Volume 42/Number I

February 1980
The Cactus and Succulent
Journal of Great Britain
President: A. B O A R D E R
Vice-Presidents: H. A. AUGER,
Mrs. M. STILLWELL, J. E. T A Y L O R

Chairman: W . F. M A D D A M S , M.SC, M.INST.P.

Hon. Secretary: R. H. I. READ, 5 Wilbury Avenue, Cheam,

Surrey, SM2 7 D U .
Hon. Treasurer: D . R. H U N T , M.A.
Council: D . T. BEST, Dr. C. W . BIRD, D . B O W D E R Y ,
Mrs. H . H O D G S O N , L. HURLEY, Mrs. B. M A D D A M S ,
Dr. R. B. PEARCE, Mrs. D . P R I T C H A R D , P. SHERVILLE

Editor: D . R. Hunt, M.A., 67 Gloucester Court, K e w R o a d , Richmond, Surrey, T W 9 3EA.

Assistant Editor: N . P. Taylor, B.SC, C/O Editorial Office.
Show Secretary: D . Bowdery, 14 Callander Road, Catford, London, SE6 2 Q D .
Publicity Officer: Mrs. B. Maddams, 26 Glenficld Road, Banstcad, Surrey, SM7 2DG.
Librarian: G. G. Leighton-Boyce, 220 Leigham Court Road, London, S.W.16.
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and indexes should be made to the following address: Photo by Gordon Rowley.

Cactus & Succulent Society o f Great Britain

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The Cactus and Succulent
Journal of Great Britain
V o l u m e 42 N u m b e r I February 1980

In this issue Enter the 'Eighties

Floral behaviour in Aloe .. .. .. .. 3 Numerous encouraging letters approved of the coloured
Connoisseurs' Cacti .. .. .. .. 4 illustrations in the last issue, for which many thanks.
Literature Notes . . .. .. .. .. 6 W e do take the point, made by some w h o wrote, that
Pollen as an aid to the classification colour inside is often of more value for reference and
of Conophytum .. .. .. .. .. 7 identification, but hope that a colourful cover will be
Historical Notes on Echeveria (2) .. .. 13 effective in attracting new members. Also, it is less
Pests apart from the two-legged sort .. .. 21 costly to print a colour illustration on the cover than
Forum .. .. .. .. .. 22 one inside.
Notes from Members .. .. .. .. 22 Some of you said you would be happy to pay for
Notes on the 1980 Seed Distribution .. .. 23 more colour with a subscription of ^ 6 . 5 0 or even more,
Forthcoming Events .. .. .. .. 27 but there may be an alternative; that of combining
Branch Activities .. .. .. .. .. 27 forces with the National Cactus & Succulent Society to
Nursery List .. .. .. .. .. 27 produce one high-quality journal. The idea of pooling
resources was first mooted about two years ago (see
CSJGB 41(2): 30.1978) and although now, as then, there
are no plans for a merger of the Societies, the Council
Exit the 'Seventies of our Society and the Finance Committee of the NCSS
Twelve speakers and a responsive audience of over 100, have reached agreement on outline proposals which
plus efficient hotel organization and good food, were might lead to our collaborating on a joint production
the ingredients of our successful weekend meeting at the as soon as next year. Practical details have yet to be
Dolphin & Anchor, Chichester, last 20-21 October. decided, and in any event the scheme will not go ahead
The theme of the meeting, jointly sponsored by without the approval of members.
CSSGB and IOS British Section, was Succulents in the The suggested title of the combined Journal is 'The
'Seventies and the speakers took a part serious, part British Cactus and Succulent Journal' and the proposals
nostalgic and part irreverent backward glance over the agreed so far arc as follows:
decade. One or two proved to have aspirations as clair- ' 1 . It is proposed by the Finance Committee of the National
Cactus and Succulent Society and the Council of the
voyants, too! A major development in the 'Seventies Cactus and Succulent Society of Great Britain that the
has been the widening of our horizons by cheaper, existing Journals of the Societies, which arc similar in
swifter and more comfortable travel, and the oppor- format, be united under the above title for an experi-
tunities for many more of us to get out 'in the field' mental period, subject to review after one year.
'2. The Societies would retain their separate identity and
were reflected in the programme by travel talks from a the new Journal would be managed jointly by both
distinguished band of travellers, includingjohn Lavranos, Societies and function through appointed editorial staff.
Keith Mortimer, Lcn Newton and T o m Jenkins, w h o '3. It is further proposed that the Newsletter of the National
brought the landscape and succulents of Africa to life in Society should be issued separately with the Journal to
members of that Society only.
pictures and commentary, and guest-of-honour Werner '4. It is envisaged that this arrangement, if approved, will
Rauh, w h o took us to both Old World and New. Our come into effect as from the first issue of 1981/
speaker from farthest afield, Roberto Kiesling, reviewed There will be an opportunity to discuss the scheme
cactus research, including his own, in his native at our Annual General Meeting on 1 March, but anyone
Argentina. unable to attend w h o wishes to comment should con-
The elegant ballroom of the Dolphin & Anchor tact any officer of the Society as soon as possible. Council
Hotel was our lecture theatre and also an ideal setting is empowered by the Rules to give the scheme the g o -
for the CSSGB's 48th Anniversary Dinner, attended by ahead, but if significant opposition is registered a ballot
nearlv seventy members and guests. of all members will be preferred.
 Making the point for us
A N N U A L GENERAL MEETING Objecting to our report (CSJGB 41 (3): 55.1979) about
Saturday I March the cacti confiscated at Frankfurt last April, Mr. K. D .
to be held at Capel Manor Primary School, Ehlers of Ehlers Reisen has admitted, in a letter, that the
Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, starting at 2.30 p.m. collecting was illegal, but claims the real culprits were
Directions for reaching the venue are on p. 27. not his party (who apparently only dug up 100-200
plants per person) but three people who happened to
Comparison of the two Societies' membership lists travel on the same 'plane, having collected far more,
has shown that about 6 0 % of GB subscribers also sub- and were also stopped by German customs.
scribe to NCSS, whose Executive Committee will be N o one suggested that Ehlers Reisen clients were the
deciding whether or not to implement the scheme. For only people digging up plants illegally in America.
those w h o belong to both Societies, the hoped-for chain That's just the point, Mr. Ehlers.
of advantages is that it will combine the best features Ehlers Reisen plan further trips to Mexico and Peru
of both Journals on a single subscription basis, have a this year. They are seeking the necessary permits this
wider appeal than either of the present journals, increase time, and dissociate themselves from 'enthusiasts who,
circulation and attract many more subscribers at home it appears, have to finance their expenses by selling
and abroad, make regular colour features feasible, and wild plants they collect'.
economize on administrative time and costs, keeping
the subscription rate down. For those who do not sub-
scribe to NCSS the advantages will be still greater: a Mystery Echeveria still a mystery
bigger and better journal with no increase (perhaps a Replying to Nigel Taylor, who claimed (CSJGB 41:11.
decrease) in subscription rate, thanks to larger circulation. 1979) that his plant of Echeveria agavoides var. corderoyi
For anyone who might be prompted to ask ' W h y not had produced three offsets in five years, compared with
go the whole hog and merge the Societies;', the answer Mr. Justus Corderoy's statement that his plant had only
is that whilst the current climate of goodwill is such that produced three young ones in 30 years, J. C. van Keppel
a reunion could well come about in due course, com- opines that Nigel's must be a different clone and perhaps
bining forces on journal production is a comparatively produced its offsets after injury or over-feeding.
simple step, procedurally and administratively, and also Although Nigel's feeding habits are well-known, he
one that is not irreversible. denies maltreating his plants and points out that the
Kcw plant of var. corderoyi has also produced offsets.
Society will hold an A u t u m n S h o w H o w easily docs this variety off-set; Readers' views
Following a petition by interested members, Council would be useful. And where did var. corderoyi come
has reversed its earlier decision not to hold any Shows from; Was it a hybrid or nursery mutant, or docs it
this year. There will be one show, fixed for Saturday, occur in the wild;
4 October at the now usual venue, St Saviours Hall,
Pimlico. A new Show Committee with Derek Bowdcry
as Secretary has prepared a schedule combining the
most popular classes from both last year's Shows. Full Lithops, Naturally
details in the May issue. Professor Desmond Cole, the well-known authority on
Lithops, has sent us specimen copies of three sets of
Square Pots coloured prints and mimeographed text under the above
Unfortunately, we have been unable to secure the title depicting and describing the plants in habitat.
cooperation of BEF Ltd. in manufacturing larger sizes There are 10 picture cards 6 X 4 inches (15X 10 cm.) in
of square half-pots. W e are told they have been tooling- each set. The text has been typed within a somewhat
up instead for a cheaper line in popular sizes, which smaller frame so that it can, if desired, be cut out and
sounds ominous. stuck on further cards and filed with the pictures. Colour
reproduction looks very good.
P e y o t e thief Professor Cole says that the scries 'was produced in
Last October a thief broke into member Cyril Harp's response to an insistent demand from the USA . . . and
greenhouse at Banstead, Surrey, and took a Pelecyphora the first three sets come in a small, experimental edition
and two Lophophoras, probably for their narcotic of 500. If we get our money back, and if I can find time
value, says Mr. Harp. The police were informed and to set up more scries, we shall continue, but please don't
anyone else losing plants should do the same. ask when. Price is South African R8.00 per set, R24.00
for the three, by registered airmail, post free. Remit-
Correction tances preferably by bank draft payable to D . T. Cole,
The seed of M. huitzilopochtli measures 0.4X0.75 mm., Nedbank, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, direct with
not 1.4X 0.75 m m . as printed on page 107 of the N o v e m - your order. Personal cheques in British sterling must
ber issue. include R1.50 extra for bank charges.'
The Cactus and Succulent Journal of Great Britain
Volume 42(1): 3 4 (1980)

Floral behaviour in the genus Aloe

by L. E. Newton
Biology Department
University of Science and Technology
Kumasi, Ghana

In the second edition of the Flora of West Tropical Africa

the section on the genus Aloe (Kcay, 1968) includes one
plate of line drawings, as t. 348. O n e drawing, fig. F, is
a longitudinal section of a flower of A. macrocarpa var.
major. This drawing depicts the flower with unopened
anthers lying just inside the mouth of the perianth tube,
and the stigma slightly exserted from the perianth tube.
However, such an arrangement of parts does not occur
in Aloe flowers.
Aloe flowers are protandrous, i.e. the anthers mature
and open to release the pollen before the stigma becomes
receptive. In species which I have observed, including
all those indigenous in West Africa, each flower is open
for t w o days. O n the first day the anthers are exerted
from the perianth tube and they split open to release the
pollen. In the West African taxa this occurs between
5 a.m. and 6 a.m. At this stage the stigma is still inside Fig. 2. Flower of A. schweinfarthii in the female phase, with
the perianth tube, and so the flower is in the male phase the perianth removed. Note the convoluted filaments.
(fig. 1, top). Shortly before dawn on the second day,
continued growth of the style pushes the stigma clear of That protandry is the general rule in the genus Aloe is
the perianth tube, and the stigmatic surface becomes seen by examining the two books by Reynolds (1950,
receptive. By this time the anthers are withdrawn into 1966). In these works every photograph of a series of
the perianth tube by contraction of the filaments. Thus flowers from bud to post-pollination stage shows, where
in the second day the flower is in the female phase (fig. 1, details are visible, a male phase followed by a female
bottom). phase. The degree of exertion of anthers and stigmas
varies in different species.
The outline of floral behaviour given above is based
on observations of flowering in relatively few species. Contraction of the filaments, which has been reported
briefly once before (Newton, 1974), is an interesting
phenomenon. In the female phase the filaments have a
characteristic convoluted shape (fig. 2). Examination
with a microscope reveals that the cortical (outer) cells
of the filament contract, and the central vascular strand
is thrown into folds (fig. 3). In this way the length of the
filament is reduced and the anther is drawn into the
perianth tube.
The ultimate function of a flower is to produce seeds,
and the details of floral structure and behaviour in
different species are important aspects of the plants'
pollination biology. Protandry is generally regarded as
a mechanism to ensure cross-pollination. However, a
number of Aloe species have been found to be self-
incompatible. In this case an elaborate mechanism to
prevent self-pollination seems unnecessary since self-
pollination will not result in fertilization. Facgri & Van
der Pijl (1971) suggest that in such circumstances the
Fig. 1. Flowers of Aloe schweinfarthii Baker. Top: male phase,
with anthers exserted. Bottom: female phase, with the stigma mechanism of protandry is a 'phylogenetic relict', since
exserted and the anthers withdrawn into the perianth tube. self-incompatibility would be expected to appear later
 than protandry in flower evolution. The contribution of
these two mechanisms to the pollination biologv of Aloe
species requires further investigation.

References
FAEGRI, K. & V A N DER PIJL, L. (1971). The Principles of
Pollination Ecology. Ed. 2. Pcrgamon Press, Oxford.
KEAY, R. W . J. (1968). Aloe Linn. In J. Hutchinson &
J. M. Dalziel, Flora of West Tropical Africa, edn. 2,
3: 90-92. Crown Agents, London.
NEWTON, L. E. (1974). Taxonomic studies on West
African Aloes. In IOS Bull. 3: 100-102.
REYNOLDS, G. W . (1950). The Aloes of South Africa.
Trustees of the Aloes of S. Africa Book Fund,
Johannesburg.
Fig. 3 . Detail of filament after contraction. (1966). The Aloes of Tropical Africa and
Madagascar. Trustees of the Aloes Book Fund,
Mbabane.

Connoisseurs' Cacti
chosen by David Hunt, Nigel Taylor
and Jackie Panter
9. Mam miliaria poselgeri (see also front cover)
The best-known of the Cochcmieas, this species was
first described by Hildmann in 1885 and said to have
been introduced many years earlier by Heinrich Posclger
(d. 1883) after w h o m it was named. According to
Thomas Brandegcc, w h o rcdcscribcd it a few years
later as M. roseana, in ignorance of Hildmann's article, it
occurs throughout the lower elevations of the Cape
Region of Baja California, and the stems 'pendent from
rocks at Comondu, are sometimes six feet long'.
Gordon Rowley's fine front-cover illustration is of a
plant he collected in Baja in 1974 which flowered in
England in August 1978 (GR 528). W e had travelled
together the length of Baja with Reid Moran after the
IOS Congress at Santa Barbara, and found a good
population of the species some 50 km. north of La Paz.
Seeds I collected were subsequently distributed by the
Mammillaria Society under the number H.8738, and
m y o w n collected plant flowered for the first time in
1979. It had been looking unhappy since the winter and
surmising that it was 'off its roots', I decided to re-pot.
The fibrous roots were indeed dead, but fortunately the
thick root-tuber had not rotted. Re-potted in dry soil,
I put the plant under the staging to make its recovery in
the shade, and the next time I looked the flower-buds
were almost fully formed!
M. poselgeri is quite easy from seed, and plants the size
of that shown on this page can be raised in about three
years. T h e species is not so easy to flower, however, and
I cannot recommend m y o w n stress/shock treatment,
though it appears to have worked once!
D.R.H. Mammillaria poselgeri (photo: R. Zabeau)
Notocactus magnificus (photo: Peter Chapman)

10. Notocactus magnificus N. magnificus seems easy to grow, and there are n o w
The genus Notocactus contains many collectors' favourites some impressive seed-grown examples to be seen in
and this species described in 1966 is no exception. N. collections which easily excel the often mis-shapen
magnificus* belongs to the small Eriocactus group com- imports that once represented the plant. Coming from
prising N. schumannianus, N. nigrispinus and N. lening- the Scrra Geral in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil,
hausii, with w h o m it shares the straight acute ribs, this species is said to enjoy conditions of high tempera-
closely set areolcs and yellow stigmas. Amongst these ture and rainfall in habitat. Nevertheless, it appears to
species N. magnificus is distinguished by having a withstand a minimum of 5°C (40°F) in winter if kept
beautiful blue-glaucous stem with only 11 15 ribs and quite dry, but will benefit from a slightly warmer
the tendency to clump while the main head is still resting period when a little water can help to prevent
globular. W i t h age the main stem gains but little in desiccation of the roots.
height, whereas N. leninghausii and N. schumannianus N.P.T.
make stems to a metre or more in length.

* The combination Notocactus magnificus (F. Ritter) Krainz in 11. A s t r o p h y t u m m y r i o s t i g m a

KuaS 17: 195 (1966) was not validly published (exact basionym 'Star plant' is what the generic name Astrophytum
page not cited—ICBN Art. 33), and apparently has not been literally means, and this species from northern Mexico
validated since; hence: Notocactus magnificus (F. Ritter) is certainly a popular 'star' in many collections. The
Krainz ex N. P. Taylor, comb. nov. Basionym: Eriocactus
magnificus F. Ritter in Succulenta 45(4): 50 (1966). myriostigma of the name, by the way, does not refer to
N. P. TAYLOR the stigmas of the flower (as Vera Higgins's book 'Study
 Literature Notes
Ritter v o m Steckenpferd
The first volume of Friedrich Ritter's magnum opus,
'Kakteen in Sudamerika', with over 300 closely-typed
pages, several new genera and more than 200 new
names (many of them improper, for various reasons), is
off the presses.* It deals with Brazil, Uruguay and
Paraguay. N o one would deny that Ritter has dis-
covered new and exciting cacti in his long career in the
field, but equally no one should condone his failure to
name, distinguish and document them in an orthodox
scientific manner. He admits to not having checked
what has been described before, he has a Backcbergian
disregard for the rules of nomenclature, and his number-
ing system is practically unintelligible. In short, the
jousters who have so long blocked the path of South
American cactology with their polemics and pseudo-
science arc not all gone; one knight, at least, is still
astride his hobby-horse.

More Barthlott, m o r e Gibson

Not all the new cactus literature of the latter part of
1979 was so indigestible. T w o papers in leading botanical
journals should be widely read by those interested in the
Astrophytum myriostigma (photo: Jackie Pmilcr)
family's evolution and classification. One, by Wilhelm
of Cacti', p. 45 seems to imply) but the myriad white Barthlott & Gisela Voit of Heidelberg, is an aperitif to
dots or spots on the stem. Charles Lemaire, who des- their extensive SEM and light-microscope survey of
cribed it back in 1839 from a plant in the Monville seed-coat morphology, covering 900 species, which
collection said so, and who am I to argue; Anyway, will be published later. The preliminary paperf outlines
there's no doubt about its popular name 'Bishop's Cap', the range of seed-coat characters and variation, proposes
on account of its resemblance to that symbol of episco- a terminology for the various microstructures and
pal office. It is a highly variable plant with the number briefly discusses their taxonomic implications.
of ribs ranging from 4-6 (or even 8-10 according to some The other paper commanding attention is that by
authorities); usually it has five and if you find one with Gibson & Horak on the anatomy and phylogeny of the
more than that these will sometimes revert to the Mexican columnar cacti. § A paper by Arthur Gibson on
usual number. W i t h only four ribs it is called A. wood-skeletons in cacti was published in CSJGB in 1978
myriostigma var. myriostigma f. quadricostatum but these (vol. 40(3): 73-80). W i t h Karl Horak, he now reviews
have been known to suddenly grow a fifth. The density the literature on the stem-chemistry of the Pachycereeae
of the white slightly woolly spots or scales varies also (sensu Buxbaum) ct al., deals with the shoot-anatomy,
and the extreme form without any at all is called A. provides a growth-form classification and considers the
myriostigma var. potosinum f. nudum; this can also change morphology of the reproductive structures along with
its number of ribs without warning. I once found one likely plant-pollinator relationships. Supported by a
with six and bore it home triumphantly, convinced I computer-generated cluster analysis of no less than
had a rare form, only to find that after two years the 69 variable features, the authors produce a new hypo-
sixth rib stopped growing and now I have a lopsided thetical phylogeny for the Pachycereeae, more simple
five-ribbed specimen instead. and, in our view, much more plausible, than Buxbaum's.
W i t h 4, 5 or 6 ribs, with spots or without, tall or D.R.H.
short, this is an easy plant to grow, always attractive
although it has a tendency to become misshapen in old * Ritter, F. (1979). Kakteen in Sudamerika. F. Ritter Selbstverlag,
age. It is slow-growing, completely lacking spines or D-3509 Spangenberg, W. Germany. Price 36DM (about £10).
glochids and readily produces yellow flowers about one ('Ritter vom Steckenpferd', by the way, is the title of a piano-
piece by Robert Schumann.)
to one-and-a-half inches across, often blooming more | Barthlott, W. & Voit, G. (1979). Mikromorphologie der
than once in the summer months. N o special cultural Samenschalcn mid Taxonomie der Cactaceae: Em raster-elektonen-
requirements are needed although after several instances mikroscopischer Uberblkk. In Plant Systematics and Evolution
of burning I now keep all my Astrophytums in a slightly 132: 205-229.
§ Gibson, A. C. & Horak, K. G. (1979). Systematic Anatomy and
shaded part of the greenhouse. Phylogeny of Mexican Columnar Cacti. In Annals of the Missouri
J.P. Botanical Garden 65(4): 999-1057.
T h e Cactus and Succulent Journal o f Great Britain
V o l u m e 42(1): 7-12 (1980)

Pollen as an aid to the Classification of Conophytum

by Suzanne Dupont
Laboratory of Ecology and Phytogeography
University of Nantes, France
translated by Lois Glass

General pollen m o r p h o l o g y o f C o n o p h y t u m Analysis o f variation

As in other species of Mesembryanthemaceac which Since the exine sculpture is not identical for all species
have been studied,* e.g. Neohetiricia sibbettii (fig. 2), of Conophytum (compare, for instance, C. subglobosum in
Ophthalmophylhim praesectum (fig. 3) and Cheiridopsis figs. 20, 21, and C. vanheerdei in figs. 22, 25), I have
caroli-schmidtii (fig. 4), the pollen of Conophytum is sub- attempted to use its characters as a basis for groups
spherical, the apertures being represented by three within this vast genus. W e have seen that this ornamen-
parallel equidistant furrows arranged along the equator: tation is not homogeneous throughout the entire surface
Conophytum obconellum (fig. 1), C. pardicolor (fig. 5). In of the grain; for that reason, and to make the results
several Conophytum species many of the grains are comparable, I observed throughout a square portion of
4-furrowed: C. hians (fig. 7) and C. pallidum (fig. 8), a the surface with sides measuring 5 p n , taken between
feature I have only rarely observed in the other genera two furrows and equidistant from their extremities.
studied; it would be interesting to investigate samples Three particular characters were studied: (a) area
from a different source, in order to check whether this occupied by the perforations relative to the total area;
character is constant. The presence in certain grains of (b) the number of perforations; (c) the number of raised
C. gratum of 6-pericolpate pollen, one side of the grain elements, irrespective of size. All observations were
showing three furrows arranged in a triangle (fig. 9) made at a magnification of X 20,000.
may perhaps be indicative of hybridity. (a) Depending on the surface-area of the perforations,
The appearance of the furrow varies from one species I classified the grains into three groups:
to another. C. pardicolor has a furrow which is closed —those where the area of the perforations was less than
and scarcely visible (fig. 10), while C. obconellum (fig. 11) 10% of the total surface observed (e.g. C. vanheerdei,
and C. lambertense (fig. 12) have a gaping furrow with figs. 22, 25);
the margins clearly differentiated from the rest of the
exine, particularly as to the size and density of the per-
forations. In C. notahile (fig. 13) the tectum is more
densely granulate in the vicinity of the furrow.
The muri of the tectum arc sometimes deeply
grooved: C. hians (fig. 14); but this feature was also
noted in other genera, particularly in some species of
Leipoldtia. Granules on the nexine layer are visible in the
lumina of some species, e.g. C. scitulum (fig. 15) and
C. subglobosum (fig. 20), but the density of these is low
compared with that observed in Octopoma octojuge
(figs. 16, 19).
Unlike other species the pollen of C. ficiforme (fig. 17)
is irregular in form, with the furrows often slightly
curving or not parallel, which gives a very distinctive
appearance; it would be interesting to check whether
this represents a constant specific character or is an
artefact of the preparation technique.
* Nomenclature according to Jacobsen, H. (1970', Das Sukku-
lentenlexikon. This paper was received in August 1979 and has
been edited by D . R. Hunt and I. K. Ferguson. The term
'granules' is used throughout the English version where the
French has 'epines' (spinules) or occasionally 'verrues'(verrucae).
Correction to Dr. Dupont's earlier paper, Notes on the Pollen
Features o f the t e c t u m : e, raised elements (variously termed
of the Mesembryanthemaceae, in CSJGB 39(3): 63 (1977): Line 34
granules, spinules, verrucac, etc., according to shape); g, grooves
in the second column of print should begin 'morphogenesis of
on muri; 1, lumina (large perforations in the tectum); m , muri
the pollen-grains is always identical . . .'. (walls); n , nexine. Compare, for instance, figs. 14-16.
—those where the area of the perforations was between the number of granules varies enormously—from 170
10-20% (e.g. C. mamieranum, fig. 23); for C. notabile down to 30 for C. hcrrei. In only very
—those where the area of the perforations exceeded few species docs the perforation area fall below 1 0 % ;
20%, in this case the exinc is said to be reticulate the number of these perforations is relatively high
(e.g. C. truncation var. truncation f. renniei, fig. 24). which, in turn, implies that they are of very small size.
(b) Any given area of perforations may be made up From the evolutionary point of view, the exine
cither of numerous perforations of small size (e.g. without perforations is usually regarded as the most
C. gratutn, figs. 26, 27); or by a small number of large primitive the area of perforations tending to increase as
perforations or lumina (e.g. C. pauxillum, fig. 28). evolution proceeds, finally producing an intectatc exine.
I therefore counted the number of perforations (per Among the Mesembryanthemaceae I have never
5 (J.m2) and grouped the species as follows: fewer than observed the most primitive type; as for the intectate
21 perforations; between 21 and 50; and over 50. N o type, I have only encountered it in the case of certain
account was taken of the shape of the perforations pollen samples from Jacobscnia kolbei, Jensenobotrya
(irregular, in general) nor of their size, which was lossowiana and Ebracteola montismoltkei (figs. 36 and 37),
sometimes very variable (e.g. C. lambertense, fig. 29). so that this hypothetical evolutionary route does exist
(c) The number of granules was also noted; this within the Family. From the viewpoint of their pollen
generally exceeds the number of perforations (e.g. C. the Conophytums which have been investigated arc
notabile, fig. 30), but there are exceptions (e.g. C. situated midway between the two extremes noted in
I'chitinum, fig. 31). I was then able to make a further other Families.
three groups: up to 50 granules; 51-100; and over 100. In Table 1, arrows indicate the evolutionary trend for
The number of granules is not correlated with the size the three characters under review: increase in the total
of the perforations nor with their total surface-area: area occupied by perforations (from bottom to top);
C. pageae, for instance, where the perforation-area reduction in the number of perforations, which is zero
exceeds 20%, has 69 granules whereas C. ursprungianum in the case of intectate pollen (from left to right);
has the surface of the perforations between 10-20% of reduction and finally disappearance of granules, since
the surface observed and yet there are only 36 granules. these are no longer present in the case of intectate pollen
Among the Conophytums I did not observe any with (from left to right in each of the groups based on
a network of muri of constant thickness and granules perforation-number). Within each of these groups the
with a basal diameter equal to that of the muri such as least evolved species is to be found at the bottom left;
was noted in Rabica albiiwta (fig. 35). and the most highly evolved at the top right. For the
table as a whole, the most highly evolved species will be
found in the top right-hand corner. (The sign * denotes
Discussion that the species is near the upper limit of the group for
The combination of the three characters analysed is set perforation-number; and the sign § signifies that the
out in Table 1. It will be noted that in the majority of species is near the upper limit of the group for granule-
species the perforation area is between 10-20%. The number.)
number of perforations in these species exceeds 20 and
Conophytum occultum can have flowers cither yellow
(fig. 33) or red (fig. 34); with differing pollen. I was
PLATE I given this species by Mr. De Boer in the form of one-
I. Conophytum obconellum (x 1500). 2. Neohenricia year-old plants raised from apparently identical seeds
sibbettii (x 1500). 3. Ophthalmophyllum praesectum
(X1500). 4. Cheiridopsis caroli-schmidtii (x 1500). 5. originating from one and the same parent-plant. These
Conophytum pardicolor (x 1500). 6. Conophytum hians. seedlings, now mature, have flowered in the two
Polar view of a normal 3-furrowcd grain (X1500). 7. Same different colours. Hybridity has to be presumed. The
species. Polar view of a 4-furrowed grain (x 1500). 8. Cono- testa of all seeds from any one mother-plant will be
phytum pallidum. Polar view, with 4 furrows (x 1500).
9. Conophytum gratum. 3 furrows visible, arranged in a alike, provided the mother-plant is pure-bred; the same
triangle (x 1500). 10. Conophytum pardicolor. Closed applies to the ovules; but the ovules can be fertilized by
furrow; exine virtually unmodified in the vicinity of the pollen either from the same species, or from another
furrow (x 5000). 11. Conophytum obconellum. Gaping species nearby. Thus the embryos which develop from
furrow giving a view of the granules on its walls and base;
exinc less perforated in the neighbourhood of the furrow than seeds having an identical testa, and originating from the
elsewhere on the grain (X 5000). 12. Conophytum lamber- same fruit, may still differ in certain characters which
tense. Size and density of the perforations diminishing in the were introduced by the pollen, since this is not necessarily
vicinity of the furrow (x $000). 13. Conophytum notabile. of identical origin.
High granule-density near the furrow (x 10,000). 14. Cono-
phytum hians. Showing deep grooves in the muri (X 10,000). In Table 2 the species studied are arranged according
15. Conophytum scitulum. A few verrucae on the nexine to Tischer's classification (in Jacobscn, H. (1970), Das
(X 10,000). 16. Octopoma octojuge. Numerous verrucae on Sukkulentcnlexikon) and it gives for each such species
the nexine (x 10,000). 17. Conophytum ficiforme. The
majority of the grains are irregular (x 1500). 18. Conophytum the number of perforations, the number of granules, and
scitulum (x 1500). 19. Octopoma octojuge. Exine only the value for the total surface-area of the perforations.
slightly perforated in the vicinity of the furrow (x 1500). The two classifications coincide only to a limited extent.
II)
 PLATE II It would be of great interest to complete this work by
20. C o n o p h y t u m s u b g l o b o s u m . Reticulate tectum with the studying further species of Conophytum, and also to
largest perforations (lamina) observed in Conophytum; several
investigate other pollen-characters; but it needs to be
vcrrucac on the nexine ( x 5000). 21. C o n o p h y t u m sub-
g l o b o s u m . Meridian view, 2 furrows ( x 1500). 22. C o n o - said that pollen alone cannot provide the key to the
p h y t u m vanheerdei. Perforations occupy less than 10% of genus; and that many morphological and anatomical
the observed surface (see text) ( x 10,000). 23. C o n o p h y t u m characters would have to be studied and then perhaps
marnieranum. Perforations occupy 10-20% of total surfice run through a computer; and this, in turn, given the
area (see text) ( x 5000). 24. C o n o p h y t u m truncatum var.
truncatum f. renniei. Perforations occupy more than 2 0 % complexity of the data, might provide us with a classifi-
of surface (see text) ( x 5000). 25. C o n o p h y t u m vanheerdei. cation for the species of Conophytum.
Equatorial view, 1 furrow ( x 1500). 26. C o n o p h y t u m gratum
(X 1500). 27. C o n o p h y t u m gratum. Perforations very small;
Acknowledgements
compare their size with those of C. pauxilium (fig. 28) ( x 10,000).
28. C o n o p h y t u m p a u x i l l u m ( x 1500). 29. C o n o p h y t u m This w o r k has been made possible only by the kind help
lambertense ( x 5000). 30. C o n o p h y t u m notabile. Verrucac of Mrs. Hazel Hodgson. It takes a great deal of courage
very dense ( x 5000). 31. C o n o p h y t u m v e l u t i n u m . Raised to cut out flower-buds from the rare plants which one
elements less numerous than the perforations ( x 5000). 32.
has so lovingly tended. Mrs. Hodgson has found the
C o n o p h y t u m praegratum ( x 1500). 33. C o n o p h y t u m
o c c u l t u m (yellow-flowered form). Meridian and polar views courage to do this, and I take this opportunity of
(X 1500). 34. C o n o p h y t u m o c c u l t u m (red-flowered form). expressing my warmest thanks to her.
Exine less perforated ( x 1500). 35. Rabiea albinota. Base of I also wish to thank the following: Mrs. Glass, w h o
the verrucae as broad as the walls separating the perforations
( x IO.COD). 36. Ebracteola m o n t i s - m o l t k e i ( x 1500). 37. has prepared the translation of m y text; A. Barrcau,
Ebracteola m o n t i s - m o l t k e i . Tectum discontinuous in places technician in charge of the SEM (JSM 2); and G.
(X 10,000). Hauray, technician responsible for processing the films.

Perforations

number 51 or more 21 to 50 20 or fewer

area

§occultum
(yellow)
obconellum
20% membran- velutinum hians flciforme pageae §pauxillum
or more aceum pictum lambertense §scitulum
subglobosum
truncatum
var. renniei

*cordatum
gratum cupreiflorum flavum herrei
10-20% notabile ectypum fulleri ursprungi-
obscurum maximum globuliforme anum
pardicolor "luisiae
pellucidum marnieranum
s'polyandrum novellum
praegratum occultum
(red)
taylorianum
var. ernianum
*taylorianum
"tischeri
wettsteinii

less than "ramosum burgeri vanheerdei luckhoffii

10%

No. of 101 51 to 100 50 101 51 to 100 50 101 51 to 100 50

granules or more or fewer or more or fewer or more or fewer

Table I. For explanation see text (under Discussion). Arrows indicate direction of evolutionary trends in the characters analysed;
* denotes species near upper limit of group for perforation-number; § denotes species near upper limit of group for granule number.

11
Classification Species Perforations G ranules
according to studied Percentage Numbe per 5um 2
T i s c h e r (from of surface area per5um 2
J a c o b s e n , 1970) 10% 10- 20% 20 21- 51 50 51- 101
or 20% or or 50 or or 100 or
less more fewer more fewer more

subg. I. Fenestrarium
sect. 1. Pellucida pardicolor + 54 94
pellucidum + 60 95
sect. 2. Subfenestrata burgeri 63 46
+
s u b g . II. C o n o p h y t u m
sect. 1. Cordiformia cupreiflorum 78 94
subsect. a) Eubiloba marnieranum + 29 53
ser. 1 notabile + 90 170
+
ser. 2
cordatum
taylorianum
+ 50 95

var. ernianum + 44 80
taylorianum + 50 62

subsect. b) Ovigera
luisiae
polyandrum
+ 50
76
95
100
ramosum + + 76 100
tischeri 50 90
velutinum + + 78 43

subsect. c) Saxetana hians

+ 23 60

sect. 2. T r u n c a t u m ficiforme + 26 43
novellum + 27 53
subglobosum
truncatum
+ 6 33

var. renniei + 18 44

sect. 3. Wettsteiniana flavum + 38 53

gratum + 59 120
subsect. a) Longistyla maximum + 70 97
praegratum + 54 92
wettsteinii + 36 67

sect. 4. Cataphracta globuliforme + 42 100

membranaceum + 60 71
pageae + 14 69

sect. 5. Colorata occultum (yellow) + 18 50

subsect. a) Picta
occultum (red)
pauxillum
+ 13
26
50
57

pictum + 30 61
scitulum + 18 49

subsect. b) Tuberculata lambertense + 24 43

obconellum + 13 30
ursprungianum + 30 36

sect. 6. Minuscula herrei + 26 30

luckhoffii + 46 28

sect. 7. Costata ectypum + 76 71

fulleri + 30 60
subsect. b) Verrucosa obscurum 71 108
vanheerdei + + 41 200

Table 2. Species studied, and their pollen characters. Classification according to Tischer ("from Jacobsen, 1970,).

