BCSS Convention 1

Contents of the summer 2010 Northants News

	Roland brings us a report of the National Convention with some of the images you (probably) won't see in CactusWorld!
Left: A warm welcome at the Convention. Right: Spot the typo!

How does your Convention Grow? Roland Tebbenham

Selecting what to grow

I see the advert in CactusWorld – it’s a long way ahead, but I just have to be there. It will be the seventh such event and the fourth venue used in the past twenty three years. It will also be the fiftieth anniversary of the first ‘weekend’ convention organised by the NCSS Northampton Branch at the George Hotel, Kettering on May 21st /22nd 1960. The speakers on that occasion included Arthur Boarder, Bryan Makin and ‘an effervescent’ Gordon Rowley who showed three of his award winning cine films after dinner on Saturday. Clearly the BCSS will need to excel itself on this prestigious anniversary.

Receiving the seeds

The joining instructions arrive, together with a provisional programme. Decisions will be needed since there are to be long and short presentations, the latter ‘rationed’ to just sixty seats. The timetable is tight, we can include a tour of the local Botanic Gardens and there will be the traditional Conservation Fund Auction. One innovation will be sales tables, so I must assemble some interesting plants to help our Branch funds.

Sowing the seeds

The car is packed with general kit, camera, notepad, sales plants, labels and signs; not forgetting wife of course. We set off northwards, the traffic is light, and soon we are in the registration queue. We see some familiar faces and many new ones; indeed more than seventy members attend a convention for the first time. There is a cheerful feeling of expectation. We receive a BCSS ‘goodie bag’, lots of special interest group leaflets, our room keys, tea ‘n cake and we unload the plant trays for our sales tables. There are thirty-two sellers and buying of plants, books and pots gets under way before we are seated ready for the convention opening and the first speaker.

Germination begins

John Pilbeam confirms the joyful mood by leading us in “Here we are again, happy as can be”. Then he introduces Giuseppe Orlando, a Sicilian from Tenerife, who tells us about a trip he made to Somaliland. Aloes, Euphorbias, Stapeliads and Pachyforms delight us in diverse habitats: desert plains, gypsum hills and coastal mountains. Then Giuseppe mentions the bandits and the minefields. What will intrepid explorers do to see interesting plants? The camerawork sets a high standard for others to follow and the applause is well deserved.

Colin Walker introduced the second speaker, Professor James Mauseth from Texas, an anatomist and evolutionary biologist. He starts by saying “I chop up cacti”. Some succulentophile wags commented “Great, he’s one of us.” James tells us about flowering structures unique to Cacti. This is accessible science; a cogent explanation of their evolution as energy saving strategies compared to the flowering parts other leafy, woodier plants that enjoy more abundant water and food supplies. We see a range of cephalium types in familiar genera Melocactus, Discocactus and Espostoa; also those of Arrojadoa, Micranthocereus, Vatricania and Neoraimondia, the latter with areoles developed into ‘floral trunks’. The last superficially resembling the flowering structures found in Hoya.

Juvenile growth

After a tasty dinner (mozzarella & tomato, lamb tajine, lemon tart, cheese and coffee) we reassemble in the excellent conference room. Paul Hoxey introduces Anton Hofer from Switzerland, who regales us with ‘Twenty Years of Plant Research in Mexico’. Those who were at the fourth convention [Reading, April 1998] should have recalled his stunning photography in two talks: Ariocarpus and Turbinicarpus. We are not disappointed, but Anton’s focus is not just habitats and plants: Anton links the chronology of his talk to notable people with whom he has collaborated. We roam Mexico with Alfred Lau, Fitz and Betty Fitzmaurice, George Hinton, Charlie Glass, Rafael Ortega and numerous others. Turbinicarpus feature strongly with other Mexican endemics including Echinocereus, Ferocactus, Astrophytum, Strombocactus and Mammillaria. This essay on a cactus-lovers paradise recalls many explorers deserving of our gratitude.

So the first day draws to a close in the bar, where my wife and I spend a happy hour with two Profs’, James Mauseth and Colin Walker. We talk science, plants and Jim plots his interjections in Colin’s talk the next morning … clearly this will be something to savour.

