Astrophytum capricorne
| Astrophytum capricorne | |
|---|---|
| File:Astrophytum capricorne 4.jpg | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Astrophytum |
| Species: | A. capricorne
|
| Binomial name | |
| Astrophytum capricorne (A.Dietr.) Britton & Rose
| |
Astrophytum capricorne, the goat's horn cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, that is native to the Coahuila regions of Northern Mexico.[2] Growing to 50 centimetres (20 in) tall by 10 centimetres (3.9 in) wide in a ball or oval shape, it is grey-green in colour with 7 to 9 prominent ribs, very long twisted spines and yellow flowers with a red centre in summer.[3]
The common name of goat's horn cactus corresponds to the species identifier capricorne (capri meaning "goat" and corne meaning "horn") [4] referring to the curved spines that are said to resemble a goat's horns.[2]
This species is designated as of "least concern"[1] by the IUCN as it is widely distributed in the Chihuahuan desert.
Cultivation
[edit | edit source]This species is grown, typically from seed, as an ornamental plant as it produces large, attractive yellow flowers with red central regions.[2] Some cultivars bear white flecking on the plant body while others lack this feature.[5] Though tolerant of cold temperatures, it must be grown in a warm, sheltered spot which does not freeze in winter. The soil should be poor, alkaline and very sharply drained. Alternatively it can be grown under glass in a pot with cactus compost. In cultivation in the UK, Astrophytum capricorne has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3]
Prominent varieties and cultivars include:
- Astrophytum capricorne 'Crassispinoides'
- Astrophytum capricorne var. crassispinum
- Astrophytum capricorne var. minus
- Astrophytum capricorne var. niveum
- Astrophytum capricorne var. senile
- Astrophytum capricorne var. aureum[2]
Further reading
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References
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Astrophytum capricorne on Astroweb (in French)
- Astrophytum capricorne on Astrobase (in German)
- "Star Cactus (Astrophytum capricorne)". 25/2/2007.
- photos on www.AIAPS.org (in French)
- photos on www.cactiguide.com
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