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Plant Profile

Star Cactus (Astrophytum asterias)

Photo Credit: Dick McEuen

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Cactaceae
State: TX
Nature Serve ID: 132943
Lifeform: Shrub
Categories of Interest: Cacti/Succulents
Date Inducted in National Collection: 04/04/1991

Description:

small, spineless cacti

Where is Star Cactus (Astrophytum asterias) located in the wild?

Habitat:

gravelly loam in Tamaulipan thorn scrub occurs on gentle slopes and flats in grasslands or shrublands on the Rio Grande Plains or Tamaulipan thorn scrub the known Texas site occurs within a drainage

Distribution:

States & Provinces:

Star Cactus can be found in Texas

Which CPC Partners conserve Star Cactus (Astrophytum asterias)?

Desert Botanical Garden

Conservation Actions

Center for Plant Conservation

12/02/2021

In this study Sandy Birnbaum & Jackie Poole of Texas Parks and wildlife undertook a pilot reintroduction in order to test the feasibility of reintroducing A. asterias. The pilot site was established within formerly occupied habitat. Seeds and seedlings were used as propagules for the pilot reintroduction. Four treatments were established: seeds planted in the spring; seedlings planted in the spring; seeds planted in the fall; seedlings planted in the fall. Each treatment consisted of 120 individuals. Overall less than 4% of the planted seeds produced seedlings. Seedling survivorship of the spring and fall treatments was 55% and 72.5%, respectively. Mortality of seedlings was due to desiccation, herbivory, infestation by weevils, burying by Mexican ground squirrel, and other miscellaneous causes.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Currently known from two locations, one in extreme south Texas, and the other in adjacent Tamaulipas, Mexico. Extirpated in much of its historic range, including Nueva Leon, Mexico. A total of about 2000 plants are thought to remain in the wild. The species continues to be threatened by cactus collectors (despite successful commercial propagation techniques) and by habitat alteration/destruction due to severe overgrazing, brush eradication, and conversion to cropland.

01/01/2010

greatest threat is collection exotics herbicides brush clearing urbanization

01/01/2010

2000 individuals in 1 unprotected population; 1 historic population 1 population in Starr County, TX of ca. 2000 plants and 1 population in Tamaulipas, Mexico of ca. 100 plants