Description

Astrophytum Asterias | Sand Dollar Cactus Seeds

This is one of the most attractive cactus species. Astrophytum asterias is mainly found in the shade of other plants, or rocks, sometimes in the grass, or almost completely buried underground. Its colours match that of the surrounding soil and is difficult to spot if not in flower. Much of its original habitat has been destroyed by habitat destruction, agricultural activity, collecting, and foraging by cottontail-rabbits in Texas and in Tamaulipas. Once fairly widely distributed in south Texas, the species is now known from only one locality near Rio Grande City. Astrophytum asterias (a.k.a. Sea-Urchin Cactus or Sand Dollar) is an flat barrel cactus with unique and remarkably beautiful form, without the typical covering of spines, but with tiny speckled tuft of hairs less. It produces large yellow flowers with orange throats often larger than the plant itself. This cactus is spineless much like Lophophora. Asterias may flower at any time during the warmer months.

Live specimens of Astrophytum asterias can be found here.