The history of Astrophytum myriostigma Lemaire, Ch.
used abbreviations like MY, MYC, MYL, MYQ...
1837 (MY) Galeotti discovers the plants near the Hacienda de San Lazaro, about 50 kilometres northeast of the capital. SCHUMANN, K. (1903): Gesamtbeschreibung der Kakteen, Monographia Cactacearum, 2. ed. mit den Nachträgen von 1898-1902, Seite 321. Megata is mistaken naming Ehrenberg as discoverer: Megata (1944), page 4. Ehrenberg had in fact collected plants in this area at the same time like Galeotti but named Galeotti later as the discoverer: EHRENBERG, C. A. in SCHLECHTENDAL, D. F. L. (1847): Beitrag zur Geschichte einiger mexicanischer Cacteen, Linnaea 19 (3) page 358
1839 (MY) Original description of Astrophytum myriostigma by LEMAIRE, CH. (1839): Cactacearum Genera nova Speciesque novae et omnium in Horto Monvillano cultarum: 4-6. This was simultaneously also the description of the new genus with Astrophytum myriostigma as a type species. The plants were collected by Galeotti in the state San Luis Potosi nearby today's Charco Blanco. To set up a variety Astrophytum myriostigma v. potosinum is unauthorized, as Möller did later on: Echinocactus myriostigma subsp. potosina MÖLLER, H. (1927): Beobachtungen an Astrophyten Zeitschrift f. Sukkulentenkunde 3 (3): 52-54
1839 (MY) Galeotti describes almost at the same time as Lemaire the collected plants as Cereus callicoche, Cereus inermis: GALEOTTI, H. G. in SCHEIDWEILER, M. J. (1839): Cereus callicoche GALEOTTI Bulletins de l'Academie Royale des Sciences et belles-lettres de Brux. 6: 88
1838 ? (MY) The first flower of Astrophytum myriostigma in Europe James Courant, Le Havre: FÖRSTER, C. F. (1846): Handbuch der Cacteenkunde in ihrem ganzen Umfange, Im. Tr. Wöller-Verlag, Leipzig, page 459-460
1839 (MY) The first flower of Astrophytum myriostigma at Francois Vandermaelen, Brüssel a patron of Galeotti: SCHUMANN, K. (1903): Gesamtbeschreibung der Kakteen, Monographia Cactacearum, 2. ed. mit den Nachträgen von 1898-1902, J. Neumann Verlag, Neudamm, Seite 321
1841 (MY) Lawrence mentions in the Collection of the Rev. Theodore Williams, at Hendon under the genus name Astrophyton two species, namely 1. myriostigma and 2. depressa; all together 4 plants: 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) page 321
1841 (MYQ) Mittler reports about the new cactus Astrophytum myriostigma from America. He writes: "...Der Körper der Pflanze ist von länglich runder Form und hat vier Kanten...(the body of the plant is of longish round form and has four edges)". MITTLER, L. (1841): Taschenbuch für Cactusliebhaber, Schreck, L.; Leipzig, page 19. Förster corrects this statement, wrong as we know today, when he writes in 1846 "...Kanten 5-6, niemals vier wie Mittler...irrthümlich berichtet...(edges 5-6, never four as Mittler mistaken reports)". This controversy already shows the difficulties about the right of this species, which still today are current. FÖRSTER, C. F. (1846): Handbuch der Cacteenkunde in ihrem ganzen Umfange, page 335
1844 (MY) Mittler publishes a list of collections where Astrophytum myriostigma is cultivated for example HAAGE jun. Erfurt, SCHELHAASE Kassel: MITTLER, L. (1844): Taschenbuch für Cactusliebhaber, Leipzig, In Commission bei Ludwig Schreck, page 46
1845 (MY) Zuccarini describes in his work Astrophytum asterias also Astrophytum myriostigma very exactly: ZUCCARINI, J. G. (1845): Echinocactus asterias in: Abhandlungen der mathem.-physik. Classe der Königlich Bayrischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, IV-2., page 15. He also mentions that Karwinsky sent Astrophytum myriostigma under the name Echinocactus doctoralis to St. Petersburg, Russia.
