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To the cover picture: Astrophytum capricorne (Dietrich) Britton & Rose
photo Jan Riha, Text Heinz Hoock
No other species of the genus Astrophytum Lem. is so variable in its outward phenomenon as Astrophytum capricorne (Dietr.) Britton & Rose. It has developed various forms and varieties in its wide-area Mexican habitats by a mimetic fit to the surroundings which differ in growth, spines and flakes. Also specialists have sometimes problems to find a final taxonomic assignment because the look of the plants often changes in the narrowest area, even from hill to hill. However, the rust-colored flakes in the new shoot are almost always a sure characteristic for the typical Capricornes, as it also can be seen good on the cover picture. The turned spines reminding to the horns of an ibex (Lat. capricornus i.e. ibex, billy goat) were cause for the naming of the species by Albert DIETRICH in the year 1851. Several interesting varieties were described from the manifestations of Astrophytum capricorne in the past. You find more about one of this, in my opinion the most beautiful of them, about this in this periodical.