Speakers Giuseppe Orlando and Anton Hoffer

Colin Walker at the BCSS Convention

Signs of adult growth

Saturday dawns fine; a decent hot breakfast will sustain us for a very intensive phase of the event. There is time to converse with Rene Zahre from Malta, who tells me of his contact with Pierre Braun and the ideal Maltese conditions for seed-raising of the more tender discoveries from Brazil. Two short talks are programmed while the day visitors arrive to register. First John Arnold introduces Colin Walker and his interesting subject ‘The Name Game – Molecular Studies’. This is an introduction to DNA sequencing, cladistics for beginners, and the effect of these new data on the earlier taxonomy based on superficial morphology. Colin touches on ‘Euphorbia vs Monadenium’, Cactaceae vs Portulacaceae’, and other ‘adjustments’. The session becomes animated with contributions from Jim Mauseth [as threatened the previous evening in the bar] as well as others with knowledge and opinions. “We need more time”. But John has to draw things to a close, thanking Colin for a clear, concise presentation of great interest. We hardly have time to draw breath and Roy Mottram introduces Nigel Taylor, Head of Horticulture and Public Experience at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

This is interesting, since fifty years earlier a Mr McDonald of Kew spoke on ‘The Psychology of Cactus Growing’; he traced the origin of why people collected anything and then how they eventually specialised. Nigel’s talk could not be more different, maybe it reflects our modern age? He explains the history of Kew, the Millennium Seed Bank project, the new Alpine House and the road to recognition as a World Heritage Site. Future challenges face Kew: £20M to restore the Temperate House, the largest Victorian Conservatory in England; also £1M is needed to repaint the pagoda! Kew needs our continued support.

Time for morning coffee, then Graham Charles introduces Jim Mauseth’s second talk on the structural significance of particular cactus features. We see the external features of Opuntias, Lepismium, Cereus and others and dive into their cells to understand why they have developed as they have. This concludes a busy morning and we are heading for lunch, where Trevor and I witness the handover of a ‘mysterious cereus’ between Rene and Graham.

Ssh! A new species makes its way into cultivation in the UK

Mature development

We inspect some of the special displays before an intensive afternoon of four presentations. Derek Tribble has marshalled a massive display of Tylecodon plants and he remarked “The next convention should be in December when they would be in leaf!” Despite being summer they are an arresting sight.

Nigel Taylor at the BCSS Convention

Suzanne Mace welcomes Tok Schoeman from Namibia and the first part of his exposition on the succulent flora of his home country. Tok addresses us as “Dear Fat Plant Lovers” (Vetplantsmaakers in Afrikaans); then explains the geography and climate of Namibia and the regions where Lithops have been found. We start to tour the various habitats and the 16 species, 9 subspecies, 14 varieties and 19 related cultivars. Tok shows many images and poses interesting questions about taxonomy, relationships between different species populations and the need to stabilise selected forms to preserve some familiar names. We journey from the oldest discoveries to the most recent Lithops fulviceps C415. He punctuates parts of his presentation with rhymes extolling the mystery and beauty of the plants. He will complete the picture in the second part of his talk tomorrow: I can’t wait!

David Kirkbright introduces Nigel Taylor, who highlights ‘Exciting Moments in my Cactus Career. This is a selection from fifteen thousand slides accumulated during two decades. He starts in Baja in 1987 and ‘ticks off’ countries to reach the eastern Andes of Bolivia in 2007. Nigel spoke on Echinocereus at the Manchester convention in August 1987 and this genus features strongly together with Freocactus. He worked with Ted Anderson on the threatened cacti of Mexico and we see many of the smaller gems from there. The tour moves to South America, taking in the different habitats of Venezuela, eastern Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Nigel emphasises many habitat destruction threats: reservoirs, quarrying and road building, also clearance for agriculture and the expansion of human settlements. Needless to say the photography was excellent, not only of plants but also conveying the atmosphere of habitats.

Susan Holmes a Kew Research Associate welcomes back Giuseppe Orlando to speak on ‘Stapeliads of The Yemen and Socotra’. He has visited Yemen seven times since 1997 and starts by showing the amazing variety of Stapeliad flowers by showing a growing montage of ‘stars’ – the flowers of some fifty species. The effect is as breathtaking as a Hubble Space Telescope image. Yemen includes desert plains and 3000m mountain ranges. Apart from large caudex species like Adenium obesum and some stately Aloes there are lots of diminutive stapeliads sheltering beneath ‘nurse’ shrubs, wedged in crevices or amongst rocks. Some species are also found ‘over the water’ in Djibouti and Somalia, or along the coast in Oman. The flower shapes and colours contrast with grey or buff rocks and sand to produce surprising contrasts. The talk concludes with a few plants from the island of Soqotra. It is hard to keep up with the breathless pace, but a break for tea helps.


Derek Tribble, (Tylecodon) Eddy Harris (Lithops) and Stirling Barker (Haworthia) with displays at the Convention.

		Flowering starts Time to enjoy some special exhibits – the special interest groups were well represented: Asclepiads, Haworthias, Mesembs; also David Minnion produced two imaginative ‘Cactus Cash’ panels featuring cactus images on coins and banknotes. ‘Variation in Lithops’ is a terrific display, staged by Eddy Harris, Keith Green and Jonathan Clark. Roy Mottram has gathered a ‘Succulent Miscellany’ of historic books, articles, posters and paintings that repays careful study.
Roy Mottram's printed 'Succulent Miscellany' and David Minnion with 'Cactus Cash'.

