Accepted Scientific Name: Astrophytum asterias (Zucc.) Lem.
Cactées 50. 1868
Astrophytum asterias f. aurea Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Astrophytum asterias
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Astrophytum asterias (Zucc.) Lem.Cactées 50. 1868Synonymy: 18
Cultivars
(73):
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Description: Astrophytum asteriasSN|1464]]SN|1464]] (a.k.a. Sea-Urchin Cactus or Sand Dollar) is an extremely flat barrel cactus with unique and remarkably beautiful form and no typical covering of spines, but with tiny speckled tuft of hairs less than pinhead-sized.
Forma aurea or aurata (yellow form): The schizochromic form (Astrophytum asteriasSN|1464]]SN|1464]] f. aurea) has pale yellow stems due to the absence (or reduced production) of chlorophyll pigments: every other pigment is present at normal levels, the dominant green colouration is lost, but will still more than likely have normal other pigments that give the yellow overall appearance of the stem. This form with yellow stems is very attractive and highly prized. This schizochromic form is almost always seen grafted on stronger columnar species, and cannot can be grown on its own roots. However some clones have enough chlorophyll in their tissues and can be grown on they own roots too, but very slow growing.
Habit: It is usually solitary unless damaged.
Stem: Cream-yellow to bright golden yellow, much depressed, disc-shaped to low dome-shaped (Only in cultivation plants may have a spherical till columnar shape, mature plants 2-7 cm tall, 5-16 cm broad, dotted with numerous minuscule tufts of bright white wool (hairy scales). Cultivated plants possess sometimes very dense and big hairy scales. The short white wool on surface, said to substitute for lack of shade from spines. There are also completely flake free specimens.
Ribs: The stem is typically divided by very narrow but distinct vertical grooves into 8 broad ribs. The ribs are very low, almost flat on top, forming triangular sections with no cross-grooves.
Areoles: Round, prominent, 3-12 mm in diameters, forming a line up to the centre of each rib, felted to hairy, white till straw-coloured, then grey. Normally 3 to 10 mm apart.
Spines: Not any.
Flowers: Apical, diurnal, radial, 3-5 cm long, 5-7(-9) cm in diameter opening widely, yellow with orange/red throats.
Blooming season: Spring to summer and each flower lasts for one or two days only.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Astrophytum asterias group
- Astrophytum asterias (Zucc.) Lem.: Non-branched, flat, dark green. Just flat to the ground surface, the plant body grows on the native habitat practically complete buried . Only in cultivation plants may have a spherical till columnar shape. Diameter 3-8(-16) cm. Height 2 to 6 cm.
- Astrophytum asterias f. aurea hort.: Mutant completely lacking chlorophyll pigment. The result is a completely yellow or yellow-orange plant.
- Astrophytum asterias f. cristatum hort.: The crested form only deviate from the typical form for the stem which is fan shaped up to 30 cm (or more ) in diameter with age.
- Astrophytum asterias var. nudum Y.Itô: (a.k.a. cv. Ruri Kabuto) This form has a very characteristic glabrous stem lacking the white tufts of loose hairy scales typical of the common Astrophytum asterias.
- Astrophytum asterias var. nudum f. aurea hort.: Nude mutant completely lacking chlorophyll pigment. The result is a completely yellow plant.
- Astrophytum asterias var. nudum f. cristata hort.: Crested nude form.
- Astrophytum asterias var. nudum f. rubra hort.: has nude ribs of a bright orange-red colour due to the absence (or reduced production) of chlorophyll pigments.
- Astrophytum asterias f. proliferum hort.: This form varies from the typical Astrophytum asterias for the tendency to branch forming small side pups from the areole.