12
T h e Cactus and Succulent Journal o f Great Britain
V o l u m e 42(1): 13-20 (1979)

Historical Notes on Echeveria (2)

by J. C. van Keppel*
translated by Susan Roach

Although the American Eric Walthcr (1892-1959) was agree—that his monograph must be corrected on a n u m -
already publishing on Echeveria before von Poellnitz, I ber of points. If one compares Walther's own publica-
am discussing his work after the latter because von tions one can see that he too corrected himself as neces-
Poellnitz's monograph appeared thirty-five years earlier sary; there is simply a large number of doubtful points
than Walther's. Walther's book was not published until where, at a given moment, one must cut the Gordian
thirteen years after his death, that is in 1972. From 1931 knot if one wants to get into print. Taxonomy is a
to 1959 he published numerous articles on Echeveria and science which is always moving: what is accepted as
allied genera in a variety of journals, especially the Cactus established today is rejected tomorrow when new facts
and Succulent Journal of America, and has undoubtedly come to light. This can be regretted but not refuted. The
been the most productive researcher in the history of the critical notes which I have penned in these articles on
genus. Echeveria must be seen in the same light. This is my
Eric Walthcr was born in Dresden, Germany, and personal view of the genus Echeveria, based on years of
emigrated to California at the age of seventeen. Choos- observation of the plants and study of the literature on
ing horticulture as his profession, he began at the Golden this subject, but when new facts come to light and it
Gate Park, San Francisco, as an ordinary worker in 1918 looks as if I have judged certain things wrongly I will
and ended up as Director of the Strybing Arboretum, never hesitate to revise my position.
retiring in 1957. Sadly, his death overtook him only two I should like to make the following remarks concern-
years later while he was still in the final stages of pre- ing new and other taxa dealt with by Walthcr in publi-
paring his magnum opus, the Echeveria monograph, but cations prior to 1959, taking them in chronological
he had already arranged for the California Academy of order.
Sciences to publish the work. The manuscript and the E. crassicaulis differs so little from Schlcchtendal's
photographs and other illustrations were by no means E. mucronata that at the most it can be regarded as a
ready and to his friend John Thomas Howell fell the variety of this species.
difficult task of welding the notes into an acceptable E. longipes is only a poor-flowering variety of E.
whole. In editing the book Howell was helped by maculata Rose.
Dr. Reid Moran, the American Echeveria specialist, w h o E. gracilis Rose, ms., was published by Walthcr, on the
also supplied a large number of photographs. One diffi- basis, however, of a cultivated plant (with photograph)
culty was that the content of Walther's manuscripts which docs not match Rose's illustration (see Walther's
could not be altered or supplemented, and by the time the monograph).
book eventually appeared in 1972 it was regrettably out Walthcr described E. harmsii var. multiflora from her-
of date. This does not alter the fact that Walther's is the barium material but corrected himself in 1938 with the
best summary of the genus, in which 143 species and description of E. longissima. This remarkable Echeveria
twelve varieties arc described and for the most part with its flowers more than 3 cm. long is now in m y
illustrated. It includes no less than forty-four species and collection, obtained from Mexico, but it has not yet
nine varieties described by Walthcr himself since 1935, flowered.
the highest number of new descriptions of Echeveria ever
E. potosina is still a mysterious plant in Europe. Several
published by one author. As Walther's concept of a
plants appear here wrongly under this name. Sometime
species was quite narrowly circumscribed the number of
I hope to receive original material from Mexico.
accepted species is somewhat lower, but because of the
E. gilva, described by Walthcr from a cultivated plant,
emergence of new species described between 1959 and
is not a species but a hybrid of E. agavoides with E. elegans,
1972 by other authors the total today remains about the
as I have been able to establish by means of cross-
same, i.e., around 140. It is no reflection on Walther's
breeding tests. (See Keppel in NCSJ 23 : 12-13. 1968).
undoubted authority in this field—as other specialists
E. runyonii Rose ex Walther has only been found in
Mexico as a cultivated plant. The variety macabeana was
*Continued from CSJGB 41(3): 73-78 (1979). The author previously regarded as a cultivated hybrid. As far as I
reports that he is compiling an identification key for Echeveria know E. runyonii has not been found in the wild.
species in general cultivation in collaboration with Dr. B . K. E. heterosepala, re-described by Walther in 1931 as
Boom (Wageningen). Mr. van Keppel would like to hear from
anyone with constructive criticisms, opinions or new data. His Pachyphytum chloranthum, then Pachyphytum hetero-
address is: Jonkerlaan 14, Wassenaar, Netherlands. sepalum, is n o w back in Echeveria again.

13
Above, E. pallida (photo: Burning)
Right, E. macdougallii (photo: Noltee)

E. schaflneri (described by Watson under Cotyledon) also from Ecuador.

and E. bifurcata Rose were combined by Walthcr as E. macdougallii is an interesting species which when it
varieties of the dubious E. tcrerifolia D C . In his m o n o - is not flowering is strikingly similar to a Sediiin. Walthcr
graph he took them up again as independent species. did indeed describe another form as E. sedoides, but
Neither is in cultivation here. according to the discoverer, Thomas MacDougall, it is
The two new species E. alpiua and E. elatior we can one widespread species which in the natural habitat is
properly regard as habitat forms of E. secunda. very variable.
E. grisea is not in cultivation here. E. halbingeri is a strongly sprouting, bluc-pruinose
E. pallida is the well-known light-green Echeveria, Echeveria which remains very small and is easily distin-
related to E. gihbiflora. guished.
E. craigiana is an aberrant species with oblong semi- E. affmis is the beautiful Echeveria with almost corym-
spherical leaves, which is rather susceptible to mealy- bose inflorescences with red flowers. In full sun its leaves
bugs in cultivation. are almost black. The species name affmis, given by
Walthcr described E. I'iolescens in 1958 on the basis of Walthcr because he thought the plant resembled the
a cultivated plant from the 'Metallica' complex. He Bolivian E. chilonensis, is misleading because the plant
referred however to an illustration made for Dr. Rose by docs not show any similarity with that plant at all.
F. A. Walpolc in Smithsonian Scientific Scries 'Old and E. elegans var. kesselringiana Poclln. was rightly up-
N e w Plantlorc' 11, plate 21. This illustration was made graded by Walthcr to a species under the name E. albi-
from a not very well-grown cultivated plant in Washing- cans.
ton (where the art of growing Echcverias was not under- E. amphoralis is a finely hairy, bush-shaped species
stood, as is apparent from most of Dr. Rose's illustra- with very large, reddish-yellow flowers.
tions!). But the name E. gihbiflora var. metallica which E. penduliflora has hanging flowers in long racemes.
was given with the plant was correct. E. viokscens is in E. semivestita Moran var. floresiana differs from the
my opinion a hybrid of E. gihbiflora var. metallica. typical variety in that the plant is completely without
E. hyalina is a plant which back in 1936 Walthcr hairs.
thought to be E. cuspidata, but later described as distinct. E. viridissima, a shrubby plant, is still scarce in culti-
It seems to be more closely related to E. simulans Rose vation.
and is possibly^ a variety of this species. E. globuliflora is not in cultivation.
E. ballsii and E. johnsonii come from Colombia and E. megacalyx is a species which is difficult to grow and
Ecuador respectively and arc not known to me. I once which I was not able to keep alive for very long.
received plants from England under the name johnsonii, E. juarezensis is a species related to E. fulgens and still
but in my opinion this material belongs to E. quitensis, not in general cultivation.

14
 With the description of E. parrasensis Walther gave us
a complicated puzzle by distinguishing it from E. aispi-
data Rose and even placing it in another group of related
plants. He even went so far as to 'correct' the identifi-
cation of a plant illustrated as E. aispidata by Purpus (who
kept up very close contact with Dr. Rose) to E. parrasen-
sis. That E. parrasensis is close to E. agavoides var. corde-
royi, as Walther states, I consider to be incorrect.
E. longiflora, related to E. gihbiflora and described from
a plant of unknown origin, is not in cultivation.
Walther described as E. goldiana a greener form of
E. sanchez-mejoradae.
E. meyraniana, (like E. goldiana, published in the
Mexican journal), resembles E. subalpina which is found
in the same habitat. Possibly it is a natural hybrid
between the latter and E. anwena.
In 1959 (in 'Leaflets of Western Botany' 9: 1-4),
Walther published a new division of the genus Echei'eria
into fourteen groups. W i t h one small modification this
classification formed the basis for his monograph. Like
every other classification this attempt to bring order to
the Echcverias is far from perfect. Moreover, we are
already something like twenty years further on and not
only has the discovery of new species made alterations
necessary, but also different insights from experts have
given rise to a number of question-marks. Dr. Reid
Moran has already drawn up several new groups which
I hope to come back to in another article and I myself
have a number of ideas which I hope to publish later, but
the time is not yet ripe. At any rate, Walther made an
important contribution which forms a good basis for
further perfecting. I shall not go into his systematic
division further here, in order not to make this historical
survey unduly long.
There follows n o w a summary of the newly described
E. juarezensis (photo: Noltee)
species and varieties in Walther's monograph, supple-
mented where possible with some comments. able that although both descriptions speak of green, not
E. agavoides var. prolifera is a cultivated plant found in bluish leaves, there are now plants brought into culti-
Mexico, which as far as I know has not been rediscovered vation by Abbey Garden (California), which are
in the wild. bluishly pruinosc.
E. agavoides var. mttltijida. This variety was described E. pulidonis is a very small stcmless species with bluish,
by Walther from plants which came from the same sharply red-edged leaves and yellow flowers. This
habitat in Mexico as the cv. 'Red Edge' mentioned species which is easy to grow from seed is a good
earlier (see CSJGB 40:110. 1978). 'Red Edge' is possibly acquisition for the commercial grower's assortment.
a selected clone of the var. nmltijida, but I cannot say that Walther's series Secundae gives rise to quite a few
with certainty as I have not yet seen the var. muttifida. question-marks. E. aispidata, which is closely related to
E. lindsayana is a pretty plant with thickish leaves E. parrasensis or perhaps even a synonym of this species,
which are coloured blue and at the edges distinctly pink. does not belong to this group. Clearly distinguishable
It is related to E. chihuahuaensis Poelln., which has from the type species E. secunda are only E. subalpina,
smaller and less strongly coloured leaves. E. colorata is E. turgida and E. meyraniana, the last-named described by
also from this group but not in cultivation here yet. Walther. The other 'species', including Walther's E.
E. elegans var. hernandonis and var. tnxpanensis. The comuta and E. reglensis are in my opinion only habitat
variety hernandonis falls within the variation of the varieties of the very variable E. secunda. W h y Walther
species, but what tnxpanensis represents Walther did not regarded the var. glauca (E. glauca Baker) as a var. of
know himself. He described this var. from herbarium E. pumila ( = E. secunda var. pumila) is a complete
material of Dr. Rose's from 1904! mystery to me. For that matter, E. pumila was not
E. sanchez-mejoradae is a synonym of E. goldiana described by Van Houttc, but by Schlcchtendal. Van
described in 1959 in the Mexican Journal. It is remark- Houtte in his catalogue of 1845-46 only gave the name

15
Above, E. sanchez-mejoradae (photo: Nohee); below, E. pulidonis (photo: Bunting)

16
but no description. Walthcr gave a respectable list of and will not be described as new in Walthcr's m o n o -
places where E. secunda var. qlauca has been found. In graph on the Genus, though shortly before his death he
spite of this I am of the opinion that the old descriptions (Walthcr) told us, he considered it to be a new species.
of E. glauca and E. puinila are only based on plants U C B G 56-797, coll. T. MacDougall at about 3,000 ft
selected in the last century from the enormous number altitude on Mount Guicngola, Isthmus of Tchuantcpcc,
of cultivated plants of E. secunda. In the same year as Oaxaca, Mexico'. This plant is flowering at the moment
Baker described E. glattca as a species one finds this in m y collection with upright red flowers on short side
referred to in horticultural publications as the var. glauca, axes in the same way as Lindley's illustration shows us.
for example by Carriere (in Revue Horticolc 4 1 : 299 That Walthcr did not regard this plant as E. acutijolia but
1869). That the var. pmnila has narrower leaves than as an undescribed species is probably a result of the fict
E. secunda is no reason to make an independent species of that the manuscript of E. acutifolia for this book was
it. Walthcr described E. sayulensis from cultivated speci- already finished If he had regarded the above-mentioned
mens from Mexico. Whether this is really a species is
doubtful. Provisionally I regard it as a hybrid of E.
secunda, in view of the similarity of this plant to the cv.
'Zahnii', which is none other than the green (normal)
form of the variegated cv. 'Hoveyi'.
E. dactylifcra is a genuine species from the group
Gibbiflorae. It is a short-stemmed plant which is quite
difficult to grow.
Although I shall devote a future article to the 'genuine'
E. acutijolia Lindl. as soon as I have identified it with
certainty, I can establish now that Walthcr did not solve
this mystery. As synonyms for this species he gives:
Cotyledon devensis ( = E. devensis (N.E.Br.) Greene) and
E. hohvayi Rose. By regarding these two plants, which
differ so completely, not only from each other, but also
from the clear drawing accompanying the original
description of E. acutifolia by Lindlcy (in Bot. Reg.
28: t. 29. 1842) as synonyms of this species, Walthcr
showed that he did not know this species sufficiently
well. E. devensis had been received in 1902 by Kcw
Gardens as a hybrid. N o w it often happens that culti-
vated hybrids are described as species. That a plant which
is said to be a hybrid turns out later to be a genuine
species is unparalleled. The side axes in the inflorescence
of E. devensis are very long and many-flowered. The
flowers have clearly recurved sepals. E. acutifolia has
short side axes, each with only a few flowers with
ascending sepals. Hybrid or not, E. devensis is not synony-
mous with E. acutifolia. Walthcr did not base his des-
cription of E. acutifolia on Lindlcy's E. acutifolia but on a
plant which was probably a clonotype of E. hohvayi.
Because of this, his description differs from the original
description on an important point, viz. the inflorescence.
He may have done this because he regarded Lind'ey s
type plant and drawing as a poor specimen. All Lindlcy's
illustrations however show well-grown plants and there
is no reason at all to think that E. acutifolia was an
exception. Although Dr. Rose's original illustration of
E. hohvayi is from a badly grown specimen, it is clearly
a completely different plant from Lindlcy's original
illustration (illust. 113). The most peculiar thing is that
since 1962 a plant has appeared in cultivation and has
been distributed by the I.S.I, (no. 172) as E. acutifolia?
which corresponds almost exactly with Lindlcy's
description. The collection data read as follows: 'This
species is apparently allied to E. acutifolia, is unnamed E. shaviana (photo: Burning)

17
plant as E. acutifolia on the basis of Lindley's description
then his whole theory about E. acutifolia, E. holwayi and
E. devensis would have collapsed like a house of cards.
In his group Angulatae Walther described three new
species, E. angustifolia, E. erubescens and E. tenuifolia, and
a new variety E. lutea var. fuscata, which arc unknown or
insufficiently known to me. E. shaviana is a pretty
species. It remains small, has wavy blue to pink leaves
and forms a good acquisition for our collections. E.
skinneri is a stem-forming plant with a small rosette at the
top and is unknown to me. E. nodulosa var. minor and
E. bella var. major are two new varieties which differ on
account of their dimensions. E. moranii, together with its
synonym E. proxima also described as new, is a species
which remains small. It has strongly red-coloured leaf-
edges and keel. The last new species is E. westii from
Peru. This plant has only been in m y collection for a
short while and is one of the plants which are difficult
to grow.
I shall now conclude these notes with remarks about
species which have been described since 1940 by
various authors other than Walther. The list begins
with five new species described by Dr. E. J. Alexander,
botanist of the N e w York Botanical Garden, in Cact.
Succ. J. Amer. 13:134-139 (1940):
E. bella is the smallest species known to date, which
according to the author flowers very profusely. Unfor-
tunately this is not the case here in cultivation in Europe.
None of the collectors here have ever seen it in flower.
It is also a plant which is very difficult to grow and is
E. spectabilis (photo: Burning)
often reluctant to start into growth again after the
winter rcsting-period. The rosettes, with very narrow part in the IOS Congress in Barcelona. He discovered
linear leaves, only grow to 2-4 cm in diameter. and described two new Echcvcrias in the Mexican
E. corallina is related to E. imicronata, according to journal Cactaccas y Snailcntas Mcxicanas.
Alexander; according to Walther it is synonymous with E. tolimanensis (1.0.3:31. 1958) is a species which
E. scssiliflora. Thomas MacDougall, a plant-collector externally resembles a Pacliyphytiim more than an
who explored southern Mexico for more than thirty Ecbeveria. It is a beautifully, white, pruinosc species with
years, and in so doing discovered many new Echcvcrias, spherical, black tipped leaves and I do not think it is in
was of the opinion that it is a distinct species. E. corallina cultivation in Europe yet, except in my collection.
is not in cultivation in Europe, so far as I know. E. omiltemiana(l.c.i:g6. 1963) is not in cultivation but
E. spectabilis and E. carminca arc two related species, clearly belongs to Walther's group Spicatac.
more or less shrublike and up to 60 cm tall. The glandu- N o w we come to the discussion of seven species
lar hirsute leaves stand in a short rosette at the top of the described by the foremost living Crassnlaceac-expcn,
stem. The flowers are in both species very large and Dr. Rcid V. Moran, who is attached to the San Diego
coloured red with yellow tips. Museum of Natural History, California.
The botanists J. A. Stcycrmark (1909-) and P. C. E. scmii'cstita (in Cact. Succ. J. Amer. 26:60. 1954) is a
Standlcy (1884-1963), both attached to the Field caulescent species with a paniculate inflorescense. The
Museum of Natural History, Chicago, discovered three leaves are finely hairy or glabrous. Walther described a
new species in Guatemala during their journeys through variety, floresiana. E.semivestita is rare in cultivation in
Central America. Described in Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Europe.
Hist. Chicago, Bot. Ser. 23:159-161 (1944) are: E. E. waltheri was described by Moran together with
macrantha, E. huehueteca and E. steyermarkii. These three Dr. Jorge Meyran (in Cact. Sue. Mex. 6:79-85. 1961).
are not in cultivation here, so that nothing meaningful It is a caulescent species with a short rosette at the top of
can be said about them. the stem and with red and white sessile flowers on a red
The species which follow n o w arc for the most part peduncle. It is not easy to grow, but has flowered with
not mentioned by Walther. Prof. E. Matuda (1894-1978) me twice.
w h o emigrated to Mexico from Japan in 1922 was an E. ciliata(in Cact. Succ. J. Amer. 33 (5):i30-i40. 1961)
eminent botanist, w h o , in 1976, in spite of his age, took is related to E. sctosa, but has shorter, broader leaves and

IS
is sparingly hairy, mostly only ciliate along the leaf petals have the edges touching each other, instead of
edges. Moran placed this species and E. pilosa, in a new partly overlapping, which is the normal position in
group Ciliatae. Recently, however, plants have been Echeveria. Moran also drew up a new group for this
found in Mexico by Felipe Otero which are nearly com- species, the scries Valvatae. Later another new species,
pletely glabrous but fall within the range of if. ciliata. E.calycosa {I.e. 39(1)113—r6. 1967), was found which also
E. i'fl/i'aw(l.c.35 (5): 152-56. 1963) is a species which is belongs to this group. Both are quite difficult to grow
close to Pachyphytiim in some of its characters, but which and like E. bella, must not be kept completely dry in
must be included in Echeveria. This species derives its winter. Higher temperatures arc required than for the
name from the unusual aestivation of the flowers. The species which can be kept dry.

E. minima (photo: Noltee)

19
 E. globulosa (I.e. 38 ( i ) : i 2 -14. 1966), is an acaulescent
plant which remains small, with a close, almost spherical
rosette. According to Moran it belongs to the series
Secundae. In habit and inflorescence this species shows a
great similarity to E. derenbergii, which belongs to the
Pruinosae.
E. proccra (I.e. 39 ( 5 ) : I 8 2 - I 8 5 . 1967) is one of the tall
shrublikc Echeverias. This species is placed in scries
Nudae, but is not yet in cultivation here.
Dr. J. Mcyran described E. minima in Cact. Sue. Mex.
'3(3) : 47~5° (1968). It is a beautiful and profusely
flowering dwarf species, related to E. secunda and dis-
covered by the Mexican Echeveria enthusiast Felipe
Otero. Being only 3-4 cm in diameter, the plant is a
good addition to the selection of Echeverias available.
E. vanvlietii and E. rauschii, discovered by van Vlict in
Bolivia were described by me in Cact. Succ. J. Amcr. 24

E. rauschii (photo: Burning)

(4)^90-91 (1969). E. rauschii has nice orange flowers and

those of E. vanvlietii vary from nearly white to reddish.
So far as I know it is the only Echeveria described with
such variable flower-colour.
E. rccurvata (in Bull. Afr. Pi. Soc. 9 (2): 50-56. 1974)
was discovered in Venezuela and was described by the
English Echcveria-cxpert Les Carruthers. It is a short-
stemmed, rosette forming species with blue-white leaves
which arc somewhat recurved. Because of its long
pointed leaves this plant resembles in habit a Dudleya.
Carruthers discovered another new Echeveria in Vene-
zuela (E. meridaensis nora. prov.) and also plants belong-
ing to the E. bicolor complex.
So ends this history of Echeveria to datc,*but itwillbc
clear to the reader that the last word has by no means
been said on this genus. In my collection alone there are
numerous unidentified plants amongst which there are
certainly more new species hiding, and new unknown
species are regularly being found in America. Also in the
field of cultivars a revolution has been set in motion by
the production of many new hybrids, and with new
species appearing which arc suitable for hybridization,
the general range of Echeverias will increase dramatically
in the years to come. W i t h this historical survey I hope-
to have given a picture of the present-day Echeveria
species whether in cultivation or not.
*The original text of this article was completed in 1976 and
E. recurvata (photo: Noltee) does not include species described subsequently.
Pests apart from the R o o t m e a l y bug
There is some doubt in m y mind whether systemic
two-legged sort insecticides are effective in dealing with this pest,
particularly since by the time they have got a foothold
by John Pilbeam
(roothold;) there is little root activity to enable the
Mealy bug poison to be taken into the plant, but I have not really
There has been a lot of tosh written about this pest, experimented to see if this view is valid. W h a t I have
particularly with regard to the efficacy of methylated done is to combat this pest successfully with really good
spirits. I remember well seeing Jack Brown of Uxbridge soakings (up to their earholes) in Malathion and other
with a large mealy bug in a watch glass, which he had contact insecticides, leaving the pots or trays affected in
for three days dosed with meths. It was distinctly drunk, the bath for half an hour or more.
but definitely not dead. And there is a danger of burning But the best really effective method is to first perfect
the tender centre growth of plants by liberal application your rooting technique. Then you can just nip off the
of meths I have found, and this is of course where the infected root system and rcroot in fresh compost.
mealy bugs congregate in force.
So, what to do. Regular dosing every other month or R e d spider
so, with systemic insecticides should nip any infestation W h e n you find out you've got this insidious pest it's too
in the bud, although it is advisable to vary the chemicals late, since they are so small as to be almost invisible
to avoid the development of resistant strains of mealy except to those with very good eyesight in bright light.
bug. If they have appeared in any numbers then The signs of their presence is a spreading rusty marking
rigorous, regular dosing is necessary over a period of on the skin of the plant, a barely discernible spiderlike
months, at intervals of about every 2 or 3 weeks, to webbing over the surface and spines, seen if held up to
make sure the newly hatching bugs arc caught as well. the sunlight, and the pests themselves, minute reddish-
Any plants really badly infested should be removed brown mites. The much more visible red spider some-
from their fellows, and if it happens in the summer times seen, especially in hot summers, is not this pest.
months a good hard blasting from a hose used to wash Regular spraying with an insecticide which specifics in
off the bugs outside the greenhouse, preferably a week its list of affected pests the red spider mite, should stop
or so after dosing with systemic. Leave them in isolation this pest ever bothering you. Plants badly affected and
and dose them regularly until you are sure there is no marked may grow through all right, but are best dis-
repeat. In the winter the same treatment may be adminis- carded or started again from cuttings.
tered and the plants brought into the dwelling house to
dry off in higher temperatures. Sciara fly
If you are free from this pest at present adopt a rule There are a number of different sorts of these little pests
with new acquisitions of a period of isolation until you to be found in our collections nowadays, particularly
are sure they are free from pests—a dosing with systemic when soil-less composts are used. They are like tiny
will in any case ensure that any hidden away should be gnats, or skinny fruit-flies, and the damage is done by
disposed of. the grubs which will demolish seedlings and even large
Just one last point: systcmics arc only of use if watered plants if they are allowed to proceed unchecked.
in and not sprayed if the roots are actively taking in Regular overhead spraying will keep down the flies, and
moisture, so water a few days before applying doses of systemics or soaking in Malathion should deal with the
the systemics, and use them as overhead sprays as well. grubs, although since the grubs attack the root system
Another last point: the above applies mainly to cacti, first, systemics will not get to them once they have a
not succulents, as Crassulaceae in particular do not relish good start.
these insecticides, although they may be used cautiously
watered into the soil; it is mainly contact with the leaves Spiders
which does the damage. Other succulent families can These seem to be my problem only, or does anyone else
take them quite well. have the same trouble with webs woven (almost over-
And a final last point: odd mealy bugs found on new night it seems) all over the spination of cactus plants >
acquisitions, or indeed in your collection, can be stabbed This does nothing to encourage a judge to place them
with a cocktail stick and so destroyed, a method to be at all, and sends me berserk lifting pot after pot only to
used in conjunction with insecticides of course, but one see the hairy legged beggars (careful proof-reading
which I have found gives me greater satisfaction. needed here) disappear under the next one. Since they
Note: D o not stay in the glasshouse after using these lurk down among the pots sprayed insecticides do not
poisons—they arc not particular which they damage, the affect them at all. Has anyone solved this one; I seem to
mealy bugs or you! After a general treatment, keep out have two sorts: the dark brown, long legged barn
of the greenhouse for several hours, if not till the next spider, and a long-bodied, reddish one which seems to
day, to allow the fumes to disperse, and always observe make a sort of funnel web. Any authorities on arachnids
the maker's safety instructions very strictly. in our members' ranks?

21
Forum identical with Ritter's O. fossulatus var. rubrispinus
FRiooa and O. fossulatus var. favispinus (number lost).
Ray Pearce needs more letters on Copiapoa for the Forum Knize's O. fossulatus, on the other hand, is similar to
feature he is preparing on that genus. Please send your Ritter's O. neocelsianus.
comments on any aspect of the plants or their cultivation to 'There seems to be confusion in the Eulychnias too. I
him: Dr. R. B. Pearce, Department of Forestry, Univer- have in my collection 10 inch plants of most of Ritter's
sity of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford O X i 3RB, Eulychnias. T w o of the most beautiful are E. ritteri
England. FR276 and E. saint-pieana FR479a. Once again, I tried
to grow E. ritteri KK623 and E. saint-pieana KK622, but
Meanwhile, one of our members in Malta, RENE the plants that came up from these seeds were not half
ZAHEA, has written about his collection and has raised a as beautiful as Ritter's plants, and very different indeed.'
number of questions concerning the identity of plants
he has got from Ritter and Knize's seed. Can anyone
comment from their own experience, please; Replies to Notes from Members
the Editor (not to Ray Pearce), please. Conservation o f Energy
Rene writes as follows: 'I have moved to a new house by Arthur Boarder, President of the Society
where I have a better garden (3300 sq. ft.). I have planted Owing to the present high price of heating fuels and the
many cacti outside. In Malta we get nearly all our rain need for conserving energy, the following enforced
between September and April (250-750 mm., but the experiment may be of interest to members.
normal is in the region of 500 mm.). During the rainy Through failing eyesight I was forced to part with my
season the temperatures can go down to 3°C in the night large collection of Mammillarias and Lithops and move
and only 6°C during the day. These temperatures only to near the South Coast. I took with me about 30
last a few weeks but it is normally damp as well. This is Lithops and 20 Mammillarias, all small seedlings. They
the limiting factor and because of it there are many cacti were housed in a conservatory facing north which
which could not last very long outside, so I have built a received no sunlight during the winter months. There
12 ft.X34 ft. greenhouse and intend to build another was no heating and during the winters of 1974-77 t n e
6 ft.X 50 ft. The plants which do best outside are species temperature in the conservatory dropped to — 4°C
of Echinocactus, Cleistocactus, Trichocereus, Lemaireocereus, (24T) on several nights. None of the Mamms or
Weberbauerocereus, Espostoa, Echeveria, and Alluaudia. I Lithops suffered in any way, and the only casualty was
have found that our climate is too wet for Mammillarias. that all the stems on a small Schlumbergera dropped off.
Espostoas do very well and all the time I am trying new However, these were not killed and rooted quite well.
things outside. Another problem is the soil. Our soil is Fortunately, in the spring of 1978 I handed over my
all terra rossa and this is normally too alkaline for many young plants to my daughter, as during the winter of
cacti. There is nothing we can do about this but I do 1978-9, the temperature in the conservatory dropped to
add peat to it. — 8°C (i8°F) on at least one occasion. M y large and
'For the last ten years I have been buying seeds from very old Epiphyllum was killed outright, and no doubt
Karel Knize. I am very grateful to him, because thanks all the smaller plants would have perished under such
to hint many rare things are reaching those who would low temperatures.
like to cultivate them. O n the other hand, I feel he I feel certain that any greenhouse housing cacti and
doesn't always know what has been collected before in other succulents could have a thermostat set at 2°C
the same area. I have been growing cacti from seed since (35-6°F), and as long as the plants were all dry they
1961 and started by growing many of Rittcr's new finds. would come to no harm. Any seedlings could be housed
Because of this I am in a position to compare and con- in a small frame. One is easily made for the greenhouse,
trast the plants collected by these two gentlemen. with sheets of cardboard as from packing boxes. T w o or
'I believe that Knize's Espostoa baumanii KK300 is the three sheets can be pasted together to make the frame
same as Rittcr's E. mirabilis FR670 and that Knize's E. and a sheet of glass laid on top. A 25 watt lamp could be
mirabilis KK295 is the same as Ritter's E. mirabilis var. inserted controlled by a thermostat. A good type is the
primigena FR1061. In my collection I also have a very old one as used by aquarists to regulate the warmth in a fish
plant of Ritter's E. hylaea FR668. This is a thin Espostoa, tank. These work as well out of the water as in it. It is
very yellow with little hair. The plants I grew from surprising how much warmth a 25 watt bulb can give
Knize's E. hylaea KK296 are very different from Ritter's off in an enclosed space. Providing the plants are com-
plants. None of Knize's Espostoas are similar to this one, pletely dry they will come to no harm. After all, many
and I have grown them all. The plants I grew from of them have to withstand severe cold in their native
Ritter's seeds arc exactly like Backeberg's description in habitats.
his Lexicon. A. Boarder
'I feel that there is also some confusion in some of 30 Sunstar Lane
Knize's Oreocereus. I am of the opinion that Knize's Polegate
O. urmiriensis KK8S8 and O. luribayensis KK1336 are E. Sussex BN26 5HS

22
Bill Maddams replies: put down these charming plants but to point out that
There is little doubt that Mr. Boarder's suggestion, that most should be rigidly excluded from the domain of
many cacti and other succulents when dry will tolerate succulents.
minimum temperatures around 2°C (36°F), is correct. In the subfamily Pitcairnioideae there are a few
Nevertheless, there is a real need for careful observations terrestrial genera which do qualify as succulents and
on the subject of minimum winter temperatures. It is to xerophytes, namely Hechtia, Dyckia, and Abromeitiella.
be hoped that those members w h o , by accident or The last is the subject of this note.
design, have plants at this sort of temperature will make In terms of nomenclatural history, this genus is fairly
observations and let us know their results. young, having first been described in 1927 by the Ger-
I support M r Boarder's idea of a small heated frame man botanist Carl Mez (1866-1944). Depending on who
within the greenhouse for seedlings or tender plants such one talks with, there are one to half-a-dozen species or
as Mclocacti and Discocacti; it is a valuable piece of so. The taxonomic lumpers seem to be prevailing as
equipment. Domestic electric light bulbs, particularly variability in habitat becomes known and appreciated
when controlled by a thermostat, arc an economic form (Smith & Downs, 1974). Currently two variable species
of heating. However, they have one disadvantage, are recognized, A. brevifolia and A. lorentziana. A dwarf
namely a limited life. They usually fail at a time of form known as A. chlorantha is considered to be part of
maximum inconvenience, such as the early hours of a A. brevifolia.
particularly cold morning. This problem can be avoided Plants of Abromeitiella will eventually clump up into
by wiring t w o bulbs in series, which means that one cushions. The leaves arc triangular in cross-section and
terminal of the first is connected to one terminal of the up to 0.5 cm. thick and 3.0 cm. long in A. brevifolia, t w o
second and the mains leads are wired one each to the or three times larger for A. lorentziana.
remaining terminals. The voltage across each is then one
half of the mains voltage, about 115 volts, if the t w o Reference
bulbs arc of equal rating. Each bulb operates at a dull SMITH, L. B. & D O W N S , R. J. (1974). Bromcliaccae
yellow heat and their lifetime is indefinite. W h e n t w o subfamily Pitcairnioideae. In Flora Neotropka 14:241-
such bulbs are wired in series the overall wattage is about 245-
one half of that of either bulb. For example, t w o 150
watt bulbs will give an output of about 75 watts. It is
merely necessary to ascertain by trial and error the com-
Notes on the 1980
bination which will maintain the required temperature, Seed Distribution
with something in hand, so that the thermostat can
switch them on and off as necessary. by Nigel Taylor
W.F.M. All seed offered has been freshly purchased for this
distribution and is available w h i l e stocks last o n l y . Please
T h e Genus Abromeitiella
order p r o m p t l y to a v o i d disappointment, and f o l l o w the
by Dale Speirs instructions o n the Order F o r m ( a c c o m p a n y i n g the
From time to time one sees in the pages of various cactus Journal) carefully.
and succulent journals a mention of bromeliads. The names given below are as received from the suppliers and
Authors usually introduce them apologetically and well given on the packets. Species offered under unpublished or
incorrect names are indicated by italics after the order number.
they might, for the majority of bromeliads are not Key to habitat collectors. KK Karel Knizc, H U Horst-Uebelmann.
succulent by any exercise of imagination, nor are they 192. A c a n t h o c a l y c i u m variiflorum. This attractive member
really as xcrophytic as made out to be. I do not mean to of a small N . Argentinian genus (of disputed affinity) has flowers
which, in different specimens, may range from pale yellow to
orange or red. It is a relative of A. thionanthum, according to
John Donald, w h o has illustrated our plant as a variety of this
species; see Ashingtonia 1(10): 114 (1975).
193. Ariocarpus furfuraceus. A form of A. retusus with short
wrinkled tubercles and white or pink flowers borne late in the
season. The patience required to grow Ariocarpus spp. from
seed is repaid by the unmarked beauty of the eventual result;
they are not as slow as you might think. See CSJA 4 6 : 172-4
(1974) for many good illustrations.
194. A s t r o p h y t u m capricorne var. m i n o r . Perhaps the
choicest species of this popular N . American genus, whose
seeds germinate in as little as 48 hours. T h e small-growing
form offered here has long, flexible, dark, curled spines and
the white epidermal hair-flecks that are characteristic of
Astrophytums.
195. A s t r o p h y t u m ornatum var. mirbelii. Said to differ
from the typical var. in its attractive golden-yellow spines and
denser hair-fleck development. The largest species of the genus
(to I m high) which does not usually flower until it is about
Abromeitiella brevifolia (photo: D. C. Speirs) 10 cm. in diameter.

