Astrophytums looking for safer home!

Joined : 29 Apr 2008 Posts : 17 Location : Adelaide

Hey I have two Astrophytum asterias var kabuto (4cm across, flowering age, white tufts etc. very nice plants) and one astrophytum myriostigma (2cm) that I'd like to trade. I'm after nice hardy columnar-type cacti mostly.

To be honest, I'm not fussed to hang on to them in the slightest (they might be though!). But if anyone wants them...

I've got a couple of lithops around too, if that's how you like it. They're weird plants for sure.

Happy gardening,

Micro

(edit - I'll take photos if desired)

Subject: Re: Astrophytums looking for safer home! Thu May 08, 2008 1:37 pm

Yeah put some pics up Micro.
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mmm spikey...

Joined : 07 May 2008 Posts : 377 Location : Melbourne

'kabuto' is just the japanese term for Astrophytum asterias.

Joined : 29 Apr 2008 Posts : 17 Location : Adelaide

How do you post pics here? I can't seem to just attach them as per usual?!

Lots of interest in these plants then it seems! Who would have though these little guys were so popular! I'll wait til you've seen the pics before I start replying to PMs then we'll have a better idea of what is fair (I honestly have no idea), and I'll do so in the order they were received.

I guess it will be easier if i narrow down my wants a bit too... I'm after unusual trichs or columnar cacti primarily, something I don't already have (hopefully)... haha, but how would you what I have! But the standard trichs are well covered.

If you post a pic of what you want to trade that might make it easier but no big deal. If there's something you have enough of to part with and think it might be of interest, let me know what it is.

Wish I had more to go around Wink

I'll definately give the astros up as a pair they look like they want to make babies together.

Photos to come when I'm less computer illiterate!

Joined : 29 Apr 2008 Posts : 17 Location : Adelaide

Joined : 29 Apr 2008 Posts : 17 Location : Adelaide

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/12/37/93/16/cf210.jpg

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/12/37/93/16/cf310.jpg

Success!

Subject: Re: Astrophytums looking for safer home! Fri May 09, 2008 8:01 am

Nice looking plants Micro! I would like to throw my hat in the ring to be the new owner of one or both of these little plants Smile

(A. asterias var kaboto)

Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 119 Location : brisbane

micromegas, did you get my pm? Very keen on the astro's and at the very least the lithops.

Joined : 29 Apr 2008 Posts : 17 Location : Adelaide

Alright then if you can send me a pic of what you have to trade and tell me what you want to trade it for (all or some of the plants above - astros will go as a pair though), we'll do it that way.

Quite a bit of interest so I'll trade with whoever comes up with something cool and in order of PMs received.

That is , if you still want 'em.

I'm a little overwhelmed by the response actually Wink

Surprise me.

Micro

Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 119 Location : brisbane

pm sent with pics

Subject: Re: Astrophytums looking for safer home! Fri May 09, 2008 1:44 pm

They are just A. asterias by the way Wink

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mmm spikey...

Joined : 29 Apr 2008 Posts : 17 Location : Adelaide

Hey guys sorry i haven't confimred a trade with anyone yet, I have been away from the computer for a few days. I'll finalise a trade tonight and send out some PMs.

Trigonus, the guy i got them from said they were var kabuto and that is what is on the label. He seemed to know his stuff and had grown them from seed.

I, however, wouldn't have the foggiest.

Thanks for the interest everyone,

Micro

Subject: Re: Astrophytums looking for safer home! Mon May 12, 2008 5:28 pm

See the two heavily flecked specimens to the left of the central cacti in this pic?

They are A. asterias cv. SUPERKABUTO the large plant in the foreground is the regular A. asterias. the difference is striking wouldn't you say?

Your's really do look much more like A. asterias. You be the judge?
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mmm spikey...

Joined : 07 May 2008 Posts : 377 Location : Melbourne

'kabuto' is just the Japanese name for Astrophytum asterias. hence 'Super Kabuto' is just a 'Super' select cultivar of the original species Astrophytum asterias. it makes sense doesn't it.
Micromegas, your plants are just normal A. asterias. For interest, perhaps your var. 'kabuto' were grown from japanese seed. who knows.
Although if you want to get really particular, considering that this is one of the most intensively produced, hybridised and selectively bred cacti on earth (hence the hundreds of cultivars produced, particularly in japan), these days you cannot prove that you have a real authentic Astrophytum asterias unless you have a field-collected specimen or have grown the plant from authentic field-collected seed, as is the case with many other cacti. sad reality (but you could say this regarding any popular cactus). people reading this may dismiss this and say that they have 10 of what they consider to be real 'original' Astrophytum asterias specimens in their collections. unless you have a) grown the plant from imported field-collected seed b) have an old field-collected specimen from the days when it was legal or c) have selectively bred your current stock from the original wild-collected imported material when it was legal. you don't.

Subject: Re: Astrophytums looking for safer home! Mon May 12, 2008 8:20 pm

Smart arse!
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mmm spikey...