Northants News 17.3 Winter 2006

Pack the Lithops plants; don’t forget the cases and the empty trays for plant purchases. Lock the house and head north. Ah, so many familiar faces, unpack and set up the plant sales – the other stands look inviting. Come on, we mustn’t be late for dinner.

So to the first talk – a cracking start with a witty introduction by a sprightly John Pilbeam “Mini Jewels of Mexico – Derek (Bowdery) take a bow!” Woody Minnich shows us great pictures of limestone and gypsum scenery with Ariocarpus and Aztekium plants amongst many others; yes this is a stylish start to the proceedings.

Well, just one drink then ... I need an early night so I’m alert for the busy schedule tomorrow.

After a good breakfast there’s high expectation of Graham Williamson’s first presentation. Rodney Sims introduces Graham as “A field man” eliciting memories of his presentations at Reading and Loughborough. Graham explains ‘The Kortdoringsvlakte - a floristic crossroads’ walking dunes, a lichen field, hard desert, flat plains – an interplay of unique ecosystems and plant adaptations. Cheiridopsis brownii and Dracophilus dealbatus having evolved to inhabit the windblown sand – but not in my greenhouse!

Now for a change of continent – Roberto Kiesling and Marlon Machado give complementary presentations: the complex subject of morphology and evolution of the family Cactaceae vividly explained, followed by a celebration of diversity where geographical isolation stimulated development of species in different habitats. This for me is one unifying theme of the convention – the relationship between habitat (geology, topography, climate, competition) and the survival strategies of the succulent flora. No wonder there is still so much for us to discover, investigate and interpret!

The lunch break – an opportunity to survey the sales area; many others seem to be of like mind. There’s a lovely display of Gymnocalycium paintings by the artist Vivienne Taylor.

Colin Walker introduces Sheila Collenette, “...an experienced and respected field botanist.” She spirits us away to Saudi Arabia to review the indigenous Euphorbias. Her expert observations pick up that theme of habitat affecting plant morphology. After another good meal, Ernst van Jaarsveld continues the theme by explaining cremnophytes – cliff dwellers. He had journeyed in Transkei, Zululand and the Baines Mountains of northern Namibia and found so many interesting plants including Aloe, Ceropegia, Haemanthus (bulbs), Peperomia and the archetypical pachycaul Baobab Adansonia.

Thus the day ends where it began – in South Africa; well not quite. Dan Mahr, the CSSA President, presents the BCSS with a CSSA Conservation Award, the first awarded outside the US. This subject divides opinions, but we are recognized as a global force, an agent for constructive plant and habitat management. It is our actions that are being appreciated, not merely fine words. This is food for thought at the end of a fantastic day.

Another busy day in prospect with more continent hopping. David Slade introduces Roberto Keisling, who shows us the plants from Patagonia, northern Argentina and an area close to the Bolivian border – all very distinct habitats. Then Gillian Evison encourages us to listen and learn from “a virtual field-trip with an international expert.” So we pay close attention to Sheila Collenette’s explanation of which rocks favour specific plants on the mountain of Jabal Shada. We ‘walk’ up the mountain seeing the plants and animals, accompanied by anecdotes and explanation. Amongst others, Commiphora, Dorstenia, Euphorbia and Rhytidocaulon parade before our eyes.

After lunch David Rushforth ventures that Woody Minnich’s ‘Three A’s of Mexico’ were “Ariocarpus, Astrophytum and Alcohol!” Woody explains that he has more than one hundred thousand pictures from thirty-five years of travel – he selects a remarkable sample of his experiences in a second intriguing digital presentation, harnessing new technology for our delight. More remarkable photography follows from John Trager, the Curator of Desert Collections at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. Welwitschia, Discocactus and Mesembryanthemums start the tour through plant families, both familiar and less well-known. Bromeliads feature and the presentation concludes with a tour de force of Asclepiads (or should that now be Apocynads?) and their peculiar flowers.

Continent hopping has morphed into succulent genealogy; and a memorable third day draws to a conclusion with the Convention Dinner – an opportunity to share a meal informally with Graham Williamson. Then we indulge ourselves in a unique blend of bidding, joshing and the serious matter of raising funds to support one of the BCSS objects – conservation. The Auctioneer is our own David Kirkbright, a towering figure with such keen eyes and ears detect even the quietest bid. He cajoles, coerces and collects cash from the crowd: it all counts, whether for small seedlings, washing-up bowls, CSSA life membership, unique DVD records of the convention presentations, even plastic Cerei.

Oh dear, the final day – hard to believe it’s passing so quickly.

Suzanne Mace introduces Graham Williamson, who regales us with words and pictures of ‘Succulent Islands in Zambia’. These are tiny habitats exploited by succulenti, termite mounds, areas beside waterfalls – ‘evolutionary Alcatraz locations’ – we roam far and wide with Graham continuing the theme of adaptation to environment. Then Paul Hoxey comments “Uebelmannia plants are sought after and we are fortunate to have Marlon Machado to tell us about them.” We tour the land around Diamentina in Brazil, campo rupestre vegetation on depleted humus soils overlaid with quartz gravel. Now I know how I should grow them: I must go and put that into practice when I get back home.