23
196. A s t r o p h y t u m senile. A variety of A. capricome, differing but fascinating group that is very closely related to Ferocactus.
in its larger stems, which generally lack hair-flecks, and with Cent. N . Mexico.
denser spination. The beautiful red-centred yellow flowers are 211. Echinofossulocactus sp. (from San Luis Potosi). Easily
freely produced in mid-summer from seedlings 5 years of age. grown from seed, and most spp. are free-flowering. A cool
197. Buiningia brevicylindrica H U 167. The type species home for the winter seems to encourage flowering in m y
of a new genus (1971) of short spiny cerei, which bear lateral experience. An aid to the identification of this mystery offering
cephalia of dense wool with bristles. Flowers are tubular and can be found in last May's issue, pp. 31-38.
light yellowish-green. Little is k n o w n about the cultivation of 212. Echinopsis mamillosa (Pseudolobivia Group). The well-
these new Brazilian plants, so please report your successes (or known E. kennesina is a closely related variety. Flowers long-
failures) to the Journal. tubed, white, pink or red; plant body usually remains depressed
198. Copiapoa aurata KK 1397. An undescribed novelty from and seldom exceeds 10 cm. in diameter. S. Bolivia & N .
Chile, the home of all members of the genus. Be sure to keep Argentina.
the collector's number on the label, in case this plant is even- 213. Escobaria d a s y a c a n t h a . A member of a choice genus
tually described under a different name. closely allied to Mammillaria, but with grooved flowering
199. Copiapoa cupreata KK 1382. As suggested above, make tubercles. Usually single stemmed, these hidden by the attrac-
a note of the collector's number, especially since the name tive, dense white spination. Flowers whitish, striped pink,
C. cupreata, based on a poorly described plant of Poselger, is a greenish or brownish, with green stigmas. Cent. N . Mexico,
somewhat 'unknown quantity'. S. N e w Mexico & W . Texas.
200. Copiapoa dealbata var. demimtta KK 1383. According to 214. Espostoa nana KK 301. Said to be a dwarf relative of the
Backebcrg this species is merely a variety of the breath-taking beautiful E. melanostele, in which case the stem will be clothed
powdery-white C. cinerea, but Ritter's original illustration in a dense 'candy-floss-like' mass of soft white hair, hiding
depicts a fairly distinctive-looking plant. It will probably be sharp yellow spines, to surprise the unwary admirer. From
slow-growing but nevertheless attractive as a seedling. The N . Peru. Easy from seed.
remarks made under nos. 198-9 apply once again. 215. Eriosyce ausseliana KK 1327. As yet undescribed but
201. Copiapoa longispina KK 1135. Perhaps a close relative Backeberg says it differs from the long k n o w n E. ceratistes in its
of C. humilis, in which case we may assume that it will be easy finer brown spines. Eriosyces are globular or short columnar,
to grow and free-flowering. Flowers pale yellow. This offering densely spined cacti which can attain a large size (1 m high) in
and the next are more of Knize's re-collections of taxa named the wild. A beautiful habitat picture of a member of the genus
by Ritter. was recently published on the cover of KuaS 3o(n)(i979).
202. Copiapoa pendulina KK 1391. In age this is a sprawling Central Chile.
plant with stems up to 2 m long in nature. Flowers reddish- 216. Eriosyce sp. KK 1322. (from Los Loros, Chile). Knize
yellow. recommends the treatment of seeds of this genus at - i o ° C for
203. Coryphantha bergerana. O n e advantage of many 24 hours in the seed pan to aid germination.
Coryphantha spp. is that they take a long time to outgrow their 217. Eulychnia ritteri KK 95. A great favourite of the writer.
welcome. This species attains a diameter of about 6 cm. and is This slow growing cereus has stout slender stems clothed in
densely spined; the bright yellow flowers can hide the plant. delicate short areolar wool through which fearsome, needle-like
From N u e v o Leon (Mexico). spines protrude. Everyone should grow at least one species of
204. Coryphantha g r e e n w o o d i i . This relatively new species this characteristic S. American genus.
was described in the Mexican Cactus Journal just 10 years ago 218. Ferocactus glaucescens. Another firm favourite of the
from SE. Cent. Mexico (SW. Vera Cruz). It resembles C. writer. Young plants are tuberculate, but then develop straight
connivens and C. elephantidens with large dark green shiny glaucous ribs bearing woolly areoles and golden-yellow spines.
tubercles, and reaches 9 cm. in diam. The flowers are 5 cm. in Plants 15 cm. or more in diameter will produce their yellow
diameter; petals yellow with purplish-brown midstripes, and flowers in cultivation, but this takes about 10-12 years from
red stamen-filaments. seed. However, young plants are just as attractive and take up
205. Echinocereus adustus. A delightful, slow-growing, less space. N . Cent. Mexico.
pectinate-spined species with showy pink flowers, unusual in 219. Gymnocactus beguinii var. (from Paila, Coahuila). This
that they have white stigmas (not green as in other members of plant belongs to a group of dwarf Mexican species whose
this large genus). Imposing central spines may, or may not be closest allies are to be found in Turbinicarpus. The plants have
produced. An interesting account of the native haunts of the small tuberculate stems and many upward pointing, straight
plant can be found in CSJA 46(1): 8-11(1974). spines from densely woolly areoles. Flowers normally violet-
206. Echinocereus dasyacanthus. Benson considers this plant pink, freely produced in summer.
to be a variety of E. pectinatus, with which it shares exciting, 220. G y m n o c a l y c i u m castellanosii (from La Rioja). This
very large flowers, but differs in the erect, non-pectinate Argentinian has a matt bluish-green stem to 10 cm. in diameter.
spination, and in the frequently yellow petals. Patience is Spines 5-8, robust; flower white suffused pink.
required to flower this plant, but the event is well worth waiting 221. G y m n o c a l y c i u m friedrichii. A quaint variety of G.
for. mihanovichii with transverse striations on the ribs which suggest
207. Echinocereus gentryi. An attractive species with the name 'Zebra-cactus'. The pink flowers have a slender green
clustering, sprawling stems and long funnel-shaped, pink tube; freely produced even on tiny specimens.
flowers, which Backeberg claims open mainly at night. Mexico 222. G y m n o c a l y c i u m pugionacanthum. O n e of many
(So nor a). newer species in this seemingly vast genus that n o w requires a
208. Echinocereus longisetus. A choice species making a fine sound botanical treatment if the true species are not to be
partner to the equally choice E. delaetii. Covered in long, hidden by a plethora of dubious names. Petals creamy-white,
bristly white spines contrasting with the 6 cm. long light purple brownish-pink at base. N . Argentina.
flowers. O u r seed was collected at Rayones, Nuevo Leon, 223. G y m n o c a l y c i u m schickendantzii var. Lau 473 (from
Mexico. Salinas Grandes, Argentina). Exactly what the original G.
209. Echinocereus subinermis. A small-growing species with schickendantzii looked like we will never know, since its
weak spination and large yellow flowers. Easy to grow and author, a Dr Weber failed to illustrate his plant. Anyway this
popular with the judges at shows. N W . Mexico (Chihuahua & seed is supplied with a collector's number so make note of it for
Sonora). future reference in case our plant is mentioned in the literature
210. Echinofossulocactus multicostatus. The plant with an under another name some day.
exterior like a crumpled car radiator! Illustrated on page 93 of 224. G y m n o c a l y c i u m spegazzinii. A large growing species
1978's November issue. The most extreme member of a small to 18 cm. in diameter, with a bluish or greyish-green to brownish

24
stem, and only 5-7 spines per arcole. Flowers to 7 cm. long, body is contrasted with the yellow spines and flowers.
whitish with a purple throat. Makes impressive specimens. 241. Mammillaria xaltianguensis (Ser. Polyacanthae) (from
Argentina (Salta). Rio Papagaio). A distinctive new species described in 1975 from
225. Haageocereus horrens KK 325. Haageocerei are perhaps the Mexican State of Guerrero. Its yellow flowers suggest that
related to Trichocereus, but have smaller flowers. Most species it may be a Pacific counterpart of M . eriacantha (see 237 above)
are densely clothed in brightly coloured spines and tend to according to M r Hunt.
offset freely from the base. A large genus in which many species 242. Matucana intertexta KK 1216. A popular member of the
have been described, but only a few of these are in general large S. American genus Borzicactus, which includes plants of
cultivation. There is room for someone to specialize here. From diverse habit that share zygomorphic (irregular) tubular flowers.
Peru. Stems in our plant are globular and densely spiny. The form
226. Lobivia charazanensis. Related to L. caespitosa according offered here has orange flowers. N . Peru.
to Rausch who illustrates a plant said to be the same as ours in 243. Matucana m a d i s o n i o r u m KK 456. This remarkable
his'Lobivia'vol. 1. W i t h long golden-yellow spines and sulphur- species is sometimes quite spineless, and it then resembles the
coloured flowers; this plant is certainly worthy of cultivation. unrelated N . American Lophophora. The flowers are red, with
Bolivia (Charazani). long tubes. N . Peru.
227. Lobivia chilensis. Rausch says this is an undescribed variety 244. Melocactus alpescens KK 1047. From N . Peru; undescribed,
of the attractive L. wrightiana, with red rather than white keep collector's number.
stigmas. It comes from the Peru-Chilean border, whereas L. 245. Melocactus longispinus. One of the 'very new species'
wrightiana is from Cent. Peru. described in 1977 and figured on the front cover of Succulenta
228. L o b i v i a corbula KK 1539 (from Cuzco, Peru). Closely vol. 56 no. 6. An exciting-looking plant with long, upward-
allied to L. maximiliana with which it shares a caespitose habit curved reddish spines up to 12 cm. long. Brazil.
and narrow, acute, red or yellow petals. Members of this com- 246. Neoporteria aerocarpa var. fulva {Nichelia Group). Some
plex are illustrated by Rausch, 'Lobivia' vol. 1. years ago John Donald and Gordon Rowley reduced this
229. Lobivia haageana. This plant is a member of a N . species to a form of N . reichei var. reichei. I'm not sure what
Argentinian segment of Lobivia which shows bewildering has actually been distributed under this name in the past, since
variation in the wild, particularly in flower colour. The I recall that seedlings I raised some 8 years ago turned out to be
flowers are eye-catching, the throat being differently coloured very different from the expected N. reichei fa. It seems that here
to the petals. we must say 'grow it and see*.
230. Lobivia larae. This species coming from Bolivia is allied 247. Neoporteria calocephala (Horridocactus Group). The above
to L. pentlandii. The stems are depressed-spherical, to 12 cm. in remark applies to this offering as well, since it is an undescribed
diameter. Rausch illustrates plants with beautiful 'shocking collection of Knize.
pink' flowers. 248. Neoporteria cephalophora. Ours is a new variety,
231. Lobivia zecheri var. fungiflora. This belongs to the L. according to Knize, of a diminutive species originally described
backebergii complex according to Rausch, who illustrates an from N . Chile. The spines of the typical variety are hairlike,
attractive form with rich crimson petals and a white throat. light yellow to whitish.
Flower colour, as elsewhere in the genus is quite variable. Peru. 249. Neoporteria deherdtiana KK 114 (Nichelia Group). This
232. Loxanthocereus eulaliensis KK 452. As suggested plant has an ashy-grey to greenish, tuberculate stem and areoles
earlier the collector's number here is more useful than the name with 6 erect black spines. Flowering when only 3.5 cm. in
under which this seed is offered: L. eulaliensis is a poorly known diameter according to Backeberg, when the yellow flowers
plant, its flowers undescribed. The generic name implies may hide the plant.
relationship with Borzicactus in the broad sense. Cent. Peru. 250. Neoporteriaglancescens (Nichelia Group). Donald & Rowley
233. Mammillaria barbata (Ser. Ancistracanthae). This have this plant as N . eriocephala var. glaucescens, but
species comes from Chihuahua and may belong to the much Backeberg compares it with N.floccosa. The plant is said to have
debated M. wrightii complex. N o t one of the easiest species for black spines which contrast with a bluish-green body. N . Chile.
the beginner. 251. Neoporteria paucispina KK 348 (Istaya Group). Correctly
234. Mammillaria baxterana (Ser. Macrothelae). A member known as N . lindleyi. Islayas are not the easiest of cacti to
of the Baja California M. petrophiia Group, with a flattened grow but are well worth the challenge. I recently flowered m y
stem and yellow flowers. only surviving seedling from a 1972 sowing, but only then
235. Mammillaria centraliplumosa (Ser. Polyacanthae). A after 7 years of'trial and error' cultivation, by which time it had
phase of M . spinosissima according to David H u n t : see last issue, lost its roots. Flowers vivid yellow. From S. Peru.
p. 105. It differs from the latter in its more slender habit and 252. Neoporteria polyrhaphis. A somewhat uncertain quan-
sometimes plumose central spines. Described in 1971 from the tity according to Backeberg, but said to have numerous bristly
State of Mexico. spines. Collected by Knize.
236. Mammillaria cowperae (Ser. Stylothelae). A beautiful 253. Neowerdermannia chilensis KK 625. A pretty species
plant regarded as conspecific with M . moellerana. Small growing which was described from N . Chile by Backeberg in 1936. It
with stout hooked central spines and white flowers; see KuaS has a shiny green globular stem bearing deeply notched ribs,
28(2X1977) for a good illustration. N . Mexico (Zacatecas). and a tuberous root. Flowers white; see Ashingtonia 1(1):
237. Mammillaria eriacantha Lau 1104. (Ser. Polyacanthae). 10(1973) f ° r a good illustration.
Coming from near the coast in Vera Cruz (E. Mexico) this 254. Notocactus brevihamatus H U 43. This very worthwhile
species can be confused with no other. The slender stems are species is offered here from seed collected in cultivation.
covered with bright yellow spines each of which is minutely Amongst the Notos this is not a beginners' subject, but can be
hairy; the flower is yellow also. Extra warmth is advisable in grown very quickly once the secret is discovered. Backeberg
winter. readers will find it listed under Parodia; it is in fact somewhat
238. Mammillaria g u e l z o w i a n a (Ser. Longiflorae). This intermediate between the two genera.
outstanding species is a deserved favourite for its large 'shocking 255. Notocactus herteri. One of the best discoveries to have
pink' flowers; see last February's issue, p. 12. From Durango. come from S. America this century. Plants develop rapidly
239. Mammillaria m u n d t i i (Ser. Heterochlorae). A member from seed and soon produce their stunning pink flowers. An
of the well k n o w n M. rhodantha complex of Cent. Mexico. outstanding member of its genus.
Doubtless an easy subject for the beginner. 256. Notocactus ivarasii. Apparently an undescribed novelty.
240. Mammillaria nivosa (Ser. Macrothelae). The series to 257. Notocactus werdermannianus. This Uruguayan plant
which this plant belongs covers the distribution of the entire has about 40 ribs with numerous chin-like tubercles. The
genus; this species is from the W . Indies. The squat, dark green areoles bear many stout acicular spines and 7 cm. diameter

25
 glossy yellow flowers with the characteristic purplish stigmas of collected at Huizache (SLP, Mexico), which is just about the
the genus. southern limit of the species; it is a more robust form than
258. Obegonia denegrii. A choice Mexican species closely those commonly seen in cultivation. The flowers of F. bicolor
allied to Ariocarpus, with similar leaf-like tubercles and white are amongst the most beautiful of the N . American globular
flowers. Though slow growing this plant is easily raised from cacti. Grows quickly from seed.
seed judging by the fine unmarked specimens seen in some 273. Thelocactus flavidispinus. A dwarf variety of the above
collections. From Tamaulipas. that is still quite rare in cultivation. It differs in its smaller stems
259. Oreocereus hendriksenianus var. densilanatus and all yellow spination, but still carries the large flowers of the
( = O. ritteri) KK 1117. Botanically, species of this genus belong species. Texas.
to Borzicactus. Oreocerei are rather fun short-columnar cacti 274. Thelocactus wagneranus. Plants in cultivation under this
from the high altitudes of the Andes, covered in stout spines and name usually represent another dwarf form of F. bicolor (see
long tufts of hair. They seldom reach an embarrassing size in above).
cultivation and their unusual appearance provides great amuse- 275. Thelocactus sp. Lau 744 (from Rayones, Nuevo Leon).
ment for beginners and experts alike. Like many of Lau's collections this may turn out to be very
260. Oroya acottana KK 578. This one and the next are new interesting; take note of the number.
Peruvian collections for which I have been unable to trace valid 276. Turbinicarpus klinkeranus. Glass & Foster rightly
names and descriptions. Take note of the collector's number. consider this to be a pale yellow flowered variety of the variable
261. Oroya citrifiora KK 1463. Oroyas are depressed-globular T. schmiedickeamts. Very easy from seed: it will flower in just
plants allied to the Borzicactus Group (but generically distinct) 3 years and never requires anything larger than a 7 cm. pot.
with short-tubed yellow to red flowers. Mexico (San Luis Potosi).
262. Parodia hausteiniana. This recently described novelty 276. Weberbauerocereus l o n g i c o m u s . (collected by Knize).
from Bolivia is a small growing plant to 5 cm. in diameter, with Weberbauerocerei are close allies of Trichocereus. This species is
yellowish spination. The yellow flowers are only 1 cm. broad almost tree-like (to 6 m high) branching towards the base, with
but appear throughout the summer. stems to 8 cm. in diameter. Ribs 15-18, obtuse with brown
263. Parodia m a x i m a KK 691. In contrast with the last as its areoles bearing c. 25 spines which become hairlike in the flower-
name suggests, this is one of the largest species, which in time ing part of the stem. Flowers 10 cm. long, white to pink,
will make an impressive plant for the show bench. Described nocturnal. Peru.
in 1964 from Bolivia. 278. Weingartia saintpieana KK 1573. (from mid E. Bolivia). A
264. Parodia pluricentralis. This is one of the larger flowered new species according to Knize.
(5 cm.) hooked spined species, with minute seeds. Care and 972. A g a v e parviflora. Agavaceae. A most delightful dwarf
patience is required to raise seeds of this type, since the seedlings member of its genus, forming a neat rosette of light green,
after germination are so tiny that they need protection from linear-lanceolate leaves, flecked white and with loose white
moss, etc., in the seed pan, which may otherwise swamp them. strands. Slow growing and easily accommodated even in the
From N . Argentina. smallest collections. Seed from Terry Smale's plant.
265. Parodia tilcarensis. O n e of the 'less recent' species with 973. A g a v e ferdinandi-regis. Agavaceae. This species is
dense straight, dark brown spines and bronzey-red to blood-red closely allied to the other 'royal' Agave, namely the beautiful
3 cm. diam. flowers. Rather variable; from N . Argentina A. victoriae-reginae. It differs from the latter in its frequently
(nr. Tilcara). caespitose habit.
266. PfeifTera ianthothele. A distinctive member of the 974. A g y r o d e r m a subalbum. Aizoaceae. As with a number
epiphytic group of genera, that is sometimes classified along of Mesem genera, Agyrodermas require very careful watering;
with Rhipsalis. The small 3-4-angled stems bear short soft the specialist literature should be consulted. These plants grow
spines and 2 cm. long creamy-white flowers. The fruits are like amongst quartz formations in habitat and have evolved smooth
little gooseberries. Bolivia & Argentina. semi-spherical, white leaf-pairs which mimic these surround-
267. Philippicereus castaneus KK 197. Scarcely differing ings and may help to protect against herbivores. S. Africa.
from Eulychnia, this genus (and its only species) seems to be 975. Cheiridopsis derenbergiana. Aizoaceae. A great many
rather rare in cultivation. In the wild the plant reaches 1111 high species have been described in this genus; our plant is a thick-
but forms colonies up to 20 m broad. As in other Eulychnias leaved representative. Cheiridopsis spp. frequently have t w o
this plant has impressive spines up to 10 cm. long. From Cent. pairs of leaves per stem for much of the year in cultivation. In
Chile. contrast to cacti Mcsems seem to develop quite rapidly from
268. Pilocopiapoa Solaris var. hiteispina KK 1239. An unusual seed, but require more gentle handling when young.
species of Copiapoa affinity with hairs in the axils of the receptacle 976. C o t y l e d o n luteosquamata. Crassulaceae. Cotyledon is a
scales, and a caespitose habit resulting in large mound-like somewhat underrated genus with a great diversity of species
clumps reminiscent of the Mexican Ferocactus robustus. This form for the specialist collector. From S. Africa (Bushnianland).
has pale yellow spines and presumably the pinkish-yellow to 977. Echeveria laui. Crassulaceae. This will doubtless be a very
carmine flowers of the species. N . Chile. popular choice, since E. laui must rate as one of the most
269. Rebutia graciliflora var. borealis. This member of a beautiful plants discovered in the last 20 years. The rosettes of
genus that is 'forever growing species' is distinguished on mealy, pure white leaves are normally solitary and detached
account of its delicate little flowers which are only 1.8 cm. long leaves root and sprout only with difficulty, if at all. Here seed
and light red. N . Argentina. propagation may be the answer. From S. Mexico (Oaxaca).
270. Rebutia narvaecensis.^y/t'.tfera Group. A recent discovery 978. Fouquieria splendens. Fouquieriaceae. This is the Ocotillo
from Bolivia described in 1971. As with many members of this of the N . American SW. deserts. It is a xerophyte (i.e., a
genus our plant produces myriads of flowers (pink) from the drought resistant plant), but not really a succulent. The plant
lower half of the ± globular, softly spined stem. has spiny twigs which bear small green leaves in the growing
271. Tephrocactus chilensis var. rubra KK 15,01. Members season. The bunches of bright red flowers account for its
interested in plants belonging to this subgenus of Opuntia epithet 'splendens'.
should consult Gilbert Leighton-Boyce & James Iliff's 2 part 979. Gibbaeum heathii. Aizoaceae. A highly succulent stem-
work, 'The Subgenus Tephrocactus' published in 1973 by the less Mesem with spherical bodies composed of somewhat
S.P.T. From Cent. Chile. unequal leaf-pairs. Flowers white. S. Africa.
272. Thelocactus bicolor. This species has recently been 980. Haworthia margaritifera. Liliaceae. O n e of a number of
transferred to Ferocactus subg. Ancistrocactus along with a similar species with very attractive rosettes of pointed leaves
number of its closest allies, e.g. F. setispinus (Hamalocactus that are spotted with little raised white pimples. The name
setispinus) and F. scheeri {Ancistrocactus scheeri). O u r seed was means 'pearl-bearing' and is thus very appropriate. S. Africa.

26
981. Hechtia minuta. Bromeliaceae. A succulent member of the
Pineapple Family is offered here to add something unusual to Branch Activities
your collection. Items for inclusion in the next issue must reach
982. Maughaniella luckhoffii. Aizoaceae. A rare dwarf
Mcsem with a small swollen caudex and a pair of leaves united the Editor not later than 14th March.
into a sheath, about 16 m m long, papillose. Flowers 15-20 m m Essex
in diameter, white or pink. S. Africa (Cape Province). Secretary: F. Braun, 63 Heighams Road, East Ham E6 2J J.
983. O d o n t o p h o r u s primulinus. Aizoaceae. Plants form a Meeting Place: Room A3 (film room), Little llford Comprehen-
few heads each with 1-2 pairs of 4 cm. long leaves. Flowers
sive School, Church Road, Manor Park, London E.12.
c. 40 m m in diameter, yellow. Jacobsen illustrated this species in
Time: 1st Saturday in month, 7 for 7.30 p.m.
vol. 3 of his 'Handbook'. From Little Namaqualand.
984. Phytolacca dioica. Phjtolaccaceae. O f particular interest North L o n d o n
to those w h o take part in botanical speculation, since it was this Secretary: Roger Day, 50 Admiral's Walk, Hoddesdon, Herts.
genus that Buxbaum believed to be in some way ancestral to tel. no. Hoddesdon (STD Code from London: 61) 69521.
the Cactaceae. I'm not going to praise this plant too highly in Meeting Place: Capei Manor Primary School, Bullsmoor
case it turns out to be a greenhouse weed, but nevertheless it's Lane, Enfield.
out of the ordinary should anyone wish to start a new fashion. Time: 3rd Friday in month, 7.30 p.m.
985. Ruschia p y g m a e a . Aizoaceae. Ruschia is a genus contain- Everyone enjoyed Paul Shervilie's entertaining and informa-
ing a variety of growth forms; our offering is a small densely tive November talk on 'Peru Habitat'.quite obviously his favourite
congested plant, but other species can become large and subject and copiously illustrated with slides.
shrubby. M y textbook says that the dwarf forms require care Future events:
in watering, so this is probably not a beginners' plant. S. Africa. 21 March Seed-raising and grafting (Ron Dale)
986. Senecio kleinia. Compositae. Also k n o w n as Kleinia 18 April The Belgium Way (John & Mary Raynor)
23 May Tenerife (Les Hurley)
neriifolia, this member of the Daisy Family forms part of the
fascinating succulent flora of the Canary Isles. It has a smooth North S u r r e y
cylindrical stem which bears a tuft of linear leaves when in Secretary: W. F. Maddams, 26 Glenfield Road, Banstead,
growth. Curious rather than beautiful. Surrey SM7 2DG.
987. Stapelia grandiflora. Asdepiadaceae. Stapclias need no
Meeting Place: Adult School, Benhill Avenue. Sutton.
introduction for those of us who can claim to grow the 'other
succulents', and even though I'm a devotee of the Cacti I must Time: 1st Tuesday in month, 7.45 p.m.
Future Meetings:
say that the succulent members of the Asdepiadaceae seem to 4 March Succulent Trailers & Climbers (Betty
represent a complete hobby in themselves. This S. African Maddams)
example is no exception with brown hairy-margined flowers 1 April Plant Auction
to 15 cm. in diameter. It will please the flies even if it doesn't 6 May Echinocactus Group: North America (Bill &
please you. Yvonne Tree)

Warrington & District

Secretary: Mrs. D. Pritchard, 81 Birdwell Drive, Great Sankey,
Warrington, tel. no. Penketh (092572) 4699.
Average attendance at Branch Meetings last year was 32. The
Christmas Fayre proved quite successful and plans are already
Forthcoming Events laid for another this year. Anyone who would like a pro-
gramme of our 1980 activites should contact Mrs. Pritchard;
visitors are always welcome at our meetings.
A N N U A L GENERAL MEETING Future events:
Saturday I March. 12 March Favourite S. American plants (Mr. G. Charles)
Venue: Capel Manor Primary School, Bullsmoor Lane, 16 April* Lithops (Mr. & Mrs. Frost)
7 May* Crassulaceae (Mrs. D. Jenner)
Enfield, starting at 2.30 p.m. 29 June Annual Show (Judge: Keith Grantham)
Directions: Bullsmoor Lane intersects the Great C a m - * Note dates, as these are notthe usual '2nd Wednesday'of the
month.
bridge Road (A 10) about \ \ miles north of the N o r t h
Circular Road (A406). Eastwards it is signposted A105
to W a l t h a m Cross. Capel Manor Primary School is Nursery List
the opposite way (not part of A105), about 250 yds
west of the intersection, on the left-hand side. Bus route
Nurserymen and others who regularly offer
310 Enfield-Waltham Cross goes to the intersection.
plants or seeds for sale are listed below as a
N o r t h London Branch are acting as hosts for the
service to members, but this does NOT imply
meeting. There will be refreshments after the meeting
the Society's approval or recommendation of
itself, some musical entertainment and a talk by Paul
plants or other goods offered.
Sherville on his South American travels. North & South Yorkshire
Cruck Cottage Cacti (Dorothy & Ronald Wood), Cliff Road,
Wrelton, Pickering, North Yorkshire Y018 8PJ. Tel. no. Picker-
B R I N G A N D B U Y , Tuesday 13 May. ing (C751) 72042. Open daily except Sat. morning. No lists.
The annual Bring & Buy meeting will be held as Nursery in garden setting.
Whitestone Gardens Ltd., The Cactus Houses, Sutton-under-
usual at the N e w Hall, Royal Horticultural Society, Whitestonecliffe, Thirsk, North Yorkshire Y07 2PZ. Tel. no.
Westminster, at 6 for 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday 13 May. Sutton (08456) 467. Open daylight hours every day throughout
Members may bring up to 3 plants per species for the year. Send 4 x 7p stamps (UK) or 3 international postal reply
coupons for list. Everything for the cactophile; plants, seeds,
auction, 10% of takings being charged as commision books, sundries; substantial stocks and extensive collection on
to the Society. view.

27
O a k D e n e Nurseries, 10 Back Lane W e s t , Royston, Barnsley, Hertfordshire
Yorkshire S71 4SB. Tel. no. Royston (022670) 2253. Open every R. F. S . & B. R. D a l e , T h u r n l e a , 14 B u t t o n d e n e Crescent,
day, A p r i l - S e p t . 9-6, O c t . - M a r c h 10-4 (closed for lunch 12.30- Old Nazeing Road, Broxbourne, Herts EN10 6RH. T e l . no.
1.30). S.A.E. for list. Seed, plants, books and s u n d r i e s . H o d d e s d o n 63234. Open a l m o s t any time but write or ' p h o n e .
No list. Full range B.E.F. p o t s , labels, top d r e s s i n g , etc.
Merseyside
Essex
J i m B o l t o n , Southview, 39 A l t c a r Road, Formby, Liverpool L37
M . L. Fussell, 29 T h e Readings, Harlow, Essex CM18 7BT.
8DR. T e l . no. Formby (07048) 73187. Open all day Sundays,
T e l . no. Harlow (0279) 23246. S.A.E. for list. Service by return
advisable t o t e l e p h o n e for weekday visits. Large selection of
of post.
seedlings, etc., all at reasonable prices. No list.
T h e C a c t u s P l a c e (David & Barbara Brewerton), 33 Bridge
North Wales A v e n u e , Upminster, Essex RM14 2LX. Tel. no. U p m i n s t e r 29911.
No list. Open 9 till dusk, but 'phone f i r s t . Large and m e d i u m
J o l l y ' s ( G . A . 4 M. A . C o o m b e s ) , G l a n r a f o n , T a l s a r n a u , sized specimens.
G w y n e d d LL47 6 Y D . T e l . Penrhyndeudraeth (076674) 643. Open
any time by a p p o i n t m e n t . No orders by p o s t ; no list. W a r m w e l - H . G u i r l , Glenholme, Nursery R o a d , Nazeing, Essex. T e l . no.
c o m e to holidaymakers—we are in the S n o w d o n i a National Park. H o d d e s d o n 62291. V i s i t o r s and parties welcome. A prior tele-
phone call would be appreciated. No list.
Derbyshire London
A b b e y B r o o k C a c t u s N u r s e r y , Old Hackney Lane, Matlock, T h e L i t h o p s ( L i v i n g S t o n e s ) S p e c i a l i s t L t d . , (Roy & Sheila
Derbyshire. Tel. no. Matlock (0629) 55360. Open every afternoon Y o u n g ) , 79 Pearcroft Road, Leytonstone, L o n d o n E11 4 D P . T e l .
2-6 except Tuesday (closed all day). List free on request, stamp no. 01-556 8048. V i s i t o r s by a p p o i n t m e n t . S.A.E. ( A 4 size) for
appreciated. Mail order catalogue illustrated in colour lists over comprehensive list of Lithops plants and seeds available.
1700 species of n u r s e r y - g r o w n cacti and other succulent plants. East & W e s t S u s s e x
Mrs. Y v o n n e W a r r i c k , 122 Barnhorn Road, Little C o m m o n
Nottinghamshire Bexhill, E. Sussex, T e l . no. C o o d e n (04243) 4726. Not o p e n .
C a r l t o n Forest C a c t i , Carlton Forest, Blyth Road, W o r k s o p , S.A.E. for list. Rare s u c c u l e n t s and Epiphytics.
N o t t s . S81 0 T P . T e l . no. W o r k s o p (0909) 731642. A l m o s t always Ernest H e p w o r t h , Mira Mar, 133 A m b l e s i d e A v e n u e , T e l s -
o p e n but please t e l e p h o n e t o avoid d i s a p p o i n t m e n t . S.A.E. for c o m b e Cliffs, Sussex BN9 7LG. T e l . no. Peacehaven (07914)
list. Mainly c a c t i , very few s u c c u l e n t s . 3260. Open by a p p o i n t m e n t ; closed Sundays. Send 9p s t a m p
W o o d s i d e Nurseries (Stuart Dixon), 173 Main St., Burton for list. L i t h o p s , Mesems, Sempervivums.
J o y c e , Notts. T e l . no. Burton Joyce (060231) 2142. Closed M o n - H o l l y G a t e Nurseries L t d . , B i l l i n g s h u r s t Lane, A s h i n g t o n ,
days, open 10-4.30 other days. S.A.E. for list. Nursery-grown Sussex RH20 3 B A . Tel. no. (0903) 892439. Open 9-5 every day,
seedlings, specimen plants. incl. weekends and Bank Hols. Send 25p for current catalogue
of plants and seeds. Reference c o l l e c t i o n , entry 25p each.
S o u t h H u m b e r s i d e & Lincolnshire Dorset
S o u t h f i e l d Nurseries (B. Goodey), Louth Road, Holton-le-Clay, P i n e R i d g e C a c t i (Joan & Dick Smeaton) 197 R i n g w o o d
G r i m s b y , S o u t h H u m b e r s i d e DN36 5HL. T e l . no. Grimsby Road, V e r w o o d , W i m b o r n e , Dorset BH21 6 A G . Tel. no. V e r w o o d
(0472) 822157. Open daily 10-5 (closed for lunch 12.30-1.30). (020123) 2796. Open 10-6, Closed Saturday and Monday. Choice
Send s t a m p for list. S e e d - g r o w n cacti, L i t h o p s , s u c c u l e n t s . and r a r e r ' o t h e r s u c c u l e n t s ' .
G l e n h i r s t C a c t i (N.C. & S.A. Bell), Station Road, S w i n e h e a d , S h i r e s M e a d C a c t u s Nursery ( D . W . & C. E. Sargant) H a m p -
near B o s t o n , Lines. T e l . no. Swineshead (020582) 314. Open reston Village, W i m b o r n e , Dorset BH21 7LX. T e l . no. N o r t h -
most days ('phone call advisable if travelling far t o ensure bourne (02016) 3829. Not open Sundays and Mondays. List 9p.
s o m e o n e available). S.A.E. for list. L i t h o p s , Epiphyllums Plants and seeds.
Asclepiadaceae. Devon
J u m a n e r y C a c t i (June & T o m Jenkins), St. Catherine's P h i l G o o d s o n , 1 Marsh Lane, C h u d l e i g h , Newton A b b o t ,
Lodge, Cranesgate R o a d . W h a p l o d e St. Catherine, Nr. S p a l d i n g , Devon. Tel. no. C h u d l e i g h (0626) 852309. Collection o p e n , plants
Lines PE12 6SR. Tel. no. Holbeach St. J o h n s (040634) 373. usually for sale. Between the scenic T e i g n Valley and Haldon
Open 9-5 Sunday-Friday, closed Saturday. S.A.E. for list Hills, five miles f r o m M5. ' P h o n e for directions and convenient
times.
Norfolk G. N . S h o r t , Greenshaws, 7 Reabarn Road, Brixham, Devon
R i c h a r d & W e n d y E d g i n t o n , T h e V i n e s , 2 Green Man Lane, TQ5 9 D U . Tel. no. Brixham (08045) 2878. Open by a p p o i n t m e n t .
Kirstead, N o r w i c h , Norfolk NR15 1EP. T e l . no. Brooke (0508) S.A.E. for list. T h e Devonia Collection of Cacti & S u c c u l e n t s ;
58113. Open most m o r n i n g s and weekends. S.A.E. for list. over 4000 species. S u r p l u s plants for sale or exchange.
Seedling cactus plants 35p u p w a r d s . Cornwall
B a r l e y f i e l d S u c c u l e n t P l a n t Nursery (Victor & Heather T h e C a c t u s Nursery (Mrs J . O s m o n d ) , Brandy Lane, R o s u d -
G r a h a m ) , S o u t h b u r g h , T h e t f o r d , Norfolk. Tel. no. Dereham geon, Penzance, Cornwall TR20 9QB. Tel. no. Germoe (073676)
(0362) 820457. Nearly always o p e n , but telephone call appre- 2397. Open 9 till dusk, Spring Bank Holiday to end of September.
ciated. S.A.E. for list. 'Other' s u c c u l e n t s , handmade plant pots. ' P h o n e in winter. List 10p. Large selection s u c c u l e n t s . C o r n i s h
cream teas J u n e - S e p t . incl.
Gloucestershire
W . G. Geissler, 1 Lyefield Road, C h a r l t o n Kings, Cheltenham
GL53 8 B A . T e l . no. C h e l t e n h a m (0242) 517846. Open weekends
and evenings, No list, no orders by post, but visitors very
w e l c o m e in C o t s w o l d c o u n t r y .
P. S t r o n g , Green Mead, Green Lane, C h e d w o r t h , Cheltenham
H a v e you seen?
GL54 4 A R . T e l . no. Fossebridge (028572) 581. Surplus seed-
raised plants. T h e C a c t u s & S u c c u l e n t J o u r n a l of A m e r i c a
Six issues per year, fully illustrated, total on average 300 pages
and catering for all levels of interest. S u b s c r i p t i o n : J16.00.
Bedfordshire
A p p l y direct to Box 3010, Santa Barbara, California 93105, U S A .
A . & V . P a r k e r , 31 S o u t h i l l , Nr. Biggleswade, Beds. SG18 9HU.
T e l . no. Hitchin (0462) 814022. Open evenings and weekends
C S I E : C a c t u s & S u c c u l e n t I n f o r m a t i o n E x c h a n g e (founded
('phone f i r s t ) . No list. Seed-raised plants.
1968) encourages c o m m u n i c a t i o n and f e l l o w s h i p a m o n g
S o u t h w e s t seeds ( D o u g . Rowland), 200 Spring Road, K e m p - amateur c o l l e c t o r s . Nine issues a year. Further details f r o m ;
s t o n , Bedford MK42 8 N D . T e l . no. Bedford (0234) 58970. Open Mrs. G. Rollerson, 5512 C l i n t o n St., Burnaby, B.C. V5J 2L8,
Sunday a f t e r n o o n s . S.A.E. for comprehensive seed list. Canada.

28
Whitestone
Whitestone Gardens has everything for succulent fanatics and beginners.
A large stock of plants, seeds, books and sundries is constantly on view,
and the nursery is open to visitors every day.
Our plants are primarily nursery-grown seedlings, but we also stock a
range of larger plants. The nursery shop carries almost everything ever
likely to be needed by the cactus enthusiast, including a range of books
and other publications which is the most comprehensive in the world.
We stock every book in print and many that aren't—why be kept waiting
by your local bookseller when you can ring or write to us and get your
needs by return of post.
Most of the Whitestone Collection is permanently on view to visitors—
free of charge. This is constantly expanding, and now represents one of
the best displays in the country. It is of special interest to serious students
by virtue of the logical arrangement and the high proportion of
authenticated reference material.
Anyone who hasn't been before can find us about 3 | miles from Thirsk
on the A170 Scarborough road in the heart of North Yorkshire's most
attractive tourist countryside.
1980 Whitestone Price List 45 pages of plants, books, seeds, and
sundries, illustrated in full colour and monochrome. Free to existing
clients (sent automatically). New UK customers please send four
8p stamps, and overseas customers three International Postal Reply Coupons.
A few popular book titles from our extensive range:
Cactus Lexicon (Backeberg) £25 plus 86p post
Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Succulents (Rowley) £7.95Jr80p post
C a c t i : Botanical Aspects, Descriptions & Cultivation (Barthlott)
£7.95+50p post
Illustrated Reference on Cacti & Other Succulents (Lamb)
Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4 £7.50 per Vol.^50p post each
Vol.5 £8.50 + 50p post
T h e Cactaceae (Britton & Rose) 2 Vols. £25+ £1.25 post per set
Cacti & Succulents—A Concise Guide in Colour (Subik & Kaplicka)
£1.50 H 40p post
Post indicated above applies to UK and surface mail overseas
STILL W A N T E D !
Obsolete publications, especially American journals (we pay 50p per issue),
NCSS and GB Society journals (we pay 15p per issue) and all kinds of books
for our second-hand trade.

