Astrophytum myriostigma 'Hekiran'
Astrophytum myriostigma 'Hekiran is a smooth, spot-free green-bodied form of the bishop's cap cactus, Astrophytum myriostigma. "Hekiran" is a Japanese growers' name for myriostigma bodies that lack the fine white flecking typical of the species — the "heki" (碧) element denoting the blue-green or jade colour of a clean green epidermis. It is effectively equivalent to the older Latin designation nudum ("naked"), and serves as a base term woven into many compound cultivar names such as Fukuryu Hekiran.
Description
Like the parent species, 'Hekiran' is a solitary, spineless cactus whose body is divided into prominent ribs — most often five, giving young plants that distinctive bishop's-mitre silhouette when viewed from above. What sets Hekiran apart is the epidermis: instead of being dusted with the woolly white trichome flecks that give a typical myriostigma its speckled, star-like appearance, the surface is smooth and a solid deep green. Woolly areoles run along the rib edges, and the flowers are the familiar Astrophytum yellow, sometimes with a red-orange throat, opening from the crown in the growing season.
Because the naming refers to the flecking (or absence of it) rather than to rib count or shape, "Hekiran" is frequently combined with other descriptive terms — for example a many-ribbed green plant, or a green plant carrying other selected traits — hence compound names like Fukuryu Hekiran.
Cultivation
Care is exactly as for the parent species; see Astrophytum myriostigma for the full account. In brief, give bright light with some protection from the harshest afternoon sun, plant in a fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix), and water only when the mix has dried fully, keeping the plant dry and cool through winter dormancy (see Watering).
As with any plant, acclimatise gradually to stronger light in spring rather than moving it abruptly into full sun, and the deep green colour will stay clean and unblemished.
Propagation
'Hekiran' comes readily from seed, and the spot-free green trait comes reasonably true in dedicated seed lines, which are the usual way it is maintained and multiplied. Being solitary, it does not offset, so vegetative increase relies on Grafting where growers want to speed up a choice seedling.
See also
- Astrophytum myriostigma — the parent species
- Astrophytum — the genus overview
- Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed