Astrophytum

Astrophytum
	Astrophytum ornatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Tribe:	Cacteae
Genus:	Astrophytum; Lem.[1]
Species
	A. asterias; A. capricorne; A. caput-medusae; A. coahuilense; A. myriostigma; A. ornatum[2]

Astrophytum is a genus of six species of cacti, native to North America.^[2]

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 (H.Moeller) Kanfer
Astrophytum myriostigma Lem. – Bishop's cap cactus, bishop's hat, bishop's mitre cactus
Astrophytum ornatum (DC.) Britton & Rose – Monk's hood^[2]

Seedlings of Astrophytum spp.

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^[1]

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

1 2 "Astrophytum asterias (Zucc.) Lem". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-02-23. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
1 2 3 "Species Records of Astrophytum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-08-08.

"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 Astrophytum at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Astrophytum at Wikispecies

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[GRIN-1] 1 2 "Astrophytum asterias (Zucc.) Lem". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-02-23. Retrieved 2010-08-08.

[GRINSpecies-2] 1 2 3 "Species Records of Astrophytum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-08-08.