HOOCK, H. 1990 . Kaktus (Nordisk Kaktus Selskab) Band: 25 Heft
(3) Seite 51-54 Pa jagt efter Astrophytum i Bolson de Cuatro
Cienegas (Auf Astrophytensuche im Bolson de Cuatro Cienegas)
On Search for Astrophytums in the Bolson de Cuatro Cienegas
Next to the stone steppes (1) the closed geological basin
formations belong to the most impressive views of the Chihuahua
desert. They are formed by mountain ranges which enclose levels
and valleys in a form that a natural water drain isn't possible.
Therefore in Mexico one calls them characteristic
"bolson" what means bag or pocket. In these closed
areas usually arid regions predominate but also smaller marsh
fields and lagoons arise. Sometimes a completely independent,
endemic fauna and flora develops in such ecological niches. The
Bolson de Cuatro Cienegas is particularly famous in north
Coahuila for it. It approximately contains an area of 500 square
kilometres and is surrounded by the mountains of the Sierra
Anteojo, Ovejas, Purisima, San Marcos and La Fragua, which tower
above 2000 metres (2) from the bolson with 600 metres over sea
level. The Sierra of San Marco almost divides the Bolson into
north-south direction completely. On its northern end, at a few
kilometres broad, flat connecting part between the eastern and
western basin, the little town Cuatro Cienegas (3) is located.
This was my starting point for a search of Astrophytum capricorne
v. niveum (KAYSER) OKUMURA several days in December 1985.
Astrophytum capricorne v. niveum was already discovered in 1930
by W. VIERECK in this area, few years later described as
Echinocactus capricornis v. niveus (4) by K. KAYSER as a new
variety and cultivated as a special rarity in European special
collections. It differs from the since 1851 known Astrophytum
capricorne (DIETRICH) BRITTON & ROSE primarily by very
strong, edged spines. The body is covered with thick white fluffy
flakes at free locations. Unlike the normal Capricorne the flakes
are also pure white in the new shoot of the plants while the
first ones have brown flakes at the top. After a spherical youth
stage Astrophytum capricorne v. niveum grows to short, solid
columns which reach a diameter up to 20 cm at a height of about
50 cm. Their yellow flowers with a red till orange colour throat
and up to 9 cm of diameters do not develop stamen-hairs in the
nectar chamber. One seldom also find pure yellow flowering
Niveums at the habitat. Therefore one can assume that the plants
are mixed inherited at the location regarding her flower throat
colour.
Astrophytum capricorne v. niveum isn't only rare in our
greenhouses, it was never frequently represented in the Bolson de
Cuatro Cienegas, too . By unprincipled collectors it was
decimated strongly moreover within the last few years so that it
belongs to the particularly endangered cacti today. At first I
found only very isolated and in large separations smaller plants
at the foothills of the Sierra Anteojo, at "wintry"
temperatures around 30 degrees in the shade. After an almost
unsuccessful and exhausting day, I returned a little disappointed
to the way to Cuatro Cienegas. At the way down by a flat rubble
field, without paying attention to Astrophytum still further, I
discovered by chance an intact Niveum family on less than 100
square metres (diagram).
The complete group of this beautiful Astrophytum capricorne v.
niveum population contains about 20-25 plants, partly growing
close together, partly scattered, from little baby plants with
only 5 cm in diameter to tall columns up to 40 cm height. Almost
all individuals grow free in the lime rubble, whose grey colour
fits perfect mimetic to the dense flaked plants. Even on the
shortest distance one can hardly differ the plants from the child
head large rocks around. The stong, grey spines of the
Astrophytums look like arid tufts of grass so that the optical
deception is still increased.
At most locations of the Astrophytums one can state, that
seedlings and young plants survive the extreme climate conditions
within the first years by the protection of foster mother plants.
Its are mainly Hechtias and Larrea shrubs in the south at the
locations of Astrophytum myriostigma LEMAIRE, and Agave
lechuguilla TORREY in the habitats of Astrophytum capricorne
which offer the necessary shadow against the burning heat. At the
described Niveum group this protection function is partly
realized by the loosely lying gravel of the pre-mountains.
