To the origin of the cultivar Astrophytum myriostigma cv. Onzuka (Onzuka Rampo) an abridged version from an earlier publication by KOBAYASHI, A. (1996): Cacti and succulents in Japan, part 3, Cact. Succ. Journ. (US) 68(5): 245-249

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"A. myriostigma

In Japan, Astrophytum myriostigma is only called by its popular name, rampo-gyoku, or, more briefly, rampo. There are some unique cultivars of this species that originated in Japan.

Onzuka Rampo

The most famous of these cultivars appeared as a bi-product of three-ribbed A. myriostigma, a plant much-desired by all cactus enthusiasts. Upon maturity the three-ribbed form usually becomes four- or five-ribbed (the typical form). T. Onzuka worked on stabilizing the three-ribbed character. In 1979 he wrote:
"I bought a 4-ribbed plant ("A") from S. Yoshi-
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naga, a famous breeder of A. myriostigma. "A" was three-ribbed when juvenile; by crossing it with another three-ribbed plant of A. myriostigma ("B"), which later increased the number of ribs, I obtained about a hundred seeds. Among the seedlings was one clone ("C") with large dots, and in 1976 I crossed C with A and also with a seperate clone with large dots. Of the hundreds of seeds resulting, about 5% had large dots."

This strain is called Onzuka Rampo after the breeder. Sato (1980)* stated that there were several forms of Onzuka Rampo: (1) with dense large white dots, (2) with sparse large white dots, (3) with dots forming horizontal stripes, and (4) with fluffy dots.

Although Onzuka did not mention it, many ethusiasts point out that Onzuka Rampo has genes of A. myriostigma var. tulensis; in maturity it develops columnar stems..."

* Sato, T. 1980. A variety of A. myriostigma. Cact. Succ. J. Japan 2(1): 22-37

Astrophytum myriostigma
Astrophytum myriostigma cv. Onzuka
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