Xerophyte

Description

This rare Japaese cultivar has raised tubercles along the ribs edges, in fact its areoles stick out with large notches between them, giving them a bumpy look. The furrows which appear transversely on the ribs cuts the continuity of the ribs and the plants appears decorated with a geometrical design which is raised above the surface. When viewed from above these plants resemble a tortoise-shell hence the Japanese word 'Kitsu-kow' that means "Turtle shell" but at a first glace (especially the nude form) resembles some chinned cacti particularly some Gymocalyciums. Usually the young seedlings appears nothing special and looks like normal asterias, and barely shows any trace of raised tubercles, but they start to produce the distinguishing indentation and turn into an amazing adult as they get 3 to 7 years old. In general the bigger the "teeth" are and the rounder and flatter they are, the better. All species of Astrophytum (excluded Astrophytum caput-medusaeSN|3593]]SN|3593]]) have their particular "kikko" variants.

Flowers

Like those of the well known asterias yellow with a red throat.

Blooming Season

Spring to late summer. They take up to 6 years to bloom.

Spines

None.

Ribs

Usually 8, sometime completely dissolved into tubercles.

Stem

Spherical flattened usually non-branched or few branched flat. 3(8)16 cm in diameter, 2 to 6 cm in height. Epidermis scattered with minuscule loose hairy scales. The scales are sprinkled over the stem in irregular patterns, sometimes arched around the areoles or on line. Cultivated plants possess sometimes very dense and big hairy scales. There are also completely flake free pure green specimens.

Areoles

Round, cream-colored till white hairy up to 6 (3-12) mm) of diameters. The areoles are normally set in a separation up to 10 mm