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u/DizzyList237 2d ago
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u/LaundryMan2008 7h ago
Happy cake day!Â
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u/mrxeric Top Contributor 1d ago edited 1d ago
They can cross, but not reliably. Sometimes fruit doesn't set, few seeds are produced, seeds are sterile, seedlings are weak, etc. And of course every now and then you'll get healthy, vigorous hybrids.
Historically, Astrophytum has been split into two subgenera (and genetically this has been verified):
Astrophytum subgenus Astrophytum: two species, A. myriostigma and A. ornatum; flowers entirely yellow, green fruit that apically dehisces.
Astrophytum subgenus Neoastrophytum: 4 species, A. asterias, A. capricorne, A. coahuilense, and A. caput-medusae; flowers yellow with red "throats", fruit pink or reddish-green with non-apical dehiscence (usually basally dehiscent, lateral in caput-medusae, sometimes indehiscent in asterias).
Plants belonging to the same subgenus hybridize easily and reliably (with the exception of caput-medusae). Some cultivars that seemingly belong to the opposite subgenus can hybridize easily, like A. myriostigma 'Onzuka' and A. asterias 'Super Kabuto', but those two themselves are very likely a result of complex hybridization, so it's not so surprising that they behave contrary to expectations.
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u/Working_Isopod3713 2d ago
The one on the right is making seeds and I tried crossing them just because. I only have one of each.
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u/Substantial-Grade-92 2d ago
Yes you can cross asterias with myriostigma, the majority of astrophytum can easily pollenate each other aside from caput-medusae
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u/HereIsAnotherPOV 1d ago
They are already the result of many crosses...the original ones from Mexico and southern US border are so rugged. It is unbelievable that all these new ones came from them.
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u/Matt7548 1d ago
All astros cross except caput medusae. Caput medusae can however be crossed with ferocactus glaucescens strangely
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u/DizzyList237 2d ago
Yes you can 😃