Astrophytum ornatum
Astrophytum ornatum, the bishop's cap or monk's hood cactus, is a flowering plant of the family Cactaceae, endemic to the Central Plateau of Mexico. It is the largest and tallest species of Astrophytum.
| Astrophytum ornatum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Astrophytum |
| Species: | A. ornatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Astrophytum ornatum (DC.) Britton & Rose | |
Description
Solitary and cylindrical in form, it may grow up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height and 30 centimetres (12 in) in width on the Central Plateau. It develops numerous white woolly flakes for protection from the sun. It flowers throughout the summer, the flowers being 7 to 8 centimeters long in canary yellow.
Cultivation
It is a rugged plant resistant to root rot, and easy to grow in a well-drained soil. It is dark green when grown in filtered light or shade. An established plant is cold tolerant to 25 °F (−4 °C).
Astrophytum ornatum has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[2]
It usually has 8 ribs, often in spiral
Flowers
Seeds
A one month old seedling
Astrophytum one year after sowing
References
- Sánchez , E.; Guadalupe Martínez, J.; Bárcenas Luna, R. (2017). "Astrophytum ornatum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T151912A121449348. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T151912A121449348.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- "RHS Plantfinder - Astrophytum ornatum". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
External links
Media related to Astrophytum ornatum at Wikimedia Commons- Astrophytum ornatum on Astroweb (in French)
- Astrophytum ornatum on Astrobase (in German)
- Simon & Schuster's Guide to Cacti and Succulents, Pizzetti, ISBN 0-671-60231-4
- photos on www.AIAPS.org (in French)
- "Star Cactus (Astrophytum ornatum)". (in English)
- photos on www.cactiguide.com (in English)