Origin and Habitat: South-east La Paz (Bolivia) up to Ayacucho , Cusco and Huancavelica (Peru)
Altitude: 3200-4000 m. above sea level
Habitat: It grows on high altitude in the Peruvian regions of in the Puna widespread vegetation. The climate conditions are dry, with scarce rains. During the dry time, the plant bodies tend to retract and hide into the ground.
Note: The indigenous word "Puna" indicate the western region up to 4500 m that extends from the Peru, going throughout Bolivia to the Argentinian North. Delimited at west by a costal chain of high volcanic picks and by the Cordillera mountainous chain to the east. The Argentinian Puna is the natural continuation of the Bolivian highland.

• Echinopsis backebergii Werderm. in Backeb.
• Lobivia backebergii (Werderm.) Blatt.

• Echinopsis backebergii Werderm. in Backeb.
• Lobivia backebergii (Werderm.) Blatt.
• Echinopsis backebergii subs. wrightiana (Backeb.) M.Lowry
• Echinopsis wrightiana (Backeb.) G.D.Rowley
• Lobivia backebergii subs. wrightiana (Backeb.) Rausch ex G.D.Rowley
• Lobivia backebergii var. wrightiana (Backeb.) Rausch
• Lobivia wrightiana Backeb.
• Neolobivia wrightiana (Backeb.) Y.Itô
• Echinopsis backebergii subs. wrightiana f. ollaoana
• Lobivia wrightiana ollaoana
• Echinopsis boedekeriana Harden
• Cinnabarinea boedekeriana (Harden) F.Ritter
• Lobivia boedekeriana (Harden) Boed.
• Lobivia pugionacantha var. boedekeriana (Harden) J.Ullmann
• Lobivia rossii var. boedekeriana (Harden) Backeb.
• Echinopsis oxyalabastra (Cárdenas & Rausch) Mario Rodríguez Rodríguez
• Lobivia backebergii var. oxyalabastra (Cárdenas & Rausch) Rausch in Rausch
• Lobivia oxyalabastra Cárdenas & Rausch
• Echinopsis winteriana (F.Ritter) D.R.Hunt
• Lobivia winteriana F.Ritter
• Neolobivia winteriana (F.Ritter) F.Ritter
• Echinopsis zecheri (Rausch) G.D.Rowley
• Lobivia backebergii subs. zecheri (Rausch) Rausch
• Lobivia backebergii var. zecheri (Rausch) Rausch
• Lobivia zecheri Rausch
• Lobivia wrightiana f. chilensis hort. ex E.Herzog
• Lobivia backebergii var. chilensis Kníže, n.n.
• Lobivia chilensis Kníže, n.n.
• Neolobivia divaricata F.Ritter

• Echinopsis winteriana cv. Fluorescent (F.Ritter) D.R.Hunt
• Lobivia winteriana cv. Fluorescent

Description: Echinopsis backebergiiSN|9502]]SN|9502]] is a small cactus species, with conspicuous bright coloured blooms. Due to its flower structure typical of the Lobivias it is commonly known as Lobivia backebergiiSN|9503]]SN|9503]]. It is very variable and has received lots of names (like most Lobivias) whit several controversial varieties and subspecies.
Habit: It is a globose perennial stem succulent, that grows individually, but also sprouts abundantly at base, older plants may form mats.
Stem: At first globular becoming cylindrical as it ages, diameter about 4-5(-7) cm. Epidermis pale green to greys-green. The crown is somewhat sunken.
Ribs: 13-19 acute,more or le spiralling, notched, incised above the areoles.
Root: Napiform (Carrot like).
Areoles: Oval with dull white felt at first, 1-1,5 cm distant.
Spines: 1-11 variable, unequal, not always differentiated as centrals and radials
Radial spines: 3-7(-11) short, about 4-50 mm long, thin,curved backward somehow pectinated, at first pale reddish brown, yellow or amber, later greys, sometimes hooked at tip.
Central spines: None or sometime 1 stouter about 1 to 3 cm long, darker with black tip.
Flowers: Large, diurnal, borne laterally near the stem tips, funnel shaped, very colourful pale to dark carmine-red or violet, often with a bluish sheen and white throats, 4-9 cm long, 7,5-9 cm in diameter. Tube relatively slender 4-7 mm in diameter. Tepals lanceolate.
Fruit: About 1,5 cm in long, tannish-green to brownish-red semi-dry splitting vertically or horrizontally.
Seed: Relatively large, black, finely rough.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures:
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) 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
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) Willy Cullmann, Erich Götz (Dozent Dr.), Gerhard Gröner "The encyclopedia of cacti" Timber Press, 1984
5) Walter Rausch “Lobivia: The Day Flowering Echinopsidinae from a Geographical Distribution Point of View,” Volumes 1-3 R. Herzig, 1975
6) Hans Hecht “Cacti & succulents” Sterling Pub. Co., 1997
7) Clive Innes, Charles Glass “Cacti” Portland House, 1991
8) John Borg “Cacti: a gardener's handbook for their identification and cultivation” Blandford P., 1970
9) RHS "A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants." United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008

Cultivation and Propagation: Echinopsis backebergiiSN|9502]]SN|9502]] grows rather slowly and it is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone) and needs a very good drainage to avoid rotting, but requires more moisture than true desert cacti to grow and produce flower. It is a very easy flowerer, if you keep it reasonably cool and absolutely dry during winter and lots of fresh air and sunshine tends to produce better plants and more flowers.
Soil: Use a loose well drained cactus mix.
Repotting: It require a deep pot suited to accommodate the swollen root, repotting with fresh potting-mix should be done every other year or when the plant has outgrown its pot. However, repotting doesn't necessarily mean they'll need larger containers.
Sun Exposure: Light shade when young, full sun later. Outside it likes strong sunshine, but is tolerant and do well with light shade during the hot Summer months. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages spine production.
Hardiness: It is cold resistant to -10° ( or even less depending on clones) for short periods of time. It will show its flowers only if we provide an adequate winter rest period.
Watering: Water regularly through the growing season. This can be done weekly or more frequently during the summertime, if the weather is sunny enough, but allow to dry fully before watering again. Kept this way, plants will show a healthy growth. Keep rather dry as soon as the temperature starts dropping in October and keep it dry in winter. The plant survives outside without protection in winter but is then somewhat prone to rot, too.
Fertilization: Give an occasional high potassium liquid feed during the active growing period.
Garden uses: It is a fine plant for a rock garden or container, contrasts well with agaves, yuccas, and low-growing flowering plants.
Pest and diseases: They are generally fairly easy to grow, especially if kept pest-free. They are susceptible to, scale insects and spider mite. Watch carefully for infestations of stem and root mealy bugs, and damage from these may well initiate fungal attack.
Propagation: Seeds, also can be grown from cutting as it branches from the base. Take cuttings spring or summer, let them dry till the ends callous well. Then replant them in fresh cactus soil that is ever so slightly moist, and keep it that way till they root. Surface sowing is the best; seeds germinate in 14-28 days at 20° C , remembering that seedlings dislike strong light and dry conditions.