- Astrophytum asterias var. roseiflorum Frič: Selected form with pink coloured flowers. However a very few pink flowered specimens will appear time by time among normal yellow flowered plants.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Akabana: (Akabana Kabuto) Its flowers are red, which is very uncharacteristic of this genus. Petals are shaded in dark pinkish-red, orange-red or purple wine-red with usually even darker flower edges.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Alpus: the of rib tips (bearing the line of areoles) are more or less deeply seated within the plants body, while the suture line between the ribs is turned outward and more or less expanded creating odd and unique shapes.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Ekubo Kabuto
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Elephant Skin: has a bumpy elephant-like skin.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Feather Flower: has colourful fringed petals.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Fukuryiu: Plant with dditional ribs. This plant will develop protuberances (like beginnings of ribs) or small extra ribs (more or less prominent ). Usually these additional ribs will not reach the plant apex.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Gelbe Bluete
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Godzilla: Has reptile-like skin.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Gokuu-kabuto
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Golden kabuto
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Goryo Kabuto (Five Ribs): 5 ribbed form available with different pattern of the spots.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Goryo Kabuto (Five Ribs) + Ruri: has nude stems with only 5 ribs.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Goryo Kabuto (Five Ribs) + Ruri + Fukuryiu + Ooibo
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Hakuun: This cultivar varies from the typical A. asterias for the white flecks that condense, forming characteristic cloud-like patches.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Hakuun forma prolifera: Plant distingushed for the white flecks that condense, forming characteristic cloud-like patches and for the tendency to branch forming small side pups from the areole.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Hanaizumi
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Hanazono: Some additional woolly areoles are produced on the ribs surface. Flowers buds develop from the median line between two ribs and usually they are not produced by areoles.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Hanazono Star Type
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Ibosaki Kabuto
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Ikaryoko: Monstrous form.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Kigan Kabuto
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Kikko: (Kikko Kabuto) It has raised tubercles along the ribs edges, in fact its areoles stick out with large notches between them, giving them a bumpy look.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Kikko Lizard Skin: has broad raised tubercles with a lizard Skin and the plant appears decorated with a geometrical design which is raised above the surface, giving it a bumpy look.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Kikko Nudum: This is the nude form of "Kikko" with raised tubercles along the ribs edges, it resembles some chinned cacti particularly some Gymocalyciums.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Kikko Nudum f. aurea: This is the albinos form of "Kikko" (Mutant completely lacking chlorophyll pigment) The result is a completely cream-white, yellow or reddish plant.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Kikko Nudum f. cristata: crested form.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Kikko Nudum violet: This is the violet schizochromic form form of "Kikko". The result is a magenta-violet plant.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Kiku Kabuto
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Kofuki Kabuto
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Koo-yo
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Mamma Kikko: has ribs completely divides in tubercles that resemble women breasts. When viewed from above the plants resemble a tortoise-shell.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Mirakuru Kabuto
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Mottles
- Astrophytum asterias cv. muscle: has green ribs with large creamy white areoles and for the abnormal tendency to branch forming small side pups. Ribs usually 8 with raised tubercles giving them a bumpy look.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. muscle cristatum: crested form with green ribs with large creamy white areoles.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Musha Kabuto
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Nisiki (orange): has sectors, patches or stripes with distinct shades of orange-red.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Nisiki (yellow): has sectors, patches or stripes with distinct shades of yellow.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Nohakuten Kabuto: Heavily flecked form.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Ohkan Kabuto
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Ooibo + Ruri (nudum) Kabuto: Plant with large woolly areoles (typical of cv. Ooibo) and with green nude stem ( Typical of cv. Rury Kabuto)
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Ooibo Kabuto: Japanese selected strain with big wooly areoles, the colour of the wool also varies from pure white, to pastel, yellowish, orangish or brownish depending on the clone.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Rasen Kabuto
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Rensei: It is a nice selection with densely packaged areoles (usually orangish) on the rib edges. The areoles tend to merge, forming an almost continuous line.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Ruri Kabuto Akabana: has smooth green stem of cv. Ruri Kabuto (Astrophytum asterias var. nudum) and bright red flowers of cv. Akabana.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Ruri Kabuto Nisiki (Orange-Red): a.k.a.: forma nuda variegata (Orange-Red Type)
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Ruri Kabuto Nisiki (Yellow): a.k.a.: forma nuda variegata (Yellow Type)
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Sakata Kabuto
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Showa: (a.k.a. Shinshowa Kabuto) has yellow flowers with very fine petals, cut into shreds.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Showa Red: (a.k.a. Red Shinshowa Kabuto) has pink-red or orange-red flowers with very fine petals, cut into shreds.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Star Type: This cultivar only varies from the typical A. asterias for the star shaped stem instead of rounded .
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Super Hanazono: has the inimitable furry additional areoles of cv. Hanazono with the large mosaic of extensive white spots of cv. Superkabuto. The result is an intensely white and furry plant.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto: Distinguished from the normal A. asterias by the epidermis, that does not have simple dots, but a mosaic of extensive white spots that make the plant look intensely maculate.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto + Ooibo: has very large characteristic and woolly areoles, the colour of the wool also varies from pure white, to pastel, yellowish, orangish or brownish depending on the clone.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto + Rensei (Line Areoles): has densely packaged areoles (often orangish) on the rib edges. The areoles tend to merge, forming an almost continuous line.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto f. cristata: The crested form of "SUPERKABUTO", only deviate from the typical form for the stem which is fan shaped up to 30 cm (or more ) in diameter with age.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto f. monstruosa: has slender, triangular ariocarpus-like tubercles around the woolly crown of a spherical flattened stem covered by a creamy-white felt.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto f. prolifera: distinguishable for the tendency to branch forming small side pups from the areole..