Whitestone Gardens Ltd

The Cactus Houses
Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe
Thirsk
North Yorkshire Y 0 7 2PZ

Telephone: Sutton 467

You will find a warm welcome CACTUS
and a good selection of
cacti and succulent plants and
at SUCCULENT
THE PLANT SEEDS
CACTUS PLACE from the deserts
( D A V I D & BARBARA of the world
BREWERTON)
33 BRIDGE AVENUE, UPMINSTER, s.a.e. for latest list.
ESSEX, RM14 2LX
SOUTHWEST SEEDS
200 SPRING ROAD
"The Cactus Place" is almost
KEMPSTON
always open, but please phone BEDFORD
Upminster 29911 ENGLAND

Collections Bought — No Lists Issued Seeds despatched Air Mail

BRANCH VISITS BY APPOINTMENT to all parts of the World.

WHELD0N & WESLEY

The National Cactus LTD.

& Succulent Society Buy and Sell

has over 100 Branches meeting BOOKS

regularly in all parts of the British
Isles. T h e quarterly journal re- on all branches of
plete with scientific and cultural
information, news and views, has
the largest circulation in the
NATURAL HISTORY
English-speaking world, and is
especially
a m p l y illustrated on art-paper.
Seed-list with December issue.
Botany & Horticulture
Annual subscription £3.00 or -7.50 U.S. in all languages

L Y T T O N LODGE,
Further details from the Membership CODICOTE, Nr. H I T C H I N ,
Secretary, Miss W. E. Dunn, 43 Dewar
Drive, Sheffield, England S7 2GR, to HERTS.
whom applications for membership Telephone: Stevenage (0438) 820370
should also be sent.
Telegrams: Wheldwesly, Codicote. Hitchin

Printed in Great Britain by W. H. Houldershaw Ltd., Southend-on-Sea SSI IPF.

Volume 42/Number 2
May 1980
The Cactus and Succulent
Journal of Great Britain
President: A. B O A R D E R
Vice-Presidents: H. A. AUGER,
Mrs. M. STILLWELL, J. E. T A Y L O R

Chairman: W . F. M A D D A M S , M.SC, M.INST.P.

Hon. Secretary: R. H. I. READ, 5 Wilbury Avenue, Cheam,

Surrey, SM2 7 D U .
Hon. Treasurer: D . R. H U N T , M.A.
Council: Dr. C. W . BIRD, D . B O W D E R Y , K. G R A N T H A M ,
L. H U R L E Y , Miss M. A. T . J O H N S O N , Mrs. B. M A D D AMS,
J. W . PILBEAM, Mrs. D . P R I T C H A R D , P. SHERVILLE

Editor: D . R. Hunt, M.A., 67 Gloucester Court, Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, T W 9 3EA.
Assistant Editor J Librarian: N . P. Taylor, B.SC, c/o Editorial Office.
Show Secretary: D . Bowdery, 14 Callander Road, Catford, London, SE6 2 Q D .
Publicity Officer: Mrs. B. Maddams, 26 Glenfield Road, Banstcad, Surrey, SM7 2DG.
Seed Purchasing Officer: Dr. T. C. Smale, 28 St. Leonard's Road, Epsom Downs, Surrey.

S U B S C R I P T I O N R A T E S 1980 SOCIETY SALES ITEMS

Full Membership .. .. .. .. ^5-00 All items post-paid inland. Overseas extra.
Joint Membership .. .. .. .. ^6.00 Journal Binders (to hold 4 vols.) .. .. /,4-QO
Junior Membership (under 18 years) . . .. j£2-5° Society badge . . .. .. .. . . . XJi-oo
'Senior Citizens' w h o joined in 1975 or earlier £,l-°° Car sticker .. .. .. .. .. o.3op
Joint members (two in family) receive one journal but Booklet on cultivation .. .. .. o.3op
are entitled to free seeds and voting rights. Key fobs (mixed colours) .. .. .. o.25p
Ballpoint pens (black, blue or red) .. 10 for o.6op
T-Shirts and Sweatshirts .. . . write for details
BACK VOLUMES
Vol. 24 (1962)—Vol. 36 (1974), per volume £,2-S° Order from: Mrs. B . Maddams, 26 Glenfield R o a d ,
Vol. 37 (1975), nos. 3—4 only .. .. £1.00 Banstead, Surrey SM7 2 D G , England.
Vol. 38 (1976)—Vol. 41 (1979), per volume £s-00
Prices include postage by surface mail. Cheques, etc., should be made payable to the Society
and not to individual officers. W h e n remitting in a
INDEXES currency other than sterling, please add the equivalent
Vol. 26-30 (1964-68) .. .. .. .. o.9op of ^o.70p to cover currency negotiation charges.
Vol. 31-37(1969-75) o.9op

Applications for membership, advertising, back volumes C o v e r : The yellow flowers of Mammillaria sphaerica in
and indexes should be made to the following address: close-up (about three times natural size).
Photo by David Hunt.
Cactus & Succulent Society o f Great Britain
67 Gloucester Court
Kew Road
RICHMOND
Surrey T W 9 3EA The Journal is published quarterly by the Society,
England price ^ 1 . 2 5 (ISSN 0007-9375).
The Cactus and Succulent
Journal of Great Britain
Volume 42 Number 2 May 1980 edited by David Hunt and Nigel Taylor

In this issue a 'shout for j o y ' in the Qucchua language of the Andes,
South American Cacti in the 1970s .. .. 31 adopted as their group name by the musicians w h o
Bolivian Cactus Holiday .. .. .. •• 33 entertained us after the business meeting was over,
A new variety and a new combination in playing and singing with authentic South American
Sulcorebutia vcrticillacantha .. .. •• 37 instruments. Arrangements for the A G M were made
Gymnocalycium mesopotamicum sp. nov. .. 39 by Paul Shcrville (on holiday in S. America again, at
Further cytological investigations in the time of writing) and the North London Branch,
Mammillaria prolifera and other species .. 43 to w h o m our thanks.
Leafy Cacti . . .. .. .. .. •• 47
Grow the better Mammillarias (2) .. 49 Journal merger talks to continue
Notes from members .. .. .. •• 53 Apart from the usual AGM business (Council's Annual
Seed-raising . . .. .. .. .. •• 55 Report and Accounts are printed on pp. 56-7), discus-
Report and accounts .. .. .. 56 sion at the A G M centred on the merger proposals
Forthcoming Events and Branch Activities .. 58 announced in the last issue. Opinion was fairly evenly
divided 'for' and 'against', some accepting the merits
Achalay! of the case, others fearing loss of identity for the GB
Tony Mace, who distilled two decades of experience Society. Similar feelings 'pro' and 'con' have been
as a cactophile and a wealth of commonsense into his voiced in letters received, and Council will take these
talk at our Chichester meeting last October, touched a into consideration in deciding the course of action that
nerve when he remarked that the English-language will best serve the Society and its objects.
cactus journals cover S. American cacti less well than Our partners in the projected merger, The Notional
those of N . America. The comment is certainly a valid Cactus & Succulent Society, have also held their AGM,
one, but part of the explanation is the ineptitude of and will, we understand, be balloting members. In
much of the literature in other languages which puts view of the time needed to organise a ballot, it is clear
most serious taxonomists off. Beginning with a tran- that a merger will not take place before the end of next
script of Tony's talk and contributions from our year.
Council member Paul Shervillc, IOS President John
Donald and Argentinian expert Roberto Kiesling, we Price increases
are hoping to turn over a new leaf with this issue and First we must apologise to new members in the USA
give the S. Americans better coverage. In the pipeline who have joined in response to our advertisement in
are a preliminary account of Melocactus by Nigel The Cactus & Succulent Journal of America, where we
Taylor and more studies by Dr. Kiesling. Ray Pearce have been remiss in keeping the subscription rate up-
tells us he has had just one letter on Copiapoa . . . two or to-date. As a result, we have had to apply to them for
three more needed, please, for a 'Forum' quorum! an additional $3. Moreover, two postal charge increases
Also in this issue, Mammillaria (only two, or is it in quick succession have meant that we have had to put
three, species in S. America!) is prominent again with the airmail surcharge up again. The U S rates are n o w
the first clear drawings of their chromosomes by $12 (surface), $17 (air).
Margaret Johnson and a continuation of John Pilbeam's Rising postal and running costs also explain the
choice of the better species to grow. These two authors, increase in our charges for back numbers, n o w raised
together with Keith Grantham (who besides his varied to ^ 2 . 5 0 per volume (prc-1975) and ^ 5 (post-1975).
work for the NCSS prepares our journal distribution Stocks of some volumes are nearly exhausted, so if
labels), were elected to our governing body, Council, you want them, do not delay your order too long.
at the Annual General Meeting on 1 March at Enfield. N e w stock of Journal Binders will arrive about the
This brings us back to the title of this editorial, Achalay, time this issue is published. The binders hold up to four

29
volumes and are to the same specification as previous Shurly Award
stock. They will now cost -£4 each, post free, from The closing date for entries to this competition has been
Mrs. Maddams, 26 Glenfield Road, Banstcad, Surrey postponed to 31 July. For details, see last November's
SM7 aDG. issue, page 94, or apply to the Editor. So far, very few
entries have been received, and we hope more will be
Australian A g e n t appointed forthcoming by the deadline. There is a silver cup and
Following the appointment of Mr. D. D. Craig as our a cash prize of -£20 to be won for an article for the
Hon. Agent for the USA and Canada, we have pleasure Journal. The judges will be looking for original ideas
in announcing that Mr. N . P. Davis has agreed to act or observations in the work submitted, not for length
as Hon. Agent for Australia. His address is: 542 Grand or technical content, so why not put pen to paper;
Junction Road, Northfield, South Australia 5085,
Australia.
Neil Davis is International Secretary of the recently- As ye s o w , so shall ye reap
formed Confederation of Country Cactus Clubs, a Seed-raising is one of the most fascinating ingredients
group of more than 15 clubs throughout Australia of our hobby. A rather out-of-touch feature about it
which have banded together for their mutual advan- on British TV earlier in the year had some of our
tage. The organisation held a two-day convention last experts hopping about in front of their sets saying
year and publishes a bi-monthly journal which is 'no, no, no!' and 'phoning the BBC. One better
improving with every issue. method is John Pilbeam's, which he describes on pp.
Mr. Davis recently published a very valuable paper 55-6. Those who have seen John's seedlings will testify
on 'The Safe Use of Insecticides' in the Cactus & to the efficacy of the techniques he recommends.
Succulent Journal of N e w South Wales. He has given If you arc a seed-raiser, one idea for a short article
permission for this to be reprinted, and it will appear for the Shurly Award would be a report on your
in our next issue. results from this year's GB seed distribution or other
sources. Aspects to cover might include methods used,
Cactusvillain honoured details of what germinated (when and how many),
Congratulations to Gordon Rowley, who has been descriptions of the seedlings, etc.
awarded a Vcitch Memorial Medal in gold by the Whether or not you enter an article for the com-
Royal Horticultural Society. This award is made to petition, please send your comments on the Society
'those w h o have helped in the advancement and i m - seeds, as we want to make this service to members as
provement of the science and practice of horticulture'. good as possible.
At the presentation, on 19 February, the Society's O n the face of it, this year's distribution (cacti, at
President, Lord Abcrconway, remarked that 'even your any rate) should be the best ever, with such a wide and
house, Mr. Rowley, is called "Cactusville" and I would interesting selection available. At the height of the
imagine that only the most intrepid burglar would face initial rush, we ordered two almost complete 'sets' and
the discomfort likely to be associated with paying a received the seed almost by return of post—congratula-
nocturnal visit to a house so named!' tions to our Hon. Distributor, Isobcl Bootc. Less
The tight security at Cactusville, behind the high promptly one set (95 packets) has been sown (in 2 inch
screens of Opmilia and Agave, is well-known to local pots, as prescribed by John Pilbcam), and one set put
residents, of course. Only the daily deliveries of ice- aside as 'vouchers' for reference and study. For com-
cream and phonographic literature give any clue to the parison, we have also sown fresh and not-so-fresh seed
succulent goings-on there. from other sources, bringing the total to nearly 200
All this brings to mind the cover-blurb of a paper- packets, and will report our results in the next issue.
back lately received at the editorial office (courtesy of Let us hear about your successes and disappointments
an anonymous donor): 'Here,' it begins, 'is the explo- too.
sive story of a movie-making genius—a man of limit- There will also be an opportunity to discuss methods
less appetites and ambitions. . . .' The book; 'Naked and results with this year's seeds at the Editors' Open
in a Cactus Garden' by Jesse L. Lasky Jr. (Consul Books, Day on 15 June. For details, see p. 58.
1963)- Incidentally, we must apologize for one or two
misprints in the 'Notes on the 1980 Seed Distribution'
R e p e r t o r i u m Plantarum Succulentarum and for calling Notocactus warasii 'an undescribed
Volumes 28 and 29 of Gordon Rowley's 'Annual index novelty'. The plant in question was in fact described as
of all new names of Succulent Plants', covering the Eriocactus warasii by F. Rittcr in Bradca 1(34): 353-5
years 1977 and 1978, have now been published and arc ( T 973), but has not, so far as we know, been transferred
available from the International Organization for to Notocactus. It is intermediate in character between
Succulent Plant Study (IOS), 67 Gloucester Court, Kcw N. leninghausii and N. magnificus (see last issue), and
Road, Richmond, Surrey T W 9 3EA, price ^ 1 . 9 0 each readers of the Dutch journal Succulenta will have seen
part, post free. the attractive colour plate in Vol. 58(12): 313 (1979).

30
The Cactus and Succulent Journal o f Great Britain
V o l u m e 42(2): 31-32 (1980)

South American Cacti in the 1970s

by A. W. Mace
My particular leaning towards South American cacti and stay in cultivation for a long time. Large plants of
started on 30th May, 1958, at a lecture given to the other genera have sometimes been completely wasted.
Sussex branch of the NCSS by John Donald. This H o w many of the tens of thousands of Discocacti i m -
lecture was entitled 'Rarer South American Cacti' and ported in the 1970's are still around; I would suggest
was copiously illustrated by well-grown seedling plants less than one per cent. Although wc have n o w more
—in O x o tins as I remember!—raised from seed knowledge and are somewhat more successful with
collected by Rittcr, obtained through the firm of these plants, I would be surprised if more than a few
H. Winter. There were many strange plants which I dozen arc still around in ten years' time. H o w much
had not seen before such as Matucanas, Oroyas, better it would have been if we had more seed and
Pyrrhocacti and the very rare Sulcorebiitia. This inspired fewer plants; fortunately more seems to be available
me to buy some of the seed and grow it for myself. now.
I still have some nice plants from this source, but now During the 1970's there was an enormous increase in
wish very much that I had been more ambitious and awareness of the pressures man is causing on plant and
grown many more different sorts. Unfortunately .within animal populations due to his various activities, par-
a year or two, this source of seed dried up and the ticularly as the human population increases. In South
opportunity was lost. America, although population increases are at a high
Towards the end of the 1960's and in the early years rate, the plants arc probably not suffering too badly
of the 1970's a new phenomenon occurred. Large yet. This is in marked contrast with, for example, some
numbers of imported plants arrived in Europe from areas of Africa. Changing climatic conditions are
Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Brazil and Argentina, particularly another matter, and some areas, for example, northern
of the popular globular cacti. At worst these died Chile and Peru, may be becoming drier which could
quickly at the nurseries or in the hands of ignorant be endangering certain plant populations.
cultivators. The more fortunate plants which went to One problem which devotees of South American
experienced cultivators were established and have cacti have to contend with is the comparatively poor
remained in cultivation for a number of years. Even nature of the literature in English. The older works
amongst these the long term survival record is not good. which the average collector has access to, such as Borg
Accidents due to pests and diseases or neglect due to or Britton & Rose, are still useful for the North Ameri-
loss of interest by the collector, or breaking up of can or Mexican cacti but arc of very limited value for
collections due to illness or death of the collector have South American cacti. Backeberg's work, apart from
taken a heavy toll. Only in a minority of cases has the brief Lexicon, is not of easy access to English
propagation by seed and cuttings made possible a more readers, can be misleading and in any case is n o w
secure foothold in cultivation. Imported seed has a considerably out of date. The journals such as our own
much better chance of establishing a plant in cultivation, or that of the American Society are again much stronger
and it is a pity that a little more effort has not been on the North American cacti than those from South
directed here rather than to buying imported plants America. Many of the 'new' descriptions of South
just to sit on the Show bench. There are welcome signs American cacti appear in the journals of the Dutch and
that seed raising is becoming more important again. German societies which very few English collectors
At Shows it is not now so common to see barely subscribe to. Articles of importance in sundry South
growing imported plants gaining prizes over well- American botanical journals are seen by even fewer
grown seedlings, although I believe there is still some collectors.
room for improvement in particular classes. For some
This problem is compounded by the problems of
reason, imported Copiapoas are frequently rated over
classification and backlog of new material. Many new
seedlings on grounds of maturity, even though the
names have come into cultivation, a large number of
imports arc badly damaged and the 'seedlings' may be
which are minor variants of plants already cultivated,
10-15 years old.
others are recollections of older species under new
There arc, of course, very large differences in the names, and still others are new species which have
way in which various different groups of imported never been published. Many collectors faced with this
plants adapt to cultivation. For example, imported mess have one of three reactions: (1) To throw away all
Gymnocalyciums arc in general quite easy to establish their labels, or (2) to insist that the name purchased un-
der must be correct—and 'I get fed up with all these
Text of a talk given at the CSSGB/IOS British Section Meeting
at Chichester, 20 October 1979. Author's address: Dr. A. W .
name changes', etc., or (3) to put any name on the
Mace, 12 Mill Rise, Brighton B N i 5CD, Sussex. plant that seems near enough. The end result is that

31
 much valuable material is in effect lost from cultivation 1000. N o w take this in context with the vastly in-
just because its ancestry is not known. creased activities of the main cactus societies—more
This has been particularly noticeable to me over the meetings, more shows—and add to this the prolifera-
last few years when collections containing invaluable tion of specialist societies, with their journals and other
material have been sold after their owner's death. activities and you get a picture of much more work and
Because of the lack of documentation and of the neglect organization being done. Because all these activities
prior to dispersal which is almost inevitable the value rely on the same group of people it is becoming
of such collections is largely lost. noticeably harder to get people to do things—witness
Keeping records of a collection has always been a the continual appeal of all editors for copy for their
time-consuming business, particularly for a large collec- journals. There is a very strong tendency for those
tion, and although vitally important, usually gets most deeply involved with running the societies to
neglected. Something is happening at present of which neglect their plants and in particular the study of their
you may be only marginally aware, which is going to plants. These people are often the most interested and
alter this as it is going to alter many other things in our knowledgeable ones and there is a great danger that the
lives by the end of the decade. This is the enormous societies are therefore working against their own
increase in the use of computers at the personal level. constituted aims. It is also true that for historical
There already are several hundreds of thousands of reasons and in some cases pure inertia the societies are
these machines in homes in the United States and very inefficiently organized. W h a t I said about the use
Europe. At present the machines appeal mainly to of personal computers is relevant here. Membership
hobbyists but costs are falling, memory size and ease of lists, for example, could be easily maintained, envelopes
programming arc increasing. By the end of the decade addressed and accounts maintained, for a cost well
they will be as common as television sets and will be within the reach of the main societies.
of an incredible power. This will enable us to keep large It is in no way possible for me to chronicle all the
amounts of data on our plants very easily, and since individual changes which have occurred in the 1970's
these machines will be able to communicate with each but to illustrate a few problems I took along to the
other via telephone lines it would be feasible to keep Chichester meeting all my Brazilian Melocacti of which
track of all important plants in culivation. At present I have some 50 plants plus some duplicate seedlings.
this is largely done by remembering that we gave old This is a group I have become interested in over the
so-and-so a bit of that plant and if we lose it we ask him decade but of which I claim no expert knowledge. All
for a bit back. but one or two were acquired as seedlings or grown
In the 1970's a number of useful specialist works from seed and I have therefore no habitat data. The
appeared on individual groups of plants, such as the following points emerged:
Rausch Lobivia books, but we are still in need of more 1. Some labels badly faded in the sun (nursery printed
general works of an up-to-date nature. It is to be hoped ones—quite bad). Replace while still decipherable!
that the books of Rittcr of which the first volume is now 2. Some plants under field numbers. Important not to
to hand will fill some gaps. N o doubt his new genera lose these.
and species will keep the lumpers occupied for some 3. Some plants under provisional names. Bad—these
years to come! However we will at least have some may be altered and identity of the plant lost. Keep field
information on some plants which we have had in number in addition.
cultivation for some years. To the amateur the taxonomy 4. Non-existent and wrongly spelt names. Bad—if
of the South American cacti is very confusing. While detective work cannot reveal correct name. D o not
some are being lumped (e.g. MatucanajBorzicactus discard the name, however, as it may provide a clue for
groups) others have been split into a myriad of genera someone else to identify it for you.
(e.g. the Brazilian Cephalocerei). O n the whole I prefer 5. Field numbers which do not match correct genus.
the former approach, if only because, for example in Nurserymen, please note!
the case of the Brazilian Cephalocerei, most of the 6. Same field numbers—different plants. Again,
species seem to have moved round to the different nurserymen, please note!
genera in turn during the decade. 7. Different field numbers—same plants. Possible—
There have been some changes in the decade in the check field number lists, there may be more than one
pattern of collectors. There are, I believe, more m e m - collection of the same species.
bers of the various societies although numbers have not 8. Published names different from provisional names.
increased dramatically. I do not think that there has Not unusual, examine new publications for the field
been an increase in the number of what, for want of a number.
better word, I might call serious members. By those 9. Plants which seem very distinct but never seem to
I mean members w h o actively participate in the hobby, get published. Ritter's work here should answer much
rather than just having a few plants and attending the of this criticism.
occasional branch meeting. I suspect the number of 10. Plants which seem identical yet are published under
such growers is probably about 800, certainly less than different names. Splitters, please note!

32
Bolivian Cactus Holiday
by Paul Sherville
The idea of a cactus trip to the Bolivian Andes was first
mooted only a few weeks after I returned to England
from my first trip to Peru. John Medway, who had also
previously made several trips to Peru, suggested that we
might make a trip together to Bolivia in late 1978, and
I readily agreed, subject to the only possible constraint—
finance! Suffice it to say, I saved the required cash, some
^750, and so it was that I arrived at Jorge Chavez
International Airport, Lima, in the early hours of
Saturday, 25 November, to find John waiting there for
me. The more astute readers among you will already be
wondering why Lima was chosen as a starting point for
a Bolivian trip. Well, the reason is two-fold; firstly,
Lima is among the easiest (and cheapest) Latin American
capitals to reach from Europe, and secondly, Karcl
Knize, who has provided many of the documented
plants of South American cacti in the last decade, lives
in Lima, and a visit to his nursery in the Lurin valley is
a must for any cactophile visiting Peru. He is also a very
valuable source of knowledge and sound advice to
potential cactus-hunters.
Having spent a couple of days with Karel, we began
the trip proper in the Bolivian Andes. Our host for part
of the trip was Roberto Vasquez, and such was his
hospitality that within a few hours of meeting him we
were whisked off to our first cactus habitat in the hills Cochabamba to look at the plants in the region of the
around Cochabamba. As is often the case with Andean town of Comarapa some 250 kms. away. Needless to
towns and cities, and Cochabamba is no exception, they say, John and I were in agreement, having never dared
lie in basins, and so on the sunny afternoon of 30 to hope of travelling so far! Setting off in the early after-
November, Roberto, John and myself drank in the noon, we made good time on good roads, stopping
splendid panorama of the basin, with the city only some occasionally to stretch our legs, take refreshments, and,
100 m below our own 2880 m altitude and the snow- of course, make short forays into roadside habitats when
capped Mt. Tunari behind us, all the time being careful Roberto thought it appropriate. Our arrival in Coma-
not to tread on the very plants we were seeking! The rapa, well after dark, was amid vivid lightning of a
first site on the hill proved to be unproductive for the tropical storm, and did not bode well for the rest of the
Sulcorcbutias we sought, but by moving back down the trip. After suitable refreshments we discussed the day's
slope a short way, we soon found clumps ranging from trip and 'finds', including two very distinct forms of
two to fifteen heads of Sulcorebutia krucgeri growing in Lobivia cacspitosa growing in association with a few
association with an Opuntia (possibly O. soehrensii); plants of Sulcorebutia polymorpha (a name that covers a
Cleistocactus parviflorus; and Ecninopsis huottii (£. cocha- multitude of sins) near to Kayarani at about 3380 m; and
bmnbensis). The S. kruegeri plants we found were just in the Corryocactus melanotrichus encountered even earlier
bud, but none of the other cacti were showing any signs on the journey near Tiraque at about 2900 111, with
of floral activity, although some of the other associated practically every stem bearing one or (mostly) two
flora was in flower. The dominant plant of this parti- scarlet terminal flowers. We retired to our clean, com-
cular habitat was alow shrub, growing to approximately fortable beds in the hotel, our minds reeling with the
1.5 111 in height, which was just starting to unfurl the sheer grandeur of the Andean scenery and tense with
new season's pale yellowish-green leaves. In addition excitement at Roberto's promise of visiting pastures new
there were a number of low herbs and grasses to com- even to him, but sound sleep was inevitable as soon as
plete the flora, although there would almost certainly heads touched pillows.
emerge some annual species as the season progressed. At home, with only the prospect of work before me,
Our visit coincided with the onset of the rainy season, I have to be prised out of bed in the mornings, but in
which lasts usually for some four months, the remainder Comarapa it just seemed perfectly natural to be up at
of the year being dry, or very nearly so. first light, despite being a little weakened by a stomach
By way of a weekend jaunt', Roberto decided that it upset—almost inevitable for Europeans on first arriving
would be a good idea to make a trip eastwards from in South America. By 6.30 a.m. we had breakfasted,

33
Neocardenasia herzogiana (tliickest stems) together with outlying specimens of Castellanosia caineana (jointed stems) Hearing
Chilon on the road from Comarapa. The ubiquitous Roseocereus tephracanthus and other cacti are also in the picture. Note
the deep gullies produced by heavy local rainfall.

filled up with petrol, and were on our way deep into the that this species was so dense and widespread as to be
heart of cactus-country, and soon all thoughts of illness never out of sight for mile-after-mile); Cyninocalycium
were lost in the sheer thrill of seeing the plants in their pnanzii ('G. comarapense'), less common than the
natural h o m e ; even the persistent fine drizzle, a legacy Echinopsis, but still numerous, and some plants bearing
from the overnight storms, could not dampen un- partially open flowers, with many plants carrying fruits,
bounded enthusiasm as we were transported into although the ants had pillaged most of the fruits. It was
wonderland. The countryside is open woodland on quite common to harvest a fruit from the Gymnocaly-
sharply undulating hills at around 1700 to 1900 m. alti- ciums only to have the 'seed' run up one's arm! Never-
tude; an Echinopsis is spotted still bearing fully open theless, despite the ants, a useful quantity of seed was
flowers from the previous evening, we stop, photo- collected.
graphs arc taken, it is suggested that this Echinopsis is no The next plants to steal our attention were IVeingartia
different to those around Cochabamba 250 km. away to ueocumingii* forms. These like the Echinopsis and Gymno-
the west, we agree, so it is logged as Echinopsis huottii calycium were locally very abundant, and many of the
(E. comarapana will be preferred by some), and our first plants in this particular population were bearing flowers,
find of the day is in the bag. making a series of pronounced bright yellow patches of
Just as the cactus vegetation in and around Cocha- colour throughout the woodland floor. O n the lower
bamba begins almost at the city limits, so it does at branches of the trees surrounding us were even more
Comarapa, and whilst the Echinopsis plants were cacti. This time they were true epiphytes belonging to
particularly conspicuous with their large white flowers, the genus Rhipsalis, and also Pfeifjera ianthothele, the
we were soon amid a virtual sea of cacti, many growing former completely cladding some branches and pro-
on the woodland floor, especially in the more open viding a new niche for further colonization by less
glades, but also still to be found under even the densest xeromorphic plants including an orchid, possibly of the
cover that this particular woodland habitat could genus Oncidium. It was at about this point that we noticed
muster. Soon after the Echinopsis, we encountered in the first specimen of Neocardenasia herzogiana in the
rapid succession the following species, many being large woodland, just a single, juvenile stem about 3 m high.
and widespread populations: Cleistocacttts jusifloms,
many plants mostly in flower (in fact, it was true to say * Uackeberg's nomenclature is used throughout this article.

34
Later in the journey this plant was to become one of the
dominant members of the flora, its branched stems
reaching to about 9 or 10 m in height. The other ccreoid
cactus common in this locality was Roseocereus tephracan-
thus, a large shrubby plant, much branched, and again,
many of the plants were festooned in flowers still par-
tially open from the previous evening. The Roseocereus,
the Echinopsis from that region, and another short-
cereoid plant, Trichocereus vollianus, which we were to
encounter a few kilometres further on, were all in
flower or carrying advanced buds around Comarapa,
but devoid of flower, or only just showing buds, in the
habitats near Cochabamba. The reason for this difference
in the 'season' is simply that at these latitudes (i8°S), and
in this terrain, the north-south annual solar variation
does not govern the seasons; instead, it is the annual
advance of the rains from the east. The further west one

A superb tree of Quiabentia pflanzii reaching about 4

metres in height near Chilon.

travels the later, and shorter, the season becomes, culmi-

nating in the almost total desert zone on the Pacific sea-
board of the Andean region. This pattern appears to
hold generally true from the equatorial Andes down to
about 40°S, when the situation reverses, although there
are, of course, quite major deviations from this overall
trend in certain localities, largely due to topographical
effects; the pattern here, however, was beautifully
demonstrated by the Roseocereus, Trichocereus and
Echinopsis.
Continuing our journey southwards from Comarapa
Large stands of Neocardenasia between Comarapa and generally in the direction of Chilon and Saipina, the fine
Chilon, with Roberto and John collecting some of the jruit. rain eased a little temporarily, although the trees still

35
 road accomplished safely amid the terrestial bromeliads
(possibly Dyckia or Puya spp.), and we continued on our
way, all the time accompanied by occasional stands of
Roseocereus, Trichocereus, Neocardenasia with a ground
flora of Echinopsis, Wcingartia and the ubiquitous
Clcistocacti; now and then a different species would put
in an appearance such as the Parodia and, of course the
Gymnocalycium, and occasionally some Opuntias. We
recorded Opuntia kiska-loro; O. tayapayensis and O.
salmiana and even the last-named species, so common in
cultivation, was a source of delight on seeing it in habitat
almost at the western limit of its range—it occurs east-
wards from here to the Atlantic seaboard.
As our journey continued southwards, the Neocar-
denasias became both denser and taller, and whilst con-
templating these monsters we spotted another cereoid
plant with a very distinctive stem among the trees. A
short foray into the woods revealed the plant to be
Castellanosia caineana, a species which seems to be very
rare in cultivation. One's first sighting of any plant in
habitat is always exciting. Often the first individuals are
widely separated on the fringe of the population, and
this was true of the Castellanosia, as a few more kilo-
metres of travel revealed. Descending continuously to
the floor of the basin we soon found ourselves in a virtual
forest of these magnificent plants and still with us were
the Cleistocacti, Roseocereus, Gymnocalyciums and
Opuntia tayapayensis. Near Chilon, the 'Comarapa
suite' of cacti was still with us but the Castellanosias
were also accompanied by Quiabentia pflanzii and
Pereskia diaz-ronieroana. Fruits were collected from the
Castellanosias, as they were from the Neocardenasias
earlier, but whilst the latter were still also bearing
flowers, the flowering season of the former was already
finished.
At this point the rains descended in true tropical style,
decanting some of the 5 metres (yes—16 FEET) of
annual rainfall of this region, and we were not able to
proceed further than Chilon on what had been planned
as a circular trip through Saipina back to Comarapa.
We were effectively stranded in Chilon until the rains
abated, but within 10 minutes of sitting in the truck in
the village, watching the road turn rapidly into a torrent
of red mud, a woman waved to us. Roberto ran across to
A monstrose specimen of Neocardeuasia together with a her house and then beckoned us over too; plates of hot
large shrubby plant of Roseocereus near Chilon. soup were awaiting us! We enjoyed this local hospitality
for some two and a half hours until the hot sun emerged
continued to drip water, often from epiphytic plants for the first time that day, then made our way back to
like the Tillandsias which festoon practically everything. Comarapa via the same route by which we had come,
We found ourselves at the top of some steep cliffs stopping only once to add another species to the day's
tumbling away to a glen some 200 metres below. On a bag, Pseudolobivia calorubra, just before our arrival at
ledge not too far down were some cacti which from our dusk in Comarapa.
vantage point seemed to be different from those seen so The next dawn saw us journeying back to Cocha-
far. Descent to the plants proved easier than it looked bamba via all the cactus habitats en route, but that is
and very worthwhile, as the ledge was supporting a another story. Meanwhile, I should like to take the
dense population ofParodia columnaris, with a few plants opportunity to thank Roberto Vasquez and his family
just putting forth pale yellow buds. for their unbounded hospitality and help in making our
Photographs in the camera, the climb back to the Bolivian holiday so enjoyable and productive.

36
T h e Cactus and Succulent Journal o f Great Britain
V o l u m e 42(2): 37-38 (1980)

A new variety and a new combination

in Sulcorebutia verticillacantha
by John Donald and Wolfgang Krahn

Sulcorebutia verticillacantha Ritter var. applanata 7-9 pectinate pairs 2-4 m m . long with an occasional basal pair
2 m m . long, usually adpressed to the stem, usually white,
D o n a l d & Krahn, var. n o v . ; a typo corpore applana-
occasionally yellow or brown, black or brown at base, curled
t i o r c , aculcis v c r t i c e n o n crinitis albis, floribus m a j o r i b u s or straight, the young spines not standing erect to form a tuft
o m n i n o p u r p u r c o - m a g c n t c i s differt. H o l o t y p u s : C u l t . as in var. verticillacantha (in some clones, spines at the youngest
E n g l a n d , Donald, o r i g . coll. B o l i v i a , p r o v . S u c r e , d e p t . areoles may appear chestnut brown, giving a contrasting dark
reddish brown appearance to the umbilicus). Flowers arising
C h u i q u i s a c a , 2800 m . s . m . , 14 J u l y 1964, Krahn WK
from lower areoles, up to 30 m m . long, 40 m m . diam., larger
217a (K). and deeper coloured than in var. verticillacantha; pericarp 4 m m .
DESCRIPTION. Plant forming flat clumps of several to many diam., scales rounded, axils naked, reddish olive green; tube
stems, from a much divided tap-root, the individual heads funnelform, up to 20 m m . long, with broad blunt reddish
(25-)3o(-5o) m m . high and (25-)3o(-4o) m m . diam. epidermis olive green to magenta scales merging with the outer perianth
grass green to dark grey green; ribs spiralled or occasionally segments; outer perianth segments spathulate 10-15 m m . long,
vertical, (i2-)i5(-i7) (in var. verticillacantha 13-21), divided 3-4 m m . broad, magenta with fresh greenish midstripe; imier
into small rounded tubercles 2-2.5 m m . high and 3-4 m m . perianth segments spathulate to spathulate-acuminate, often
wide (2-4 m m . x 3-5 m m . in var. verticillacantha) separated by reflexed when open in full sun with tip upturned, deep shining
a small furrow; areoles long and narrow, set in a groove on the magenta; filaments purple with paler anthers bearing yellow
upper side of the tubercle and broadest at the apex, 2-4 m m . pollen (white to purple or rarely orange in var. verticillacantha);
long, 0.75-1 m m . wide, white-felted. Spines lateral only, in nectary chamber 2 m m . long, not closed by filaments; style free,

37
20-25 nun. long, white; stigmas 5-6, 5 mm. long. Fruit a Type locality: Bolivia, prov. Sucre, dept. Chuiquisaca;
flattened 'berry', 5 m m . diani., brownish to deep orange red, Sucre City on the road from Rio Chico Valley at 2800 m., on
floral remains persistent. Seed as in var. verticillacantha, 1.3 n u n . a small sandstone hill, quite isolated from other Sulcorebutia
long, I m m . broad; testa black, rugose and papillate, often populations. The soil was red sandy loam with a predominant
patchily covered with aril-like skin; hilum broad, basal, white; moss cover. Parodia tuberculoid Ritter and Rebutia fiebrigii var.
strophiole not well developed, covering the niicropyle and densiseta (Cullm.) Oeser were present nearby but not very
slightly protruding funicular scar. abundant.
The plant was collected by Wolfgang Krahn on
14 July 1964 and docs not appear to have been recol-
lected since by Rausch, Lau or other collectors visiting
this area. The type locality of 5. verticillacantha (var.
verticillacantha) is further north in prov. Arque, dept.
Cochabamba, at Sayari.
The plant is close to Wcingartia rittcri Brandt but
differs in its much more flattened habit and its larger
and deeper coloured flower. Both taxa belong to the
S. verticillacantha populations. Wcingartia rittcri has the
typical short cylindric habit of 5. verticillacantha and
not the flattened form of its variety. The choice of the
genus Wcingartia by Brandt needs some comment. It
is universally recognized now that Wcingartia and
Sulcorchutia are related but not so close as yet to demand
that they are united into a single genus. Their evolution
is convergent but they stem from different lines.
Admittedly there are some Wcingartia species that arc
probably best accommodated in Sulcorebutia and vice
versa. Brandt in his wisdom now chooses to place all
Sulcorebutia into Wcingartia under a subgeneric umbrella.
In our opinion he has been too hasty in his judgment.
The plant he has described, today is still best placed in
Sulcorebutia but only as a variety. It is certainly not
justified as a species.
The new combination required is as follows;
Sulcorebutia verticillacantha Ritter var. ritteri
(Brandt) Donald & Krahn, c o m b , et stat. n o v .
Basionym: Wcingartia ritteri Brandt in Kakt. Orch.
Rundschau 1978/3: 5-6 (1978) ('ritterii').
The relationships of this and other taxa of the
S. verticillacantha complex will be discussed and devel-
oped in a later article.
Senior author's address: J. Donald, 41 Mill Road, North
Lancing, West Sussex BN15 oPZ.

colour (tt. 47, 46 and 111, respectively). Predictably

A new book there is a selection of curious Japanese specialities, e.g.
Hirao's colour guide hybrid Ariocarpus and X Thelobergia, a Coryphantha with
Many thanks to Gordon Rowley for lending us a copy all its spines turned into glands, and numerous grot-
of Hiroshi Hirao's new 'Colour Encylopaedia of esque variegated freaks, not to mention some enviable
Cacti'.* This book is crammed full of beautiful colour cristates. Ignoring these eccentricities, Hirao's compila-
photographs, mostly of the popular globular cacti, with tion of, for the most part, accurately named pictures,
particularly good coverage of the N . American species, amounts to a useful reference work, and one wonders
arranged by Backeberg's system. The quality of colour whether all Japanese collections house specimens as fine
reproduction is very high throughout, and while the as those he illustrates.
text is in Japanese, it is brief and the names that caption N.P.T.
the pictures are in roman type. W e were particularly
interested to find poorly known plants such as Fero- *Hirao, H. (1979). Colour Encyclopaedia of Cacti. Seibundo
Shinkosha Pub. Co. Ltd., Japan. 26 X 18 cm, soft bound,
cactus flavovirens, F. pottsii and F. tnathssonii (Glanduli- 195 pp. and 8 0 0 + colour illustrations, text (excl. latin names)
cactus crassihamatus) depicted in flower and in full in Japanese characters. Price c. £ 1 4 .

