the many geographical or morphological form of Echinopsis pentlandiiSN|10595]]SN|10595]]. Many variant of Echinopsis pentlandiiSN|10595]]SN|10595]] was early classified as different independent species, but nowadays all this plants are considered part of a multiform species, where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics. Echinopsis pentlandiiSN|10595]]SN|10595]] subs. Larae has distinctive dark purple, to pink lilac flowers with a paler throat. The stems are hemispherical and quite flattened with comb shaped radial spines, slightly curved and thickened at the base.
Habit: Simple at first it slowly ramifies from the base to form clusters.
Roots: Tap root.
Stem: Low thick flat, or spherical, but usually broader than high, somewhat umbilicate at apex, bright green, dark green, up to 4 cm tall and 12 cm in diameter.
Ribs:9–12, sharp edged, broken into long acute, hatchet-shaped, tubercles, separated by acute intervals.
Areoles: Felted about 1,5 cm apart.
Spines: Variable, stout, all radial or sometime with one central.
Central spines: Usually absent.
Radial spines: 9–12, somewhat pectinated, slightly curved backward, pale grey to whitish, thickened at the base.
Flowers: Diurnal, funnel shaped, dark purple to pink lilac, with a usual clearer centre, 6 cm long, 5 cm diameter. Tube relatively stout up to 1 cm in diameter. Inner perianth-segments, narrowly obovate, abruptly acute, spreading. Stamens and style much shorter than the inner perianth-segments. Style below green, above yellow. Scales on ovary and flower-tube lanceolate with short hairs in their axils.
Blooming season: Blooms are produced in spring and remain open for about three days.
Fruit: Subglobose, 10 to 12 mm in diameter.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume 3, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1922
2) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
3) 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
4) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
5) E Haustein “Der Kosmos Kakteenfuehrer” Balogh Scientific Books, United States, 01/Dec/1998
6) Willy Cullmann, Erich Götz (Dozent Dr.), Gerhard Gröner “The encyclopedia of cacti” Timber Press, 1987
7) S. H. Scott “The Observer's Book of Cacti and Other Succulents” F. Warne, 1958
8) Clive Innes, Charles Glass “Cacti” Portland House, 01/May/1991
9) Haage Walther "Kakteen von A bis Z" Anaconda 2008

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.