1845 (MY) or earlier? Staines sends plants from San Luis Potosi to the Botanical Gardens in Kew, England. They are described and shown flowering in the Botanical Magazine. At that time, a fruit couldn't be watched yet: Anonym (1845): Echinocactus myriostigma, Bot. Mag. 71, Tab. 4177
1845 (MY) Salm-Dyck mentions Astrophytum myriostigma in his collection: SALM-DYCK, J. (1845): Cacteae in Horto Dyckensi cultae anno 1844, Paris: 22
1850 (MY) Further description as Echinocactus myriostigma by SALM-DYCK, J. (1850): Cacteae cultae in Horto Dyckensi anno 1849 Bonn: 155-156
1853 (MY) Further description as Echinocactus Myriostigma (Salm.) by: LABOURET, J. (1853): Monographie de la Famille des Cactees, Libraire agricole de la Maison Rustique, Paris, Seite 205. Labouret holds the classification of Salm-Dyck, who knew Echinocactus myriostigma under Echinocactus in the section ("Groupe" at Labouret) Asteroidei together with Echinocactus asterias.
1895 (MYC) In the German cactus company columnar Astrophytum myriostigma are discussed. In a second session one then comes to the conclusion the column form isn't a result of the cultivation but a variety occurring in nature. HIRSCHT, K. (1895): Aus der Gesellschaft der Kakteenfreunde Monatsschrift f. Kakteenkunde 5 (7): 111 und 5 (8): 127
1896 (MY) Schumann mixed up an Astrophytum myriostigma, brought from Mexico by Reichenbach, with Astrophytum asterias: SCHUMANN, K. (1896): Echinocactus asterias ZUCC., Monatsschrift f. Kakteenkunde, volume 6 (2) page 23
1898 (MYC) Original description as Echinocactus myriostigma v. columnaris by SCHUMANN, K. (1898): Gesamtbeschreibung der Kakteen, Monographia Cactacearum, J. Neumann Verlag, Neudamm: 321
1902 (MY) Perhaps the first published photography of Astrophytum myriostigma. The photo is from Charles Darrah, Heaton, Mersey and shows a flowering plant with four ribs: SCHUMANN, K. (1902): Echinocactus myriostigma S.D., Monatsschrift f. Kakteenkunde 12 (1), page 4
1902 (MYQ) Presumable the first photo of Astrophytum myriostigma v. quadricostatum. SCHUMANN, K. (1902): Echinocactus myriostigma S.D., Monatsschrift f. Kakteenkunde 12 (1): 4
1903 (MY) The photo of an Astrophytum myriostigma from DE LAET is discussed in the monthly meeting of the German Cactus Society. SCHUMANN suspects that it might be perhaps Astrophytum asterias.