38
The Cactus and Succulent Journal of Great Britain
Volume 42(2): 39-42 (1980)

Gymnocalycium mesopotamicum sp. nov.

by Roberto Kiesling*
Instituto de Botanica Darwinion,
San Isidro, Prov. Buenos Aires, Argentina
During a collecting and study trip made by the Royal G y m n o c a l y c i u m m e s o p o t a m i c u m Kiesling, species
Botanic Gardens Kcw with the collaboration of the n o v a ; G. denudato (Link & Otto) Pfciffcr affinis, sed
Instituto Darwinion, those taking part found a species corporc minore, aculeis brcvioribus ct gracilioribus
of Gymnocalycium in the region known as 'Meso- subpectinatis, tubo florali intus rubro, seminibus cum
potamia' (prov. Corricntcs). It proved to be an unknown iis seric Quchlianorum congruentibus.
species with very interesting features: one is that its Simplex, globosa, 4 cm. diametro, 1.2-2.3 cm, alta,
seeds and flowers appear to be intermediate between obscuro-viridis; costae 7-9, rectae, rotundatae; aculci
two very distinct scries, Qiiehliana F. Buxb. and Uru- omncs latcralcs marginc areolae inscrtae 9-12, 2-9 m m .
guayensia F. Buxb.t Another is that some specimens longac, flexuosae, rufescentes, adprcsso-arcuatae, plcr-
seem to be male and others female; studying this prob- umquc 2-4 deorsum spectantcs. Flores infundibuli-
lem leads to the conclusion that it is a case of a sub- formes, 6-7 cm. longi, 6-7 cm. diametro; receptaculum
dioecious, or polygamous species, i.e. that the separation obconicum pallido-viridc; squamae spathulatae, oli-
of the sexes in these plants is partial but not complete. vaccac vcl subfuscac; phylla pcriogonii intcrioria
angusto-lanccolata, nivca, basi rubra vel rosea; filamenta
8-13 m m . longa, alba basi rosea; anthcrac flavac; stylus
cylindratus, 2.2 cm. longus; stigma 0.5-0.6 cm. longum
c. 8-lobulatum, crcmcum, ovarium obconico-fusi-
forme. Fructus clavatus 2-3 cm. longus, 7-8 m m .
diametro, viridis, parce squamosus. Semina truncato-
globosa, c. 1.7 m m . diametro, tubcrculata, nigra, hilo
magno basali. Typus: Argentina, prov. Corricntcs,
Mercedes, Nov. 1978, Cutler & Lonsdale 126-552 (K,
holo.; SI, iso."

G. mesopotamicum, Cutler & Lonsdale 126-552, flowering

in cultivation, July 1979 (photo: Kiesling)

*Mcmbcr of the Carrera del Investigador of the Consejo

Nacional de Invcstigaciones Cicntificas y Tecnicas, Republic of
Argentina. Work carried out at the Royal Botanic Gardens, A, part of rib with one arcolc and position of two others;
Kew, during the tenure of a CONICET scholarship for study B, half-flower of holotypc plant (stippled area of receptacle is
abroad. Translated by D. R. Hunt. green); C, fruit with remains of perianth; D, style-apex and
fPublishcd as series Uruguayense F.liuxb. Corrected in accord- stigma of paratype plant (stippled area at base of stigma showed
ance with IC15N Arts 21.2 and 32.4.—D. R. HUNT rapid necrosis). All natural size except D (x 2).

39
G. mesopotamiaim, holotype plant prior to removal of apical half for preservation (photo: Svanderlik)

D E S C R I P T I O N . Stem solitary, globose, 1.2-2.3 cm. high style cylindric, 1.8 cm. long, 1 m m . diam. creamy white;
and c. 4 cm. diam., epidermis dark green, apex umbilicate, the stigma white; papillose, with some 8 radiating sub-cylindric
depression 0.5 cm. deep and 1 cm. diam, with pronounced lobes c. 5-6 m m . long and 1 m m . diam. Fruit clavate, 2-3 cm.
tubercles. Ribs c. 7-9, broad, low, obtuse, 1.5 cm. broad at the long, 7-8 m m . diam., dull green, with the dried perianth
base; tubercles not very prominent, separated by shallow trans- persistent, b r o w n ; scales few about 6, similar in shape to those
verse grooves. Areoles c. 5 to each rib, oval, large, 3 m m . long of the flower, greenish at the base, pale pink above. Seeds
and 1 m m . broad, with abundant yellowish-white wool (grey globose-truncate, 1.7-1.8 m m . diam., with large convex
when adult), somewhat sunken, sited on the upper part of the hilum c. 1.8 m m . long and 1.2 m m . broad, oval, curved;
tubercles. Spines 9-12, the smallest only 2-3 m m . long, the testa black with the cells superficially smooth and slightly
longer 9 m m . long, setaceous, flexible, adprcssed, arching over convex, but each one with an eccentric cylindric or more often
the body, subpectinate, arising at the edges of the areoles, capitate projection 0.025 m m . high and 0.015 m m . diam. at the
reddish brown when young, later greyish white or somewhat base. Chromosome no. 211=22 (observed at mitosis in ovary-
pinkish. Flowers arising at the adaxial side of areoles bordering wall cells, M. A. T. Johnson, unpubl. data).
the umbilicus, 6-7 cm. long, 2 cm. max. diam. when closed,
5.5 cm. long, 6.5 cm. diam. when open; receptacle obconic, N . B . All the measurements are taken from living specimens.
3 cm. long, 0.5 cm. diam. at base and I cm. diam above, light In drying there would be appreciable shrinking.
opaque green, fleshy, the wall c. 1 m m . thick; scales c. 10,
prominent, broad, obtuse, the lower smaller, 2-5 m m . long, I consider this species to be intermediate between series
4-5 m m . broad, mucronate, pinkish green; outer pcrianih-
segments spathulate 1-3 cm. long, 6-7 m m . broad, mucronate,
I. Urugnaycnsia F. Buxb. (subg. Gymnocalyciutn in
somewhat fleshy, pinkish green to pinkish white; inner perianth- Schiitz's scheme) and scries VIII Qnehliaiia F. Buxb.
segments lanceolate, 3.1-3.3 cm. long, 6 m m . broad, white, (subg. Trichomosemineum Schiitz), as may be seen from
tinged pink near the tip and reddish at the base with pinkish the table.
green mid-stripe, innermost perianth-segments narrowly lanceo-
late, very acute, 3 cm. long, 4-5 mm. broad, pure white;
tube 1.8 cm. long, pale red withyi nectar chamber at base of tube, Sexuality. The holotype plant on which the foregoing
cylincric, 1 m m . long, 2-3 m m . diam. [filaments erect, 8-13 m m . description is based produced perfect flowers with both
long, white with pinkish base; anthers small, 1 mm. long, male and female organs well-developed, but with very
0.5 m m . broad, yellow, curving over the style; pollen abundant, low pollen-fertility; of 820 grains examined, 54.4%
yellow, globose, tricolpate, with low fertility, tectum per-
forate-spinulate; ovary obconic-fusiform, truncate, 13 m m . were normal, 40% were empty and 5.4% were of
long, 3.5-4 m m . diam., with numerous small white ovules; approximately double the normal size and with several
40
Top, Gymnocalycium leeanum (series Uruguayensia), seed (left, X 32) and part of testa (right, X 480); centre, G. mesopotamicum
seed (left, X 32) and part of testa (right, X 720); bottom, G. ragonesii (series Quehliana), seed (left, x 32) and part of testa (right, x 460)
Photographed with a Jeol 535 scanning electron microscope at 18kV at either 30° or o° tilt.

41
 Series Uruguayensia G. mesopotamicum Series Quehliana
Distribution S. Brazil, Uruguay, NE. Argentina W. and cent. Argentina
NE. Argentina
Habitat Mesophytic Mesophytic Xerophytic
Stems Globose Globose Globose-applanate,
obconic
Colour Green Green Purplish, glaucous or
dull green
Ribs Rounded, with or without Rounded, without humps Applanate, with humps
humps

Spines Flexible to rigid, few to many Flexible (12-14) Rigid, few (1-7)
(3-20)

Flowers White to yellow White, tube red within White, tube red within
Seeds Black, 2-3 mm. diam., globose, Black, 1.7 mm. diam., globose, Brown, 1 mm. diam.,
rugose smooth, with papillae campanulate, smooth,
with papillae
Polygamous Yes Yes No

Comparison ofG. mesopotamicum sp. nov., with series Uruguayensia and Quehliana.

nuclei (3-5). The observations were made by staining Svanderlik for the colour photograph, and to Miss
the grains with Cotton-blue Lactophcnol. M. A. T. Johnson for the chromosome data and help
A second specimen, Cutler & Lonsdale 126-552A with the pollen-study. I am also grateful for the com-
(K, SI, paratypes), showed the following differences: ments of Mr. G.J. Swales and the loan of his unpublished
style somewhat longer, 2.2 cm., curved in S-shape and thesis on this genus. M y wife Angeles has helped with
showing rapid necrosis at the base of the stigma; SEM and light-microscope preparations and with the
stigma-lobes connivent at the edges, not separating. pollen study.
Pollen with high fertility, about 100%; polar diameter
(45-)5o(-56)u.m, equatorial diameter (40-)56(-6o)[j,m Bibliography
(mean and extremes from 20 measurements). BRITTON, N . L. & ROSE, J. N . (1922). The Cactaceae 3:
All this, I believe, indicates that the species is polyg- 152-167.
amous, since the specimens studied have flowers with BUXBAUM, F. (1968). In Krainz, Die Kaktccn, Lfg.
the organs of one or other sex semi-atrophied. This 38-39-
condition is rare but known in the Cactaceae. In SCHUTZ, B. (1969). In Nat. Cact. Succ. J. 24: 74-76.
Gymnocalycium it has been recorded in G. artigas Hcrt. (Translated from Friciana 46. 1968).
and G. leeanum (Hook.) B. & R., both from Uruguay, SWALES, G. J. (1975). Studies in Gymnocalycium.
and in G. bruchii (Speg.) Hosseus, from Cordoba. Unpublished M.Sc. thesis, University of Durham.
Phenology. The specimens studied flower in England
repeatedly between June (which is when the best
flowering occurs) and October. The flowers open for
between t w o and four days from about 12 noon to
3 p.m.

Acknowledgements
I wish to express m y thanks to the Director of the Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew, for facilities in the Herbarium, Dr. Kiesling has now returned to Argentina with his wife
Library and Jodrcll Laboratory, to Mr. D. R. Hunt for and son after his year's study visit to England. On the way
his help throughout the year and on this paper in home he called at the New York Botanical Garden and
particular, to Dr. D . F. Cutler for making the plants attended the IOS Congress in Mexico. It was a very great
studied available to me and for the use of the SEM and pleasure to have them with us and we hope they will come
other equipment in the Anatomy Section, to Mr. M. again.

42
The Cactus and Succulent Journal of Great Britain
Volume 42(2): 43-47 (1980)

Further cytological investigations in

Mammillaria prolifera and other Mammillaria species
by Margaret A. T. Johnson
Jodrell Laboratory,
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
Richmond, Surrey
Chromosome morphology in the Cactaceae is still hours at 5°-6°C, the roots were killed and preserved
relatively unexplored because the chromosomes are by transferring to an acetic acid-alcohol solution (1:3)
small, making their preparation difficult. Mitotic for a minimum of one hour before being hydrolyzcd
chromosomes can only be seen in actively dividing for eight minutes in i N hydrochloric acid. Fculgcn,
tissues (usually the root-tip), so it is essential to encourage which specifically stains D N A , was used to stain the
the plant to grow rapidly for such studies, and this can chromosomes, and root-tips were squashed under a
present problems where cacti are concerned. Mam- microscope cover-slip in a drop of 2 % aceto-orcein.
millaria is of particular chromosomal interest since to The use of orcein at this stage instead of 4 5 % acetic
date it is one of the few genera in which polyploids acid as previously used (Johnson, 1978) greatly i m -
have been observed. Detailed analysis of such poly- proved staining, making the use of phase contrast
ploids can sometimes indicate how individual species optics for observation and photography unnecessary.
have arisen, but work published to date has not produced Karyotype drawings were made from photographic
clear diagrams or drawings showing chromosome negatives with the aid of a microfiche reader to estab-
morphology. Rcmski (1954) listed chromosome counts, lish the outline of each chromosome, and finished by
and gave a few drawings which did not show the reference to the original preparation.
chromosomes in any detail, and my own earlier paper Meiosis. Plants having numerous very young develop-
(Johnson, 1978) was illustrated with photographs only. ing buds were selected for study, since several buds
Since then improved plant culture and chromosome usually have to be removed for examination before the
techniques have enabled better preparations to be made, right stage of meiosis can be found. Ten to twenty
and these will be reported in this article. anthers were smeared dry on to a microscope slide and
Twenty counts in the genus have been made, some a drop of 2 % accto-orccin added to stain the chromo-
for species not previously examined, and some con- somes.
firming earlier work by Remski. Several new accessions All slides of mitosis and meiosis were made per-
of M. prolifera have been studied and karyotype drawings manent using C O 2 under pressure (Bowen, 1956) and
arc shown for the first time. A karyotype is the particular are retained in the Jodrell Laboratory; the photographs
chromosome complement of an individual or a related (A-H) were taken on a Zeiss photomicroscope.
group of individuals as defined both by the number Pollen. Immature and mature pollen of M. prolifera
and morphology of the chromosomes, usually at was stained in 2 % accto-orccin and examined under
mitotic mctaphasc. the light-microscope (figs. G, H). For the SEM photo-
In my previous paper it was noted that in M. prolifera, graph (fig. J), fresh pollen was dusted on to double-
the size of the pollen mother cells (and the anthers) sided sellotape covering the stub-surface, then coated
increases with increasing ploidy level. Mature pollen with platinum. Specimens were observed in a Jcol 535
has now been examined under the scanning electron SEM at 18 kV with no tilt.
microscope (SEM) for variation in size and cxine
structure. Results
Table I lists diploid (211=22), tctraploid (211 = 44) and
Material and Methods hcxaploid ( 2 n = 6 6 ) counts from six populations of
Material of M. prolifera of wild origin was supplied by M. prolifera. They follow the same polyploid distribu-
Mr. D . R. Hunt who also provided material of all the tion pattern as previously described (Johnson, 1978).
other species originating from various sources (see Hcxaploids occur on the islands of Cuba and Haiti and
Table 1). tctraploids and diploids on the lower eastern slopes of
Mitosis. Best results were obtained by collecting the Mexican Sierra Madrc Oriental (no field-collected
actively growing root-tips early in the growing season material from the USA having yet been examined).
in April, the plants having been kept completely dry The limited data for Mexico (from eight sites) n o w
from September throughout the winter. A few days suggest that the tctraploid (var. texana) occurs at some-
after liberal watering, suitable roots were collected into what higher elevations, if not higher latitudes, than the
5 ml. of distilled water and two drops of A B N (alpha- diploid (var. arachnoidea). Chromosome complements
bromonaphthalcne) added as a pre-treatment. After 24 at different ploidy levels arc shown in photographs

43
 Species Provenance Source/Donor Cyt. N o . 211

M. prolifera var. prolifera Cuba: Pinar del Rio Z. Meszaros 79.120 66

M. prolifera var. haitiensis Haiti: Ganthier Reppenhagen 79-253 66
M. prolifera var. texana Mexico: Nucvo Leon, Monterrey, Presa Repp. 984 79-86 44
Gomez
M. prolifera var. texana Mexico: Qucrctaro(r), betweenJalpan and Repp. 787 79.251 44
Rio Verde, km. 22
M. prolifera var. arachnoidea Mexico: Tamaulipas, Antiguo, Morelos Repp. 950A, C & D 79.117 22
79.119 22
79.205 22
79.250 22
M. prolifera var. arachnoidea Mexico: Tamulipas, Kikos/Hidalgo Repp. 236 79.118 22
(? N . of Victoria)
M. prolifera var. arachnoidea Mexico: Tamaulipas, Nuevo Guerrero Repp. 1003 79.252 22

M. armillata Mexico: Baja California, San Pedrito Hunt 8743 79.508 22

79-523 22
M. blossfeldiana* Mexico: Baja California, Boca dc Marron Hunt 8723 79.507 44
M. dioica* Mexico: Baja California, Arroyo Seco Hunt 8702S 79-531 66
M. dioica Mexico: Baja California c. 80 km. W of Hunt 8740S 79-536 44
La Paz
Mexico : Baja California, Boca dc Marron Hunt 8724 79-535 44
M.fittkaui* [Derived from type collection] K. Schrcicr 79.248 22
M. gracilis Mexico: Hidalgo, Barranca de Tolantongo Hunt 8624 79-255 22
M. gracilis var. pnlchella Mexico: N o further data R. Hosslinger 79-494 22
M. hutchisoniana* Mexico: Baja California, Llano Magdalena Hunt 8735 79.501 22
M. leucantha* Mexico: San Luis Potosi, c. 20 km. NE of Hunt 8020 79-493 22
city
M. lonisiae* N o data N . P. Taylor 79-532 22
M. mathildae* [Derived from type collection] K. Schreier 79.522 22
M. perhella Mexico: Queretaro, near Vizarron Hunt 8634 79-534 22
M. sahoae f. haudeana* Mexico: Sonora, Yccora Lau 777 79.498 44
M. sheldonii Mexico: Sonora Robbins 509/2018 79-537 22
M. aff. snbtilis* Mexico: N o further data K. Schreier 79.492 22
M. vetnla Mexico: Hidalgo, Encarnacion Hunt 8534 79-504 22
M. virginis* [Derived from type collection] K. Schreier 79-533 22
M. aff. zeiltnanniana Mexico: Jalisco, San Andres Lau 1245 79-734 22

Table I. Chromosome numbers in seventeen species of Mamniillaria. *Significs species for which chromosome data have not previously
been reported. Under 'Source/Donor', collectors are listed in italics, donors in roman type.

A-C (Plate I). Table I also shows the chromosome where four roots were diploid and five tctraploid. In
numbers for other species, some previously unrecorded, such cases it is assumed that the correct chromosome
the remainder confirming Rcmski's counts. In M. number is always the lower one, and that the variation
dioica, plants from two populations were studied, one in chromosome number is due to the local occurrence
of which was found to be tctraploid, confirming of polyploid roots produced during callus formation, as
Remski's count, but the other plant was hcxaploid, reported by Lindstrom & Koos (1931). In individual
and is a new chromosome number for this species. specimens of Mammillaria the proportion of polyploid
The two populations arc reported by Hunt (ined.) to to normal diploid roots can be high, so wherever
differ morphologically, and it is hoped to study more possible, and especially where polyploid counts arc
plants of this species from different populations in order consistently found in an individual, it is desirable to
to determine whether morphological features and obtain confirmation of mitotic counts by examination
ploidy level are correlated, as in M. prolifera. M. of meiosis. In M. sahoae f. haudeana mciosis has not yet
blossfeldiana was also found to be tctraploid. This been studied, but the eleven roots examined were all
species grows with M. dioica in part of the range of the found to be tetraploid and there can be little doubt that
latter species but preliminary observations suggest that the chromosome number of this plant is 2n=44.
differences in pollen and stigma microstructure could The karyotype drawings of M. prolifera at three
effectively prevent their hybridization. different ploidy levels show a small overall increase in
The results listed in Table 1 were derived either from chromosome size with increasing ploidy level (Plate 1).
root-tip counts, or from meiotic cells in developing This contrasts with the overall decrease found in
buds. In some cases, all the roots studied from an Chrysanthemum by Dowrick (1952). A satellite can be
individual plant were diploid, giving no doubt about seen in the diploid set, with two in the hexaploid, and
its chromosome number. In others, however, more although no satellites can be seen in the tctraploid, a
than one level of ploidy was found in different roots secondary constriction is visible. The chromosomes are
from the same individual, e.g. M. prolifera R. 1003, mostly metacentric (i.e. with arms of approximately

44
PLATE I. Root-tip chromosomes (left) and karyotype drawings (right) of M. prolifera. A, var. arachnoidca (Repp, yjo), diploid,
211—22 with satellite on second chromosome of first pair; B , var. texana (Repp. 787), tctraploid, 211- J4, five pairs of acrocentrics and
one chromosome of last pair with secondary constriction; C, var. haitiensis (Jimenez s.n.), hexaploid, 211^ 66 with satellites on first
pair. Photographs all < 1470. Data forjimencz s.n. in Johnson, 1978.

equal length) and uniform in size within an individual, ing it to be an allotctraploid, this would indicate some
but sonic variation in centromere position can be seen, affinity between the genomes of its diploid ancestors.
especially in the tctraploid which has five pairs of Meiosis in the other tetraploids and hcxaploids ap-
acrocentrics (chromosomes with one short and one peared to be somewhat erratic, some pollen mother-
longer arm). (Meiotic confirmation of ploidy level has cells exhibiting apparently regular meiosis whilst others
not yet been obtained in this particular tctraploid, were irregular. Irregular meiotic cells showed difficulty
R.787, which is morphologically M. prolifera var. in pairing of more than two sets of chromosomes having
texana, but the five pairs of acrocentrics show that the limited homology. Some chromosomes did not pair,
count, from three different roots, cannot be due to resulting in univalents which were not incorporated
callus polyploidy; with five pairs, the chromosomes into the daughter nuclei at anaphase I (Plate IIE) and
cannot be grouped into sets of four. Four, eight or remained outside the main chromosome groups at
twelve pairs would indicate a possible callus polyploid.) anaphase II (Plate IIF). The cell illustrated also shows
Meiosis in the diploid taxa was regular with eleven other irregularities with several bridges being formed.
bivalcnts being formed at mctaphasc I (Plate IID, These irregularities at meiosis would give rise to
which shows M. annillala). The tetraploids also mostly different-sized nuclei at telophase II, including micro-
formed bivalcnts (22), although in M. prolifera var. nuclei. In further development each would form a
texana R.984 some multivalents were observed. Assum- separate pollen-grain, so although a few tetrads were

45
PLATE II. D , M. armillata (Hunt 8743), diploid, 211 = 22, meiosis showing eleven bivalents ( x 1470); E, M. prolifera var. prolifera
(ex Meszaros), hexaploid, 211 = 66, anaphase I of meiosis showing lagging ( x 1470); F, the same at anaphase II showing lagging and
fragments ( x 588); G, M. prolifera var. texana (Repp. 984), tetraploid, 2 n = 4 4 , abnormal (top left with five and top right with 7-8
segments) and normal (lower left) tetrad formation ( x 588); H , the same, showing large (fertile) and small (sterile) pollen grains ( x 588);
J, scanning electron micrograph of pollen grain of M. prolifera var. texana (tetraploid, 2ti = 44)with three small micro-grains
adhering (approx. magn. X 1000).

46
quite normal containing four grains, many others micro-grain formation occurs in other species and with
contained from 5 to as many as 20 segments (Plate what frequency.
IIG),* some of which were very small. As a result of References
irregular segregation of chromosomes, the mature BOWEN, C. C. (1956). Freezing by liquid carbon dioxide
pollen is very variable in size and highly sterile (Plate in making slides permanent. In Stain Technology
IIH). Plate IIJ is an SEM photograph showing an 31: X7-90.
abnormal pollen grain with three small micro-grains DOWRICK, G . J . (1952). The chromosomes of Chrysan-
adhering. themum 1: The species. In Heredity 6: 365-375.
So far, abnormal tetrads have been found in two JOHNSON, G. A. & JALAL, S. M. (1979). Analysis of
hcxaploid plants of M. prolifera and one tetraploid, but physiological chromosome aberrations of native
in none of the diploids. The tetrad stage of meiosis has Agropyron and Agrolwrdetim Species. In Cytologia 44:
not been studied in detail, since observations for 287-294.
chromosome-counting arc made at earlier stages of JOHNSON, M. A. T. (1978). Diploid cytotypes in Mam-
meiosis. Further studies will be carried out to sec if millaria prolifera and three other Mammillaria species.
In Cact. Succ. J. Gt. Brit. 40(1): 9-12.
•Similar abnormalities have been reported in hcxaploid
Agropyron by G. A.Johnson & Jalal (1979) who found pentads LINDSTROM, E. W . & Koos, K. (1931). Cyto-genctic
(with 5 segments) and octads (with 8). Remski (1954) also investigations of a haploid tomato and its diploid and
reported finding up to eight segments at the tetrad stage in tetraploid progeny. In Amer. J. Bot. 18: 398-410.
polyploid Mammillaria species. REMSKI, M. F. (1954). Cytological investigations in
The three different ploidy levels of M. prolifera examined
with the SEM showed no variation in pollen size or cxinc Mammillaria and some associated genera. In Bot. Gaz.
structure. 116: 163-171.

Leafy Cacti
by Margaret Martin and Peter Chapman

It is well known that 'cacti arc covered with spines,

instead of leaves'—but do they all fit this description;
Certainly, most of them are leafless, spiny plants,
although in the different species the spines vary from
the formidable to the delicate. But there arc a few
species with quite definite leaves, and in these the
spines arc often reduced to mere bristles.
Pcrcskias arc cacti with quite normal-looking leaves.
The whole plant somewhat resembles a wild rose with
rose-like leaves and even (when it blooms) rose-like
flowers. They arc not generally popular in small
collections since they can only give of their best if
allowed plenty of space to become the large, straggly
bushes or even trees the) - need to be in order to flower
well. However, a small potted specimen makes an
attractive novelty in the collection. It can always be
pruned when it grows too large, but cannot be expected
to flower. There are short spines on the steins; like all
cacti these arise from the areoles, characteristic of the
family Cactaceae. The most commonly encountered
species is Pereskia aculeata and its variety rubescens (with
red backs to the leaves). This is sometimes met with
under the name P. godsejfana. P. grandiflora will only
live up to its name in large botanical collections, but
can also be grown as a pot plant. Pereskia aculeata, showing 'normal' leaves and spines of
Pereskiopsis species arc rather intermediate in appear- two types arising from the areoles (photo: Chapman)
ance between the un-cactus-likc pcrcskias and the
cylindrical opuntias. Whilst still having flattened space than a pereskia. Plants of both genera will p r o b -
leaves, these arc fir more fleshy than those of Pereskia. ably need to be bought from a specialist cactus nursery
The one usually grown in this country is Pereskiopsis and they require rather more winter warmth than most
spathnlata. This makes a small shrub and needs less cacti, io°C (5o°F) or more. But they can quite easily

47
be wintered in the living room, if they are confined to a
reasonable size. If not given this extra heat, they will
lose their leaves and probably wither away. Any good
porous soil, as used for other cacti, will suit them, but
it is best not to let them dry out completely. Cuttings
of pcrcskias, unlike other cacti, can be potted up at
once, without any preliminary drying off.
Amongst the opuntias, the cylindrical ones certainly
have leaves, but these arc far less leaf-like than those of
the other genera we have described. They arc also
cylindrical and appear on the new growth, and whilst
they usually fill as the growth matures, in some species,
such as Opnntia cylindrica and O. subulata, they persist
for most of the year. The latter plant rapidly forms a
tall, robust specimen with leaves up to 5 cm. (2 inches)
or more long.
The traditional flat-padded, segmented opuntias
quite often have small, awl-like leaves on the newly-
formed joints, but these always fall off before the joint
is fully grown. As far as we know, no other cacti have
leaves at all, but being dicotyledons, they all have a
pair of seed-leaves between which the tiny spiny
growth appears, but these very soon shrivel away.
As may be expected, the cotyledons of the opuntias and
their relatives are larger and longer lasting than those Above, Pereshiopsis spallnilata, with thickish leaves, long
of other cacti; in some species they arc almost like those areolar hairs and fine bristly spines
of a cabbage! Below, left, Opnntia subulata, with stout cylindric leaves,
sparse areolar hairs and spines; below, right, Opnntia
vaseyi, showing small awl-like leaves on a young joint and
part of an older joint devoid of leaves (photos: Chapman)

48
Grow the better Mammillarias (2)
by John Pilbeam
with photographs by Bill Weightman and David Hunt

Holding their own with the large-flowered species which they maintain is the correct name for this
described in the first article in this series are some species). Whichever name you prefer, it is a densely
members of the M. wrightii Group. Good-sized seed- spined species with lovelv, variably coloured, fringed
lings of M. wrightii have become available in the last flowers—rarely green as the name implies, more often
year. Knowing how this species can disappear in swift a soft, greenish-pink. The spination is so close to
collapse 1 bought three as an insurance that I might be M. wrightii var. wilcoxii (or M. meridiorosei) as to make
able to keep at least one going by varying their treat- identification of the plants almost impossible until the
ment. They duly flowered and their identity was con- flowers appear, when the colouring and much smaller
firmed with the evening sky pinkish-purple of their flower of M. viridifiora reveal the difference. The names
flowers, 3 or 4 cm. long and wide, mantling the plants M. orestera and M. chavezei have been referred to
royally. The lesser number of radials and single colour M. viridifiora.
petals distinguish this species from M. wrightii var. M. harhata, which is clearly destined to embrace the
wilcoxii (or, if you follow Castettcr, Pierce and variants M. garessii, M. morricalii and M. santaclarensis,
Schwerin; M. meridiorosei) which is similarly large- presents fewer problems in cultivation than the species
flowered but with more radial spines and whose petals discussed above, and will grow rapidly to a size of
have a distinct stripe in the centre of the petal and paler about io cm. or so tall and 5-6 cm. wide, producing
margins. The fruit of this, or these, species is the com- its characteristically centrally placed flowers in abun-
plete opposite of the retained, hidden fruit of the series dance. Apart from variation in the spine colour and
Lottgiflorae, being large and round, purple coloured and count, the three last-mentioned names are indistin-
full of liquid, resembling small grapes. guishable from each other and from M. harhata. They
The smaller flowered members of this Group are occur in different valleys in Chihuahua, sometimes
M. harhata and the ineptly named M. viridifiora (or growing on steep rockfaces in thick moss with just the
according to the trio aforementioned, M. wilcoxii, tip of the plant showing. Steve Brack published an

1 'ariahlc pyjama-stripes
in ,1 /iiifc/i ('/ seedlings
of M. hlossfeldiana
from field-collected
seed (Hunt 8723J
(photo: Hunt)
 M. wrightii
(photo: Weightmmt)

excellent article on his finding of these species in the might be in the running, even with its jumping-cholla
Mammillaria Society journal in 1978. habit of attacking anyone within a foot of it). M.
The M. wrightii Group arc placed in series Ancistra- thornberi is by no means the easiest to grow, having a
canthae. David Hunt divides the rest of the series into habit of drying up in patches, so that the clump of
four Groups based on M. microcarpa, M. dioica, M. finger-size stems it will produce is often marred by the
hutchisoniana and M. schumannii, and there arc one or odd, clinging carcass. As with most in this Scries a
two orphans. It is extremely difficult to be selective, as shallow pan and high shelf treatment seem best. The
the species all have an individual beauty that defies choicest of the Group is for me its namesake M. micro-
grading. Rather like a ladies' beauty contest, my final carpa, coming in a variety of shapes and sizes, but with
choice may not be yours. As a short list I shall choose consistently a beautiful show of largish, pink flowers,
up to three from each Group, with the observation that about 3 or 4 cm. across. Similar cultural treatment to
those left out may well be like Miss World contestants M. thornberi is called for to avoid losing the roots, and
who don't make the final seven: still highly desirable a good-sized clump of its thickish stems is an achieve-
and worth at least close inspection! ment in skill of cultivation.
In the M. microcarpa Group there are two subgroups, In the M. dioica Group the talent is only moderate.
that of M. microcarpa itself, embracing M. grahamii, I must perforce leave weeping behind the scenes
M. oliviac, M. milleri, M. mamierana, M. mazatlanctisis, M. cstebanensis, M. angelensis and M. phitaniana, still
M. occidentalis, M. patonii, M. sheldonii and M. guelde- none of them common in collections, and with no
manniana, and that involving M. mainiae, M. thornberi really outstanding qualities except perhaps difficulty in
and M. yaqucusis. In reverse order, as they say, my obtaining them, which to some, who enjoy the chase
choice would be for M. sheldonii, which presents no for its own sake, will make them a must. And for lack
difficulty in cultivation, and makes in time a handsome of determination M. swinglei is best left out, as the name
clump of stems, with an inclination to redden in full is so often confused with plants of M. sheldonii (M.
light, 12 to 15 radials and one true, usually hooked swinglei usually has bristles in the axils and paler
central spine. There is a straight-spincd form usually flowers). M. dioica itself is an extremely variable species
seen under the name M. mazatlanensis var. monocentra. coming from a vast range as it does, and can be had in
The flowers of this species arc bright pink and large all sorts of sizes and differing strengths of spination; the
(3 cm. or so), so freely produced that a clump in flower stronger spincd forms appeal more to me, but it still
is like a prickly bouquet, a sight to grace the show docs not make the short list. M y only placing from
bench and catch any judge's eye. amongst its allies is M. armillata from the deep south of
M y second choice would be M. thornberi (I find M. Baja California (I must get there sometime), with
yaqucusis not free-flowering in my greenhouse, or it variably coloured spines from yellow with the barest

50
tipping of brown to almost completely black, and with petalled with brown striping on the outer petals,
tubercles consistently tilted upwards. Its flowers are reminiscent of some crocus species. Then M. hutchis-
rather a handicap, being unambitiously small and oniana (syn. M. bullardiana), another liable to collapse
cream-coloured. or go off its roots without a day's notice, but some-
The M. schumannii Group has just three names, all times shooting up so rapidly that you can almost hear
strong contenders. M. schumannii itself (erstwhile it growing, like rhubarb. Its free production of white
Bartschclla) has an individuality difficult to capture in flowers with again prominent stigmas make it a show-
words: maybe it is the large pink flowers or the cream stopper. But the accolade for this Group and perhaps
and blackish-brown tipped spines, or the set of the the whole Scries, falls to M. blossfcldiana (surely to
tubercles in well-defined rows of milky-green. It is a disappear under the prior, but less showy flowered
lovely species to grow and rewards good treatment. M. goodridgii), which comes in two forms, either with
All the same, I fear it will not win its Group, because a short-columnar habit but heavily clustering with a
of its rivals, M. insularis and M. boolii, inevitably to be yellow cast to the radial spines and blackish-brown
merged under the prior name M. insularis, since they centrals, or low-growing, smaller headed, with creamy-
arc probably one and the same species which has white radial spines and almost black centrals. The
developed a mainland form (M. boolii) and an island flowers on both are deep pink striped on white, like
form (M. insularis). M. boolii is arguably the better, old-fashioned pyjamas, and smother the plants with
with generally larger flowers and readier growth. It their wide open homage to the sun.
will sometimes swallow its emerging buds, but a good Moving on to the Series Stylothelae, we have for a
light position and ample water while the buds develop start a plethora of names, which more than one
seems to ensure their final appearance, covering the authority has suggested arc badly in need of revision.
body of the plant with their exuberance. But until the necessary steps arc taken, preferably
The M. hutchisoniana Group consisting of probably physically in habitat, to determine their relationship,
only five species presents no problems since M. capensis we have here some of the most attractivcly-spincd
is almost unobtainable (correctly named) and very Mammillaria species to grow. Their flowers arc freely
difficult to grow, as I know to my chagrin. M.frailcana produced, but not noted for their size or intensity of
is about in collections and not too difficult, but docs not colour.
really inspire me with its tangle of spines and whitish- They all have their own individual beauty, but for
pink flowers. This leaves three: M. louisiae, notoriously me M. pennispinosa, with its complete covering of
difficult to keep going for any number of years, and heavily pubescent spines is the doyenne of the Group,
making small clusters eventually with modest spination with var. nazasensis (if variety it is) coming a close
and a free show of large, funnel-shaped flowers with second. The latter seems more readily to grow into a
prominent brown (occasionally green) stigmas, white fair-sized clump filling a 15 cm. (6 inch) pan in a few

M. boolii
(photo: Weightman)

51
A plant of the M. zeilmanniana group collected by David Hunt in 1974 near the borders of Sinaloa and Durango and tentatively
identified as M. guillauminiana Backeb. (Hunt 8779) (photo: Weightman)

years, with its more flattened growth, compared with Hunt as M. guillauminiana, described by Backeberg in
the downy, golf ball size of individual heads of M. 1952.
pennispinosa, which in my experience takes many years The M. wildii Group in the Series Stylothelae has
to make a goodly clump. Other gems in the Group are less serious contenders for bench-space I find, and for
M. mercadensis, with a stunning combination of reddish many years I admit I have not seriously grown a plant
central spines with shell-pink flowers of more substance of M. wildii, which is high on my list of contenders for
than most related species; M. bombycina, well-known on the most boring Mammillaria species. I hasten to add
the show benches in massive clumps 18 inches or more that I gave a superb specimen 'Best plant in Show' some
across, has tremendous appeal with copious wool time ago to the complete bewilderment of some
setting off the attractive, long, hooked red-brown or believers in the cactus adage that 'only rare or new to
brownish-yellow central spines—the latter coloration cultivation wins prizes'. But there are better potential
by the way seems to be more free with its flowers; and contenders for both bench space in shows and in the
M. moellerana, unusually for the Group, usually staying enthusiast's glasshouse, and one is a form of M. bocasana
solitary, with a dense array of radials and centrals in available recently under the name 'var. multilanatd, and
either red-brown or golden-yellow, a good deal without going into the plethora of sins covered by the
thicker than other species in this Series, and ring after name M. bocasana, this for me is the most attractive
ring of pale yellpw flowers, and (I am told) there is a form seen, with dense wool completely obscuring the
form with pink flowers. plant body. The only other in this Group I have a place
Everyone must be familiar with M. zeilmanniana, for, as much in memory of years of faithfully produced
in either its purple-pink or white-flowered form, such spring show of multitudes of dusky pink flowers, is
a commonly produced florist's plant. Look out for the M. erythrosperma, not stunningly spined, but so generous
clones with a generous share of petals in two or three with its subtlely coloured flowers as to carry off prizes
layers. A similar but more unusual plant from further for 'best exhibit' at local spring shows dominated by
north in Mexico is tentatively identified by David daffodils—to the fury of the daffodil growers!

