Astrophytum ornatum
{{Short description|Species of cactus}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Astrophytum ornatum5.jpg
| status = VU
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Astrophytum
| species = ornatum
| authority = (DC.) Britton & Rose
}}
Astrophytum ornatum, the bishop's cap or monk's hood cactus, is a flowering plant of the family Cactaceae, endemic to the Central Plateau of Mexico. It is the largest and tallest species of Astrophytum.
Description
Solitary and cylindrical in form, it may grow up to {{convert|2|m|ft}} in height and {{convert|30|cm|in}} in width on the Central Plateau. It develops numerous white woolly flakes for protection from the sun. It flowers throughout the summer, the flowers being 7 to 8 centimeters long in canary yellow.
Cultivation
It is a rugged plant resistant to root rot, and easy to grow in a well-drained soil. It is dark green when grown in filtered light or shade. An established plant is cold tolerant to {{convert|25|F|C}}.
Astrophytum ornatum has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web
| url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/1880/i-Astrophytum-ornatum-i/Details
|title = RHS Plantfinder - Astrophytum ornatum
| publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date=12 January 2018}}
File:Astrophytum ornatum 17.jpg|It usually has 8 ribs, often in spiral
File:A ornatum flowering.jpg|Flowers
File:Astrophytum ornatum seeds.jpg|Seeds
File:Astrophytum ornatum 25.jpg|A one month old seedling
File:Astrophytum ornatum 34.jpg|Astrophytum one year after sowing
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- [http://cp34.free.fr/astrophytum-ornatum.htm Astrophytum ornatum on Astroweb] {{in lang|fr}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081026084253/http://www.astrobase.de/Start/Htmls/spezies1.html Astrophytum ornatum on Astrobase] {{in lang|de}}
- Simon & Schuster's Guide to Cacti and Succulents, Pizzetti, {{ISBN|0-671-60231-4}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110724230400/http://www.aiaps-photos.org/recherche_simple.php?a=r&t=s&motsclefs=astrophytum%20ornatum photos on www.AIAPS.org] {{in lang|fr}}
- [http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/starcac/ "Star Cactus (Astrophytum ornatum)"]. {{in lang|en}}
- [http://cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=Astrophytum&species=myriostigma photos on www.cactiguide.com] {{in lang|en}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q133127}}
Category:Endemic flora of Mexico
Category:Flora of Central Mexico