The genus Astrophytum: history of classification
1839 Original description of the genus by LEMAIRE, CH. in: Cactacearum Genera nova Speciesque novae et omnium in Horto Monvillano cultarum: 3. The genus was established by Lemaire in the original description of Astrophytum myriostigma. (the genus is characterized by areoles without spines, the flowers descend in the center of the areoles)
1841 Further description by Lawrence under the genus synonymous Astrophyton: LAWRENCE, G. in LOUDON, J. C. (1841): Catalogue of the Cacti in the Collection of the Rev. Theodore Williams, at Hendon Vicarage, Middlesex., The Gardeners Magazine (17), Seite 321:
1845 Later description of the genus by SALM-DYCK, J. in: Cacteae in Horto Dyckensi cultae anno 1844 Paris: 22 as section of Echinocactus. (the genus is characterized by flakes)
1845 Later description of the genus by ZUCCARINI, J. G. in: Echinocactus asterias in: Abhandlungen der mathem.-physik. Classe der Königlich Bayrischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, IV-2: 13. Zuccarini has doubts about the genus Astrophytum because the flowers are similar to Echinocactus. (the genus is characterized by flowers, seeds)
1846 FÖRSTER, C. F. in: Handbuch der Cacteenkunde in ihrem ganzen Umfange, Im. Tr. Wöller-Verlag, Leipzig takes the classification of Salm-Dyck. (the genus is characterized by the flowers)
1850 Later description of the genus by SALM-DYCK, J. unter ASTEROIDEI in: Cacteae cultae in Horto Dyckensi anno 1849 Bonn: 29. Salm-Dyck takes Astrophytum as section of Echinocactus. (the genus is characterized by flakes and flowers)
1853 LABOURET, J. follows in the classification in: Monographie de la Famille des Cactees, Libraire agricole de la Maison Rustique, Paris, his predecessor Salm Dyck. (the genus is characterized by flakes and flowers)
1868 Later description of the genus by LEMAIRE, CH. in: Les Cactees Libraire agricole de la Maison Rustique, Paris: 49-51. Lemaire defends the genus with the argument that the flower descends in the center of the areole. (the genus is characterized by flowers, fruit, flakes)
1898 SCHUMANN, K. takes in his work: Gesamtbeschreibung der Kakteen, Monographia Cactacearum the classification of his predecessors and calls Astrophytum as a subgenus within the genus Echinocactus. (the genus is characterized by flakes and fruit, key to the species spines (areoles))
1922 BRITTON, N. L.; ROSE, J. N. publish volume 3 of: The Cactaceae - Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family. They consider Astrophytum is an own genus with four species. (the genus is characterized by flakes; key to the species spines)
1925 ROST, E. C. describes in the journal Zeitschrift f. Sukkulentenkunde volume 2, part (8), page 138-142 the genus Maierocactus GEN. NOV. and takes Astrophytum capricorne as type species. An embarrassed error for the author and scientifically absolutely wrong. (the genus is characterized by flower, fruit and seed, no species)
1929 BERGER, A. follows in his work „Kakteen“, Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart the classification of De Candolle (1830) and Karl Schumann (1898) and considers Astrophytum as subgenus of Echinocactus. (the genus is characterized by flowers und flakes)
1937 (1938?) WERDERMANN, E.; SOCNIK, H. consider in their work „Kakteen“, Gartenbauverlag Trowitzsch & Sohn, Frankfurt/Oder-Berlin, the genus Astrophytum like Britton et. Rose as justifiable and independent.
1937 BACKEBERG, C. publishes with: Astrophytum LEM. (1839) in Blätter f. Kakteenforschung, Jg. 1937-2 a new key (fruit) for the classification. He considers the Astrophytum as an own genus with five species. His income is the recognition of Astrophytum coahuilense as a stand-alone species, which is intermediary in its properties. (the genus is characterized by flakes, key to the species flowers, fruit)
1944 MEGATA, M. publishes his monograph: An Account of the Genus Astrophytum LEMAIRE in: Memoirs of the College of Agriculture, No. 56, Kyoto Imperial University. It is the most important and best literature concerning Astrophytum. Megata considers Astrophytum as an own genus with five species. (the genus is characterized by fruit and seed, key to the species flower, fruit, seed)
2002 HOOCK, H. www.astrobase.de; key to the species fruit-opening, spines
Original descriptions of the genus
Astrophytum genus
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