Neoporteria or Eriosyce villosa

Description: Small solitary cactus with variable spination.Flowers: Bright magenta, borne on young areoles, 2-2,5 cm in diameter, pericarpels and floral tubes with long wool and gassy white bristles.Blooming time: Blooms early in the year. Occasionally forms some buds late in the previous year, and it can sometimes flower during the winter, although the main burst of flowering is in April.Fruit: Elongate, red, dehiscing by basal pores.Origin: Totoral Bajo to Carrizallilo, Huasco, Atacama, ChileCultivation: It is a summer grower species. Easy to cultivate but somewhat rot prone if kept in a non ventilated place. Requires a very fast draining drying soil Water regularly in summer, but do not over water.Needs a full sun exposure (or light shade) Good heat tolerance. Hardy to at down to -5°C for brief periods.Propagation: Usually propagated from Seeds. (seldom produces offsets) Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactu