We owe the discovery of Astrophytum coahuilense (Möll.) Kays. to Dr. Carl Purpus who collected these beautiful plants 1903 on one of his adventurous journeys in Mexico, Coahuila. At first one regarded it only as a "white" form of Astrophytum myriostigma LEM., which was well known already from the southern San Luis Potosi over half a century. Essential differences proved later, however, which led to the first description of the Purpus find by H. Möller. These mainly are large, red throated flowers as well as fruits, seed and seedlings which are more like the Astrophytum capricorne (Dietr.) Britt. et Rose and not Astrophytum myriostigma.
The cover picture was taken at one of the Purpus locations near Torreon. It shows an old specimen with a diameter of 18 cm at 31 cm of height. Despite occasional rib slide-in trials it still has its typical, five-ribbed form. It is visually fitted in so perfectly in the scanty shade of Larrea tridentata (DC.) Coville and Jatropha dioica Cervantes to the surroundings with large limestone chunks, that is protected well against its natural eating enemies in his lovely point of view over the Rio Nazas.
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