God day!

I have 4 questions about Astrophytum caput - medusae.
I know that there are some experts here.....

1 - Wich is the valid name, Astrophytum c-m or Digotistigma....?
2 - Does anybody know if these species are self-fertile?
3 - Have anyone made a hybrid between "Digo" and other Astro's?
4 - Where does it grows in the wild? I know that the exact location (still?) is a secret.
But i need this information for my label since i now are a proud owner of this very
interesting and wonderful plant!

-Magnus

1. The plant was originally described as Digitostigma and shortly afterwards moved to Astrophytum. Thus the most recent name is Astrophytum. As you may be aware, growers don't always use the most recent name.

2. Not normally, but as with all cacti it is possible.

3. Many people claim to have produced hybrids, but I haven't seen one that is convincing. Most are certainly selfed on one plant or the other. A few attempts have produced suitably poor seed or strange seedlings that maybe they have crossed. The cross is clearly not an easy one.

4. Is Sierra Madre Oriental good enough for your label? Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

For # 4 is better "Matorral espinoso Tamaulipeco"( Tamaulipan thorn shrub) Nuevo Leon, it doesnt grow in the mountain (sierra), it grows in the plains.

Congratulation, Magnus! Where did you get it finally from? Is it on its own root or grafted?
BTW I fully agree to how Ian answered your question #3.

Jordi

Hej Magnus,

have you finished the repotting??? How a bout a picture in the new pot? det vore jättebra!

Immanuel

Thank you very much for all the information! (I was right about the experts... )
I now have all the info i need for the label.
Isnt it strange that this Astro are so difficult to croos with other Astros?
I thougt that Astros are very easy to cross pollinate with eachother since it is so many
strange hybrids everywhere........

Jordi.....I got this plant thanks to a very kind and helpful member of this forum!
And there are many of them here! (Maybe this one wants to be unknown.... )
It is grafted on a Echinopsis stock and have up to 18 "arms" i think!
I wil post a picture later, need to find my camera first....

-Magnus

1.- From http://www.astrobase.de/Stigmatodactylu ... story.html and edited (Bold)
Manuel Nevárez discovered on July 21, 2001 in Nuevo Leon, Mexico a flowering plant. After the original description in 2002 together with Velazco Macias, David Hunt recombined it to the genus Astrophytum. But soon was clear, that the descriptions on which he founded his recombination were not correct published and invalid. So he made a further correction. The not very satisfying result were, that the name of the discoverer of the plants were not found in the valid names Stigmatodactylus D. Hunt und Astrophytum caput-medusae D. Hunt.

This point was corrected by changing the ICBN code 2005 in Vienna. Digitostigma was validated retroactively and the names for the plants are quoted now Astrophytum caput-medusae (Velazco & Nevarez) Hunt or if you prefer Digitostigma caput-medusae Velazco & Nevarez.

There are an article by Roberto Kiesling (2007?, I don´t have it), where support the validity of the genus Digitostigma.

4.- As Alfonso says, plus between 100 and 200 msnm (meters over sea level).
There are two locality data that appear in the web: Near Chepes, Nuevo León and Tunalguilla, Nuevo León. Both are false. According to Nomenclator of Nuevo León (Edited by INEGI), there are no locality with such names.

The names for those localities sound like an "albur" or "April´s foul name"

Tunalguilla, N.L. "Tu nalguilla" means "Your little butt"

Well.............here it is if someone are interested?

-Magnus

That's a nice one. Must have flowered several times already.
Your connections to Jena seem very helpful!

Jordi

Yes, those big white spots must be from flowers and maybe some fruits.
Do you think its possible to get flowers a second time this year?

-Magnus

Yes, of course. Here -at least- Digis can flower from March to October/November several times a year

Jordi

looks very nice Magnus!!! bra job

Thanks! And guess what......I think that there is a bud coming!

-Magnus

sounds good! So maybe you gonna get your flower this year