Alice Vanden Bon introduces Terry Smale and his short talk ‘Conophytum in the 21st Century’. I miss this one, but apparently it was a lively session with Anthony Mitchell present. Anthony was ‘The man on the bicycle’ who explored South Africa for Conophytums some three decades earlier. It is good to make contact again over coffee; twenty-three years after his talk on the genus at Manchester in 1987.

Dinner is hummous & pitta, pork loin, vanilla cheesecake, cheese and coffee. So, together with some help from the bar, we are refreshed for the raffle draw to be followed by the auction of 120 lots in aid of the BCSS Conservation & Research Funds. David Kirkbright expertly extracts more than £4000 from the assembled company, who bid for books, journals, plants and interesting memorabilia. A great result and there are many happy people leaving after midnight clasping their winnings, though maybe some are not so happy paying their bills?

Big DK auctions a plant

Something for the garden? Conceptual art (they call it) at Leicester Botanical Garden.

Fruit and seeds develop

I clear my room and head for breakfast with Giuseppe when we discuss parasitic plants and his plans for a trip to western Madagascar. One great feature of our Conventions is the accessibility of speakers; they are a friendly group of enthusiasts eager to swap news and ideas. Lynne and I chose to join the delegates for a guided tour of the Harold Martin Botanic Gardens, a five minute walk away. There are national collections, fine trees, a water garden, parterre and greenhouses with succulents and alpines to enjoy. We find Fibonacci – by way of a hopscotch court, shell and pine cone pavement designs each reflecting the series of numbers related to the arrangement we know well from tuberculate cacti such as Mammillaria.

Those who attended the short talks spoke highly of both. Firstly Peter Arthurs gave an ‘Introduction to Digital Presentations’; a very topical subject for the BCSS. Secondly Rene Zahre described ‘Cacti & Succulents in Malta’ including views of his roof garden full of cactus and succulent plants. He showed views of the island and other Maltese members’ collections. They do enjoy terrific growing conditions.

Lynne and I tour the BCSS Photographic Competition display. All the winning entries are well mounted and displayed in a room lit by natural daylight. The challenge drew more than 300 entries from gifted photographers all over the world; full details will be reported in CactusWorld. Morning coffee calls after another action-packed session.

Ripe seeds shed

I tour the sales areas for last chance purchases and now it is time for Tony Morris to introduce Zlatko Janeba, born in Czechoslovakia, now from USA. He shows us views of ‘Mexico 2010 – a trip full of surprises’. We tour many regions and habitats, including remote canyons accessed by rocky roads that caused the intrepid band of explorers many interruptions to repair their vehicles. We see fine Agaves, lots of cacti large and small and a frying pan of yummy Yucca flowers! After an encounter with some less desirable characters the locals commented the explorers were odd “Risking their lives for a weed”. Despite their efforts Zlatko managed to see two of his three prime targets – Agave albopilosa and the diminutive Mammillaria luethyi. I guess he will return to find Echinomastus johnstonii.

We eat our lunch and return to the conference room to hear Eddy Harris welcome back Tok Schoeman for the second instalment of his Namibian story: ‘More Lovables, Adorables … and the Beast’. The ‘Lovables’ are more Lithops taxa completing the details from part one. The ‘Adorables’ are notable Namibian succulents including Adenia, Adenium, Aloe, Conophytum, Crassula, Pterodiscus, Tavaresia and the venerable Welwitschia from the Namib desert; truly an eclectic mix. The ‘Beast’ turns out to be three beasts: the Cape Hare that grazes Lithops, the Cape Baboon, the dextrous primate eats plants and flowers, and finally man. Habitat destruction is caused by roads, uranium mines and, worst of all, the ‘collector’. Despite precautions reporting new finds and efforts to distribute seeds and plants legally some malcontents continue to strip valuable habitats. This leads to a lively discussion on the effectiveness of reintroduction projects.

When will the next generation appear?

Finally the event draws to a close. Suzanne Mace thanks the organising committee members, each responsible for developing and delivering different aspects of the event. She thanks the ten speakers and all the delegates. John Arnold thanks Suzanne and comments that after the 2006 convention there was uncertainty over whether we would hold another. It is fortunate we did achieve it and celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of that first weekend back in 1960. John praises the great enthusiasm and cohesiveness amongst those present at a most important event in our Society calendar.

So we struggle to fit all the acquisitions into our cars, say goodbye to friends old and new, and start our journeys home in the hope that seeds will be selected, planted and germinate again, maybe in 2014.

Roland

Thanks. Roland has reminded me of several things I had forgotten. I have written my informal impression of the Convention with more images that will not make our Journal. Click for Trev's View.