a crazy Cactus !

[Hans J]

Hi all ,

before some days I have ordered from a german nursery a really strange cacti :

Astrophytum caput -medusae ( = head of medusa )

This plant is realiv new descriptet ....and it was difficould to name it ....
In year 2002 descript it Velasco & Nevarez as Digitostigma ....and in 2003 make Hunt a new combinations as Atrophytum.
It has not any thorns ( very well designed for all cacti lovers which not like thorns ) and it has a roots like a bulbs (very well for all bulb friends ) .....but the flowers is a typical Astrophytum   !

Enjoy
Hans

I hope to make a pic in some days when the flower is open ....

[Maggi Young]

Amazing cactus.... not even like a plant, really, more an alien! 

[Hans J]

Maggi 

I agree with you ....but it is really from Mexico 

[Tony Willis]

Hans very interesting,it does not look like any other astrophytum.

[Paul T]

Fascinating, Hans.  Certainly different to the others in that genus.  Obviously easier to graft it that grow it on it's own "bulbous" roots?

[Hans J]

Thank you all for your interest !

Paul - I think it is a must with grafting this plant 

[Paul T]

Hans,

If it has bulbous roots I would have thought that it might have done OK on it's own roots?  Then again, maybe it just won't strike as cuttings and so has to be grafted.  Very nice looking plant.

[Hans J]

Paul ,

maybe more a challenge for a expieried bulb grower than for a cacti fan ?

I know only that people grow it from seed ....and soon as possibly the graft it ....

[Paul T]

Thanks for the info Hans.  Obviously just too difficult to grow by itself.  At least we have grafting, or else we'd never see these things out of their natural habitats. Thanks so much for showing us.

[Hans J]

Hi Paul ,

I have just looked on a list from well know german seed seller :
the price for 10 seeds is 18 Euro ......( similar like Worsleya ) 

[ruweiss]

Hi Hans, the flower looks like this, I showed the plant last year in the forum
under the synonym Astrophytum caput-medusae. It was interesting, that the
non-flowering buds which formed in autumn did not drop during the winter rest,
but flowered in early spring. A cactus insider told me, that the first imported
seeds were sold for 24$ per grain!

[ruweiss]

Pardon, here is the picture:

[Hans J]

Hi Rudi ,

Thank you for your pic ! ....really nice !
Comes your plant from Rommelshausen ?

Yes -I have searched also a bit yesterday and I have found similar informations about prices ....

[ruweiss]

Hi Hans, I live about 3 kilometers away from Uhlig's paradise for cactophiles (a steady temptation), but this plant
is from a very skilled propagator of Eastern Germany; he sold it at the Süddeutsche Kakteentage in Korb last year.
In april this year a man offered seedlings of this plant on own roots at a plant sale in Munich.
Good luck with your plants and enjoy the flowers.

[Rogan]

I've often been tempted to buy seed of this plant as I also enjoy growing cacti and other succulents, but I'm afraid the seed prices asked for are way out of my league! In due course the prices will probably come down as the plant becomes more demystified, then it will be my chance!

I have to admit the temptation to grow Worsleya at USD2 a seed was too great for me to resist - I now have six seedlings of varying sizes bursting out of their pots and doing quite well - even the "home government" (read: "wife") has come round to the idea and is looking forward to them flowering - one day...