Astrophytum myriostigma var. columnare
Columnar cactus, whose stem
may reach 50 cm in height.
 

The stem is shaped like a bishop's headpiece or a star but slender and more thin than the standard myriostigma, already in the youth phase.
Nearly every cactus collection has room for these beautiful, small plants that seldom grow more
than 5 cm  wide and are usually less than 50 cm tall
 

.
 

Cultivation: Although regarded as a choice and difficult plant in cultivation it is relatively easy to grow. It is sometime seen as a grafted plant but grows very well on its own roots too. Use mineral well permeable substratum with little organic matter (peat, humus). Water sparingly from March till October and keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (but it is Hardy to -7°C for short periods) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! Sun Exposure: Light shade to full sun.

Propagation: Almost exclusively by seed. Plants are sometimes grafted onto column-shaped cacti.

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Astrophytum myriostigma v. columnare (K. Schumann) Tsuda

Original description:  Echinocactus myriostigma v. columnare SCHUMANN, K.
Published in : Gesamtbeschreibung der Kakteen, Monographia Cactacearum, 2. ed. mit den Nachträgen von 1898-1902 J. Neumann Verlag, Neudamm: 321 (1903)

Scientific name:  Astrophytum myriostigma Lemaire
Original description: Cactacearum Genera nova Speciesque novae et omnium in Horto Monvillano cultarum: 4-6 1839

As well occasionally called Astrophytum myriostigma var. tulensis.

Common Name: Bishop's Hat

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Origin: Mexico.  Villar, Cerritos and far north in the area of Tula and Miquihuana in the State of Tamaulipas, Dr. Arroyo in the State of Nuevo Leon.

Habitat: Prefers stony conditions in humus enriched soil, at approximately 1600 m of height of over the sea. I grows often under trees or protected by Hechtia clumps.

Synonyms:

• Astrophytum myriostigma v. columnare  (K. Schumann) Tsuda
• Astrophytum myriostigma var. columnaris
• Astrophytum "Culumnare"

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Astrophytum myriostigma:

• A. myriostigma
• A. myriostigma bicostatum
• A. myriostigma columnare
• A. myriostigma cv. FUKURYU (type A)
• A. myriostigma cv. FUKURYU (type B)
• A. myriostigma cv. FUKURYU (type B) nudum variegata.
• A. myriostigma cv. HAKUUN
• A. myriostigma cv. HAKUUN nudum
• A. myriostigma cv. HAKUUN nudum forma cristata
• A. myriostigma cv. HAKUUN tricostatum
• A. myriostigma cv. HUBOKI
• A. myriostigma cv. HUBUKI
• A. myriostigma cv. KIKKO
• A. myriostigma cv. KIKKO nudum
• A. myriostigma cv. LAIMAKE
• A. myriostigma cv. LOTUSLAND
• A. myriostigma maculatus forma cristata
• A. myriostigma multicostatum
• A. myriostigma nudum
• A. myriostigma nudum forma cristata
• A. myriostigma nudum forma variegata
• A. myriostigma nudum cv MAIDEN BLUSH
• A. myriostigma cv. ONZUKA
• A. myriostigma cv. ONZUKA ball type
• A. myriostigma cv. ONZUKA columnare
• A. myriostigma cv. ONZUKA cristata
• A. myriostigma cv. ONZUKA + HAKUUN
• A. myriostigma cv. ONZUKA + KIKKO
• A. myriostigma cv. ONZUKA quadricostatum
• A. myriostigma cv. ONZUKA tricostatum
• A. myriostigma cv. ONZUKA tricostatum + FUKURYU (type A)
• A. myriostigma cv. ONZUKA white form
• A. myriostigma quadricostatum
• A. myriostigma quadricostatum nudum
• A. myriostigma v. strongylogonum
• A. myriostigma v. strongylogonum cv. COSTA
• A. myriostigma tricostatum
• A. myriostigma tricostatum FUKURYU (type A)
• A. myriostigma tricostatum nudum
• A. myriostigma variegatum