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CoronaCactus Nursery LLC. �Cactus & Succulent
growers. |
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NOTES: It has been said
that these species can succumb to rot relatively easily. Moreso
in older, mature specimens. Take extra care with these older plants as they
can rot without any warning. Habitat destruction and illegal collecting have greatly
reduced the population of these plants in habitat. This taxon
is on the US Endangered Species Act list and included in Appendix I of CITES. |
Plant of the Month February 2009 � Sand Dollar,
Sea Urchin, Star Cactus Astrophytum
asterias Cactaceae (Cactus Family) Form: Astrophytum asterias is a solitary
bodied plant. Globular with a flattened apex, with a green to grey-green body
color. Normally having 8 ribs with small cream colored areole tufts. This
plant has no spines. Other forms can range from 4 to 13 ribs and the amount
of flecking can vary greatly, not only in the cultivars, but even in the
normal specie. Its habitat is in the Chihuanhuan
desert of northeastern Size: Typically growing
to around 4-6inches in height and diameter. Flowers/Fruit: The flowers are
rather large for this plant, 2 to 2.5inches in diameter. Pale yellow to a
creamy white with a dark red throat. Stamens are white,
stigma is yellow, as is the pollen. The fruit are somewhat large and have a
furry exterior. The base of the fruit is almost void of the fur and the
fleshy part of the fruit can be seen. The fruit will eventually split open to
reveal the seeds. Sun/Water: A. asterias can take full sun in most
regions, but care should be taken to protect from the intense afternoon
Southwest USA heat and sun (Arizona, Nevada, California) Light to medium
watering during the growing season is all that is needed. Make sure to use a
well draining soil mix and that it drys out
completely between waterings. This specie can
handle short spurts of cold temps down to 20F if the soil is kept completely
dry and the ambient air is dry. If frequent frosts or humidity are also
present, it may cause some orange spotting. Best to keep the plant
around/above 40F and protected from frost. Propagation: Propagation of A.
asterias is done by seed. Grafting can be done to speed up growth and act as
a backup for those hard to find cultivars. Depending on the grafting stock
used, the plants may take on an abnormal form as they grow too quickly. Some
will also offset. While this is a good way to propagate, collectors generally
shy away from grafted specimens, as they aren�t true to form. Books/Websites: The
Astrophytum Handbook is a great reference book with 4 separate volumes. As
well as Ariocarpus et cetera � the
special, smaller genera of Mexican cacti. Available through Rainbow Gardens Bookshop. A
duo of German websites: Astrobase� and The Genus Astrophytum
(both have English translation) For info and pics of the different hybrids
and cultivars, visit Cactus-Art
More websites can be found on our Reference Links page. |
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Fruit of A.
asterias f. nudum |
Flower of A.
asterias |
Flower of A.
asterias |
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Flower of A.
asterias f. nudum |
Flower of A.
asterias f. nudum |
Flower of A.
asterias f. nudum |
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Flower of A.
asterias |
Flower of A.
asterias |
Double head A.
asterias f. nudum |
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Closeup of a young
SUPERKABUTO with it�s first flower buds. |
Closeup
of A. asterias rib and tubercles. Photo courtesy of PeterB (cactiguide) |
A. asterias f.
nudum |
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A large mature A.
asterias with pink flowers. Photo courtesy of Cereusly
(CactiGuide) |
Mature forms of A.
asterias with yellow and pink flowers. Photo courtesy of Cereusly
(CactiGuide) |
A large mature A.
asterias with fruit. Photo courtesy of Cereusly
(CactiGuide) |
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A small 2 yr/o
hybrid seedling of AS-CO asterias x coahuilense |
Closeup of AS-CO asterias x coahuilense |
2yr/o seedling of
SUPERKABUTO |
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Here are some of the different hybrids and cultivars
of Astrophytum asterias. (photos below are
borrowed from cactus-art) |
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cv. SUPERKABUTO |
cv. HAKUUN |
Hybrid AS-ONZ asterias x Onzuka |
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Hybrid ONZ-AS Onzuka x asterias |
Hybrid SK-CAP SUPERKABUTO x capricorne |
cv. SUPERKABUTO (V-TYPE) |
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All photos taken
are from our personal collection or of our sales plants. (Except where
noted) |
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Plant of the Month Archives Click here for the full PotM
Archive page (Below are links to
the individual pages) June 2008 � Cylindropuntia bigelovii July 2008 � Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus August 2008 � Echinocereus engelmannii November 2008 � Pachypodium namaquanum December 2008 � Copiapoa humilis ssp. humilis January 2009 � Turbinicarpus lophophoroides February 2009 �
Astrophytum asterias |
Copyright � 2008 -
2009 CoronaCactus Nursery LLC.������������������������������������������������������
Page Update:
All photos are
property of CoronaCactus Nursery LLC.� (except where noted)���������������������������� 2-5-09