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto f. prolifera cristata: this is a peculiar crested form with an abnormal tendency to branch forming small side pups from the areole.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto Five Ribs: The form with only five ribs, is particularly rare because many of the 5 ribbed seedlings that occasionally appear will usually develop additional ribs in a few years as they age.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto Snow Type: It differ for the dense white covering of dots that almost conceal the epidermis, this particular form is also called "Snow White", or “White Form” .
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto Snow Type f. cristata: crested form with stems completely concealed by tufts of bright white hairy scales.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto Snow Type f. monstruosa: produces odd bumped shapes with branches completely concealed by tufts of bright white hairy scales, and it is possible to find clones with different degrees of monstrosity.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto Star Type: Typical "Superkabuto" with extensive white spots, but with star shaped stem instead of rounded. .
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto Star Type + Snow type
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto Star Type + V Type: This is a very nice and distinguishing plant that combine the star shaped form with the V pattern of the "V type" form.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto Sutadorimu: (Star Dream)
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto V type: a.k.a. "V-type", “Fly's wings type” or “Tiger”. It differs for the diverse pattern that form distinct v-shaped lines resembling the shape of fly's wings.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto V type f. cristatum
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Superkabuto Yellow Dots Type
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Taryo Kabuto
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Thirteen ribs: The normal rib number (eight) is very stable in wild specimens. The form with thirteen ribs is quite exceptional.
- Astrophytum asterias cv. Wakareryu
Notes: Notes: Albinism, Schizochromism & Variegation
Variegation: A variegated plant has sectors, patches or stripes with two or more different colours, even distinct shades of green. Plants with variegated stems or leaves are often attractive and highly prized. In most species the stems or leaves are normally green, and variegated epidermis is an uncommon mutation, termed a chimera. A chimeral variegation is due to losing the ability to produce chlorophyll in some of the plant’s tissue, so that this tissue is no longer green. Tissues lacking chlorophyll are usually white or pale yellow coloured (due to carotenoid pigments) or red (due to betalain or anthocyanin pigments) contrasting with the normal green tissue. There are several forms of variegation, depending on the tissues that have been affected. The variegation in some forms is unstable. The extent and nature of the variegation can vary, and sometimes the plant will return to the green form. In others it is stable and does not change under normal conditions. Because the variegation is due to the presence of two kinds of plant tissue, propagating the plant must be by a vegetative method of propagation that preserves both types of tissue in relation to each other.
Albinism: Every once in a while a plant exhibits albinism (completely lacking chlorophyll pigment). This means that its tissue is unable to carry out photosynthesis. The result is a completely cream-white yellow or reddish plant. This plant will be weaker than a green plant, and albinism is generally a fatal trait (it can't produce its own food and it's not getting it from anything else). Without chlorophyll, the albino plant has no way to manufacture the food needed for survival and growth to maturity. This implies that these plants cannot survive on their own roots and necessitate being grafted on a normal green plant that provides food. Some of these albino plants are indeed very popular, and sought after by collectors.
Schizochromism: The yellow or red appearance of some plants is more precisely caused by another aberration called "schizochromism". Here, though, the specific green pigment (chlorophyll) is missing: every other pigment is present at normal levels. The dominant green colouration is lost, but the plant will still more than likely have normal other pigments that give the yellow overall appearance of stems and the red colouration of spines.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
3) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
4) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
5) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose: “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume III, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1922
6) Brian Loflin, Shirley Loflin “Texas Cacti: A Field Guide” Texas A&M University Press, 26/Oct/2009
7) Albert Michael Powell, James F. Weedin “Cacti of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas” Texas Tech University Press, 2004
8) Del Weniger “Cacti of Texas and Neighboring States: A Field Guide” University of Texas Press, 1984
9) Alfred Richardson “Plants of Deep South Texas: A Field Guide to the Woody and Flowering Species” Texas A&M University Press, 2010
10) Jackie M. Poole, William R. Carr, Dana M. Price “Rare Plants of Texas: A Field Guide” Texas A&M University Press, 2007
Astrophytum asterias f. aurea Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Astrophytum asterias f. aurea Photo by: Cactus Art Cultivation and Propagation: Variegated and albinos cacti are regarded as choice and difficult in cultivation, but despite that many of them are relatively easy to grow. But be aware that they cannot tolerate prolonged exposure to direct sun light (especially during the hottest summer days), so grow them in half-shade or under filtered sun. They are sometime seen as grafted plants, but many grow well on their own roots, too.
On the contrary, the albinos can survive only if grafted on a strong green base.
Use mineral well-permeable substratum with little organic matter (peat, humus). Water sparingly from March till October and keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (In general these plants are more tender and cannot endure freezing temperatures ) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!!
Propagation: Usually by seed. Plants are often grafted onto column-shaped cacti.