Goat's horn cactus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goat's horn cactus |
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| Conservation status | |
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Astrophytum
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| Species: |
capricorne
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Astrophytum capricorne, also known as the goat's horn cactus, is a cool plant from the cactus family. It grows naturally in the Coahuila region of Northern Mexico. This cactus can grow up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) tall and 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) wide. It usually grows in a ball or oval shape.
The goat's horn cactus is a grey-green color. It has 7 to 9 noticeable ridges on its body. It also has very long, twisted spines. In the summer, it blooms with beautiful yellow flowers that have a red center. The common name, goat's horn cactus, comes from its scientific name capricorne. This name is Latin, where capri means "goat" and corne means "horn". This refers to its curved spines, which look a bit like a goat's horns.
This cactus is found all over the Chihuahuan Desert. Because it is so widespread, the IUCN says it is of "least concern". This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
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Growing Your Own Goat's Horn Cactus
Many people like to grow the goat's horn cactus at home. It is a popular ornamental plant because of its large, pretty yellow flowers with red centers. You can usually grow this cactus from seeds. Some types of this cactus have white spots on their body, while others do not.
Caring for Your Cactus
Even though this cactus can handle some cold, it needs a warm, protected spot. It is important that the place does not freeze in winter. The soil for this cactus should be poor and alkaline. It also needs soil that drains water very, very well. This means water should not sit around the roots.
Another way to grow it is in a pot. You can keep it indoors or in a greenhouse. If you grow it in a pot, use special cactus soil. In the United Kingdom, the Astrophytum capricorne has even won an award. It received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. This award shows it is a great plant for gardens.
Different Kinds of Goat's Horn Cactus
Just like there are different breeds of dogs, there are different types of Astrophytum capricorne. These are called varieties or cultivars. They might have slightly different spines or body shapes. Some examples include:
- Astrophytum capricorne ‘Crassispinoides‘
- Astrophytum capricorne var. crassispinum
- Astrophytum capricorne var. minus
- Astrophytum capricorne var. niveum
- Astrophytum capricorne var. senile
- Astrophytum capricorne var. aureum
Images for kids
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Astrophytum capricorne in flower
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Astrophytum capricorne var. crassispinum
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Astrophytum capricorne var. senile
See also
In Spanish: Astrophytum capricorne para niños
