Origin and Habitat: Southern Bolivia (Potosí and Tarija) and northern Argentine (Jujuy)
Altitude: from 2600 to 4000 meters
Habitat: It grows on high altitude in an almost lifeless rocky soil in the Puna-comunity vegetation. The climate conditions are extremely dry, with scarce rains.
Note: The indigenous word "Puna" indicate the western region up to 4500 m that extends from the Peru, going throughout Bolivia to the Argentinean North. Delimited at west by a costal chain of high volcanic picks and by the Cordillera mountainous chain to the east. The Argentinean Puna is the natural continuation of the Bolivian highland.

• Rebutia fidaiana (Backeb.) D.R.Hunt
• Echinocactus fidaianus (Backeb.) Backeb.
• Gymnocalycium fidaianum (Backeb.) Hutchison
• Spegazzinia fidaiana Backeb.
• Sulcorebutia fidaiana (Backeb.) F.H.Brandt
• Weingartia fidaiana (Backeb.) Werderm.

• Rebutia fidaiana (Backeb.) D.R.Hunt
• Echinocactus fidaianus (Backeb.) Backeb.
• Gymnocalycium fidaianum (Backeb.) Hutchison
• Spegazzinia fidaiana Backeb.
• Sulcorebutia fidaiana (Backeb.) F.H.Brandt
• Weingartia fidaiana (Backeb.) Werderm.
• Rebutia fidaiana var. lecoriensis (Cárdenas)
• Sulcorebutia lecoriensis (Cárdenas) F.H.Brandt
• Weingartia lecoriensis Cárdenas
• Weingartia westii var. lecoriensis (Cárdenas) Donald
• Rebutia fidaiana var. vilcayensis (Cárdenas)
• Sulcorebutia vilcayensis (Cárdenas) F.H.Brandt
• Weingartia vilcayensis Cárdenas
• Weingartia westii var. vilcayensis (Cárdenas) Donald
• Rebutia fidaiana var. westii (Hutchison)
• Gymnocalycium westii Hutchison
• Sulcorebutia westii (Hutchison) F.H.Brandt
• Weingartia westii (Hutchison) Donald

• Rebutia fidaiana subs. cintiensis (Cárdenas) D.R.Hunt
• Sulcorebutia cintiensis (Cárdenas) F.H.Brandt
• Weingartia cintiensis Cárdenas
• Weingartia fidaiana subs. cintiensis (Cárdenas) Donald

Description: Rebutia fidaianaSN|14924]]SN|14924]], much better known under its old name Weingartia fidaianaSN|14930]]SN|14930]], is a very spiny and usually simple cactus sometime branched.
Stem: About 10 to 30(-70) cm tall, 6 to 20 cm in diameter, spherical to short-columnar, yellowish-green to grey-green to purple tinged and connected though a thin neck to the strong tuberous root.
Ribs: 7-10, completely divided into round spiraling tubercles.
Areole: Large, felted and somewhat raised.
Spines: Very dense, acicular, straight or curved, spreading or bundled, thin, rigid to somewhat elastic, interlacing and almost completely covering the stem, not easily distinguishable as centrals and radials creamy-grey, straw-coloured, brownish or black.
Central pines: 3-4, up to 6(-12) cm long.
Radial spines: 7-9 similar to the central up to 4(-7) cm long.
Flowers: One per areole nearly apical, approx 4- 5 cm tall 3,5-4,5 cm in diameter, narrow funnel-shaped with short tube, tepals yellow (occasionally white, ochre or red) with a neat staminal throat ring.
Blooming season: Spring to early summer and remain open for five or six days.
Fruit: Small, depressed spherical-ovoidal or teardrop-shaped, olive green, reddish or tannish-brown, thin-skinned and dry at maturity, dehiscing basally or on the side, with few seeds.
Seed: Cap-shaped, nearly as broad as long, black, finely areolate-papillale.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) 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
2) David Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006
3) Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001
4) Augustin K.: "Weingartia: history, description and reclassification." Cactus & Co. 7. (2): 91-126, 2003
5) Ritter Fr.: "Kakteen in Südamerika" Spangenberg, 1980
6) Anderson E. F.: "The Cactus Family" Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2001

Cultivation and Propagation: Full sun to light shade, Water regularly in summer but do not overwater. Keep dry or slightly moist in winter at a minimum temperature of 5°C (But Hardy to -4°C or less). This mountain cactus - because of the elongated fat taproot - necessitate deep pots and a well drained mineral potting mix. It is better that they are repotted regularly. Repotting will increase size of stems and the number of flowers produced. Repot yearly until reaching about 100 mm in size, then every two or three years will suffice. Repotting is best done at the end of winter but can be done at other times. Do not water for a couple of weeks after repotting to reduce risk of root rot via broken roots. Need a sufficient amount of air.
Pest & diseases: Keep their roots free of mealy bugs, as fungal attack often occurs as a result of damage to stems by insects. A layer of grit on the surface of the compost prevents moisture from accumulating around the base of the stems and minimise the chance of fungal attack on the roots.
Propagation: Usually by seeds, but also offsets (seldom available), and grafting . Grafted plants in culture are most common and sprout easily. But it is also feasible to root them but they grow much slower on their own roots and takes various years prior to they bloom.