HOOCK, H. 1986 . Kakt. and. Sukk. Band: 37 Heft (12) Seite 260. Verbänderte Capricornen
Translation from German by the author:
Astrophytum v. capricorne forma cristata
With the cover picture of July 1986 in this periodical an Astrophytum capricorne (Dietrich) Britton & Rose was introduced which found the readers great interest. On several requests to this reconciles supplementary information. The plant comes from little north of Saltillo, Coahuila out from the circle Astrophytum capricorne and is in culture now for ten years. Its rib number has increased to 31 till now. The diameter is 12 or 14 cm at easily oval body. Her vegetation point is line-type on about 2 cm prolonged in the meantime (SCHRAMM, personal information). This astonishing find also flowered like crested for the surprise of his discoverer in July 1976 (HAAS, personal information). In connection with this, GLÄTZLE also reports from another A. capricorne Cristata at the surroundings of Cuatro Cienegas. This is an Astrophytum capricorne var. niveum (Kayser) Okumura which has formed the comb form after an injury at the vegetation point.
There are merely occasional references about cristatas of Astrophytums in Coahuila and these concern usually cultivated plants (KAYSER 1933, HAAGE & SADOVSKY 1957, SADOVSKY & SCHÜTZ 1979) . One says that FRIC discovered a specimen of Astrophytum coahuilense (Moeller) Kayser forma cristata but this statement isn't further covered (SADOVSKY, 1979.). Only KLAUS documents 1976 such plants. As indicated in the cover page text already, no nature Cristatas became known of Capricorne till now. By the new finds, a gap without sufficient explanation for, has been closed now.
Translation from German by Zaitseva L.:
Astrophytum v. capricorne forma cristata
The cover photo placed in "Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten" in July of 1986 showing an Astrophytum capricorne (Dietrich) Britton & Rose had aroused a great readers' interest (photo 3). Complying to the numerous requests of our readers we provide an additional information. The plant comes from the population of Astrophytum capricorne, located slightly to the north of Saltillo (Coahuila) and has been in culture for ten years already. The number of its ribs has increased up to 31. Slightly oval horizontal projection of its body measures 12 or 14 cm in diameter. The growth point of the plant resembles a line about 2 cm long (personal information received from Schramm). This astonishing find had also surprised its discoverer in July of 1976 by a crested flower (personal information from Haas). In this connection Glätzle reports of another A. capricorne f. cristata from the surroundings of Cuatro Cienegas. The plant in question was Astrophytum capricorne var. niveum (Kayser) Okumura; it had formed a "comb" after the injury of its apex.
It's a pity but in the literature there are only occasional references to cristate Astrophytums from Coahuila, and even those refer to mainly cultivated plants (Kayser 1933; Haage & Sadovsky 1957; Sadovsky & Schütz 1979). It is said that Fric had allegedly managed to find such an Astrophytum coahuilense (Moeller) Kayser but it hadn't been ever documented (Sadovsky, 1979). It was Klaus who first documented such a plant in 1976. As is obvious from the text to the title page there were no known nature cristates of A. capricorne up to date. Thanks to this new find a gap has now been closed which had no satisfactory reason to exist.
Literature:
HAAGE, W; SADOVSKY, O. (1957): Kakteen-Sterne - 87, Verlag Neumann Radebeul
KAYSER, K. (1933) Echinocactus. (Astroph.) capricorne niveum var. n., Kakteenkunde (1) - 31
KLAUS, W (1976): Wuchsformen von Astrophytum coahuilense (Moeller) Kayser, Kakt. and. Sukk. 27 (7) .1 60 - 1 62
SADOVSKY, 0. (1979): Kakteen mit zerstörter Symmetrie, Kakt. and. Sukk 30(5): 121
SADOVSKY, O.; SCHÜTZ, B. (1979): Die Gattung Astrophytum 23,153 Flora-Verlag, Titisee-Neustadt
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