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| Astrophytum caput-medusae | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Astrophytum |
| Species: | A. caput-medusae |
| Binomial name | |
| Astrophytum caput-medusae | |
| Synonyms | |
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Astrophytum caput-medusae (synonym Digitostigma caput-medusae) [1] is a species of cactus native to Mexico.
This species differs from the conventional star-shaped phenotype associated with other Astrophytum members. It has a very reduced, shortly cylindrical stem that lacks ribs. The stem collar and apex is covered in paper-like bristles that originates from the basal rest of tubercles. The bristles are coffee-colored with reddish tones. A taproot is formed. The tubercles are cylindrical (occasionally triangular when young), of cartilaginous consistency, smooth, growing up to 19 cm in length and 0.2-0.5 cm in width. Tubercles are glaucous-green in color, almost totally covered with greyish-white trichomes. It grows up to 4 spines of 0.1-0.3 cm in length that generally persists on old tubercles.
The flowers grow on the developing sections of the tubercles. It is yellow with an orange-colored base. Outer segments are greenish yellow, and covered with white hairs and spines. Fruits are green and fleshy, drying as it ripens. Seeds are cap-shaped, dark coffee or black, and measures up to 0.3 cm. [2] [3]
A. caput-medusae is native to Mexico, specifically the state of Nuevo León. The plant is reportedly found growing wild only at a single location. [1]
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