Astrophytum capricorne, a 25 years old specimen.
This species  will eventually slowly produce a tapered column up to 1.2 m in height.

A young specimen (Ø 4-5 cm) still without spines. This is a juvenile or sub-adult feature of this species, spines appear anyway later as the plant ages.

Description: Solitary globose or columnar cactus.
Stem: Although young plants are globular, they soon become ovoid, and eventually columnar up to 1.2 m tall, 10 (15) cm in diameter. The epidermis of is more or less covered with the typical white woolly flecks characteristic of the genus.
Ribs: Usually 8.
Areoles: In vertical rows along each rib and
Spines: 5 to 10 up to 7 cm long, Grey to brown wired, twisted, curved, flattened that look like the horn of a Capricorn. As plant ages spines get a bit more intense and messier, but relatively sparse, they are stiff but pliable and fragile, so, plant should be handled with care.
Flowers: Sweet smelling 7.5 cm wide, yellow with a red center.
Blooming season: Blooms in summer.
Fruit: Reddish covered with flattened spines, 2.5 cm in diameter.

Camouflage: The fine spines of this species are an optical artifice supporting the grass-mimicry to the surroundings.

Cultivation: Although regarded as a choice and difficult plant in cultivation it is relatively easy to grow. Use mineral well permeable substratum (rot prone). Water sparingly from March till October and keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade but tolerates mild frost without a problem as do all the other common species of Astrophytum (hardy to -7°C for short periods). In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! Sun Exposure: Light shade to full sun.

Propagation: They can be propagated easily from seed.
 

A very white specimen.

A. capricorne Santa Lucia, Coah. Mx.

Astrophytum capricorne and its varieties are very variable in their habit even in small areas.  Plants vary in the amount of flock on the surface, in the number,  length, shape and colour of the twisted spines, and in the size of the stems. And it is understandable that today we often have problems to decide to which population plants belong.
 

The throat and the base of the petals are red

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

• A. capricorne
• A. capricorne "crassispinoides"
• A. capricorne var. crassispinum
• A. capricorne var. minor (minus)
• A. capricorne var. niveum
• A. capricorne var. senile
• A. senile "rosa"
• A. capricorne var. aureum

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Scientific name: Astrophytum capricorne (A. Dietrich) Britton & Rose 1922

Astrophytum capricorne was described at the year 1851 from Dr. Albert DIETRICH as Echinocatus capricornis.
In 1922 BRITTON and ROSE recombined this genus to Astrophytum.

Origin:  Northern Mexico (Coahuila) widespread in the
Chihuahuan Desert.

Common Name: Goat's Horns Cactus

The Goat's Horn (capricorne) is named for the characteristic shape of its long, curled and spines.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.


A plant (Locality: Parras) showing the characteristic hairy scales
 

A plant at the end of the day.
The flowers are diurnal typically open in the morning and close just before the sunset.

A. capricorne Microhonda St. Lucia, Coah. Mx.