Astrophytum capricorne at Las Vacas, Coahuila

Astrophytum capricorne grows here on gentle hills mainly in the lower area on the south side on dry rock and gravel surfaces. Young plants are densely white flocked, there often the otherwise typical brown zone in the shoots is absent. The condition of the plants is poor, they suffer from severe water shortage. Dead, dried specimens of all sizes are found numerous. Typical of the situation is the frequent red color of the flake-free epidermis.

In this habitat there are plants with a maximum of 10 - 15 cm hight, all with powerful spines, but bumped in the lower body. It looks like the Capricorne would have crowns of spines. We find some flake-free parts on the epidermis although the hairy scales can not be rubbed off easy. It is no abrasive effect of companion plants, but obviously a result of climatic environmental conditions. In particular, the flake-free epidermis then is colored by reddish anthocyanin.

photos:
series 1
accompanied plants

Astrophytum capricorne
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