ASTROPHYTUM CAPUT-MEDUSAE

This member of the Cactaceae family was given this name by David Richard Hunt in 2003. It is found in a single area of Nuevo León in north-eastern Mexico, growing in a well drained soil with some water and some sun. The caudex can grow to six centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to twelve centimetres in height. The flowers are pale to bright yellow.

The genera name from Greek; aster, 'star' and phyton; 'plant'.

The species name referring to its resemblance with the head of Medusa. Regarding the basionym: Velazco and Neárez forgot to write "sp. nov". in their description, and it was thereby invalid. That made it possible for Hunt to publish it with his name on. Habitat photo by Kaktus855, Wikipedia.org.