Astrophytunm asterias grouped by their variation of flecks (speckles, dots) however you call it!
Ruri Kabuto has a pretty characteristic flat, smooth, and glabrous stem without any flecks of hairy dots which are usual in the common Astrophytum asterias species. Areoles are of the same type and size. These plants during cold and dry winter rest often have reddish body colors.
Very common variety.
Looks very maculate with white dots a lot bigger and mostly fluffy. Many exceptionally beautiful flecks varieties of this cultivar are currently available: V-type, Zebra-type, snow-type
Differences from common Asterias:
A pretty rare and unusual cultivar with characteristic white patches that form cloud-like groups.
A bit smaller than common asterias (similar to super kabuto) with the size of 3-7cm tall and up to 10cm wide.
Astrophytunm asterias grouped by number and shape of ribs and body type.
Fukuryu (or Fukuryiu) cultivar is characterized by the presence of additional ribs. Those additional small extra ribs will be in most cases developed on the bottom part, sandwiched between two regular ribs. They almost never reach the top of the plant and do not have areoles on them.
Somehow common variety.
Kikko (kitsuko or kitsukow) means “turtle shell” (best viewed from above)
More common are nude varieties. A lot of beautiful subtype cultivars are available.
Also known as cv. Star Type and similar.
The only difference in this cultivar is that it has a specific star shape. That look is given by ribs which tend to be concave towards the center.
Size is the same as for common Asterias: 2-6cm high (flat to surface) with a diameter of 8-16 cm.
Combined with other cultivars and varieties it gives a lot of nice-looking star-shaped hybrids. The most common hybrid is with super kabuto.
Astrophytum asterias var. pentagona
Astrophytum asterias cv. Five Ribs
Normal astrophytum asterias plants have 8 ribs but some seedlings may have from 4 to 13 ribs. Seedlings with 5 ribs happen occasionally and with 7 it is pretty often. Usually, plants with less than 8 ribs as they grow develop new ribs until they become ‘common’ asterias with 8 ribs.
So it is pretty uncommon to see old astrophytum asterias with 5 ribs. And it is a big probability that it is not 100% asterias but hybridized with coahuilense or myriostigma.
Astrophytum asterias f. Multicostatum differs from usual asterias by the number of ribs and can have from 9 to 13 ribs. Many very old asterias tend to form new ribs.
They are known as multicostatum, multicostata, and even specific names like cv. Thirteen ribs
Astrophytunm asterias grouped by differences in areoles.
Rensei in Japanese means something like “chained stars” so this particular cultivar has areoles connected to look like forming a chain – chains of areoles.
Ooibo Kabuto is a famous Japanese selected strain, specific with very big areoles that can vary in color compared to common asterias with grey-white areoles. As size of areoles may vary a lot there is no straight line to draw between what can be considered as Ooibo and what is normal one.
Most common hybridization is with ‘nudum’ variety so more often we find “Ooibo Ruri Kabuto” than usual Ooibo Kabuto
Hanazono kabuto is one of most specific and cultivar from Japan.
Size of a plant is up to 7cm tall and up to 16cm wide. The ribs are usually flat on top.
This cultivar tends to form small side pups from areoles.
Not so common.
Also called ‘Gonzales‘ but maybe 2 different varieties.
Characteristic by lacking or very small areoles.
It is the only astrophytum species that is found outside of Mexico. Very endangered but seeds/plants on market are mostly grown by nurseries. In habitat, there are only around 2000 plants currently.
Most common flower in astrophytum asterias is yellow with red center. Let’s now see some different and rare variations!
Akabana means ‘red flower’ in Japanese. Another name you can find this variety under is German ‘Rote Bluete‘
Red color may vary from simple red, pink, orangish, and a lot of similar variations.
It’s purely a nursery-grown cultivar.
cv. Yellow Flower
This is a completely yellow flower. The only small difference from a common asterias flower is that it is yellow in the center too!
Pink colored flower.
(cv. Showa, cv. Syowa)
Can be found with all the possible color combinations.
Common color is of course green but can be yellow, red, mixed…
Astrophytum asterias f. variegata
Astrophytum asterias ‘variegata’
Astrophytum asterias cv. Nishiki
Astrophytum asterias cv. Marble
The most common variegated colors are yellow and orange/red.
The biggest number of variegated hybrids you can find in cultivation are nudum, or Ruri Kabuto Nisiki.
Astrophytum asterias aurata (yellow form)
Because of the absence of chlorophyll pigment, its color is yellow. There are people who succeeded in growing it on its own roots but in most cases you can find it only grafted.
Because of the absence of chlorophyll pigment, its color is yellow. Very rare and in most cases only can be found as grafted.
