Astrophytum mutations? They're not flowers, they're not fruits, they're not pups, what are they?

[hostilis]

Hello everyone. I've been getting lots of astrophytum flowers recently. Among those flower these things have been popping up. Some of them start to form petals and then usually die, but some of them don't start forming petals and just keep growing like this. They look like a hybrid between a pup, flower bud, and fruit, but don't fit the profile fully for any of those organs.

Have any of you experienced this? Do any of you know what they are?

Here are some photos of the ones without petals. They've been growing for about 2 months.

This one is forming petals, but has been growing for 3 weeks longer than the flower that already completed.

I decided to do an autopsy on one of them. It seems like a normal section on the inside, but it almost looks like there is some pollen forming in the growth point at the top. There is some yellow dust, but there are no petals forming.

I am thinking of grafting one of them to see what it grows into. I'll update here if I do.

If any of you know what this is then please let me know! I'm extremely curious. I've never seen this before in person or online.

hostilis

[katu]

I've seen similar on some A.myriostigma of mine, but only ever on grafted plants. Not quite a pup, not quite a flower?? No idea to be honest. Some kind of forced mutation from grafting. They tend to just drop off after a bit. No pics, sorry..

Would be interested to see if you could graft one and what the results would be if successful. Please keep us updated!