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Species and Cultivars to Choose
After studying how straightforward it’s to look after these vegetation, it’s time to try the totally different species in additional element in addition to some fabulous cultivars.
Asterias
Often called sand greenback, sea urchin, star, Texas star cactus, or star peyote, A. asterias reaches one to 2 inches tall and two to 6 inches huge at maturity.
And although the spherical, squat form of this plant resembles peyote, A. asterias accommodates no hallucinogenic compounds!
This astrophytum is spineless, brownish inexperienced in coloration, lined with small white flecks, and has wooly areoles that type traces taking place the middle of every rib, of which there are 4 to 13.
The flowers are yellow with crimson facilities.
Since these vegetation are endangered, it’s unlawful to gather them from the wild. There are many seed-grown choices in cultivation.
It may be difficult to know if plant nurseries have sustainable practices with out interviewing them. If doubtful, select a cultivated number of A. asterias as a substitute.
‘Tremendous Kabuto’ is probably the most well-liked A. asterias cultivar. These vegetation are lined in enticing, giant white flecks.
The flocking on totally different specimens will range in its precise sample – some are so lined in flecks that they’re nearly fully white, others have giant woolly spots or V-like patterns.
Capricorne
Named for its curved spines, A. capricorne is usually referred to as goat’s horn cactus.
This globe-shaped astrophytum has a single stem that turns into extra columnar because it matures, ultimately reaching as much as six inches huge and 4 ft tall.
Goat’s horn cactus is inexperienced and lined to various levels with white flecks. Its spines develop in clusters of 5 to 10, and it has eight ribs, with areoles that develop vertically alongside the ribs.
Flowers on goat’s horns cacti are yellow with crimson facilities.
Caput-medusae
With a species epithet meaning Medusa’s head, A. caput-medusae was previously categorised in a unique genus, as Digitostigma caput-medusae.
Once you have a look at this plant, you don’t see a globular or columnar stem, however as a substitute a bunch of unruly-looking protuberances that encourage its species identify.
These protuberances, or tubercles, as they’re extra generally referred to as, are lined with white flocking and emerge from a tiny, floor degree stem that’s lined in bristles.
Crops can attain as much as seven and a half inches tall and huge, and bear yellow blooms on the ends of their protuberances.
This astrophytum is critically endangered because of overcollection and grazing pressures.
Coahuilense
A species that’s generally identified by the frequent names bishop’s cap, bishop’s miter, or monk’s hood cactus, A. coahuilense is definitely confused with the extra extensively accessible A. myriostigma.
With 5 ribs and rising in a globe or columnar form, this bishop’s cap reaches as much as eight inches tall and as much as 4 inches huge at maturity.
The pores and skin is densely lined with white flecks, giving this spineless species a grey look.
The flowers are yellow with crimson facilities.
Myriostigma
Generally often called bishop’s hat, bishop’s cap, or bishop’s miter, A. myriostigma is without doubt one of the most generally cultivated of the astrophytums.
At maturity, vegetation attain 4 to 10 inches huge and as much as two ft tall, although often they’ll attain 5 ft tall at maturity.
Spineless vegetation are inexperienced with white flecks or could also be easy, with out flocking.
This species produces three to 10 ribs, with areoles alongside the ribs, and bears flowers which are yellow with yellow facilities.
There are numerous A. myriostigma cultivars accessible, together with the fascinating ‘Kikko.’
‘Kikko’ has horizontal furrows in its ribs, giving the vegetation a novel texture.
There are totally different types of the ‘Kikko’ cultivar, a few of that are fairly geometrical wanting, whereas others look extra like they have been roughly sculpted out of clay by youngsters!
Ornatum
With essentially the most spines of all astrophytums, A. ornatum is mostly often called monk’s hood cactus however can also be generally referred to as ornamented bishop’s cap.
Monk’s hood cactus is darkish inexperienced to grayish inexperienced, and globe-shaped, turning into cylindrical because it matures. This species can attain 12 inches huge and 6 ft tall or extra because it ages.
The pores and skin is roofed with white flecks, however in variable quantities – they are often very sparsely or fairly densely lined, with the flecks creating lovely patterns.
Monk’s hood cacti normally produce eight ribs, however this quantity might be between 5 and 10, giving the plant a star form when seen from above.
