Astrophytum

cactuspic · Post by **cactuspic** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:29 pm

MacroLuv mentioned that he love atrophytum when they flower. I am attaching a series to show why my greenhouse is overcrowded with Astrophytum.

Astrophytum asterias 'Super Kabuto'

Astrophytum capricorne

Astrophytoum hybrid

Astrophytum ornatum

I hope you enjoy. Feel free to comment and critique.

Irwin[/img]

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:43 pm

Hi Irwin,

You have some nice plants there. The "Super Kabuto" is truly a beautiful cultivar although the type species is no slouch itself. Yours is a nice clean specimen too - do you have it growing on it's own roots?

Bruce

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:07 pm

These are all good images. The last I find to be spectacular in appearance. Nice work on all three.

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:25 pm

... or should I say... on all four.

cactuspic · Post by **cactuspic** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:52 am

Bruce Williams wrote:Hi Irwin,

You have some nice plants there. The "Super Kabuto" is truly a beautiful cultivar although the type species is no slouch itself. Yours is a nice clean specimen too - do you have it growing on it's own roots?

Bruce

Thank you Bruce. It's a grafted plant with a funny history. There was only one reason that I was able to purchase this particular cultivar from the seller. A mouse had gnawed about half the astrophytum earlier that season. It had started to regrow so I knew it was healthy. The seller, when he saw the beginning of new growth had second thoughts, but relented and sold the plant. While there will always be a little scarring around the base, six years of growth have turned it into a pretty plant.

Do you grow cacti?

Best regards,

Irwin

cactuspic · Post by **cactuspic** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:53 am

Thank you Ken and MacroLuv.

Irwin

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 10:02 am

Hi Irwin,

Collecting/growing cacti was my main interest for about 12 years until I had a major disaster in winter 1986/87 when I lost over 1100 plants including many irreplaceable rarities (heating failed while I was away on holiday). I still have a small collection of the "survivors" and I keep in touch the world of cacti and succulents through friends who are still avid collectors.

I could easily get interested again, however if I do I will definitely specialise in just 1 or 2 of the hardier genera - well maybe 3 or 4....

Bruce

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 10:07 am

Irwin,

Astrophytum caput-medusae is the real odd man out among the Astrophytums. I still cannot believe it is an Astrophytum because it looks like a cross between Astrophytum and either Leuchtenbergia principis or Ariocarpus agavioides, some examples of which can also have the same small tubercle end spines.

http://www.astrophytum.de/A_caput-medus ... dusae.html

Bruce,

I started collecting cacti in 1960 and joined the Nottingham Branch of the then National Cactus & Succulent Society in 1962 (now British Cactus & Succulent Society). I think it was the same winter that I too lost about half my collection as you did, but have built it up again over the years. Though for years I have not heated in winter. I cover my plants over with a couple of layers of newspaper in frosty weather. As they are not growing they can stay covered for a week or so if needs be without etiolating.

DaveW

cactuspic · Post by **cactuspic** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:34 am

Bruce Williams wrote:Hi Irwin,

Collecting/growing cacti was my main interest for about 12 years until I had a major disaster in winter 1986/87 when I lost over 1100 plants including many irreplaceable rarities (heating failed while I was away on holiday). I still have a small collection of the "survivors" and I keep in touch the world of cacti and succulents through friends who are still avid collectors.

I could easily get interested again, however if I do I will definitely specialise in just 1 or 2 of the hardier genera - well maybe 3 or 4....

Bruce

Hi Bruce

maybe 5 or 6...? For my own selfish (I love to look at cacti photos) reasons I hope you do get back into it.

Irwin

cactuspic · Post by **cactuspic** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:41 am

Hi Dave,

The caput-medusae is about as strange a deviation from the family norm as you will encounter. I have never seen the plant in person, have you. From globe to extended tubercles...the plants nevr cease to amaze me.

Best regards

Irwin

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:19 pm

Irwin,

Still think it may be an intergeneric hybrid. I have never seen it in the flesh, but a friend in Malta obtained seed last year. Obviously a few "escaped" from Mexico because the E. European's seem to have been propagating it for a few years now in fair numbers from seed obtained from their cultivated plants and I expect it will not be long before we get plants fron nurserymen.

I see the German firm Kohres has it listed this year in their 2007 seed catalogue @ €20 for 4 seeds, so soon everybody will be propagating it.

DaveW

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