A last chance for plant sales – be quick – some sellers are starting to pack up their stands.

After lunch Derek Tribble introduces Ernst van Jaarsveld – “How lucky he is to live at Kirstenbosch!” Ernst says “I am a lecturer on waterwise gardening.” His maxim is “Plant the plants to fit the climate.” He updates his presentation given at the convention in Reading in 1994. He shows us new habitats and new species – that theme again. He talks about conservation threats and strategies and thanks the BCSS for their efforts with Gasteria baylissiana. Finally John Trager presents his ‘South African Explorations’ – a feast of excellent photography recording many of the remarkable plants he found and photographed there. Lithops julii, Pelargonium fulgidum and Hoodia gordonii are among my favourites. He signs off with a view of Proteas at Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden: it makes a memorable conclusion to the 2006 Convention.

The BCSS Chairman John Arnold closes the proceedings saying that we had all enjoyed a balanced programme with numerous valuable insights into the plants that enthrall us. He invites feedback and improvement ideas, though it is hard to think of any at this moment! John appreciates the fifty plus ‘first timers’ and delegates from outside UK, who traveled to Loughborough. He is effusive in his praise for David Kirkbright, who had guided the proceedings and devoted inordinate time and energy to assure success. Hear, hear!

So I say my goodbyes and pack the car – somewhat more easily than on Thursday owing to many empty sales trays. I reflect on who I met, what I heard, the books I bought and had signed, my new plants, the contacts made for our 2007 and 2008 branch programmes; it is a swirl of thoughts and impressions. When is the next one?

The Ed joined Anna and Elizabeth eagerly discussing the birth of pups over breakfast. After a bit he realised these were not dogs but Echinopsis. Not any old feral Echinopsis either (fierce of spine though enchanting with flowers) but highly bred new Schick hybrids yapping at our heels. Super breeds with vibrant colours. Or bi-colours. Or doubles. Wow!

Bob Wellen (The tissue prop-man) was telling me how four years of research had produced the ability to produce variegation in many species of succulents. How was it done? Well, naturally it is a trade secret. On his stand were Astrophytum asterias plants which were yellow and had only the tiniest amount of green and yellow banded Yuccas.

Sheila Collenette introduced one of her lectures as ‘just a little travelogue, botanising on the household budget’. Shortly she was being whisked to the top of the mountains on the company helicopter. Sheila had a graphic description for the aroma of Caralluma petreae. ‘Lots of things die on the roads in Arabia… goats, sheep, donkeys and camels. The flower of this species smells like that lot stirred up.’

Ernst van Jaarsveld: ‘New species have recently been found on cliffs. People naturally avoid cliffs. It’s because of the gravity.’

While botanising in SA and climbing cliffs EVJ has broken his legs twice. Enough said.

Which reminds me, on one of his field trips a camper was grabbed and eaten by a crocodile when he went for a dip in the river. This sort of experience could spoil your holiday.

David Rushforth quote: ‘A naff plant but not naff enough for the compost heap’

But what plant was he talking about?

A final Word: Can I ask one question, please? Can we do this again?

Trev

One day in the early 1960’s he saw an advert in the NCSS Journal from a Mexican nurseryman offering boxed lots of habitat plants. Tony wrote to the advertiser, Willie Wagner, enquiring about the plants for sale. These were the days of foreign currency controls and it would be difficult to buy US Dollars at that time. Tony explained his plight, and an arrangement was made for Tony to run a series of advertisements in the NCSS Journal to the value of the box of plants and its surface mail postage.

In due time, Tony received a rather battered box in the post from Mexico. It contained a nice selection of Mammillaria, Coryphantha, Thelocactus and Echinocereus, but packed in the centre was a cristate plant of Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus. This took the form of a one foot length of cristate heads, and was about 2” wide, a superb plant. Tony potted it up, it rooted well the following spring and summer, and Tony soon began to win prizes with it on the Show bench, often given Best in Show. The plant soon became well known throughout Zone 6. But as you will know that in this world, all good things must come to an end. After a few years the plant began to grow with the central part of the plant raised. As the centre of the plant grew out of the ground, Tony heaped gravel on to the exposing roots, But of no avail, the plant grew horseshoe shaped and Tony was at his wits end to know what to do with such growth of this plant.

With great trepidation, Tony depotted the dried plant the following spring, took a very sharp knife and cut the plant into two equal halves and allowed the cut ends to heal and dry. Both parts were potted up and grew on successfully. Our picture today shows a successful half plant growing well. Tony kept these plants for some time. I think that the ‘cherry pickers’ arrived after that and worried the life out of Tony to sell and he sold one eventually to a collector of cristate plants.

After his wife died in 1995, Tony sold his whole collection and glasshouse. I visited Tony several times in his later years, and he always wondered what happened to the two pieces of his once famous cristate Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus.

Doug