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.

Astrophytum ornatum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Astrophytum
Species:
A. ornatum
Binomial name
Astrophytum ornatum
(DC.) Britton & Rose

Description edit

Solitary and cylindrical in form, it may grow up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height and 30 centimetres (12 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 edit

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 25 °F (−4 °C).

Astrophytum ornatum has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ Sánchez , E.; Guadalupe Martínez, J.; Bárcenas Luna, R. (2017). "Astrophytum ornatum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T151912A121449348. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T151912A121449348.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Astrophytum ornatum". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 12 January 2018.

External links edit