Aylostera fiebrigii (Orange Crown Cactus)

Native to Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, this small cactus grows in dry, rocky habitats. Its rounded stems are covered with closely spaced tubercles and numerous slender spines, which may be white, brown or a mixture of both. Plants produce offsets over time, forming compact clumps. Bright orange to orange-red flowers open around the sides of the stems. The species is variable across its range and has long been cultivated in cactus collections for its colorful flowers. Photographed in Colombia.