Star Cactus

(Astrophytum asterias)

Date of Listing: Endangered, 1993

Star cactus is a flat to low dome-shaped, spineless cactus that blooms from March through May and fruits from April through June in the wild. It historically occurred in Cameron, Starr and Hidalgo Counties in Texas and in Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas states in Mexico. In Texas, it is now limited to one site along a creek drainage in Starr County. This species may be cultivated from seed if given the appropriate sandy medium. The San Antonio Botanical Garden is working on propagation techniques for this species.

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Reason for Concern:

This species is highly prized by cactus enthusiasts and collection of wild specimens constitutes an important threat to the species. The population that once occurred in Nuevo Leon, Mexico was likely extirpated by over-collection. Loss of habitat also threatens this species. Root-plowing and other mechanical and chemical brush control practices as well as conversion of habitat to agricultural fields and urbanization have played roles in the decline of this species. It is thought that known sites in Cameron and Hidalgo Counties have been eliminated as a result of habitat conversion.

Size:: Two to six inches in diameter and less than two and a half inches tall.
Habitat (where it lives):: Sparsely vegetated areas in gravelly, saline clays or loams at low elevations in the Rio Grande Plains.
Range (where found in Texas):: Starr County, in the South Texas Plains. Also, in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Historically occurred in Cameron and Hildalgo Counties, Texas and in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
Reproduction:: Yellow flowers about two to three and a half inches across with an orange throat. Fruit a one half inch long oval berry covered with dense hairs.
Population Numbers:: One population currently known from the United States.