Astrophytum asterias, introduction
Astrophytum asterias is regarded as one of the most beautiful cactus species at all. It is very popular in the collections but always rare. The reason for it lies among other things in the high care which is required for these splendid plants. They were discovered already in 1842 by baron Karwinsky in Tamaulipas, soon however, disappeared from the European collections again. Octavio Solis found the plants at new habitats in 1919 (Barretillas, Nuevo Leon; Ciudad Guerrereo, Tamaulipas) and Fric 1923 found them again in the Tierra Caliente (KARWINSKY´s origin place).
Obviously this species is the highest developed one within the genus Astrophytum. Several reasons speak for it:
1. extreme small growth
2. no spines
3. perfect mimetic adaptation to the surroundings
4. longest walks of Astrophytum during the ice ages from the starting point in Hidalgo, Mexico up to Texas, USA.
5. quick flourishing ability (shortening of the vegetative phase)
The phenotype of Astrophytum asterias is not very variable. It usually has eight ribs, rare less and hardly ever more. Their tufts of wool can be completely missing in single cases, but are usually loose, however, fine, also arched scattered over the dark green body. The Japanese breedings "Super Kabuto" are allegedly from texan location material (one plant). They have been taken to pure inheritance by gardeners selection. This reminds at the work of GRÄSER (1) with the target to win Myriostigmas with few ribs. The yellow flowers of Astrophytum asterias have usually a red to orange color tube, pure yellow flowers are found seldom. Also completely pink color flowers were described (FRIC (5)).
The plants almost retire completely under the earth's surface in her native country during the dry season. But they are almost ground at once and with that invisible in the growth time for their eating enemies however too. Till now, there is no found of hallucinogenic in the plants despite multiple contrary assertions. The name "Peyote" by the natives comes presumably by the external similarity to Lophophora williamsii, however there is no closer botanic relationship.
Astrophytum asterias is self sterile and can be crossed without problems with Astrophytum species which flower with red tube like A. coahuilense and A. capricorne. It can nearly never be crossed with the pure yellow flowering Astrophytums A. myriostigma and A. ornatum. Obviously an evolutiv caused barrier lies between these groups (MÖLLER lines). Different experts have dealt thus more closely (MÖLLER (2), MEGATA (3)) and the results were published unfortunately with wrong conclusions by others (HAAGE, SADOVSKY, SCHÜTZ (4)).
Footnotes:
1)
GRÄSER, R. 1963 Kakt. and. Sukk. volume: 14 No. (2), page 36, Beobachtungen an Astrophytum myriostigma
GRÄSER, R., 1964 . Kakt. and. Sukk., volume: 15 No. (8), page 147-151, Vom vierrippigen Astrophytum myriostigma
GRÄSER, R., 1967 . Kakt. and. Sukk., volume: 18 No. (5), page 82-86, Wünsche eines Myriostigmenfreundes
GRÄSER, R., 1968 . Kakt. and. Sukk., volume: 19 No. (7), page 134-135, Wächst wie Rasen ... Dichotome Spaltung - nicht nur bei Mammillarien
GRÄSER, R., 1971 . Kakt. and. Sukk., volume: 22 No. (10), page 188-190, Merkwürdigkeiten einer Astrophytum-myriostigma-Population
GRÄSER, R., 1973 . Kakt. and. Sukk., volume: 24 No. (2), page 35-36, Der zweiköpfige Myriostigma-Sämling
GRÄSER, R., 1974 . Kakt. and. Sukk., volume: 35 No. (4), page 93, Der Myriostigmen-Freund erzählt
(2)
MÖLLER, H., 1927 Zeitschrift f. Sukkulentenkunde volume: 3 No. (3) page 52-55, Beobachtungen an Astrophyten
(3)
MEGATA, M., 1944, page 1-62 Kyoto Imperial University, An Account of the Genus Astrophytum LEMAIRE in: Memoirs of the College of Agriculture, No. 56
(4)
HAAGE, W.; SADOVSKY, O. 1957, page 1-156 Neumann-Verlag, Radebeul Kakteen-Sterne - die Astrophyten
SADOVSKY, O.; SCHÜTZ, B., 1979, page 1-247 Flora-Verlag, Titisee-Neustadt, Die Gattung Astrophytum
(5)
FRIC, A. V., 1925, Zivot v Prirode, volume: 29, No. 11, page 37-40, Odrudy astrophyt
Literature from the author:
A chance with far reaching consequences...
At the habitat of Astrophytum asterias, Texas..
A surprise at the habitat of Astrophytum asterias...
Original description
Astrophytum asterias
Astrophytum asterias cv. Super Kabuto & Miracle Kabuto
Photos
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