However, single plants are found on the margin of the area in
community with Larrea DE CANDOLLE (form 1) (5) and Mesquite (form
2) (6). The group with four plants grew up under protection of
Grusonia bradtiana (Syn. Opuntia bradtiana) (COULTER) BRITTON
& ROSE and Echinocereus stramineus (ENGELMANN) RÜMPLER.
However, the semicircular order also would suggest that this form
comes from a died Agave lechuguilla collection. These succulents
form frequently metre large islands whose middle ring then widens
by faded, died plants.
The more correct examination of single Niveums brought surprising
results. It has to be actually expected that the rib number with
the age of the Astrophytums increases. Of all population members,
however, only a smaller plant has 9 ribs (number 1 in the
diagram), while even the largest specimen remained on the
conservative number 8 (number 9 in the diagram). The age of this
imposing Astrophytum capricorne v. niveum can be estimated only
approximate by far more than 50 years. In the upper quarter of
his dense spine covered body it owns, not on the rib but beside,
a lonely areole. A surely very rare phenomenon (figure 3).
At the top of most Niveums were many, dry, unpollinated flowers
but also emptied fruits. In two cases older seed capsules were
found with, how later proved, shoot incompetent seed. Both fruits
still were closed. Had these ubiquitous ants not discovered the
smell of the ripe fruits and not fulfilled therefore her function
to the myrmecochorie (seed dispersal by ants) (7) here? Or is at
Astrophytum capricorne v. niveum also another seed distribution
mechanisms by birds or mammals of importance, how one could
suspect by the red colouring of ripe fruits? I watched at all
events a deep brown squirrel and a lime grey rabbit in closer
distance of the location, both animals to be believed capable the
consumption of Astrophytum fruits.
The flora of nearby surroundings of this Niveum family is stamped
by large-area Grusonia bradtiana populations, half-height Larrea
bushes and the Mesquite shrub. Turquoise green yucca groups (8)
isolatedly rise about this, in this season's leafless crops of
Fouquieria splendens ENGELMANN (9) and metres high inflorescences
of stemless Dasylirion ZUCCARINI (10). The region up to
approximately knee height is dominated by Agave lechuguilla,
grasses, as well as Euphorbia antisyphilitica ZUCCARINI. Very
beautiful specimens of cacti were found like: Ariocarpus
fissuratus (ENGELMANN) SCHUMANN, Lophophora williamsii (LEMAIRE
ex SALM DYCK) COULTER, Echinocereus pectinatus v. rigidissimus
(Syn. E. rigidissimus v. rigidissimus) (ENGELMANN) RÜMPLER,
Epithelantha micromeris (ENGELMANN) WEBER, Echinocactus
horizonthalonius LEMAIRE and Mammillaria leona (Syn. M. pottsii)
POSELGER. They develop under the UV rich light in the Bolson an
outfit which culture conditions can not reach. Echinocereus
stramineus has so long spines here, that the plant body can be
hardly seen.
At the output of the basin in west direction there exists another
Astrophytum population with flake reduction (11). Thick and thin
flaked individuals find themselves there at the same location
next to pure green plants in an immediate neighbourhood (figure
4). This high evolved form of Astrophytum capricorne v. niveum is
presumably the geographical starting point for the further to the
south growing naked, yellow spined Astrophytum capricorne v.
aureum MÖLLER. Few months after my visit European cactus dealers
and tourists looted the Astrophytum habitat at this remote basin
part. It was then set on fire by a campfire deliberately or
inadvertently. It remains only hope that the beautiful Niveum
group at the foothills of the Sierra Anteojo isn't discovered by
such vandals and survives undisturbed in the silence of the
Bolson de Cuatro Cienegas still for a long time.
