Contents Volume 16. No 2

Summer 2005

Editorial and more

Trevor Wray

Cotyledons to keep an eye on

Trevor Wray

A trip to the Four Corners 

Don Campbell  

The montrous Lophocereus  Doug Rowland
The Zone 6 Open Day 2005 Trevor Wray
Capel's Capers Jeff and Diana Capel

Odds and endpieces 

 

EDITORIAL and more.....

Well the Ed is back from his travels and I can report that he had a wonderful time in the US. The members of the Colorado C&SS welcomed me to their sale and show in Denver, then it was a week of non-stop rare Pediocactus in the cold and two days to warm up in the Arizona Desert with some friendly people from the Phoenix cactus fraternity. The FL joined me for California’s Highway 1 which is still as beautiful as ever (and there were whales!) and we made some diversions to see the cacti. There were Dudleyas and fabulous wildflowers everywhere. I took 5000 digital photos if you want to see them. What’s that…?

Virtually time for virtually anything, including journals.

As a privileged reader of the rare printed edition of Northants News (oh, you're not but you could move to Northants Country) you are probably aware that this magazine is also available to world internet readers who, like you, enjoy a gentle read. You can read the printed words but the internet version is also free.

The Ed has a few authorative books on his shelves but knows that the internet has much to offer in specialist information. Where we may reach for a monograph (or especially a book by John Pilbeam or Gordon Rowley, if these are relevant) in our libraries, and if we have them, the searcher for detailed information with a web browser can gain a huge insight into a family, genus or species with a web search for pages or images with an internet search engine.

Most groups of succulents have specialist pages and those that I have found especially useful are listed below. I have added the links.

Adromischus, Agaves, Astrophytums, Crassulaceae, Echinocereus, Euphorbias, Gymnocalycium, Haworthia, Lithops, Rebutias and (nearly forgot) Mammillarias.

Some of these sites are superb references and unlike the books can be updated to take up accepted taxonomic changes or new discoveries in habitat. They are also free to access and take up no room in our houses which seem to get smaller and smaller.

There is a part of my persona which will argue for ‘virtual on line’ succulent information but you should realise that there will still be great pleasure in turning the pages of books to look at the pictures and read the ‘real text’.

Can we see a situation where our journals will arrive via our computers? Yes, why not? You can read Northants News on the printed pages if you are a member of the NMK BCSS branch or contribute an article. But I will let you into a secret – the pictures on the web issue look better on a TV. The printed Northants News will always be 16 (or just maybe 20) printed pages and the ink will soon fade. The internet edition is unlimited (or virtually so, thanks to the Cactus-mall) and often has more content. Any saved edition (right click and ‘save as’) will last (virtually) for ever.

To publish the BCSS journal as a website is easy. You can subscribe to dubious websites by credit card we all know, (or by stuffing dollars into your floppy drive?) I can renew my virus scanner by credit card, pay that credit card bill with a few clicks from my bank account. Why can’t I pay by Paypal (or equivalent) for the BCSS journal?

Probably the download would need the latest version of PDF reader. OK. It’s free, just click here. There might be some who could not access the internet source. Perhaps we might charge them extra for a printed copy or I might just print a copy off for them.

Remind me to look up the printing costs of the journal…

And am I looking too far to the future?

Not too far…

The Convention is coming.

I paid my deposit for the Judges’ Course and the National Convention and mentioned it to the F.L. Sue gave me her famous teacher’s icy look, (the one that reduces naughty eight year olds to tears), I knew I was in trouble. “You do remember what is on in August 2006?” I frantically searched the memory banks - all I could see was a scintillating speakers list, loads of sales plants and a great time. Err...

“That is the date for your son’s wedding.” Phew, nothing important then. The date hadn’t been finalised and I suggested that if there was a clash Loughborough was only 40 miles and I might pop back just for the ceremony. A heavy book bounced off my head. Perhaps not!

If you don't have a family wedding on for 17 - 20th August 2006 (or perhaps even if you do...) click for details of the Convention.

Back in the real world this edition of the mag brings you reports on various ‘outings’ and curiosities.

Enjoy!

Trev_trevorwray@aol.com

For the cactophile who has everything; a dining chair in see-through plastic each embellished with cacti. 

Just £660!

Cotyledons to keep an eye on                             Trevor Wray

I was up at Chester in the Spring to give a talk on the Crassula family. Although I emphasized I was not an expert on the group, (and certainly proved it), I was asked to identify a Cotyledon by Dick Harbour. Dick was a former Show Secretary at Northants before he moved away. He thought it might be ladysmithiensis and Chester’s Crassula expert Ian Robinson, (well he judged them at the National) thought it might be tomentosa

Dick’s plant has hairy green leaves with about eight red teeth at the end and reddish pendulous flowers. I certainly remembered it was locally distributed in Northants by Reg and Phillis Collis in the 80’s as ladysmithiensis. Mine never shone and shrunk away due to extreme underwatering. I could never get the hang of those ‘leafy’ succulents and treated them like cacti.

Asked to adjudicate, I turned to the newly published book ‘Cotyledon and Tylecodon’. It seems that ladysmithiensis is now a subspecies of tomentosa and that in habitat they are variable with intermediate forms. Subspecies ladysmithiensis has 1 – 3 teeth and ssp. tomentosa has 3 –10. When we told Ian he said ‘so Lady Smith is the toothless one’. Exactly!

Cotyledon tomentosa is an easy, attractive shrublet which flowers well but I think there are better species. I am growing two clones of Cotyledon papillaris and H5139 (top right) is developing into a compact clump of glaucous grey leaves (It came recently from Jeff so better ask him if you want a bit). DT 4182c is not so good, sorry Derek. The flowers on these are a bit disappointing.

Best of the lot is Cotyledon orbiculata ‘oophylla’, (right) It used to be a variety but now has only cultivar status and has small white leaves and bright red pendulous flowers. I lost it years ago to galloping mildew but Dick gave me a new bit and that alone was worth the 300 mile round trip (and Marie’s cooking!). This is the one to grow!

Trev

(You can click these pictures for better quality images)

 

 

Cotyledon papillaris

A 4" plant of Cotyledon papillaris H5139

Cotyledon orbiculata 'oophylla'

A large cluster of Cotyledon orbiculata 'oophylla' at the 2004 National Show

 

 

Reference

Jaarveld E.V and Koutnik D: Cotyledon and Tylecodon Umdaus Press, S.A 2004 ISBN 1-919766-32-4

This is a lovely book if you want some information on these genera and among the Tylecodons you will see some very strange plants that lovers of geophytes (rock loving plants) will lust after.

I don’t suppose this book will make the Branch library but you are welcome to borrow my copy.

 

 

LINKS

Northampton and Milton Keynes Branch of the B.C.S.S.