1907 (MY) Reichenbach collects near railway lines also Astrophytum myriostigma "...in Kopfgröße...(big as a head)" and send the plants to Mr. Johann Nikolai, Germany: REICHENBACH, F. (1907): Importen, Monatsschrift f. Kakteenkunde 17 (4) page 50
1911 (MY) Meyer, R. reports about imported plants, destinated to the company Grässner, which are very variable in their morphology. Schumann mixed up Astrophytum myriostigma posessing rounded ribs with the lost Astrophytum asterias: MEYER, R. (1911): Über Echinocactus myriostigma S.-D. und Echinocactus asterias ZUCC., Monatsschrift f. Kakteenkunde 21 (6), page 89-91
1912 (MYU) Original description as Echinocactus myriostigma v. nuda by MEYER, R. (1912b): Echinocactus myriostigma S.-D. var. nuda R. MEY. var. nov. Monatsschrift f. Kakteenkunde 22 (9): 136-137
1925 (MYJ) Viereck collected thousands of Astrophytum myriostigma in Tamaulipas and sent them to Europe. He lived near the town of Jaumave on a hacienda and was visited there by Hugo Baum. Viereck was a former pupil of the inspector Baum at the Botanical Garden of Rostock, Germany: HAAGE, W. (1981): Kakteen von A bis Z, Neumann Verlag, Leipzig-Radebeul, page 51
1925 (MYJ) Suhr reports about plants from Tamaulipas, which all have only four ribs: SUHR, R. (1925): Die Jahres-Hauptversammlung zu Berlin vom 15.-18. August 1925, Zeitschrift f. Sukkulentenkunde, 2 (6) page 103
1925 (MYQ) Baum finds during his visit at Viereck near the town Jaumave Astrophytum myriostigma v. quadricostatum. HAAGE, W. (1981): Kakteen von A bis Z, Neumann Verlag, Leipzig-Radebeul, page 27, 51
1926 (MYC) Prochonow introduces during the general meeting of the German cactus company imported plants with a height of 50 cm: PROCHNOW, P. (1926): Die Jahreshauptversammlung in Leipzig, Zeitschrift f. Sukkulentenkunde 2 (14) 230-236
1927 (MYC) Further description as Echinocactus myriostigma v. columnaris by MÖLLER, H. (1927): Beobachtungen an Astrophyten Zeitschrift f. Sukkulentenkunde 3 (3): 53-54
1927 (MYQ) Original description as Echinocactus myriostigma subsp. quadricostatus by MÖLLER, H. (1927): Beobachtungen an Astrophyten Zeitschrift f. Sukkulentenkunde 3 (3): 52-54
1927 (MYU) Further description as Echinocactus myriostigma v. nudus by MÖLLER, H. (1927): Beobachtungen an Astrophyten Zeitschrift f. Sukkulentenkunde 3 (3): 52-55
1929 (MYQ) Kakteen Haage imports hundreds of four-ribbed Astrophytum myriostigma from Mexico where they were collected by Viereck. KAKTEEN-HAAGE (1929): Kakteen-Preisverzeichnis, (Firmenkatalog) page 5-8
1932 (MYJ) First description as Astrophytum myriostigma subsp. tamaulipense by: KAYSER, K. (1932): Astrophytum myriostigma subspecies Tulense Der Kakteenfreund 1 (6): 57-59
1932 (MYL) Viereck reports about a revolved, columnar, snow-white form of Astrophytum myriostigma which he found near Tula. KAYSER, K. (1932): Astrophytum myriostigma subspecies Tulense, Der Kakteenfreund 1 (6): 58
1932 (MYL) Original description of Astrophytum myriostigma subsp. tulense by KAYSER, K. (1932): Astrophytum myriostigma subspecies Tulense, Der Kakteenfreund, 1 (6): 57-59
1933 (MYQ) Recombination to Echinocactus (Astr.) myriostigma v. quadricostatus by BAUM, H. (1933): Echinocactus (Astr.) myriostigma LEM. v. quadricostatus MOELL. Kakteenkunde Jg. 1933 (11): 205
1934 (MYC) Recombination to Astrophytum myriostigma v. columnare by: Tsuda, M. (1934): Cultivation of cacti, I. Astrophytum, Syaboten 1: 12
1939 (MYC) Habitat observations of Astrophytum myriostigma v. columnare: VIERECK, H. W. (1939): Astrophyten, wie sie der Sammler in den Heimatgebieten sieht Beiträge z. Sukkulentenkunde Jg. 1939 (1): 6. It is important when Viereck reports that the variety tulense is used as synonymous. He also names the area of Tula as an occurrence of Astrophytum myriostigma v. columnare.
