Description
Astrophytum asterias cv. Mamma Kikko take it name from the particular shape of the ribs completely divides in tubercles that resemble women breasts. When viewed from above the plants appears decorated with a geometrical design which is raised above the surface and resemble a tortoise-shell hence the Japanese word kikko (or ‘Kitsu-kow’) that means “Turtle shell” but at a first glace (especially the nude form) resembles some chinned cacti particularly some Gymocalyciums. Seems to be a pretty variable plant with several clones.
Stem: Spherical flattened usually non-branched, 8-16 cm in diameter and 2-6 cm in height. Epidermis scattered with minuscule loose hairy scales. The scales are sprinkled over the stem in irregular patterns, sometimes arched around the areoles or on line. Cultivated plants possess sometimes very dense and big hairy scales. There are also completely flake free pure green specimens.
Ribs: Usually 8, completely dissolved into tubercles.
Tubercles: 1-2 cm broad, breast-like, well separated, dome-shaped to truncate, green to dull olive-green. Usually the young seedlings appear nothing special and barely shows any trace of breast-like tubercles, but they start to produce the distinguishing tubecles and turn into an amazing adult as they get 3 to 5 years old. In general the bigger the “breasts” are and the rounder they are, the better.
Areoles: Round, woolly, at the apex of tubercles, often sunken, cream-colored till white hairy up to 6 (3-12) mm) in diameter. The areoles are normally set in a separation up to 1-2 cm.
Spines: None.
Flowers: Like those of the well known asterias yellow with a red throat. They take up to 6 years to bloom.
Blooming season: Spring to summer.
Origin and Habitat
Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Cultivation and Propagation
It is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although grows quite slowly.
Soil: The plants need a loose well-drained mineral soil.
Exposure: They need a good amount of light.
Watering: Watering can be done weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough, with a little fertilizer added. Kept this way, plants will show a healthy, although slow growth.
Hardiness They are frost hardy to -4° C
Propagation: By seeds, remembering that seedlings dislike strong light and dry conditions and need to be repotted frequently. Eventually, as they become mature, they attain a maximum size of 8-10 cm (20) cm. However, old plants become senile and have a tendency to succumb to disease and a weak root system. At this stage, as is well known, they die suddenly. So, after they reach 10 cm in diameter grow them slowly, and adopt a new repotting period, using intervals of every 2 - 3 years. Additionally grow them under drier conditions or with stronger sunlight. But plants are often grafted to accelerate growth as they would generally take at least a five years to reach maturity on their own, but the grafted plants are typical rather tall growing, compared with plants on their own roots that are usually more flat to the ground.