52
Notes from Members than 'growth form' earlier in this note.)
T o complicate matters, the I C N C P states that the
Nomenclature o f fasciated plants English terms cultivar and variety arc exact equivalents
from Len Newton (Art. 10). However, a distinction is made between a
In a recent issue of this Journal, D. C. Speirs (1979) 'botanical variety' (varictas) and a 'variety (in the sense
wrote that cristate and monstrose plants are not varieties, of cultivated variety)'. Thus wc have the unfortunate
but forms or cultivars. This statement is not entirely situation in which the English word variety has two
correct. meanings. The English word variety is therefore
When fasciated plants arc featured in books and acceptable when referring to a cultivar, but not as part
journals they are often referred to by the latinized of the name denoting rank. As with the term form,
epithet cristata or monstrosa. This practice gives the however, I would suggest that the term variety is best
plants trinomials. Often no rank is indicated, as in the avoided in a text involving discussion of nomenclature,
example Cereus peruvianas monstrosus. When the rank unless the sense in which it is used is clearly stated.
is shown, it is usually forma, as in Mawmillaria oemiui-
spina f. cristata, though sometimes the rank varictas is References
used. GILMOUR, J. S. L., ct alia. (1969). International Code of
The use of a Latin trinomial for fasciated plants is Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants—1969. I.A.P.T.,
contrary to the International Code of Botanical Nomen- Utrecht.
clature (ICBN). Article 71 of the Code states: 'a name MCVAUGH, R., ct alia. (1968). An annotated glossary of
is to be rejected if it is based on a monstrosity'. A botanical nomenclature. I.A.P.T., Utrecht.
monstrosity is a plant exhibiting an abnormal structural SPEIRS, D. C. (1979). The wordy wars of nomenclature
condition (McVaugh ct al., 1968). Thus Article 71 and other horror stories. Cact.Succ.J.Gt.Brit. 4 1 :
clearly excludes the use of a botanical name for a 81-82.
cristate or a monstrose plant, other than the binomial STAFLEU, F. A., ct alia. (1972). International Code of
of the species (which would be based on a plant of Botanical Nomenclature. I.A.P.T., Utrecht.
normal growth habit).
L. E. Newton
Whilst they are relatively rare in the wild, cristate and
University of Science & Technology
monstrose plants of many species of succulent plants
Kumasi
have become widespread in cultivation as a result of
Ghana
vegetative propagation. Such plants arc cultivars, and
those which arc sufficiently distinctive to warrant a Help sought f r o m cristate collectors
name should be named in accordance with the Inter- and other monstrose enthusiasts
national Code of Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants from Wim Vanmaelc
(ICNCP), i.e. they should be given cultivar names. Sir, Lady,
N e w cultivar names must be in a modem language. As a teacher of biology and chemistry, and as a
If a Latin version of 'cristate' or 'monstrose' was pub- cactaccac-amateur, I decide, with some colleagues at
lished as a cultivar name before 1959 it can still be used, school and other amateurs of our union, to make a study
but if published at any time as varietas or forma, it about cristatisnie and monstruosisnie by cactaceae and/or
contravenes Art. 71 of the ICBN and cannot be used. succulents. It is in this perspect that I write you this
It is not my intention to precipitate a flood of new letter. It is so, that without help of anyone, this project
cultivar names to fill the pages of future issues of the is due to be a disaster!
Journal. However, it might be useful to publish cultivar Which kind of help can you give m e ; Well, the
names for the relatively few distinctive fasciated plants following! At the moment, I'm making an inventory
which retain their character (i.e. do not revert to normal of all the kinds of existing cristatcs. So, I like to get
growth habit), and which have become common in following information:
cultivation. Otherwise, reference should be made (1) The name of cristates.
simply to a cristate (or monstrose) plant of a particular (2) The name and the address of the owner.
species. (3) The date of which he got that cristate, and the last
W h a t I have said so far docs not disagree with the date that he had that cristate or if he still posses
statement by Speirs. W e part company over his use of that cristate?
the terms 'form' and 'variety'. Varietas and forma are (4) Is it a cultureplant or an import;
listed as taxonomic ranks in Article 4 of the ICBN. (5) Was it won by seed or by shoots; Grafted or on
Therefore, neither can be used for fasciated plants or own root;
any other kind of cultivar. Unless it is used in its I need all this information for scientific accountability
strictly correct taxonomic sense, as an infraspecific rank, and justification, but be sure, the address and the name
it is best to avoid using the term 'form' when discussing of the owners will rest secret and only known by me.
plants in any context involving nomenclature. (For this This rule will be rigourously respected. By publication
reason I have used the expression 'growth habit' rather of the results and thus, the inventory, only the name of

53
the cristate and the land of appearance will be mentioned. initially disconcerting, it is extremely unlikely that the
If you are interest, you can also get gratuitous that presence of the fungus could in any way harm the
publication of the results. (First appearance not before rightful occupant of the pot, so its occasional appear-
19S1) Also, I'm even looking after fotographs ofcristatcs ance should perhaps be regarded as an interesting bonus!
and cristateflowcrs with it, if possible, the information
as asked for the inventory. Can you help mc in these; References
REA, C. (1922). British Basidiomycctac. Cambridge
Please, will you spread and communicate this message
University Press. 799 pp.
to all members of your cactaceac-union, and even to
WAKEFIELD, E. M. & DENNIS, R. W . G. (1950) C o m m o n
every cactaceac-amateur or unions you know, so that
this study may be successful; The asked information British Fungi. Gawthorne, London. 290 pp.
may be send to the added address. Postscript
I hope that you'll understand that this help is essential Cacti arc not alone in suffering from the attentions o
and that this study is made without a lucrative point of taxonomists! Since the above was written I have
vieuw. In expectation of a goodwill and a good and learned that Lepiota hitca is n o w more properly called
quick answer, I thank you cardial. Leucocoprinus bimbaumii (Corda) Singer. A fuller
Faithfully yours, description appears in Peglcr, D.N., A Preliminary
W i m Vanmaclc Agaric Flora of East Africa, in Kew Bull. Additional
Zaadcommissaris 'Grusonia' ser. 6:317(1977).
Regent aardrijkskundc-wctcnschappen
Kastanjclaan 6 R. B. Pearce,
B8060 Wingcnc-Zwcvezelc Department of Forestry, University of Oxford,
Belgium Commonwealth Forestry Institute,
South Park Road, Oxford O X i 3RB.
A n unexpected interloper
from Ray Pearce
Some four years ago m y wife obtained a cutting of an
indeterminate, flat-padded, species of Optnitia. This has
now grown into a fairly large plant, growing in a
mixture containing a high proportion of a soil-less
compost (Levingtons), in an 8-inch plastic pot. During
July, when this plant was kept on the window-ledge of
a very hot kitchen, I was surprised to find that a small,
wholly sulphur-vellow toadstool had appeared on the
compost in this pot.
The cap (pileus) was c.30 m m in diameter, thin-
fleshed, and covered with minute scales. The stalk
(stipe) was c.50 m m high and 5 m m thick, with a
bulbous base and a membranous ring about half-way
up. Development from a yellow button on the compost
surface to eventual collapse took five or six days. A
total of four such fruiting bodies (sporophorcs) were
produced over a period of a few weeks in this pot. The
fungus was identified as Lepiota hitea (Bolt.) Quel.
Though not described in many of the recent books on
mushrooms and toadstools, it is mentioned by Rea
(1922), w h o gives its habitat as 'on coconut fibre in
greenhouses. . . . Not uncommon', and Wakefield and
Dennis (1950), w h o describe it as 'a delicate, sulphur-
yellow species sometimes seen in greenhouses'.
Though not common, it docs periodically occur
amongst cactus collections; I have seen it once before,
some years ago, in a pan of Echinocereus—again in soil-
less compost, I believe. O n this occsion the owner of
the plant rapidly destroyed the fungus on sight. L. hitca
grows saprophytically on the fibrous components of
the compost—presumably the peat of a modern soil- Interloper: Lepiota Itttea, alias Leucocoprinus bimbaumii,
less compost makes an adequate substitute for the coco- growing with an Opnntia in Ray Pearce's collection and
nut fibre used early in the century. Though perhaps blissfully ignorant of matters taxonomkal (see postscript)

54
Seed-raising Temperature and t i m i n g
Careful tests on germination of cactus seeds have been
by John Pilbeam conducted, which show that 20°C (70°F) is the optimum
temperature for germination. At this temperature
maximum germination is achieved; the further away
Ideas about raising our plants from seed have from the optimum the lower the rate of success.
changed radically (no pun intended) over the last ten Provided this sort of level can be maintained for a good
or twenty years, so that the advice so often followed deal of the time at least, the time of year for sowing is
from general books of any age at all seems positively not crucial, except that in Britain the low light levels in
archaic. Much of the advice in such well-meaning deep winter will often lead to etiolation of the seedlings
chapters on propagation has been proved not beneficial unless they are kept near to the glass. I favour March
to production of the plants in any quantity or at all for onwards for sowing, with early August about the latest
the more difficult species to raise. For instance, we now time for most, in order that a good sized seedling may
know that: be obtained before winter.
* plastic containers give better moisture control.
* darkness is not essential for germination, and it is Moisture
positively deleterious not to give a good amount There is no doubt in my mind that this is the major
of light once germination has been achieved. change in growing techniques over the last 20 years or
* a very high temperature (8o°F plus) reduces the so, which has led to the increase in so many and varied
percentage of germination, as does a low tem- seedlings appearing for sale these days. The old shib-
perature. boleth of removal of the glass covering soon after
* the glass or plastic covering does not need to be germination, has killed more aspiring young seedlings
raised or removed as soon as germination has than any other misguided piece of advice, and some of
taken place. the most successful growers n o w enclose their seeds
* nor docs it need to be turned or removed each day completely in polythene for the first 3, 6 or even 12
to get rid of the condensation formed. months after sowing. One pot of Ariocarpus seedlings
Containers toted around to talks to illustrate the point was in its
It is many years since I sowed seed in open trays with polythene bag for about three years before the demise
strips of plastic dividing the surface into squares like a of one or two prompted the owner to open it up—and
seed-testing plot at Carters and numbers on tiny squares they were beautiful little seedlings. If completely sealed
of label like impersonal gravestones marking each plot of course water ng is almost unnecessary, but a careful
in an infuriatingly uninformative way. I n o w sow in check on the moistur : cvel should be kept if evapora-
5 cm. (2 inch) individual square BEF pots, 28 of which tion is at all possible, to replenish the supply and keep
fit nicely into BEF's deep seed trays with enough air the compost damp—not soggy. An occasional watering
space above the pots to allow the overall covering of or spray with a copper fungicide and a mild insecticide
glass or plastic to stay put for some time. The advan- should prevent damping off and any pests, the worst
tages over the former method are many. The stronger of which is the recent one to cactus growers, the Sciara
growing species do not vie for space above and below fly. Dare I say it comes sometimes already in the bags of
ground, and can be removed to less cosseted (though compost you buy, so keep an eye out for these skinny
still enclosed) conditions, io°C (5o°F) being sufficient black flies, smaller than fruit flies and slow flying to the
for continued good growth. Apart from the satisfaction point that you can catch them without the quickness
of seeing immediately what is coming up and what is of eye of a slip-fielder. But this method of disposal,
not, when individual labels with the names on are used although satisfying is not to be relied on, and Malathion
from the start (Dunlop Self-lay floor tiles cut up into or a systemic insecticide is recommended, from time to
small strips are cheap), there is less likelihood with the time.
individual pots, of the plants invading each other's
territory, especially when sowing the seed, which I Light
find takes offlikc Barnes Wallis's bouncing bomb at the Although subdued light (or none at all) is all right for
least opportunity. germination, these plants must have light immediately
they have germinated, and quite strong light is neces-
Compost sary for strong, compact growth. Light shading from
The compost I favour is half-a-pot depth of soil-less direct sunlight is ideal.
compost topped by an equal mix of soil-less, John Innes
potting compost and gritty sand. O n top of this I use Pricking out and overwintering
a coarse grit top dressing, which gives the young roots The seedlings may be pricked out (moved on) into
much needed protection in the first few days and helps shallow seed trays after about three months, or some
prevent caking of the surface and moss and algae growers prefer to leave them until the following spring
formation. If pricked out early, the compost around the tiny roots

55
should be disturbed as little as possible, and a 'friable' T H E C A C T U S & S U C C U L E N T S O C I E T Y OF
state of both the compost from which and that to which GREAT BRITAIN
the seedlings arc being moved should be aimed at,
i.e. not very wet and not very dry. They may be placed
Report of the Council
quite close together, say 2 cm. (f inch) apart, and for the year ended
moved on again when they almost touch each other,
usually the next spring. If a temperature of I3°C
31st December 1979
It is pleasant to be able to report that the upsurge in Member-
(55°F) or higher can be easily maintained the seedlings ship reported last year has continued and that the various
may be grown on through the first winter, but other- changes in and the consolidation of our organizational arrange-
wise they are best kept almost completely dry with an ments appear to have paid off. It would seem appropriate at
occasional overhead spray on fine days. this point to extend Council's thanks to Jackie Panter for her
efforts during the time that she acted as Membership Secretary
and to record our regret that she has found it necessary to
relinquish the post.
ISI Plant List for 1980 The Annual General Meeting held on the 24th March was
the first of our organized meetings in 1979 and whilst not quite
The non-profit International Succulent Institute deserve so well attended as that of the previous year it provided a
high praise for their impressive 1980 offering of sought- good opportunity for our members to meet and exchange
views both prior to the meeting and during the tea interval
after plants. Amongst the 62 varieties available there is and we are grateful to Dr. Bird for arranging the venue of the
something for everyone, be it the latest discovery, as meeting for us at Queen Elizabeth College and for the excellent
yet undescribed, or the rare and previously unobtainable tea which he and his mother arranged for those present.
that you have only ever seen pictures of. Heading the list Gordon Rowley and David Minnion rounded off this event
with illustrated lectures on 'The Biology of Succulents' and
are names such as Alluaudia procera, Echeveria laui, 'Arizona' respectively. This meeting was followed by a
Mammillaria carmenae, M. laui fa. dasyacantha and successful 'Bring & Buy' evening at the RHS in May when
Xerosicyos dangui, and there are lots of recently-named many plants—several of them less common and newer varieties
Asclepiads and Euphorbias for those w h o like to keep —came under the hammer. This event will be repeated in 1980.
Many of the Society's Members visited the NCSS National
up with the times. Prices range from $3 to $12 U S . Show at Luton in late August coming by coach from some
It is very pleasing to see these choice succulents put areas or by other means where the membership was thinner
within reach of the collector through rapid and skilful on the ground. This event lived up to its past high standard
propagation techniques, especially as it should help to and must certainly have been the highlight of all Cactophiles'
Show Year. W e mounted a publicity display on this occasion
reduce the risk to the species in the wild. Furthermore, and this was instrumental in securing thirty-three new members.
all the plants listed are well-documented as to wild Turning to our o w n Shows, these were notable more for
source and mode of propagation, so that most merit a the quality of the plants on display than the number of entries.
rating of C on Gordon Rowley's scale (sec CSJGB 4 1 : Both Summer and Autumn Shows drew a good attendance
and business was decidedly brisk on the Trade Stands. Mrs.
7-9. 1979); indeed some score a B, e.g. Caralluma Hodgson has been an able and efficient Show Secretary for
sarkariae as cuttings taken from a plant originating from many years and Council is very sorry to see the end of her
the type locality, or even A, for actual clonotypes, e.g. reign in that capacity but she certainly deserves a well-earned
Euphorbia malevola. Hopefully, members purchasing rest and she leaves with a very warm Thank You for her
untiring efforts. Council decided during the year that as an
these interesting species will endeavour to record the experiment no London Shows would be staged in 1980 but
data supplied, and thereby establish some botanical as a result of a protest from a group of some thirty-five m e m -
value in their collections since, w h o knows when bers it was re-considered and there will now be one Show in
certain of these will next become available; This October 1980. Mr. Bowdery has agreed to be the new Show
Secretary and Dr. Bird, Mrs. Ellis and Mrs. Maddams will
particularly applies to plants from countries such as form the Show Committee along with the Show Secretary.
Madagascar, e.g. Aloe capitata var. gneissicola, Euphorbia O u r o w n Society's highlight must surely have been the
cntcrophora and Pachypodium lamerci var. ratnosum, all two-day event at the Dolphin & Anchor Hotel, Chichester,
derived from collections originally made by Rauh. on October 20th and 21st. First-class organization by the
Chairman and his wife and David Hunt ensured smooth
Requests for the list and orders should be addressed running of the whole programme of Lectures, many of which
to N . E. Wilbraham, 7 Marlborough Drive, Maccles- were illustrated with high quality slides, and the Annual
field, Cheshire SK10 2JX, England, or to Jay Dodson, Dinner on the Saturday evening. Prof. Werner Rauh from
10 Corte Sombrita, Orinda, Calif. 94563, USA. Heidelberg was our Guest of Honour at the dinner and gave
us a fine lecture during the week-end. A m o n g other distin-
guished speakers were Dr. Roberto Kiesling from the Argen-
IOS Congress in M e x i c o tine, John Lavranos from S. Africa, Gordon Rowley, Bill
Maddams, T o n y Mace and Keith Mortimer, to name but a
The biennial IOS Congress was held in Mexico at the
few. Council wishes to thank both the Organizers and the
end of March and attended by several of our members. various Speakers for making the event such a success coupled
Will Tjaden, w h o was elected an IOS member at the with grateful thanks to Mr. Miller for the loan of high class
Congress, has promised a full report for our next issue projection equipment. Hardly had we returned from this
of what he calls 'a hugely enjoyable experience'. Nigel week-end when we were further treated to the first of a scries
of colour-covered Journals and no less than three more half-
Taylor was also elected a member of lOS, bringing the page colour illustrations inside. Congratulations to our Editor,
number of members resident in Britain to 28. David Hunt, on a magnificent achievement.

56
 Discussions have taken place during the course of the year members and the various Speakers and Show Organizers and
between the Officers of this Society and their Counterparts in all the Society's Branch Officials who have assisted in any way
the National at two separate meetings with a view to exploring with the organization of the Society or the stewarding of its
the possibility of publishing a joint Journal. It was recognized, Shows.
in principle, that this could offer considerable advantages in R. H. I. READ
providing a larger and better Journal more economically. Hon. Secretary
These favourable discussions have encouraged further contact TREASURER'S REPORT
and the practical problems involved will be examined in detail The net gain in the number of subscribers, which is the truest
during 1980. indicator of the Society's fortunes, was a healthy 10% in
Council was pleased to welcome Dr. Bird, Mrs. Pritchard 1979, but this was not sufficient to offset increases in basic
and Paul Sherville to its midst and wishes to pay tribute to printing and postage costs of 2 7 ^ % and 1 5 % respectively.
Mrs. Whicher for her past services. W e are also pleased to The deficit recorded on the year's account is not, however,
record the appointment of Nigel Taylor as Assistant Editor entirely what it seems, since our expenditure included payment
and hope that this will take some of the load off our over- of t w o late bills from 1978 (amounting to about £200) and
worked Editor/Treasurer. payment of about £ 5 0 0 for Journal covers in colour printed
Sales of Publicity items, which have been enlarged this year in readiness for 1980. Furthermore, we had not received
by the introduction of Tee Shirts, continue to flourish together payment by the end of the year of various sums due to us
with the Seeds Sales and Distribution under the watchful eyes amounting to over £ 2 0 0 . N e w stock purchased (badges,
of Mesdames Maddams and Boote respectively. Thanks must envelopes, membership cards), the experimental colour section
also be extended to Dr. Smale for his continued work as in the November Journal, and subsidies to the Chichester
Seeds Purchasing Officer and to the Members of the Warring- meeting and seed distribution, all contributed to unusually
ton Branch for packeting this year's seeds for the Society. heavy expenditure during the year and accounts which give a
W e are sorry that our President, Arthur Boarder, has not falsely pessimistic picture.
enjoyed the best of health this year and was unable to attend The increased subscription rates approved by Council for
any of our Meetings or Functions. W e send him our Best 1980 should cushion the effect of continuing rapid inflation,
Wishes and also to his wife who has recently undergone a and I anticipate that our investment in colour printing in the
major operation. May they both have a better year in 1980. Journal will help to widen its appeal.
Council wishes to conclude by offering its sincere thanks D. R. HUNT
to all the senior and junior officials of the Society, to its o w n Hon. Treasurer
E X P E N D I T U R E A N D RECEIPTS
F O R T H E Y E A R E N D I N G 31st D E C E M B E R 1979
EXPENDITURE RECEIPTS
1978 1979 1978 1979
£ £ £ £
3202.92 Journal: printing, etc. .. .. 5332.11 Subscriptions for year:
450.60 Journal: postage and handling . . 713.00 1018.93 Paid in advance .. .. 392.23
206.35 Officers'postage, etc. .. .. 160.42 2948.91 Paid during year .. .. 4014.22
177.87 Printing, stationery .. .. 364.07
40.91 R.H.S. Affiliation fee and hire of 3967.84 4406.45
rooms .. .. .. .. 22.37 Journal sales:
144.71 Seed purchases, packeting .. 302.32 727.24 Back numbers . . .. .. 729.92
— Grant to new branch .. .. 28.50 207.80 Offprints .. .. .. 156-45
178.80 Show expenses and engraving . . 181.66 270.00 Advertising .. .. .. 264.00
195.16 Annual dinner and Chichester 72.50 Journal donations . . .. .. 201.00
meeting . . .. .. .. 607.58 49.82 Booklet sales .. .. .. 83.44
253.05 Society Sales items, new stock 125.50 Seed sales . . .. .. .. 128.85
purchased .. .. .. 264.60 185.40 Raffle and plant sales .. .. 161.68
18.35 Sundries and refunds .. .. 50.29 227.66 Society Sales items .. .. 269.19
— Returned cheques . . .. .. 16.00 192.00 Annual dinner and Chichester
meeting fees .. .. .. 491.00
4868.72 8042.92 37.65 Donations . . .. .. .. 50.50
Deficit (surplus 1978) carried to 91.98 Sundry receipts .. .. .. 189.67
1336.67 balance sheet .. .. (900.84) — Building Society interest . . .. 9.93
50.00 Shurly Bequest .. .. .. —
6205.39 7142.08
6205.39 7142.08

B A L A N C E S H E E T 31st D E C E M B E R 1979
Accumulated funds: 3777-70 Cash at Barclays Bank and in hand 800.00
815.81 Balance at 1.1.79 .. .. 2152.48 — Halifax Building Society . . .. 2509.93
Deduct deficit for year .. 900.84
1336.67 (Add surplus, 1978) 2702.71 3309.93

2152.48 1251.64 Audited and found correct: J. S. KEESING, D, PHILCOX,

Current liabilities: Hon. Auditors.
392.23 Subscriptions in advance .. 2058.29 D. R. H U N T , Hon. Treasurer.
158.00 Advertisements pre-paid .. •—

2702.71 3309-93
Forthcoming Events Succulents other than Cacti
13. Three Euphorbias (P. V. Collings Cup).
14. Three Crassulas in pots not exceeding 4^ inches.
Visit o f D e s m o n d C o l e 15. O n e plant in Asclepiadaceae.
Professor Cole, the Lithops specialist, will be in England 16. T w o plants in Liliaceae.
in June, and will be lecturing in Coventry and London. 17. O n e specimen Succulent.
18. Three Succulents (Joan Farrow Memorial Cup).
He will give t w o talks at Coventry, on the afternoon 19. Six South African Succulents in pots not exceeding 4I
and evening of Saturday, 21 June, on Lithops in habitat inches diameter (Mrs. Pryke Howard Cup).
and variation in Lithops. Please write or phone Bill 20. Three Conophytums and/or Ophthalmophyllums.
Keen, 8 Stonehouse Close, Cubbington, Leamington 21. Three Lithops.
22. Six stemless Mesembryanthemums (Denton Medal).
Spa CV32 7LP (tel. Leamington Spa 29702), for details
23. Succulents raised from seed by the exhibitor on or after
of time and place. The London talk on Friday, 27 June, 1 January 1977 in a container not exceeding 18 by 18 inches.
will be at the Dental Hospital, Leicester Square, at
Intermediate Classes (for those who have not w o n a first
7 p.m., details from Bill Tree, 4 Harvel Avenue,
prize in the open classes for cacti or other succulents at any
Rochester, Kent ME2 3JU (tel. Medway 70204). Show organized by the Society or its Branches).
24. Three Cacti in pots not exceeding 6 inches diameter.
Open Days 25. Three Other Succulents in pots not exceeding 6 inches
diameter.
The Editors' collection (principally Mammillarias!) will
be on view to members on Sunday afternoon, 15 June, N o v i c e Classes (for those w h o have not w o n any First prize
at 64 Mincing Lane, Chobham, near W o k i n g , Surrey. except for miniature garden or Junior classes in any Show
organized by the Society or its Branches).
Please notify David Hunt, 67 Gloucester Court, Kew
26. Three Cacti in pots not exceeding 5 inches diameter.
Road, Richmond, Surrey T W 9 3EA, if y o u wish to 27. Three Other Succulents in pots not exceeding 5 inches
attend and receive directions for reaching the Chobham diameter.
venue.
General Classes
The Chairman and Mrs. Maddams will be 'At H o m e ' 28. One Cactus and One Other Succulent in pots not exceeding
to members a fortnight later on Sunday afternoon, 6 inches diameter.
29 June, from 3-6 p.m. Please let them k n o w if you 29. Miniature Garden of Cacti and/or Other Succulents
arranged for decorative effect (Pullen Cup).
plan to make the visit. The address is 26 Glenfield Road,
30. Group of Cacti and/or Other Succulents arranged for
Banstead, Surrey (tel. Burgh Heath 54036). decorative effect, to cover a space not exceeding 18 inches
square (William Denton Memorial Trophy).
London Show, 4 October
Details of the Cactus Groups and Succulent families
As reported in the last issue, there is to be one Society
can be found in the Society's new 'Guide to Genera for
Show in 1980 and this will be held at the n o w usual
Show purposes', price 35p including postage from the
venue, St. Saviour's Hall, St. George's Square, Pimlico,
Publicity Officer, Mrs. Maddams.
on Saturday, 4 October, from 2.0-5.15 p.m. Admission
will be 20p (children iop), exhibitors with five or more
entries free. Schedules will be available from the Show
Secretary: Mr. D . Bowdery, 14 Callander Road,
Branch Activities
Catford SE6 2QD—please send a self-addressed Items for inclusion in the next Issue must
stamped envelope, or from Branch Secretaries. reach the Editors no later than 27 June.
As the schedule has been amended to include popular Essex
classes from the t w o previously held shows the class Secretary: F. Braun, 63 Heighams Road, East Ham E6 2JJ.
details are printed below: Meeting Place : Room A3 (film room), Little llford Comprehen-
sive School, Church Road, Manor Park, London E.12.
Time: 1st Saturday in month, 7 for 7.30 p.m.
Cacti Future events:
1. Six Cacti (Ibbotson C u p ; this is the class for large specimen 7 June Show discussion and plant auction
cacti from a selection of genera). 5 July Epiphytic cacti
2. Three plants from the Mammillaria and/or Coryphantha 2 August Talk by Jack Taylor
and,or Thelocactus groups. 6 September Members' Slide Evening
3. Six plants from the Mammillaria group in pots not ex-
ceeding 4J inches diameter. North London
Secretary: Roger Day, 50 Admiral's Walk, Hoddesdon, Herts,
4. O n e Mammillaria (Sarah Cutler Cup). tel. no. Hoddesdon (STD Code from London: 61) 69521.
5. O n e Astrophytum. Meeting Place: Capel Manor Primary School, Bullsmoor
6. O n e Notocactus and one Parodia. Lane, Enfield.
7. T w o Gymnocalyciums and/or Weingartias. Time : 3rd Friday in month, 7.30 p.m.
8. Three plants in Echinocactus Group (Luty Wells Cup).
9. Three plants in Echinocactus Group in pots not exceeding North S u r r e y
3 \ inches in diameter. Secretary: W. F. Maddams, 26 Glenfield Road, Banstead,
Surrey SM7 2DG.
10. O n e plant in Cereus group. Meeting Place: Adult School, Benhill Avenue, Sutton.
11. Cacti raised from seed by the exhibitor on or after Time: 1st Tuesday in month, 7.45 p.m.
1 January 1977 in a container not exceeding 15 by 15 inches Future events:
(Shurly Cup). 3 June Branch Restricted Competition
12. Four cacti in pots not exceeding 6 inches diameter. (Judges: Dr. and Mrs. Smale)

58
I July Echeverias (Geoff S o u t h o n ) Derbyshire
29 July My favourite plants (Derek Stevenson) A b b e y B r o o k C a c t u s N u r s e r y , Old Hackney Lane, Matlock,
6 September Carshalton Cactus and Honey Show Derbyshire. Tel. no. Matlock (0629) 55360. Open every afternoon
A s the L o n d o n B o r o u g h of S u t t o n are no longer able t o run 2-6 except Tuesday (closed all day). List free on request, s t a m p
the Carshalton S h o w , within w h i c h for many years the Branch appreciated. Mail order catalogue illustrated in colour lists over
has held its s h o w s , a new venture is being tried. On Saturday, 1700 species of nursery-grown cacti and other succulent plants.
6 September, at the Grove Hall, Carshalton, there is to be the
Carshalton Cactus and Honey Show. North Surrey are running
t h i s in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e Carshalton Society of Beekeepers. Nottinghamshire
The classes will be open to all so if you are interested in having Carlton Forest C a c t i , Carlton Forest, Blyth Road, W o r k s o p ,
a schedule please contact Mrs. Maddams. Notts. S81 0TP. T e l . no. W o r k s o p (0909) 731642. A l m o s t always
open but please telephone to avoid d i s a p p o i n t m e n t . S.A.E. for
Warrington & District list. Mainly cacti, very few s u c c u l e n t s .
S e c r e t a r y : Mrs. D. P r i t c h a r d , 8 1 Birdwell Drive, Great Sankey, W o o d s i d e Nurseries (Stuart Dixon), 173 Main St., Burton
W a r r i n g t o n , tel. no. Penketh (092572) 4699. Joyce, Notts. Tel. no. Burton Joyce (060231) 2142. Closed M o n -
M e e t i n g P l a c e : Meeting Lane Leisure Centre, Penketh, days, open 10-4.30 other days. S.A.E. for list. N u r s e r y - g r o w n
Warrington. seedlings, specimen plants.
Future e v e n t s :
I I June Members' mini-talks, i n c l u d i n g one on
showing S o u t h H u m b e r s i d e & Lincolnshire
29 J u n e Second A n n u a l Show S o u t h f i e l d Nurseries (B. Goodey), L o u t h Road, Holton-le-Clay,
( J u d g e : Keith Grantham) Grimsby, S o u t h H u m b e r s i d e DN36 5HL. Tel. no. G r i m s b y
9 July Hooked-spine Mammillarias (0472) 822157. Open daily 10-5 (closed for lunch 12.30-1.30).
(Robert Holt) Send stamp for list. S e e d - g r o w n c a c t i , L i t h o p s , s u c c u l e n t s .
13 A u g u s t W h i t e - s p i n e d plants ( W . Sykes)
Glenhirst C a c t i (N.C. & S.A. Bell), Station Road, S w i n e h e a d ,
T h e S h o w is open to all members of the Society and will be
near B o s t o n , Lines. T e l . no. Swineshead (020582) 314. Open
held at Padgate C o m m u n i t y Centre, W a r r i n g t o n . If anyone
most days ('phone call advisable if travelling far t o ensure
w o u l d like a schedule, please contact the Secretary, Daphne
someone available). S.A.E. for list. L i t h o p s , Epiphyllums
Pritchard.
Asclepiadaceae.
The Branch will also be staging displays at various local
S h o w s and libraries during the summer. J u m a n e r y C a c t i (June & T o m Jenkins), St. Catherine's
Lodge, Cranesgate Road.Whaplode St. Catherine, Nr. S p a l d i n g ,
Wirral Lines PE12 6SR. Tel. no. Holbeach St. J o h n s (040634) 373.
S e c r e t a r y : Mrs. I. Boote, 110 M o u n t Pleasant Road, Wallasey, Open 9-5 Sunday-Friday, closed Saturday. S.A.E. for list
Merseyside L45 5HU, tel. no. Wallasey (051639) 4305.
M e e t i n g P l a c e : T h e Grange, Grove Road, Wallasey. Norfolk
T i m e : 3rd T h u r s d a y in m o n t h , 7.45-10.30 p.m.
Future events: Richard & W e n d y E d g i n t o n , T h e V i n e s , 2 Green Man Lane,
19 June M e m b e r s ' night (including grafting) Kirstead, N o r w i c h , Norfolk NR15 1EP. T e l . no. Brooke (0508)
17 July Cactus literature ( J . A r r o w s m i t h ) 58113. Open most m o r n i n g s and weekends. S.A.E. for list.
21 A u g u s t W i n t e r care of your plants (Dr. R. A l l c o c k ) Seedling cactus plants 35p upwards.
B a r l e y f i e l d S u c c u l e n t P l a n t Nursery (Victor & Heather
Graham), S o u t h b u r g h , T h e t f o r d . Norfolk. T e l . n o . Dereham
Nursery List (0362) 820457. Nearly always o p e n , but t e l e p h o n e call appre-
ciated. S.A.E. for list. 'Other' s u c c u l e n t s , handmade plant pots.
Nurserymen and others who regularly offer Gloucestershire
plants or seeds for sale are listed below as a W . G. Geissler, 1 Lyefield Road, C h a r l t o n K i n g s , C h e l t e n h a m
service to members, but this does NOT imply GL53 8 B A . Tel. no. Cheltenham (0242) 517846. Open weekends
and evenings, No list, no orders by post, but visitors very
the Society's approval or recommendation of welcome in C o t s w o l d c o u n t r y .
plants or other goods offered. P. S t r o n g , Green Mead, Green Lane, C h e d w o r t h , C h e l t e n h a m
GL54 4 A R . Tel. no. Fossebridge (028572) 581. S u r p l u s s e e d -
North & South Yorkshire raised plants.
C r u c k C o t t a g e C a c t i ( D o r o t h y & Ronald W o o d ) , Cliff Road,
W r e l t o n , Pickering, North Yorkshire Y 0 1 8 8 P J . Tel. no. Picker- Bedfordshire
ing (0751) 72042. Open daily except Sat. m o r n i n g . No lists. A. & V . Parker, 31 Southill, Nr. Biggleswade, Beds. SG18 9 H U .
Nursery in garden setting. Tel. no. Hitchin (0462) 814022. Open evenings and weekends
W h i t e s t o n e G a r d e n s L t d . , T h e Cactus Houses, S u t t o n - u n d e r - ('phone first). No list. Seed-raised plants.
W h i t e s t o n e c l i f f e , Thirsk, North Yorkshire Y 0 7 2PZ. Tel. no. S o u t h w e s t seeds ( D o u g . Rowland), 200 S p r i n g Road, K e m p -
S u t t o n (08456) 467. Open daylight hours every day t h r o u g h o u t s t o n , Bedford MK42 8 N D . T e l . no. Bedford (0234) 58970. Open
the year. Send 4 x 8 p stamps (UK) or 3 international postal reply Sunday afternoons. S.A.E. for comprehensive seed list.
c o u p o n s for list. Everything for the c a c t o p h i l e ; plants, seeds,
books, s u n d r i e s ; substantial stocks and extensive collection on Hertfordshire
view.
R. F. S . & B. R. D a l e , T h u r n l e a , 14 B u t t o n d e n e C r e s c e n t ,
O a k D e n e Nurseries, 10 Back Lane W e s t , Royston, Barnsley,
Old Nazeing Road, B r o x b o u r n e , Herts EN10 6RH. T e l . no.
Yorkshire S71 4SB. Tel. no. Royston (022670) 2253. Open every
H o d d e s d o n 63234. Open almost any time but write or ' p h o n e .
day, A p r i l - S e p t . 9-6, O c t . - M a r c h 10-4 (closed for lunch 12.30-
No list. Full range B.E.F. p o t s , labels, t o p d r e s s i n g , etc.
1.30). S.A.E. for list. Seed, plants, books and sundries.
Essex
Merseyside
M . L. Fussell, 29 T h e Readings, Harlow, Essex CM18 7BT.
J i m B o l t o n , Southview, 39 A l t c a r Road, Formby, Liverpool L37
T e l . no. Harlow (0279) 23246. S.A.E. for list. Service by return
8DR. Tel. no. Formby (07048) 73187. Open all day Sundays,
of post.
advisable t o telephone for weekday visits. Large selection of
seedlings, etc., all at reasonable prices. No list. T h e C a c t u s P l a c e (David & Barbara B r e w e r t o n ) , 33 Bridge
A v e n u e , Upminster, Essex RM14 2LX. T e l . no. U p m i n s t e r 29911.
North Wales No list. Open 9 till dusk, but ' p h o n e f i r s t . Large and m e d i u m
J o l l y ' s ( G . A . &. M. A . C o o m b e s ) , Glanrafon, T a l s a r n a u , sized specimens.
G w y n e d d LL47 6YD. T e l . Penrhyndeudraeth (076674) 643. Open H . Guirl, G l e n h o l m e , Nursery R o a d , Nazeing, Essex. T e l . n o .
any t i m e by a p p o i n t m e n t . No orders by p o s t ; no list. W a r m wel- H o d d e s d o n 62291. V i s i t o r s and parties welcome. A prior t e l e -
come t o holidaymakers—we are in the S n o w d o n i a National Park. phone call would be appreciated. No list.

