Origin and Habitat:Nude plants are occasionally found in the natural habitat but many of the clones actually in cultivation are of garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Description:This form has a very characteristic glabrous stem lacking the white tufts of loose hairy scales typical of the commonAstrophytum asteriasSN|1464]]SN|1464]]. The smooth green epidermis show up the felty areoles. The plants during cold and dry winter rest often take a nice red colouring.
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. aureahort.: Mutant completely lacking chlorophyll pigment. The result is a completely yellow or yellow-orange plant.
Astrophytum asterias f. cristatumhort.: 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. nudumY.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 commonAstrophytum asterias.
Astrophytum asterias f. proliferumhort.: This form varies from the typicalAstrophytum asteriasfor the tendency to branch forming small side pups from the areole.
Astrophytum asterias var. roseiflorumFrič: 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. 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. Hakuun: This cultivar varies from the typicalA. asteriasfor 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Superkabuto: Distinguished from the normalA. asteriasby 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 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 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 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. Thirteen ribs: The normal rib number (eight) is very stable in wild specimens. The form with thirteen ribs is quite exceptional.
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
