Astrophytum

Not to be confused with Astrophyton.

Astrophytum
File:Astrophytum ornatum 3.jpg
Astrophytum ornatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Tribe:	Cacteae
Genus:	Astrophytum Lem.
Species
A. asterias A. capricorne A. caput-medusae A. coahuilense A. myriostigma A. ornatum

Astrophytum is a genus of six species of cacti, native to North America.

These species are sometimes referred to as living rocks, though the term is also used for other genera, particularly Lithops (Aizoaceae). The generic name is derived from the Greek words άστρον (astron), meaning "star," and φυτόν (phyton), meaning "plant."

Species

• Astrophytum asterias (Zucc.) Lem. – Sand Dollar Cactus, Sea Urchin Cactus, Star Peyote
• Astrophytum capricorne (A.Dietr.) Britton & Rose – Goat's Horn Cactus
• Astrophytum caput-medusae D.R.Hunt
• Astrophytum coahuilense (Møller) K.Kayser
• Astrophytum myriostigma Lem. – Bishop's Cap Cactus, Bishop's Hat, Bishop's Mitre Cactus
• Astrophytum ornatum (DC.) Britton & Rose – Monk's Hood

File:Astrophytum mix seedlings.jpg

Seedlings of Astrophytum spp.

File:Astrophytum caput-medusae-IMG 3597.JPG

A ripe fruit of A. caput-medusae with seeds and testa showing

Synonymy

The genus has several synonyms:

• Astrophyton Lawr., orth. var.
• Digitostigma Velazco & Nevárez
• Maierocactus E.C.Rost

There are a number of species synonyms sometimes seen:

Name	Synonym of
Astrophytum columnare	Astrophytum myriostigma
Astrophytum crassispinoides	Astrophytum capricorne var. crassispinoides
Astrophytum glabrescens	Astrophytum ornatum
Astrophytum niveum	Astrophytum capricorne var. niveum
Astrophytum nuda	Astrophytum myriostigma var. nudum
Astrophytum prismaticum	Astrophytum myriostigma
Astrophytum senile	Astrophytum capricorne
Astrophytum tulense	Astrophytum myriostigma

References

• "Astrophytum". cactiguide.com. Retrieved July 28, 2005.
• "The Genus Astrophytum Lem."
• "The genus Astrophytum"
• "Desert Tropicals - Astrophytum"
• "Astromaniacs". A German / English worldwide forum for fans of Astrophytum

External links

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Astrophytum at Wikispecies