1944 (MYU) Recombination to Astrophytum myriostigma LEMAIRE var. nudum (MEYER) by MEGATA, M.: 1944, An Account of the Genus Astrophytum LEMAIRE in: Memoirs of the College of Agriculture, No. 56
1957 (MYJ) Astrophytum myriostigma v. jaumavense is introduced as a wrong name for Astrophytum myriostigma subsp. tamaulipense by HAAGE, W.; SADOVSKY, O. (1957), Kakteen-Sterne, die Astrophyten, Neumann-Verlag, Radebeul, page: 41
1960 (MYL) Recombination to Astrophytum myriostigma subvar. tulense by Backeberg. BACKEBERG, C. (1960): Die Cactaceae, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena, page 2660. This classification as a sub-variety by Bakeberg is difficult to understand, because Astrophytum myriostigma is a species and Backeberg don't explain which variety from myriostigma the Tuala plant should be subordinated. This dilemma Walther Haage solves by another error, quoting Backeberg wrong "...Astrophytum myriostigma var. tulense (Kayser & Backeberg)..." and creating a new variety: HAAGE, W. (1981): Kakteen von A bis Z, Neumann Verlag, Leipzig-Radebeul, page 27
1960 (MYU) Backeberg describes with Astrophytum myriostigma subv. glabrum and Astrophytum myriostigma v. strongylogonum subv. nudum in: BACKEBERG, C. (1960): Die Cactaceae Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena: 2656 the same plants. His taxonomy is wrong.
1969 (MYQ) Backeberg, C. valids the correct notation Astrophytum myriostigma v. quadricostatum and justifies the double name for the genus used by Baum. BACKEBERG, C. (1960): Die Cactaceae, Band 2, page 2661-62
1978 (MYJ) Within a large seed from Jaumave-material in Monaco with about 10 000 seedlings two plants with only three ribs were found: KLAUS, W. (1978): Dreirippige Myriostigmen -Von Robert Gräser's Pionierleistungen zu neuen Kulturgenerationen-, Kakt. and. Sukk., 29 (4) page 91
1979 (MYC) Sadovsky and Schütz try with Astrophytum columnare to raise the plants to species position. No expert or botanist has followed this opinion. The given phylogenetic reasons are obsolete, since the system of the taxonomy is not build on the evolutionary age of plants. SADOVSKY, O.; SCHÜTZ, B. (1979): Die Gattung Astrophytum Flora-Verlag, Titisee-Neustadt: 159
1979 (MYL) Sadovsky und Schütz raise up Astrophytum myriostigma subvar. tulense to a new species Astrophytum tulense: SADOVSKY, O.; SCHÜTZ, B. (1979): Die Gattung Astrophytum Flora-Verlag, Titisee-Neustadt: 159-160. No expert or botanist followed this opinion for understandable reasons till now.
1981 (MYU) Only another name. Astrophytum myriostigma v. nudum octogonum durch ITO, Y. (1981): The Cactaceae - Classification and Illustration of Cacti by Yoshio Ito Japan: 512
1981 (MYU) Only a further name. Astrophytum myriostigma v. nudum pubesente durch ITO, Y. (1981): The Cactaceae - Classification and Illustration of Cacti by Yoshio Ito Japan: 512
1990 (MYL) Hoock, H. holds the opinion that Astrophytum myriostigma subsp. tulense (Kayser) and Astrophytum myriostigma v. columnare (Schumann) are identical. This means that Astrophytum myriostigma v. columnare has the priority. HOOCK, H. (1990): The Myriostigmas of San Antonio, Brit. Cact. Succ. Journ. (GB), 8 (3) 68. Also Viereck came to the same conclusion: VIERECK, H. W. (1939): Astrophyten, wie sie der Sammler in den Heimatgebieten sieht Beiträge z. Sukkulentenkunde Jg. 1939 (1): 6
descriptions of Astrophytum myriostigma
descriptions of Astrophytum myriostigma v. columnare
descriptions of Astrophytum myriostigma ssp. tamaulipense
descriptions of Astrophytum myriostigma ssp. tulense
descriptipons of Astrophytum myriostigma v. quadricostatum
descriptions of Astrophytum myriostigma v. nudum
Astrophytum myriostigma
Astrophytum myriostigma v. columnare
Astrophytum myriostigma ssp. tamaulipense
Astrophytum myriostigma ssp. tulense
Astrophytum myriostigma v. quadricostatum
Astrophytum myriostigma v. nudum
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