Astrophytum ornatum

Astrophytum ornatum
File:Astrophytum ornatum5.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Genus:	Astrophytum
Species:	A. ornatum
Binomial name
Astrophytum ornatum

Astrophytum ornatum, also called bishop's cap, is endemic to the Central Plateau of Mexico. It is the largest and tallest species of Astrophytum.

Description

Solitary and cylindrical in form it may grow up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height and thirty centimeters in width on the Central Plateau. It develops numerous white woolly flakes for protection from the sun. It flowers throughout the summer, flowers are seven to eight 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 the mid to low twenty degrees Fahrenheit.

File:A ornatum flowering.jpg

Astrophytum ornatum flowering

File:Astrophytum ornatum in Brooklyn.JPG

It usually has 8 ribs, often in spiral

References

• Astrophytum ornatum on Astroweb (French)
• Astrophytum ornatum on Astrobase (German)
• Simon & Schuster's Guide to Cacti and Succulents, Pizzetti, ISBN 0-671-60231-4
• photos on www.AIAPS.org (French)

External links

• "Star Cactus (Astrophytum ornatum)". (English)
• photos on www.cactiguide.com (English)