The name Lobivia is an anagram for the country Bolivia, where the first species was discovered. It can be found in Bolivia, but also in Argentina, Chile and Peru. This cactus is usually small, solitary and globular; it produces noticeable amounts of growth each year and can form clumps. It is a very variable genus, especially in shape and length of spines and in flowers colour, and also tends to be very variable in habitat: it grows high in the Andes, both on grass and among rocks, but can also be found in lowland, in the valleys, on gravelly soils and even at altitudes up to 4,600m above sea level, such as, for example Lobivia maximiliana. Among the animals that contribute to pollination and seed dispersal in habitat are hummingbirds (the smallest living bird) and rheas (the largest of all South American birds), which are related to the ostrich and emu. Not difficult to grow; it prefers winter cold and a well-drained soil, which stimulates flowering.