59
London
The Lithops (Living Stones) Specialist Ltd., (Roy & Sheila
Young), 79 Pearcroft Road, Leytonstone, London E11 4DP. Tel. Hoyas - Senecio - Crassula - Ceropegia
no. 01-556 8048. Visitors by appointment. S.A.E. (A4 size) for
comprehensive list of Lithops plants and seeds available.
East & West Sussex Please write for price-list
Mrs. Yvonne Warrick, 122 Barnhorn Road, Little Common
Bexhill, E. Sussex, Tel. no. Cooden (04243) 4726. Not open.
S.A.E. for list. Rare succulents and Epiphytics.
Ernest Hepworth, Mira Mar, 133 Ambleside Avenue, Tels- MARIN CACTUS
combe Cliffs, Sussex BN9 7LG. Tel. no. Peacehaven (07914)
3260. Open by appointment; closed Sundays. Send 12p stamp
for list. Lithops, Mesems, Sempervivums.
PATCH
Holly Gate Nurseries Ltd., Billingshurst Lane, Ashington,
Sussex RH20 3BA. Tel. no. (0903) 892439. Open 9-5 every day, 61 Granada Drive
incl. weekends and Bank Hols. Send 25p for current catalogue Corte Madera, California 94925, U.S.A.
of plants and seeds. Reference collection, entry 25p each.
Dorset
Pine Ridge Cacti (Joan & Dick Smeaton) 197 Ringwood
Road, Verwood, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 6AG. Tel. no. Verwood
(020123) 2796. Open 10-6, Closed Saturday and Monday. Choice
and rarer 'other succulents'.
Shires Mead Cactus Nursery (D. W. &. C. E. Sargant) Hamp-
reston Village. Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7LX. Tel. no. North-
bourne (02016) 3829. Not open Sundays and Mondays. List 12p.
H. GUIRL
Grower of Cacti and Succulent Plants
Plants and seeds.
Devon
Phil Goodson, 1 Marsh Lane, Chudleigh, Newton Abbot,
Glenholme' Nursery Road
Devon. Tel. no. Chudleigh (0626) 852309. Collection open, plants Nazeing, Essex
usually for sale. Between the scenic Teign Valley and Haldon
Hills, five miles from M5. 'Phone for directions and convenient T e l e p h o n e : Hoddesdon 62291
times.
Sorry — No Lists
G. N. Short, Greenshaws, 7 Reabarn Road, Brixham, Devon
TQ5 9DU. Tel. no. Brixham (08045) 2878. Open by appointment. • VISITORS AND PARTIES WELCOME o
S.A.E. for list. The Devonia Collection of Cacti & Succulents;
over 4000 species. Surplus plants for sale or exchange.
A prior telephone call would be appreciated
Westfield Cacti (Ralph Northcott), 10 Shillingford Road,
Alphington, Exeter, Devon. Tel. no. Exeter (0392) 56925. Nursery
grown cacti and other succulents. S.A.E. for list. Opening
April '80, but we regret no visitors until construction is complete.
Cornwall
The Cactus Nursery (Mrs J. Osmond), Brandy Lane, Rosud- LITHOPS Etc.
geon, Penzance, Cornwall TR20 9QB. Tel. no. Germoe (073676)
2397. Open 9 till dusk, Spring Bank Holiday to end of September. ALSO OTHER MESEMB'S, CACTI,
'Phone in winter. List 12p. Large selection succulents. Cornish SUCCULENTS & SEMPERVIVUMS
cream teas June-Sept. incl.
Send 12p stamp for new 1980 Catalogue
The C a c t u s a n d S u c c u l e n t J o u r n a l of
America
More Lithops varieties are listed
Six issues per year, fully illustrated, total on
including the newer ones, also good
average 300 pages and catering for all levels value selections for beginners.
of interest. S u b s c r i p t i o n : $16.00. A p p l y direct
to Box 3010, Santa Barbara, California 93105, Informative four-page leaflet given free
USA. with most orders.

ERNEST HEPWORTH
F.R.H.S.
DISCOCACTUS
Monograph based on a manuscript by
"Mira Mar", 133 Ambleside Avenue,
A. F. H. Buining Telscombe Cliffs,
Sussex BN9 7LG.
In English, 223pp., 60 coloured and 84 half-
Phone Peacehaven 3260
tone illustrations, 33 line drawings and 6 maps
AS SHOWN ON TV, ETC.,
Price £7.00 post free
THE LITHOPS SPECIALIST
Remittances, please, by International Money
Order to Postcheck (Giro) Ace. No. 3742400, Visitors—Please let me know when you will
Succulenta, Venlo, Netherlands.
Please mention 'Discoboek'. call—NOT OPEN SUNDAYS

60
Whitestone
Whitestone Gardens has everything for succulent fanatics and beginners.
A large stock of plants, seeds, books and sundries is constantly on view,
and the nursery is open to visitors every day.
Our plants are primarily nursery-grown seedlings, but we also stock a
range of larger plants. The nursery shop carries almost everything ever
likely to be needed by the cactus enthusiast, including a range of books
and other publications which is the most comprehensive in the world.
We stock every book in print and many that aren't—why be kept waiting
by your local bookseller when you can ring or write to us and get your
needs by return of post.
Most of the Whitestone Collection is permanently on view to visitors—
free of charge. This is constantly expanding, and now represents one of
the best displays in the country. It is of special interest to serious students
by virtue of the logical arrangement and the high proportion of
authenticated reference material.
Anyone who hasn't been before can find us about 3 | miles from Thirsk
on the A170 Scarborough road in the heart of North Yorkshire's most
attractive tourist countryside.
1980 Whitestone Price List 45 pages of plants, books, seeds, and
sundries, illustrated in full colour and monochrome. Free to existing
clients (sent automatically). New UK customers please send four
8p stamps, and overseas customers three International Postal Reply Coupons.
A few popular book titles from our extensive range:
Cactus Lexicon (Backeberg) £25 plus 86p post
Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Succulents (Rowley) £7.95+80p post
C a c t i : Botanical Aspects, Descriptions & Cultivation (Barthlott)
£7.95+50p post
Illustrated Reference on Cacti & Other Succulents (Lamb)
Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4 £7.50 per Vol. + 50p post each
Vol.5 £8.50+50ppost
T h e Cactaceae (Britton & Rose) 2 Vols. £25 + £1.25 post per set
Cacti & Succulents—A Concise Guide in Colour (Subik & Kaplicka)
£7.50 J 40p post
Post indicated above applies to UK and surface mail overseas
STILL W A N T E D !
Obsolete publications, especially American journals (we pay 50p per issue),
NCSS and GB Society journals (we pay 15p per issue) and all kinds of books
for our second-hand trade.

Whitestone Gardens Ltd

The Cactus Houses
Sutton-under-Whitestonediffe
Thirsk
North Yorkshire Y 0 7 2PZ

Telephone: Sutton 467

You will find a warm welcome CACTUS
and a good selection of
cacti and succulent plants and
at SUCCULENT
THE PLANT SEEDS
CACTUS PLACE from the deserts
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Volume 42/Number 3
August 1980
The Cactus and Succulent
Journal of Great Britain
President: A. BOARDER
Vice-Presidents: H. A. AUGER, Mrs H. H O D G S O N
Mrs. M . STILL WELL, J. E. T A Y L O R

Chairman: W . F. M A D D A M S , M.SC, M.INST.P.

Hon. Secretary: R. H. I. READ, 5 Wilbury Avenue, Cheam,

Surrey, SM2 7 D U .
Hon. Treasurer: D . R. H U N T , M.A.
Council: Dr. C. W . BIRD, D . B O W D E R Y , K. G R A N T H A M ,
L. H U R L E Y , Miss M. A. T . J O H N S O N , Mrs. B. M A D D A M S ,
J. W . PILBEAM, Mrs. D . P R I T C H A R D , P. SHERVILLE

Editor: D . R. Hunt, M.A., 67 Gloucester Court, Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, T W 9 3EA.
Assistant Editor I Librarian: N . P. Taylor, B.SC, C/O Editorial Office.
Show Secretary: D . Bowdery, 14 Callander Road, Catford, London, SE6 2 Q D .
Publicity Officer: Mrs. B. Maddams, 26 Glenfield Road, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 2DG.
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Applications for membership, advertising, back volumes Cover illustration: Selenicereus testudo (Karw. ex
and indexes should be made to the following address: Zucc.) F. Buxb. in Krainz, Die Kakteen Lfg. 30 (1965),
the vining cactus better known as Deamia testudo. From
Cactus & Succulent Society o f Great Britain the lithograph by W . H. Fitch published in Curtis's
67 Gloucester Court Botanical Magazine, t. 5360 (1863) (as Cereuspterogonus).
Kew Road
RICHMOND
Surrey T W 9 3EA The Journal is published quarterly by the Society,
England price £1.25 (ISSN 0007-9375).
The Cactus and Succulent
Journal of Great Britain
Volume 42 Number 3 August 1980 edited by David Hunt and Nigel Taylor

In this issue the living and museum (herbarium, spirit and seed)
Notes on Melocactus (1): E. Brazil .. .. 63 collections with equal vigour and brought the institution
Conservation by Propagation .. .. .. 71 to the pre-eminence it currently enjoys. He founded
I.O.S. in Mexico, 1980 . . .. .. .. 75 and edited 'Sukkulentenkunde' (1947-63), the fine
The Cultivation of Sansevicrias . . .. .. 79 Yearbook of the Swiss Cactus Society, and later con-
The Safe Use of Insecticides .. .. .. 81 ceived the serial publication 'Die Kakteen' of which he
Dorstenia renneyi, sp. nov. .. .. .. 87 was chief editor throughout its run from 1956-75.
Literature Notes . . .. .. .. .. 89 Edgar Lamb, w h o died on 19 May aged 75, was
Forthcoming events .. .. .. .. 90 known to succulent plantsmen the world over as foun-
Branch activities . . .. .. .. .. 91 der and director o f ' T h e Exotic Collection' at Worthing,
a private botanical garden principally devoted to
succulents, for the 'Monthly Notes' and for his numer-
In M e m o r i a m : Peter Bally, B . K. B o o m , Hans ous books (the more recent co-authored with his son
Krainz and Edgar L a m b Brian) including the five-volume 'Illustrated Reference
The world of succulents mourns the loss of four well- on Cacti and Other Succulents'.
known authorities in recent months. Dr. Peter R. O .
Bally died in Nairobi on 26 July at the age of 85 after a T h e Society Library
stroke. He was trained as a chemist but when in his Our library is now housed at the Editorial Office and
forties took up a post at the Coryndon Museum, enquiries will be dealt with by Nigel Taylor, w h o m
Nairobi (now the East African Herbarium) as a botanist. Council have appointed Hon. Librarian in succession to
H e travelled widely in little-known areas of north and Mr. G. G. Leighton-Boyce.
north-cast tropical Africa, becoming one of the most Postal charges and damage to books in transit have
important plant-collectors of that atea and a well- forced us to discontinue postal lending facilities, but it is
known authority on its succulent plants. He was an hoped to make the library available to personal callers
accomplished artist and illustrated his own magnum on dates to be announced in the journal. Further details
opus, the monograph of Monadeniunt. He was awarded will be published as soon as the books and periodicals
an honorary doctorate for his botanical work by the have been re-catalogued.
University of Mainz, and was elected a member of
I.O.S. in 1953. Cactusman's holiday
Dr. B. K. Boom, who died on 21 March a few days Leaving mc (D.H.) pinned to my desk by the In-Tray,
before his 77th birthday, was for many years a staff- the new Hon. Librarian has been spending his holiday
member of the Institute for Horticultural Plant Breeding engrossed in the Melocactus collection at the Stadtische
at Wagcningen, Netherlands, and an expert and author Sukkulentcnsammlung, Zurich, greatly helped and en-
on the whole gamut of cultivated plants whose Flora couraged by our very good friend, the Director, Dieter
der Cultuurgewassen van Ncderland (1948-) though Supthut. Nigel returned brimming over with new
uncompleted, is one of the most useful standard works revelations on Melocactus (incorporated Stop Press in his
of reference. Dr. Boom was Hon. Secretary/Editor of review of the Brazilian species on pp. 63-70 of this
the International Organization for Succulent Plant issue) and on Escobaria, after seeing Mr. Alfred Froeh-
Study from 1961 to 1971, a frequent contributor to the lich's splendid collection of the latter genus. He was also
Dutch journal 'Succulenta' and its editor from 1962-67. full of admiration and gratitude for Swiss hospitality,
Hans Krainz, who died at the age of 74 on 30 May, and managed to enrol several of Dieter s friends as
was a founder-member of I.O.S., its first Hon. Secretary members of the Society! Unfortunately, our German is
and its Hon. Treasurer from 1961-69. As Director of the not up to writing summaries of journal articles, but we
Stadtische Sukkulentcnsammlung, Zurich, he developed are working on the idea.

61
Open D a y s A n y o n e for Peru?
O w i n g to the late publication of the May issue, the Experienced nature-photographer and keen cactophile
Editors' Open Day was postponed to 22 June. W e had Ken Preston-Mafham is planning a field-trip to Peru
about 40 visitors, including a party from W o k i n g commencing about November and wants a companion
Branch (NCSS). The Heavens also had an 'open' day to share the cost of car-hire. Any takers please contact
and let loose in no uncertain way just as everyone Ken direct at 42 Coughton Lane, Coughton, Alcestcr,
arrived. Warwicks., tel. 0789 764710.
The Chairman and his wife combined their Open
Day on 29 June with a Mammillaria Society Study Internoto
Meeting. Those who took part in the latter had a useful This is the name of a new specialist organization for
discussion centred on the Series Ancistracanthae. Notocactus enthusiasts, formed in Holland last April.
Annual subscription is D M 25 (about ^6.20). All
enquiries to Mr. K. H. Prestle, Vijverweg 12, 5461
Seed-raising: More letters please!
AL-Veghel, Netherlands, or Mr. S. Theunissen, Vier-
A few members have responded to our request for
schaarsstraat 23, 4751 RR Oud Gastel, Netherlands.
statistics on the results of their 1980 sowings from GB
seed, but we should like more letters on the subject, and
have deferred our report till the November issue. If you Cactaceas y Suculentas Mexicanas
just send a note of the varieties that failed (listing them W e have now received new stock of back issues of the
by the order numbers, preferably), we shall be grateful, Mexican journal which is fully illustrated and has full
but the fuller the data the better. English translations of most articles.
The following volumes arc available: Vols. 21 (1976)-
23 (1978), price £ 3 . 0 0 each volume, post free, and Vol.
Membership/Rule Cards 24 (1979), price ^3.50. W e also have a few copies left
All personal members should have received a new of the 'Field Manual to the Cacti and Succulents of the
membership card with their membership number and Barranca of Mctztitlan' by H. Sanchez-Mcjorada(i978),
the revised constitution and rules. These were sent with price ^ 2 . 7 5 , post free. Order from: D . R. Hunt, 67
the Eebruary (UK) and May (Overseas) issues of the Gloucester Court, Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey T W 9
Journal. If anyone failed to receive their card, or has 3EA.
mislaid it and would like another, please notify the
editorial office.
Little Y e l l o w Mushrooms seen again
from Bill Putnam
See y o u at the S h o w ? I was very interested to read Ray Pearce's notes on the
The Society's Show is on Saturday 4 October at sulphur-yellow 'mushroom' Lcucocoprinus bimbaumii in
St. Saviour's Church Hall, Pimlico. Further details on the May GB Journal, since the appearance of this fungus
p. 90. in my own collection last year caused me some alarm.
Indeed, I took its presence as an awful reflection on the
state of cultivation in my greenhouse and, having ruth-
lessly destroyed several bright yellow caps or sporo-
phores, I allowed no hint of this shameful occurrence
to reach the ears of my friends, whose plants thrive
hygienically in fungus-free bliss.
Thus I am greatly relieved after learning that Leuco-
coprinus is harmless and interesting and occurs in Dr.
Pearce's collection too. If it reappears I shall not blush
Annual Dinner, Saturday 22 N o v e m b e r with shame again but let it have its way, for I have an
W i t h last year's Chichester event, we broke with our insatiable appetite for the bizarre and unusual.
tradition of a formal November dinner in London. In my collection this yellow fungus appeared in a pot
This year, we return to November and London, but containing a long-established Copiapoa cinerea (a plant
have decided on an informal supper at a more popular obtained as a seedling in 1964 and now taken to be an
price than would be possible at our old venue. For unusually wcll-spined import by cactus show judges
many years, after Council meetings, some of the officers and others—sec Dr. Mace's remarks on p. 31 of the
have revived themselves (at their own expense, I hasten May Journal!).
to add!) at a modest Italian restaurant, and we think E. W . Putnam,
that you too may enjoy the Caprini's cuisine, the 72 Church Lane Avenue,
inexpensive house wine and the good service. Accom- Hooley,
modation is limited, so please book early. Details on Coulsdon,
p. 90. Surrev, CR3 3RT.

62
T h e Cactus and Succulent Journal o f Great Britain
V o l u m e 42(3): 63-70 (1980)

Notes on the genus Melocactus (1): E. Brazil

by N. P. Taylor
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond, Surrey

Introduction ever, a few notes on the distinguishable taxa may help

Britton & Rose (1922) accepted four species of Melo- in their identification.
cactus* (under the rejected name Cactus L.) for E. Brazil, M. zehntneri is the most widely distributed E. Brazi-
of which two were the result of exploration by Rose & lian Melocactus, ranging from N . Minas Gerais to the
Russell in 1915. Subsequently Werdermann travelled in state of Paraiba in the north. It is recognised by the
E. Brazil and described four more species between short and stout, curved, white to grey-brown spines,
1932-4. Thus eight taxa were known up till 1970, but relatively sharp-edged ribs and strongly tubcrculate
since then some 36 'new species' have been published seeds. In the north of its range the plants are often very
following the explarations of F. Ritter (1963-4) and large and columnar, but further south a depressed-
those of Horst, Uebclmann and Buining (1967-74). globose variety occurs which corresponds to the name
W i t h the possible exception of Ritter (1979), no M. macrodiscus. This trend towards low-growing or
attempt has been made to catalogue and classify these dwarfcr southern infraspecific taxa is repeated in M .
numerous new plants. The alphabetical checklist with levitestatus and M. oreas, s.l. At the western edge of the
notes which follows aims to summarize the relevant range of M. zehntneri a stouter-spincd variety has been
data as a precursor to a more comprehensive treatment. found and named M. curvicomis (M. giganteus). Further
The nomenclatural types that are listed have not been west the related M. levitestatus (inch nos. 10 & 11)
examined; the arrangement of taxa and remarks made occurs, which resembles M. zehntneri in its stout curved
being based on the interpreta'ion of original illustrations spines, but these are reddish-brown and the seeds are very
and descriptions, in many instances backed up by the smooth. The undescribed 'M. warasii' ( H U 456) clearly
examination of living material at the Stadtischc Suk- belongs within the variation of this species.
kulentensammlung, Zurich, much of which is derived M. concinnus (inch no. 13), M. glaucescens and
from the type (and often, only) collections.
M. violaceus are the smallest E. Brazilian species, with
Reference to taxa described since 1970 has been re- few (c. 6-9), short spines. The first and second have
stricted to the documentation of the holotype, authority limited inland distributions in Bahia: M. glaucescens has
and place of publication, since the ample descriptions entirely straight spines, a grey-glaucous stem and pale
and illustrations of these novelties are readily available pink fruit, while in M. concinnus one spine is curved
in the recent literature. The first descriptions of earlier upwards, the stem is green and the fruit red. M. violaceus
taxa are given in full. Most of the many provisional inhabits the coastal sand dunes of E. Brazil from Rio de
names generated by field-collectors and nurserymen Janeiro to beyond Recife. It is not common in cultiva-
have not been listed in view of the confusion which tion (sec illustration).
surrounds them. A checklist of H U numbers has
appeared in Succulenta 57(2)146-7 (1978) and KuaS T w o of the remaining three species are broadly
29(9):2io-n (1978); see also Succulenta 57(5):io8-9 defined so as to include the majority of the most
(1978). 'critical' Brazilian taxa. Members of the M. oreas
c o m p l e x (nos. 23-39) have round-edged ribs and very
numerous long and often flexible spines, the lowermost
D e l i m i t a t i o n o f Melocactus species in Brazil
radial being of exaggerated length. M. conoideus and the
It is clear that the genus Melocactus has diversified con-
undescribed 'M. iacuensis' (HU 166) with shorter spines
siderably in E. Brazil, but not to the extent suggested
seem to belong here, together with the somewhat
by the plethora of new taxa described during the past
distinctive M. deinacanthus (M. longicarpus), but the
decade. Only eight species are tentatively recognized
many other named populations here included scarcely
here. Nevertheless much of the region shown in the Map
differ from M. oreas itself M. azureus may also merit
remains unexplored botanically and may hold other
inclusion, but for the present is distinguished by its
distinctive taxa awaiting discovery. The writing of a
intensely blue-glaucous epidermis. Plants referred to the
key to the Brazilian Melocacti has been deferred until a
M. salvadorensis c o m p l e x (nos. 16-22) have acute-
study of the genus as a whole can be completed. H o w -
edged ribs and straight, slender spines of variable length.
(Short-spined plants commonly labelled M. bahiensis in
*Me!ocactns Link & Otto, nomen conservandum, see I C B N cultivation would seem to belong here, but as to type
(1978), p. 369; type: M. communis Link & O t t o (Cactus melo-
cactus L.) (typ. cons.). this name is probably referable to the M. oreas complex.)

63
The above three species are clearly allied, and their M. amethystinus Buining & Brederoo ex Buining in Krainz, Die
points of distinction and the status of the many forms Kakteen, Lfg 50-1, with figs. (1972). Type: Bahia, nr. Caitite,
nr. Brejinho das Ametistas, c. 1000 m, 1968, Horst & Uebelmami
they comprise, are problems requiring detailed study in 270 (U). Found with M. macrodiscus.
the field. A member of the M. salvadorensis complex.
The occurrence of so many similar yet slightly
different Melocactus populations may be due to the pre- M. arachnites F. Ritter, nom. nud. = M. diersianus.
dominance of self-pollination in the genus, leading to M. axiniphoms Buining & Brederoo in Succulenta 55(10):
the formation of local inbred races, each of uniform t°3-7> with figs. (1976). Type: Bahia, above Vitoria da Con-
appearance. Characters of doubtful value include the quista, 1000-1200 m, in quartzite sand amongst bushes, Horst
450 (U).
number of ribs, which could well depend on environ-
Probably a synonym of M. concinnus.
mental factors affecting phenotypic expression. Observa-
tion of cultivated specimens suggests that the degree of M. azulensis Buining & Brederoo ex Theunissen & Brederoo in
exsertion, and therefore the apparent size of Melocactus KuaS 28(7): 154-6, with figs. (1977). Type: NE. Minas Gerais,
nr. Pedra Azul, on bare mountains, Horst 168 (U).
flowers may be related to the age of the cephalium
Scarcely differing from M.florschuetzianus;cf. M. oreas.
(A. W . Mace, pers. c o m a ) .
M. azureus Buining & Brederoo ex Buining in KuaS 22(6):
N o t e s o n the distribution m a p 101-3, with figs. (1971) and in Krainz, Die Kakteen, Lfg 48-9
The symbols indicate the type localities, with the (1972). Type: Bahia, 'mid Serra do Espinhaco' [W. of Serra da
exception of nos. 15 and 24. The position of these Batista], mountains by the Rio Jacare, 450 m, on bare, coarsely
weathered rocks, Horst & Uebelmann 256 (U).
localities is sometimes rather approximate owing to the
vague way in which they have been recorded in the M. bahiensis (B. & R.) Luetzelb., Estud. Bot. Nordeste 3: i n
literature. It is desirable that localities should be recorded (1923); Buining in CSJA 47: 16-7, with fig. (1975); Cactus
bahiensis B. & R., Cact. 3: 234-5 (1922); non Melocactus
with latitude and longitude coordinates, but as Buining bahiensis sensu Krainz in Die Kakteen, Lfg 25 (1963) (M.
(1974) points out, this may be contrary to the interests salvadorensis s.l.). Type: Bahia, Machado Portella, on tops of
of conservation. The order of taxa listed in the caption nearly barren hills, 1915, Rose & Russell 19935 (US).
to the Map may be used as a quick method of determin- Dull green, 10 cm. high, 15 cm. in diam.; ribs 10-12, broad
at base, 25 mm. high, each bearing 6-7 ar.; spines all brown;
ing their affinity, so long as it is remembered that the rad. sp. c. 10, to 25 mm. long; cent. sp. usually 4, to 35 mm.
relationships are of a highly reticulate nature. long. Cephalium low, with many dark brown bristles. Fl.
pinkish. Fr. red, clavate, 15 mm. long; seed black, shining,
Acknowledgments 1 mm. in diam. Range: 'The plant was found only at a single
M y thanks go to Dr. A. W . Mace and Mr. R. Holt for locality in cent. Bahia'; it is likely that this taxon is now en-
allowing me to examine their personal collections of dangered at the type locality, cf. Buining, loc. cit.
melocacti; also to Mr. R. D. Mciklc for suggesting A short-spined ally of. M. oreas
interpretations of Hoffmannsegg's strange abbreviations M. brederooianus Buining in Succulenta 51(2): 28-33, with figs.
(see M. melocactoides). I am greatly indebted to Mr. J. D. (1972). Type: Bahia, Andorinha, (at Senhor do Bonfim,
Supthut, Director of the Stadtische Sukkulentensamm- Buining (1974), p. 211), c. 500 m, 1968, Buining 1001 (U).
lung, Zurich, for facilities provided during m y visit to A member of the M. salvadorensis complex.
the Institution in June-July, 1980. M. canescens F. Ritter, Kakt. Sudamer. 1: 134, t. 230 (1979).
Bibliography Type: Bahia, nr. Brumado, Ourives, 1964, F. Ritter 1333 (U).
M. canescens var. montealtoi F. Ritter, loc. cit. Type: Bahia,
BRITTON, N . L. & ROSE, J. N . (1922). The Cactaceae 3: Palma de Monte Alto, 1964, F. Ritter 1437 (U).
227-36. Ritter's illustration suggests affinity with M. macrodiscus
BUINING, A. F. H. (1974). Melocactus in Brazil. In Cact. Werderm. (q.v.); see M. zehntneri.
Succ. J. Amer. 46: 206-12.
M. concinnus Buining & Brederoo in KuaS 23(1): 5-7, with
KRAINZ, H. (1964-75). Die Kakteen, CVId, Lfg 26-62. figs. (1972). Type: Bahia, W. of Seabra, 1000 m, amongst rocks
RITTER, F. (1979). Kakteen in Sudamerika 1: 130-43. in sandy soil (scree), Horst & Uebelmann 214 (U). Also found
SCHUMANN, K. M . (1898). Gesamtbeschreibung der further south near the town of Rio de Contas, Buining (1974),
p. 211.
Kakteen, 457-9. M. axiniphoms seems to belong here.
Species list
M. acispinosus Buining & Brederoo ex Buining in Krainz, Die M. conoideus Buining & Brederoo ex Buining in Krainz, Die
Kakteen, Lfg 62, with figs. (1975); (M. rectispinus F. Ritter, noni. Kakteen, Lfg 55-6, with figs. (1973). Type: Bahia, N. of
nud.). Type: Bahia, nr. Jacobina, 430 700 m, in fine quartz Vitoria da Conquista, c. 1200 m, in quartzite-sandy soil, under
sand, Horst 258A (U). and between shrubs, Horst & Uebelmann 183 (U).
A short-spined ally of M. oreas; cf. M. bahiensis.
M. albkephalus Buining & Brederoo ex Buining in Krainz, Die
Kakteen, Lfg 52, with figs. (1973). Type: mid-Bahia, W. 'Sierra M. cremnophilus Buining & Brederoo in CSJA 44(1): 3-5, with
do Espinhaco' [Serra do Tombador], (W. of Morro do Chapeu, figs. (1972). Type: cent. Bahia, E. slopes of'Serra do Espinhaco'
Buining (1974), pp 210-11), c. 900 m, in crevices on flat rocks, [Serra do Tombador], (E. of Morro do Chapeu, Buining (1974),
1971, Horst & Uebelmami 350 (U). Other illustrations: Buining p. 210), c. 850 m, in clefts of bare, flat rocks, Horst & Uebelmann
in Succulenta 53: 63 (1974). Sympatric with M. erythracanthus 223 (ZSS cited, but type not deposited).
and M. glaucescens according to Buining, ll.ee. M. erythracanthus may be a later name for this plant which is
A member of the M. salvadorensis complex. allied to M. oreas (q.v.).

64
I. M. zehntneri, 2. M. pruinosus, 3. M. helvolilanattts (Piaui), 4. M. curvicornis, 5. M. giganteus, 6. M. macrodiscus & 6a. var. minor,
7. M. canescens & 7a. var. montealtoi, 8. M. robustispinus; 9. M. levitcstatus, 10. M. diersianus, II. M. securituberculatus; 12. M con-
cinnus, 13. M. axiniphorus; 14. M. glaucescens; 15. M. violaceus; THE M. SALVADORENSIS COMPLEX (nos. 16-22); 16.
M. salvadorcnsis, 17. M. brederooianus, 18. M. ameihystinus, 19. M. inconcinnus, 20. M. albkephalus, 21. M. griseolopiridis, 22. M.
lensselinkianus; THE M. OREAS COMPLEX (nos. 23-39) 23. M. oreas, 24. M. emeslii, 25. M. rubrisaetosus, 26. M. longispinus, 27.
M. interpositus, 28. M. cremnophilus, 29. M. erythracanthus, 30. M. horridus, 31. M. montanus, 32. M. nitidus, 33. M. florschuetzianus,
34. M. azulensis, 35. M. mulequensis, 36. M. bahiensis, 37. M. conoideus, 38. M. deinacanlhus, 39. M. longicarpus; 40. M. azureus;
TAXA OF UNCERTAIN AFFINITY: 41. M. acispinosus, 42. M. ferreophilus, 43. M. pachyacanthus, 44. M. krainzianus, 45. M.
rubrispinus. Map drawn by Christabel King.

65
M. curuicornis Buining & Brederoo in KuaS 23(2): 33-5, with M. goniodacanthns Lem., Cact. Aliq. Nov. 11 (1838). Based on
figs. (1972). T y p e : Bahia, nr. Macaubas ( N W . of Serra das a plant of unknown origin and not illustrated by Lemaire; a
Almas), 950-1000 m, amongst cracks in fiat rocks, Horst 128 name of no value. Both Schumann (1898), p. 459 and Britton
(U). & Rose (1922), p. 235 credit this plant with a Brazilian origin,
Probably conspecific with M. zehntneri (q.v.). trusting to the opinion of Weber in Bois, Diet. hort. 2: 826,
who treats M. depressus Hook, as a synonym, but it cannot be
M. deinacamhus Buining & Brederoo in KuaS 24(10): 217-9, identified with any certainty.
with figs. (1973). Type: Bahia, N W . of Caitite, c. 200 m, in
and among bare rocks, 1971, Horst 153 (U). M. griseoloviridis Buining and Brederoo ['grisoleoviridW,
A distinctive taxon, though perhaps an ally of M. oreas. sphalm.] in KuaS 25(5): 98-100, with figs. (May, 1974). T y p e :
Minas Gerais, nr. Itamarandiba, 850 m., on almost flat, bare
M. depressus Hook. ( i 8 3 8 ) = M . violaceus. rocks, 1972, Horst 405 (U). A synonym of M. bahiensis according
to Ritter (1979), p. 137, but considered to be a member of the
M. diersianus Buining & Brederoo in KuaS 26(8): 169-71, with M. salvadorensis complex here.
figs. (1975); (M. arachnites F. Ritter, nom. nud.). Type: Minas Scarcely distinguishable from M. lensselinkianus (q.v.).
Gcrais, Barriero Vermelho, Francisco Dumont, c. 700 m, on
bare rocks, 1974, Horst 404 (U). Other illustration: Ritter M. heh'olilanatus Buining & Brederoo in Succulenta 55(12):
(1979), p. 301, t. 77. 261-5, with figs. (1976). T y p e : Piaui, nr. Santa Antonio [?],
M. securittiberatlatns and this taxon are synonymous with M. 250 m, Horst 444 (U).
levitestatus. A synonym of M . zehntneri (q.v.)
M. horridus Werderm. in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 12: 227-8
M. ernestii Vaupel in M D K G 30: 8, with figs. (1920); Buining (1934). Type: Pernambuco, Villa Bella, 1932, Werdermann
in Krainz, Die Kaktecn, Lfg 58, with figs. (1974). Type: Bahia, 2934a (B, extant, see Leuenberger in CSJGB 40(4): 104. 1978).
on the Rio Contas, Ule (based on the two photographs p u b - Stem semi-globose or sub-pyramidal, c. 15 cm. high (inch
lished by Vaupel, I.e.). cephalium) and 15 cm. at base, deep green, sometimes glau-
Stem conical; ribs c. 10, deep, acute, somewhat spiralled, cescent; ribs c. 12, c. 30 m m . broad at base of stem and almost
crenate; ar. c. 12 per rib; spines c. 10, 3 much longer than the flat, to 20 m m . broad and 15 m m . high near apex, broadly
others and downwardly directed, one more than half the length rounded, subcrenate; ar. 20 m m . apart, orbicular, nearly 8 m m .
of the whole plant. Cephalium massive, truncate globose, with in diam., becoming glabrous; rad. sp. 8-10, perfectly straight,
exserted bristles in the older parts, woolly at the top. Fl. con- very rigid, subulate, pointed, smooth or somewhat rough,
spicuous. Fr. ? Range: Drainage of the Rio Contas from 30 km. brownish-red, bulbous at base, lowermost the thickest and
E. and 70 km. W . of Jequie, N . to Machado Portella; on longest to 50 m m . long, downwardly directed, uppermost
almost bare rocks. spines very short, c. 10-15 m m . long; cent. sp. 3-4, coloured
Scarcely differing from M. oreas. as the radials, lowermost ^ p o r r e c t , thicker, c. 20-30 m m . long,
remainder directed upwards, shorter. Cephalium c. 20-30 m m .
M. erythracanthtis Buining & Brederoo in CSJA 45(5): 223-6, high and 50-60 m m . in diam., of dense whitish wool and
with figs. (1973). T y p e : mid Bahia, W . slopes of 'Serra do slightly exserted reddish-brown bristles. Fl. ? Fr.; seed ?
Espinhaco' [Serra do Tombador], (W. of Morro do Chapeu, Perhaps an ally of M. oreas (q.v.).
Buining (1974) pp. 210-11), c. 900 m., on and between flat
rocks, Horst & Uebelmatm 220 (U). Other illustration: Buining M. inconcinnus Buining & Brederoo in KuaS 26(9): 193-5, with
in Succulenta 53 : 64 (1974). Sympatric with M. albicephahis and figs. (1975); (M. permutabilis F. Ritter, nom. nud.). T y p e :
M. glaucescens according to Buining, ll.ee. Bahia, nr. Brumado, by Rio Sao Joao, 450 m., on and between
Scarcely differing from M. cremnophilus, and allied to M. rocks with grass and shrubs, Buining 1003 (U). Other illustra-
oreas (q.v.). t i o n : Ritter (1979), p. 301, t. 78. A variety of M . brederooianus
according to Ritter (1979), pp. 136-7.
A distinctive member of the M. salvadorensis complex.
M.ferreophilus Buining & Brederoo ex Buining in Krainz, Die
Kakteen, Lfg 52, with figs. (1973). Type: Bahia, (60 km. SW. M. interpositus F. Ritter, Kakt. Stidamcr. 1: 140-1 (1979). T y p e :
of Morro do Chapeu, Buining (1974), p. 211), nr. 'Cameleiros' Bahia, lacu, on rocks, 1964, F. Ritter 1207 (U).
[? Gameleiras], c. 840 m., on bare, flat, iron-containing rocks, According to Ritter this plant is allied to M. nitidus, which
Horst & Uebelmatm 217 (U). seems to belong with M. oreas and its allies.

