Morphology of Astrophytum myriostigma, type

Body: solitary, spherical when young, short columnar when aged, up to 25 cm tall at 20 cm in diameter. The growth form is quite variable in terms of number of ribs, rib shape and flocking in different habitats.

Epidermis: densely covered with flakes or very sparse. There occur half-nude and nude forms.

Ribs: rare 4 normally 5, in old age inserted additional ribs are the rule. The rib areas are often waved.

Areoles: round about 4 mm in diameter, with reddish-brown short woolly hair which later changes to gray. On young plants up to 3-4 cm apart, in the age form confluent.

spines: only as seedling.

Flowers: size (50)-63 -(80) mm in diameter, yellow, fading to the pink. Stigmata number (5) -6 - (9). The nectar chamber is protected by the pressure of the stamens and anthers against the pistil.

Fruit: maturing time approximately 23 days after pollination, the colour is green, the fruit opens at the top like Astrophytum ornatum.

Seeds: 81-(162) in oen fruit, hat-shaped, dark-brown.

Mimikry: limestone (white flakes).

Astrophytum myriostigma
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