HOOCK, H. 1987 . Kakt. and. Sukk. Band: 38 Heft (3) Seite 75 Eine echte Cristata-Blüte!
Translation from German by the author:
A real crested flower!
Under this title a short note was published in the "Kakteenkunde" over 50 years ago. The author, editor Dr. W. v. ROEDER, describes there the rare crested flower of a Astrophytum myriostigma Lemaire in the collection GRÄSER, Nuremberg. Among other things he executes: although I have seen flourishing various cactuses already I must confess that this is the first crested flower which comes for me to face.
The bishop's cap on which this flower arose is, however -- the strangest at the whole thing! a normal plant, which now already had two of such precious flowers ... of (ROEDER 1934). Crested flowers are in the genus Astrophyten extremely rare indeed. Even SADOVSKY & SCHÜTZ had to go back to the old, retouched GRÄSER photography (SADOVSY & SCHÜTZ 1979) for her Astrophytum book. This phenomenon also has happened in my collection in May 1986. An approximately l5 year old plant, also a naked Astrophytum myriostigma, which wasn't different in any way of the other till now, surprisingly brought a crested flower without a recognizable outer action.
The open flower had an extent of 35 centimeters, the ribbon formed pistil had about 140 but not full developed pollen branches. This one also corresponded to a increased number at least six to ten times more filaments and ovules. When in the cactus family the main shoot passes over to a cristata growth, it brings however normal flowers. On the other hand there are normal growing plants like in the described case with now and then crested flowers. In very rare cases fasciations flourish also with cristata flowers. An example of it has recently been confessed in the genus Astrophytum. The statement of ROEDER, that it has been written very much about the crest forms of the cactuses but the cause for it is unsolved in the end, however, is correct until today.
Translation from German by Zaitseva L.
A real crested flower!
Over 50 years ago a short note appeared under this title in the "Kakteenkunde". The author, editor Dr. W. v. Roeder described the rare crested flower of a "nude" Astrophytum myriostigma Lemaire from the collection of Gräser, Nuremberg. Besides other things he wrote: "Although I can assure you that I have known all kinds of cacti and seen them flowering, still I must confess that this is the first crested flower I ever saw in flesh. And the most wonderful of all things is that "the bishop's cap" on which this flower appeared is a normal plant, which had two such precious flowers since..." (Roeder, 1934).
Indeed, crested flowers in the Astrophytum genus are extremely rare. Even Sadovsky & Schütz had to use the old, retouched Gräser photograph for their book on Astrophytum (Sadovsky & Schütz, 1979). Such a phenomenon has happened in my collection in May of 1986. An Astrophytum myriostigma about 15 years old, also „nude" and up till that moment differing in nothing from other plants brought a crested flower without none whatever influence. The open flower was 35 cm in size and had a ribbon-like pistil with 140 underdeveloped stigma lobes. Accordingly there were from 6 to 10 times as much stamens and ovules (photo 4).
In cacti a main stem turning into the crest at its apex brings as a rule normal flowers. However there sometimes appear normally developing plants bringing cristate flowers, as in the case described. Fasciating plants can also bring cristate flowers, though extremely rarely. Such a case in the Astrophytum genus has been reported not long ago. Nevertheless the statement of Roeder is actual up to date that much has been written about crested forms of cacti but the cause for their appearance is still a mystery.
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