Literature:
BERNHARD, U.; HOOCK, H. (1986): Die Astrophyten von Cuatro
Cienegas, Kakt. and. Sukk. 37 (7): 141-147
BOKE, N. H. (1968): Excursiones de la Universidad de Oklahoma en
el Norte de Mexico - 1967, Cact. Suc. Mex. 13 (3): 50-58
BROWN, D. E. (1982): Chihuahuan Desertscrub, Desert Plants 4
(1/4): 169-179
HOOCK, H. (1986): Die Mimese der Astrophyten, Kakt. and. Sukk. 37
(10): 208-211
HOOCK, H. (1988): Schutz der Nektarkammer bei
Astrophytum-Blüten, Kakt. and. Sukk., 39 (3): 58-61
KAYSER, K. (1933): Echinocts. (Astroph.) capricornis niveus var.
n., Kakteenkunde Jg. 1933 (1): 31-32
RIHA, J.; BUSEK, J. (1986): Astrophytum capricorne var. niveum a
var. crassispinum, Kaktusy 22 (5): 99-103
VIERECK, H. W. (1939): Astrophyten, wie sie der Sammler in den
Heimatgebieten sieht, Beiträge z. Sukkulentenkunde Jg. 1939 (1):
4-8
Figure texts in the article
Form 1:
The Astrophytum capricorne v . niveum on the margin of the plant
group is shadowed during the greatest noon heat by a Gobernadora
bush, which one is almost leafless in the wintertime, though.
Form 2:
Within the Niveum group a large plant dominates with a thick
spine crests along the ribs, awarding a primeval appearance to
it. Each rib has 40-50 areols. To this an age of about 50-100
years can be assessed to this Astrophytum.
Form 3:
One sees a spined, flourishing capable areole which isn't on the
rib edge but surprisingly at a rib flank.
Form 4:
Two Astrophytum capricorne v. niveum from the western part of the
Bolson de Cuatro Cienegas in the comparison. The plants there
tend to flake reduction (left), however, flaked ones grow at the
same location (right).
Footnotes and remarks:
(1) The stony, gravelly levels are called "bajadas" in
her native country. Here are often erosion gutters, the
"arroyos", which possess water only after intense rain
fall.
(2) Pico Pajarito, 2772 meters over sea level in the western
Sierra Anteojo.
(3) Cuatro Cienegas means "four marshes". Water places
still are in the surroundings of the small town today, filled
year-round and surprise the visitor with a wealth of marsh plants
in the middle of the dry zone of the Bolson (Nyphea (waterlily),
Utricularia).
(4) The name "niveus" (snow like) was taken by K.
KAYSER because of the particularly thick white flakes of this
Astrophytums.
(5) Larrea bushes often of Larrea tridentata (DE CANDOLLE)
COVILLE, frequently dominate in the view of the Chihuahua arid
regions. Mexicans call them therefore "gobernadora",
ruler. However, one describes them also as a Kreosote shrub,
since the leaves covered of a varnish layer on hot days smell
intensive to Kreosot.
(6) All spiny shrubs are called in Mexico "mesquite",
many of them Prosopis juliflora DE CANDOLLE.
(7) For ants the spermatic cords of seeds are a delicacy in the
ripe Astrophytum fruits. They partly eat the seed appendages
completely at the transport to their anthill and then having
cleaned the seeds leave them. Under favourable environmental
conditions a new Astrophytum generation then grows up along the
former ant street. One mentions this distribution mechanism of
the seeds Myrmecochorie.
(8 ) Presumale Yucca rigida (ENGELMANN) TRELEASE.
(9 ) In Mexico called "ocotillo".
(10) Presumable Dasylirion leiophyllum.
(11) Another poulation is mentioned in the Sierra Ovejas.
Photos:
plant cummunity, drawing
Astrophytum capricorne v. niveum (1)
Astrophytum capricorne v. niveum (2)
areole between ribs at Astrophytum
capricorne v. niveum
Yucca rigida (ENGELMANN) TRELEASE ?
landscape at the basin of Cuatro
Cienegas
Artikel
articles
home