CACTUS SEEDS - ASTROPHYTUM NIVEUM - SPINELESS GOATS HORN IN DELHI

Astrophytum niveum - Spineless Goats Horn Cactus More properly this should be known as Astrophytum capricorne var niveum - as there are only 6 species of Astrophytum recognised now.  This is a near spineless variety, with dense white markings on the skin, like those seen in the Bishops Cap Cactus.  Again the form of this cactus means that it merits a place in any colleciton.  The flowers are yellow with a reddish centre and on warm evenings a spicy lemon scent is produced by the flowers.  They are followed by seed pods containing numerous black seeds. It will also flower when still quite small, often the flower is bigger than the cactus when this happens. Astrophytum seeds have an interesting germination protection mechanism.  Seeds sown in March - May will have around 98 - 100% germination, those sown earlier will come up in fits and starts, eventually getting around 70%, those sown later may only give 25% germination.  This happens regardless of the year in which they are sown (so seeds left till Mar - May will always show a higher rate of germination - even in older seeds - they have a shelf life of a few years) Young plants require a degree of shade and protection from the sun as they normally develop in the shade of another plant until they push through the cover or the shade plant dies (as in the case of a mature cactus).  This need should be observed even in the higher  latitudes  to protect seedlings from becoming scorched and stunted.