M. krainzianus Buining & Brederoo ex Buining in Krainz, Die

M. florschuetzianus Buining & Brederoo ex Buining in Ashing-
Kakteen, Lfg 62, with figs. (1975). T y p e : Bahia, E. of Irece, c.
tonia 2(2): 25-7, with figs. (1975). Type: Minas Gerais, vicinity
760 m, on and between bare, flat, ridged rocks, Horst 264 (U).
of Barrocao, 950 m., on bare rocks, Horst 148 (U).
M. azulensis is perhaps a later name for this plant; both are
M. lensselinkianus Buining & Brederoo in Succulenta 53(4):
members of the M. oreas complex.
68-73, with figs. (April 1974). Type: Minas Gerais, Itoabim, c.
370 m, on almost bare, flat rocks, Horst 381 (U).
M. giganteus Buining & Brederoo in CSJA 45(5): 227-30, with M. griseoloviridis is a later name for this plant, which is allied
figs. (1973). T y p e : Bahia, Serra Santo Inacio (S. of Xique Xique) to the M. salvadorensis complex.
c. 520 m., 1968, Horst & Uebelmatm 266 (U).
Little more than a variety of M. zehntneri (q.v.). M . levitestatus Buining & Brederoo in CSJA 45(6): 271-4,
with figs. (1973). T y p e : Bahia, W . of B o m Jesus de Lapa,
M. glaucescens Buining & Brederoo in CSJA 44(4): 159-61, W . of Rio Sao Francisco, c. 450 m., on flat volcanic rocks,
with figs. (1972). T y p e : cent. Bahia, W . slopes of 'Serra do Horst 397 (U).
Espinhaco' [Serra do Tombador], ( W . of Morro do Chapeu, M. diersianus and M. securituberculatus are synonyms of this
Buining (1974), pp. 210-11), c. 900 m., Horst & Uebelmatm species.
219 (U). Other illustrations: Buining in Succulenta 53: 64
(1974). Sympatric with M. albicephalus and M. erythracanthtis M. longicarpus Buining & Brederoo in CSJA 46(4): 191-4, with
according to Buining, ll.ee. figs. (1974). Type: Minas Gerais, vicinity of Porteirinha, rocky
A rather distinctive plant. places, 400 m., Horst 149 (U).

66
A form of Melocactus areas photographed in habitat near Seabra, Bahia (photo: Harlcy)

Cf. M. deinacanthus and the M. oreas complex. and N . Minas Gerais. Other illustrations: Krainz(i964), Lfg 20,
and see below.
M. kmgispimts Burning & Brederoo ex Brederoo and Theunissen The following variety has also been described from E. Bahia,
in Succulenta 50(0): 137-42, with figs. (1977). Type: Bahia, E. but unfortunately has not been illustrated: M. macrodiscus var.
of Rio Paraguacu, E. of 'Lacu' [Iacu], 320 m., on bare rocks, minor F. Ritter, Kakt. Siidamcr. 1: 133 (1979). T y p e : Rui
1974, Horst 435 (U). Barbosa, 1964, F. Ritter 1209a (U).
Probably conspecific with M. oreas (q.v.). M. canescem F. Ritter and M. robustispinus Brederoo &
Theunissen seem closely allied, and arc probably conspecific.
M. longispimis F. Ritter, nom. nud. = M. niiidns.
The above arc considered to represent a low-growing variety
M. macrodiscus Werdcrm., Bluhcndc Kakteen (Feddcs Rcpert. of M. zehntneri (q.v.).
Sonder-Beih.C), Lfg 12, t. 47 (1932). Type: Bahia, nr. Caitite,
Brcjinhos, on crystalline sandstone rocks, 1932, Werdermann M. melocactoides (Hoffmanns.) D C , Prodr. 3 : 461 (1828); Cactus
(»t). melocactoides Hoffmanns., Verz. Pf.-Kult., Nachtr. 3 : 24 (1826).
Stem depressed globose, c. 14 cm. high and 18 cm. broad, Based on a cultivated specimen said to have originated from
matt, bright to darker green; ribs c. 11 or more, 25-30 mm. Brazil. Hoffmannsegg's brief diagnosis is the only, and un-
high near stem apex and 50 mm. broad near the base; ar. oval, satisfactory means of typifying this name: ' C . (melocactoides),
6 x 8 mm., with whitish-grey wool when young, later naked; globose, angles ? 10, with a series of woolly tubercles each with
rad. sp. (7-)9, strongly subulate, somewhat recurved, one a single fascicle of spines, which are subrccurved, pale to dark
directed downwards, six lateral and two pointing upwards, at apex'. Following this diagnosis is a phrase contrasting his
three lowest spines to 30 m m . long, remainder shorter to 20 species with C. melocactus (Melocactus communis) from which it
mm. long, thinner, the uppermost pair to 10 mm. long some- may be gathered that C. melocactoides has 7-8 spines per ar. The
times one absent; cent. sp. 0-1 porrect, directed and curved exact meaning of part of this phrase is obscure and contains a
upwards, 15-20 m m . long, weaker than the strongest radials number of unexplained abbreviations, viz. 'E S. N.f.' These
but otherwise similar; all spines on mature specimens glaucous may indicate that the plant was sterile (e.g. Exemplar Sterilis.
grey with a yellowish to brownish-red sheen, black-brown at N o n d u m floruit), and furthermore the measurement '2' diam.'
tip, very stiff and sharp. Cephalium c. 75 mm. in diam., often (elsewhere in the work this means 2 inches) might suggest that
nearly level with stem apex, but eventually somewhat raised, the type was a small seedling. Whatever can, or cannot be read
of grey-white wool interspersed with rust-red bristles exserted into Hoffmannsegg's writings, the fact remains that this name
for c. 5 m m . Fl. 4-5 mm. in diam., rose-red, mostly expanding is inadequately typified and should be abandoned. Britton &
in the early afternoon. Fr. 15-18 m m . long, delicate rose-violet, Rose (1922), p. 235, and subsequent authors, have used C.
glossy; seed 1 m m , broadly truncate-ovoid, testa matt or melocactoides Hoffmanns, for the plant correctly k n o w n as M,
shining black, strongly rounded-tuberculate. Range: S. Bahia violaceus Pfeiff

67
M. montanns F. Ritter, Kakt. Siidamer. i : 141 (1979). T y p e : that may belong here. M. bahiensis (B. & R.) Luctzclb and M .
B.ihi.i. mts. above Urandi, on rocks, F. Rincr 1358 (U). conoidens Buining arc shortcr-spincd members of the complex.
N o t illustrated, but from its description belonging in the Points of relationship with M. azureus and the M. salvadoren-
M. areas complex. sis complex need to be resolved.
M. tmthquensis Burning &: Brederoo in Succulcnta 55(3): 46-51,
with figs. (1976). T y p e : Bahia, E. of Caitite, nr. 'Muleque' M. pachyacantlws Buining & Brederoo in KuaS 27(1): 1-3, with
[?], c. 500 m., on rocks and in open caatinga, Horst 122 (U). figs. (1976, publ. 1975). T y p e : Bahia, E. of Umbaranas, 430-700
Cf. the M. oreas complex. m., in and between rocks, 1972, Horst 407 (U).

M. uitidus F. Rittcr, Kakt. Siidamer. 1: 139-140, 302, t. 80 M. pentacentrus Lcm. ( i 8 3 9 ) = M . violaceus.

(1979); (M. longispinus F. Ritter, nom. nud.). Type: Minas
Gerais, Itaobim, on flat rocks, 1963, F. Riiter 1210 (U). Also at
M. pcrmutabilis F. Rittcr, nom. nud. = M . inamchmus.
Flamengo, Bahia (Ritter, loc. cit.).
Clearly allied to M. oreas (q.v.).
M. pruiiiosus Werderm. in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 12: 228-9
M. oreas Miquel in N o v . Act. Nat. Cur. 18: (Suppl. 1) 192 (1934). Type: Bahia, nr. Ventura, on sandstone rocks, 1932,
(1841, first publ. as a differently paginated reprint in 1840); Werdermann 3285 (Bf).
Buining in Krainz, Die Kakteen, Lfg 55-6, with figs. (1973); Stem semi-globose to somewhat depressed, rarely subovoid,
Cactus oreas (Miq.) B. & R., Cact. 3: 227 (1922). T y p e : 'around c. 10-12 cm. high and 11-14 cm. diam., glaucous especially
Bahia [S. Salvador], probably on slopes of mountains', when young, later glauccsccnt; ribs 9-10, c. 25-30 m m . high,
[collector?; probably not preserved]. Based only on the original i flattened at stem base, acute, sides conspicuously furrowed,
diagnosis: stem oblong (in the type 17.5 cm. high), ribs 16; ar. crenate; ar. i5(-2o) m m . apart, with white wool when young,
crowded, 10 m m . apart, naked or woolly, cent. sp. 8 [some later greyish and naked; rad. sp. 5-6, or occasionally with 2-3
presumably radials] of various sizes, filifonn-flcxuose; rad. sp. additional small spines above, somewhat stout, subuliform, in-
few or absent. Cephalium flat with long white wool. Range: curved, reddish-brown when young, to brown, later greyish-
E. Bahia, along the Rio Paraguacu, on rocks. white, apex very dark, lower-most the longest, to 30 m m . long,
The following invite interpretation as local forms or varieties others shorter, the uppermost (sometimes absent) the shortest
of the above: M. cremnophilns Buining & Brederoo, M. to 10 mm. long; cent. sp. 0 - 1 , ^ e r e c t , to 20 m m . long, like
erythracanthus Buining & Brederoo, M. longispinus Brederoo & the rad. sp. Cephalium short and flat, to 70 m m . in diam.,
Theunisscn, M. interpositiis F. Ritter, M. nibrisaetosus Brederoo composed of dense white or grey wool intermixed with red or
& Theunisscn, M. ertiestii Vaupel, M. azulensis Theunisscn & reddish bristles. Fl. ? Fr.; seed?
Brederoo, M. florschuetzituius Buining, M. montanns F. Ritter, Ritter (1979), p. 132, justifiably suggests that this plant is
M. nitidus F. Rittcr and M. muleqttensis Buining & Brederoo; allied to M. zehntneri, while in contrast, Werdermann himself
the poorly known M. horridus Werdcrm. from Pernambuco suggests M. neryi K. Schum. as its affinity. Buining (1974), p .
may belong here too. M. deinacanthns Buining & Brederoo 210 believes that this taxon may now be extinct at the type
(incl. M. longicarpns Buining & Brederoo) is a distinctive taxon locality.

Mehcactus oreas (Milagres, Storr 162J (photo: Svanderhk)

68
Melocactus salvadorensis (photo: Svanderlik)

M. rectispinus F. Rittcr, noni. nud. = M . acispinosus. particularly crcnatc but thickened at ar.; ar. suborbicular, c.
5-7 m m . diam., at first densely white lanuginose then tomen-
M. robuslispinus Buining & Brcderoo ex Brederoo & Thcunisscn tose, later naked, 15-20 m m . apart; rad. sp. 8(-9), regularly
in Succulenta 56(5): 113, 116-119, with figs. (1977). Type: arranged, sometimes slightly porrect, straight or slightly curved
[Minas Gerais], 15 km. E. of Mato Verde, 850 m., in sand, away from the stem, subulate, subpellucid when young, dark
Horst 403 (U). or rusty, sometimes reddish, smooth, thickened and paler at
Probably conspccific with M. macrodisats (q.v.); sec M. base, more often almost yellowish then slightly rough, greyish-
zehtttneri, white, dark at apex, the lowermost longest, 30-40 m m ,
laterals shorter, the uppermost ones shortest, to 10 m m . ; cent,
M. rtibrisaetosus Buining & Brederoo ex Brederoo & Thcunisscn
sp. (o-)i, porrect or direct upwards, c. 20-25 m m . long, other-
in Succulenta 56(7): 161-7, with figs. (1977). Type: Bahia,
wise like the radials. Ccphalium c. 10-20 m m . high and 50-60
Milagres, Horst 137 (U).
mm. diam., consisting of whitish or grey wool intermixed with
Allied to M. oreas (q.v.).
very numerous somewhat exscrtcd reddish bristles. Fl., fr.,
M. rubrispinus F. Ritter, Kakt. Siidamer. 1: 135-6 (1979). Type: seed '. Range: Along the Rio Paraguacu, together with Af. oreas.
Minas Gerais, Granjas Rcunidas, on limestone rocks, 1964, F. M. salvadorensis is perhaps the oldest name for a complex
Ritter 1330 (U). taxon encompassing the following plants with broad, acute
N o t illustrated; perhaps allied to M. diersiamis and M. ribs: M. lensselinkiamis Buining & Brederoo, M. griseoloviridis
leuitestatus. Buining & Brederoo, M. brederooianus Buining, M . albicephalus
Buining, M. iiicoticiiiims Buining & Brederoo, and M. atnethysti-
M . salvadorensis Werderm. in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 12: tnts Buining.
228 (1934); Buining in Krainz, Die Kakteen, Lfg 54, with figs. Clearly there are points of relationship to be resolved with
(1973). Based on syntypes:- Bahia: nr. San. Salvador (Bahia), the M . oreas complex.
nr. Bananeiras, on ocks, 1932, Werdermatm 3391 (Bf); between
Camisao and Baixa Grande, in open rocky places of the M. seairittiberculatns Buining & Brederoo in CSJA 48(1): 38-41,
caatinga, 1932, Werdermami 3392 (Bf). Buining, loc. cit., appears with figs. (1976). T y p e : S W . Bahia, vicinity of Iuiu, 520 m.,
to have selected the former locality for the lectotype. on almost bare rocks, amongst trees and shrubs, 1974, Horst
Stem hemispheric, deep green or paler when adult, to c. 446 (U).
12 cm. diam., ribs 10-12, up to 15 m m . high, subacute, not A synonym of M. levitestatus.

69
Mchcactus violaccus (Storr 34) (photo: Svanderlik)

M. violaceus Pfeiff. in Allg. Gartenz. 3:313 (1835) and Enuni. Stem often cylindric, sometimes 20-30 cm. high; ribs 12-15,
Cact. 45-6 (1837); K. Schum., Gesambt. Kakt. 457-8 (1898). rather thin, acutish; rad. sp. terete, stout, dark brown, more or
T y p e : cultivated plants in the care of Schelhase, who obtained less incurved, 25 m m long or less; cent. sp. 1, similar to radials,
them from Brazil via Parmentier. One plant was preserved by porrect or ascending. Fl. pinkish. Fr. red. Range: MinasGerais,
Pfeiffer, and Schumann, loc. cit., claims to have seen the Bahia, Piaui, Pernambuco, Paraiba; Alagoas and Sergipe, fide
specimen (now destroyed) at the Berlin herbarium, where he (?) Luetzelburg, loc. cit.; ? elsewhere to the N .
identified with it plants collected in the vicinity of Rio de The following has also been described, but regrettably, not
Janeiro. Syn. M. pentacentrus Lem., Cact. N o v . Gen. Sp. 108-9 illustrated: M. zehntneri var. viridis F. Ritter, Kakt. Siidamer.
(1839); M. melocactoides auctt. (q.v.); M. depressus Hook, in 1: 132 (1979). Type: Piaui, Gaturiano, nr. Picos, 1963, F. Ritter
Bot. Mag. 65: t. 3691 (1838). 1206a (U).
Stem subpyramidal, to 7.5 cm. high and 12.5 cm. diam., ribs The following are probably only varieties: M. curvicornis
10-12, crenate, with broad furrows between; ar. somewhat Buining & Brederoo, M. giganteus Buining & Brederoo and
widely spaced, white tomentose when young, later bare; rad. M. heluolilanatus Buining & Brederoo.
sp. 6-8, long and straight, rigid, red when young, later violet, M. tnacrodiscus Werderm., and its allies seem to represent a
transversely striate, uppermost very short; cent. sp. o [ - i ] , southern, depressed-globose variety or subspecies of Af.
cephalium 50 m m . [? in diam.], obtusely conical. Fl. pale red, zehntneri.
13 m m . in diam.; outer per. segs. 10-11, patent, apex crenulate;
inner per. segs. 7, smaller, erect, denticulate; stamens shorter
than perianth, white, anthers pale yellow; stigmas 5, red.
Range: coast of E. Brazil from Rio de Janeiro to N . of Recife
(Pernambuco), in sand dunes. Illustrations: Martius, Fl. Bras.
4(2): t. 48 (1890); Vaupel in Engler, Pflanzenf. 2 1 : 631, fig. 283
(1925)-

M. zehntneri (B. & R.) Luetzelb., Estud. Bot. Nordeste 3:111

(1923); Burning in CSJA 46: 26-7, with figs. (1974), and in
Krainz, Die Kakteen, Lfg 58, with figs. (1974); Cactus zehntneri
B. & R., Cact. 3: 236, fig. 248 (1922) (illustration shows the
rather dehydrated type plant). T y p e : Bahia, Joazeiro, 'common
on the flats', 1915, Rose & Russell 19728 (US).

70
T h e Cactus and Succulent Journal o f Great Britain
V o l u m e 42(3): 71-74 (1980)

Conservation by Propagation
by Werner Reppenhagen
The wild populations of many cactus species arc in natural surroundings, and to describe them on the spot,
immediate danger. For over 20 years now, and at fairly with all possible accuracy. It is essential to record
regular intervals, I have been visiting the cactus home- conditions at each site, the following in particular:
lands of Mexico. Over and over again I have had the associated plants, climate (especially temperatures), air-
same experience: in places where numerous species of movements, relative atmospheric humidity, altitude,
cacti were once to be seen growing in company, even exposure, and geological and hydrological conditions.
as recently as a few years ago, now only a few pitiable Plant collections must be made with maximum
survivors are to be found, from species not highly regard for the protection of natural populations. Where
esteemed by the collector since they are neither rare nor the available plant-numbers permit, at least 10 speci-
attractive. At the former sites of magnificent Echino- mens should be collected. In cases where there is wide
cereus pectinatus, Mammillaxia Candida, Turbinicarpus and variability within any given stand, it would be prefer-
uncommon dwarf Mammillarias, the only cacti now able to take still more material so that all the different
remaining arc a few specimens of the green Mam- variants are, if possible, represented. Where the popula-
willaria vagaspina. tion shows morphological constancy, a smaller number
There is no point in detailing yet again all the of collections will suffice. It is important to ensure the
different ways in which man's intervention results in full range of any variability is represented, taking the
the destruction of Nature and the extermination of following factors into account: different lengths and
species; yet I am convinced that, in the not-too-distant colours of spines, differences in epidermis-colour and,
future, the concept of conservation will prevail—but where recognizable, of flower-colour also. Where the
it can become a practical reality only when the coun- body-form varies, this too must be represented. It is
tries involved have the will to use all the resources and thus not enough just to take extreme forms, such as
powers at their command. But even these countries those with black, red or white spines; the greatest
will only act to protect their natural heritage when number of intermediates should be included as well.
compelled to do so by a majority of their own people; Only then is it possible to build up a complete picture
and such a majority may well not make its voice heard of the variability of any one population of any one
until many more natural communities of animals and species. This of course is vitally important for drawing
plants have been destroyed. Only then will people say: up descriptions.
'If only we had. . . .' At the present time the essential It is absolutely essential that the wild plants taken into
factor is to preserve all possible habitat-data for different cultivation should not be allowed to hybridize, but that
species and, above all, to save the plants themselves. they should be propagated, and that the propagated
The remarks which follow are devoted to what can material is authentic; this has special importance since
be done to help save Mammillarias which arc at risk, the threat to the wild plants may mean that the plants
since that genus is my special interest. But my com- in cultivation arc the sole survivors. Even better than
ments have equal validity for other plants and animals the taking of plant-material from natural sites is the
in peril. collection of seed from plants there, so that progeny
There arc no alternatives open to us: we must take all may be raised for conservation purposes.
endangered species into our care and protection, so This procedure has several benefits: firstly, natural
that they may be preserved for future generations. In populations are not depleted, even when numerous
many cases this cannot be done at the natural sites and fruits are gathered; by comparison with other factors
then the only course is to take these plants into cultiva- contributing to the destruction of a species the collec-
tion for the time being, in the hope that one day pros- tion of seed for scientific research and the building up of
pects will be better and there will be a chance to return plant-populations for conservation is of negligible
the plants to their natural homelands. significance; secondly, by raising some hundreds or
thousands of plants from collected seed, the full range
W h a t should be done in the field ? of the species or population will certainly be repre-
At this moment the most important task for the sented.
research worker or enthusiast in the field is to photo-
Unfortunately seed-collection is not always a prac-
graph the wild plants he finds, showing them in their
ticable possibility since the period of ripening varies
very widely from year to year, sometimes by many
Based on a lecture delivered at the Annual General Meeting of months. Thus one is seldom on the spot when seed
the Deutsche Kakteen Gesellschaft at Nuremberg, 12 May
1979. Translated by Lois Glass. Author's address: Bahnhofstr. matures.
39, A9300 St. Veit/Glan, Austria. Obviously success in raising plants from seed depends

71
on the operation being undertaken by knowledgeable will use one brush only to pollinate several species;
and experienced growers who must have the necessary insects wing from flower to flower; and while bees are
equipment and an adequate heated area, or a garden in admittedly surprisingly colour-constant in terms of the
some country with a climate similar to that of the flowers they visit, they make no distinction between
cactus-homelands; in our case that means climatic Mmiunillaria spinosissima and, let us say, M. matudae
conditions approximating to those of Mexico. The latter since the blooms of both arc carmine-pink, and they
option is of course much the best, and from the blossom simultaneously.
European's point of view the obvious areas are coun- O f course it is easy to say things must now be i m -
tries bordering the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic proved—but there must be reserve collections, and they
islands, the Canaries and the Azores. can indeed be organized effectively. The problem, as I
see it, lies in co-ordination, and long-continuing
Organization o f reserve collections cultivation over a considerable period of time, probably
It needs to be said at the outset that a collection dedi- several generations. Nevertheless, I will try to make a
cated to conserving Mammillarias or any other group start and offer some practical suggestions.
is not the same thing as a specialist collection (reference
Suitable candidates for our project are most likely to
collection), or one intended for display purposes; and
be found among really interested young people who
should the conservation-collection be managed in con-
already have a real concern for conservation and the
junction with collections in one or both the other
survival of individual species. They need not be cactus
categories, then great care will be vital in order to keep
collectors as the term is usually understood, but they
the conservation material completely separate—above
must genuinely care about practical attempts to per-
all to ensure there is no cross-pollination by visiting
petuate endangered plant species.
insects.
After providing satisfactory proof of their aptitude
Until such time as a large institute or foundation can
and the suitability of their growing equipment, each
be persuaded to grant land and money for the purpose,
candidate could be allocated responsibility for one or
we must obtain the active support for our cause of the
more species or varieties, etc. Their plants could later
greatest possible number of thinking collectors; and
be examined from time to time, and here I can envisage
this is not without problems since there is no prospect
that the IOS Reserve Collections scheme* would have
of any financial reward, and the 'curator' of any con-
a vital role in the whole campaign.
servation-collection can hardly look forward to the
praise and admiration of his visitors since the collection Practical propagation
must, after all, be limited to a relatively few species, shut Translated into practical terms, a propagation pro-
away and kept intact: plant-material cannot be handed gramme might work as follows: T w o field-collected
on to others until the stock of propagated material is individuals of a suitable species arc allocated to the
sufficient to ensure the perpetuation of the species. participating grower. Let us assume the species is not
I believe it to be important that collections for species- self-fertile, so that pollen from a genetically different
conservation should be sited far away from one another plant is needed for seed production. But even for self-
so that, in the event of any catastrophe, some at least fertile plants it is desirable for the progeny also to carry
would continue unimpaired. Even a small collector, if genetic material from a different individual (genotype).
certain conditions are fulfilled, can devote himself to The two original plants must first of all be provided
preserving a single species. Whether that is practicable with some form of permanent label so that no con-
or not depends on the character and interests of the fusion can arise. The same rule applies to their later
person responsible for that collection. His complete progeny. The next step is to propagate vegetatively to
dependability and his integrity would determine increase the number of plants of the individual geno-
success or failure in each individual undertaking. types, partly as a precaution and partly for breeding
The ordinary cactus collections of our time are purposes; this can be done by means of grafting or by
almost valueless in terms of conserving endangered taking cuttings. It is immaterial which method is
species; the exceptions to this rule are few. The deciding chosen, but one point I would like to make here is that
factors in building up most collections are aesthetic and the best long-term grafting stock that I have found is
ornamental appeal: individual items are judged and seedlings from the complex around Trichocereus
brought together primarily for their decorative value, pasacana.
or as status-symbols; where several specimens of one Each of the original plants might be propagated so
species (and sometimes only the rarest plants are repre- as to obtain say 10 individuals which, of course, repre-
sented in considerable numbers) these are distributed sent two genotypes only. These two groups of 10 must
throughout the plantings for the sake of decorative then be cultivated in separate trays or pans which are
effect. True, the uncommon plants are usually propa- kept segregated at all times. Clear and careful labelling
gated, but this is not done sufficiently systematically.
*Dctails on application from D. R. Hunt, Chairman, IOS
In the case of propagation from seed there is often
Reserve Collections Committee, 67 Gloucester Court, K e w
disastrous cross-pollination: thoughtlessly the owner Road, Richmond, Surrey, T W 9 3EA.

72
is of the first importance and the plants must be isolated
by fly-proof netting during the flowering period.
Pollination, carried out with a camel-hair brush which
must be kept specifically for this one operation, con-
sists of transferring pollen from the stamens of one to
the stigmas of the other, and vice-versa. When the
fruits have ripened, the seeds can be sown and, for this
first sowing all the seeds which were harvested should
be sown.
After 2-3 years the seedlings will have developed
sufficiently for individual characters to be clearly
recognizable; they may also be flowering. Some
experienced person managing the project now has to
select say 20 plants in such a way as to ensure the inclu-
sion of any important variants that have arisen: differ-
ences of spine and wool development, body shape,
flower-colour and shape. Only when that point has
been reached may any remaining plants be distributed
to collectors as authentic descendants of the collected
plants.
Since the plant stock thus obtained has genetic
material from different sources, we have for the time
being ensured the perpetuation of a significant part of
the 'gene pool' of the population originally sampled.
This generation is, and remains, the basic stock which
must be conserved against the eventuality of the plant's
disappearance from its homeland. This stock must be
kept alive for as long as possible; furthermore, it must
be supplemented and, if need be, renewed every five
years.
The first example I have taken is a purely arbitrary
one; a species easily raised from seed and one that
flowers readily, even as a young plant, and it is thus Mammillaria heidiae (photo: Kraeheubuehl)
probable that two plants of approximately equal age
will soon be flowering simultaneously; propagation
could then be undertaken immediately from seed, with- plants close under the glass; but I have never yet
out the need first to increase stocks by vegetative means succeeded in persuading any fruits to set. Mr. Krahen-
as a safeguard. In this particular case such a procedure is biihl, who has had the plant longer in cultivation than
perhaps not essential, but in most instances the precau- anyone else, has actually managed to harvest some
tion should be taken; and for that reason I suggest it seeds; but his germination-ratio was so poor as to be
should be obligatory, in every reserve collection. valueless for propagation purposes.
Although many species are easily raised from seed and At the present time M. heidiae is known from only
flower readily, I would nevertheless reiterate mv two localities, and since it is uncommon at both sites
recommendation that, in every reserve collection, a it is urgently necessary' to ensure its preservation.
stand-by stock should be built up as quickly as possible I hold five specimens from locality A, and eight from
by vegetative means whenever only a restricted number locality B and intend to use them for a conservation
of habitat-collected plants is available. project.
The initiation and maintenance of a conservation- No risks can be taken with such valuable plants;
collection for any difficult species makes heavy demands each of them will be grafted on to a two-year-old
on patience, skill and sympathetic handling of the Trichoccreuspasaeanaseedling, justassoon as thestocksare
plants. growing well. For such important plants the correct cut
Mammillaria heidiae may be taken as an example of a is of crucial importance, and the operation has to be
'difficult' plant: it was discovered only a few years ago done with great care. This means in practice that only a
by Mrs. Heidi Krahenbiihl, and it seems to have a super-sharp knife is used. Any spines which could
restricted distribution, so that the species can already be interfere with the cut must first be shortened, using
considered as at risk. M. heidiae is not easy to grow and, scissors, and the cut itself is made in such a way that no
worse still, it is difficult to propagate: I have managed second attempt is necessary. If the incision is made too
an occasional flower in a warm greenhouse with the high, the crown of the plant is damaged and is usually

7?
then lost; only rarely can it be persuaded to throw out propagative phase; it is better to keep the grafted plants
offsets. If the cut is made too low one is into the hard in vigorous growth in order to obtain propagants as
tissue and the stem-base is so reduced in size that it soon as possible. Once a good stand-by population has
cannot survive, and yet another mother-plant has been been achieved it is permissible to start experimenting in
lost. The head itself must be cut back to soft tissue, and order to achieve regular flowering and seed-setting;
any slices that have to be removed represent waste of only then has the time come to try out possible com-
the reserves of the stem base. Where the cut is judged binations of sowing techniques and different tempera-
correctly, both apex and base can be placed on ready- tures.
prepared grafting stocks after a single cut. The lower For these experiments with a variety of techniques
section of the plant-body is grafted in the inverted for cultivation and seed-sowing it will probably be
position, i.e. with its roots in the air. After the union is necessary to bring other growers into the project, so
complete it usually makes a number of offsets and that their experiences can provide valuable additional
these, in turn, can be removed and grafted the following information for future use.
year. It is to be hoped that sooner or later a satisfactory
It will inevitably take many years before the existing population of seedling plants will be produced; when
pool of plants can be increased tenfold, when its future that time arrives it will at last be safe to start growing
can be considered more or less assured. It is now essen- some of the plants on their own roots, and under
tial that each specimen and its vegetative progeny should conditions simulating those of the original habitat, in
be kept separate and clearly labelled. This is vital for order to achieve the dwarf stature and natural growth-
pollinating any flowers later on, since the species is form of the species.
self-sterile.
M. heidiae is a dwarf species which grows to only a Werner Reppenhagen, seen below with his plants at St.
few centimetres in size in the wild. It occurs on crystal VeitjClan, Austria, has a very extensive and tvell-
granite on more or less south-facing slopes carrying documented Mammillaria collection, mostly plants he has
large cacti and a sparse bush-vegetation, at an altitude of collected himself in Mexico during travels by himself or with
1400 m. (c. 4500 ft). The cracks resulting from the Fittkau or Lau. His field-numbers tally over a thousand, of
weathering of the granite hold very little humus. The which about 650 are Mammillarias. Now aged 69, he is
locality is hot, dry and sunny. We should try to repro- devoting much of his time to studying the genus and writing
duce these conditions in order to retain the natural a book based on his fieldwork. He was elected a member of
habit of the plant, but this is not essential during the IOS in 1978 (photo: Hunt).

74
T h e Cactus and Succulent Journal o f Great Britain
V o l u m e 42(3): 75-78 (1980)

I.O.S. in Mexico, 1980

by W. L. Tjaden
85 Welling Way, Welling, Kent

T w o years ago m y wife and I were fortunate indeed to the first roadside stop, between Qucretaro and 'S.L.P.'
be invited to attend the XVth Congress of the Inter- There was quite a rush to be first out of the coach, and
national Organization for Succulent Plant Studv held in little heed was paid to the warning that the stop was for
Monaco. W h e n we learned that the next meeting was half-an-hour only. The tour-operators and their couriers
to take place in Mexico, we at once said that we should had little idea of how to control a coach-load of
like to attend, especially as a tour by coach to special cactophilcs. Even - stop throughout the tour was said to
succulent plant localities would be arranged as well. be for ten minutes, half-hour etc., but no stated time
Mexico is surely for most of us the pre-eminent cactus for return was ever given. A few members were always
country, but it is very large and even the commonest late back, and the cumulative delays led eventually to
opuntias are not to be seen everywhere. Here then was us missing an intended stop entirely. That day w e
a chance, without the need to acquire special know- arrived at Matchuala in the dark, after 8 p.m. None of
ledge, to be given one of the biggest thrills which can us minded. W e had seen our first 'collectors' cacti,
be granted to any plant enthusiast, of seeing the plants cchinocerci, echinocacti and some mammillarias. I failed
he grows or perhaps would like to grow, actually there to identify m y very first habitat plant, a rather small
in the wild. This is a thrill known to almost all alpine mammillaria. It did not matter, they were 'our' plants,
plant enthusiasts, because the European Alps are so many growing as we had always been told, underneath
easily reached. It is, of course, an experience known only or in the shade of the predominant, often very prickly
to a small proportion of European succulent plant shrubs. Some small cacti indeed were in open sandy
hobbyists. There was, however, to be a very reasonable stretches, flat on the ground. Often, but not always
restriction. In return for the privilege of being shown they had plenty of spines for protection against the sun.
special plant sites, the I.O.S. stipulated that no plants The predominance in many areas of small trees, many
were to be collected. The Organization is deeply con- of them leguminous such as Cassia and Prosopis
cerned with the problem of the conservation of plants (Mesquite), often in full green leaf, created a strange
in the wild, and it was a topic again to be discussed at contrast to the stony ground, arid because we were still
the Congress. Most participants including the English in the lengthy dry season. There is no such thing as a
met this obligation, collecting only a few seeds of purely cactus landscape. Most of us, but not all, managed
those plants present in substantial numbers. A few odd- to avoid awkward encounters with the frequent and
pcrsons-out were reprimanded on the spot, although the aggressive specimens of Opmitia tunkata and even O.
difficulty may have arisen in an initial misunderstanding Icptocanlis.
in the multilingual party. The second day gave us our first big visual treat, the
The main party of British and French participants sight of a dozen or so many-branched specimens, some
arrived at Mexico City late in the evening of 17 March, more than 6 feet 111 height, of Ferocactus pilosus (F.
having changed aircraft at Dallas, and the next morning staincsii), seen from the now cobbled road to the former
two comfortable coaches took us on the 600 km. mining town of Catorce. The tops of these amazing
journey north via Qucretaro and San Luis Potosi to plants stood clear of the surrounding thickets of shrubs.
Matchuala. Most of us were, I think, impressed by the Catorce is in a hollow of the mountains at an altitude of
vast extent of Mexico City, by the wide, straight and 9,000 ft. (2700 111.), and is the highest town in Mexico.
very busy roads, and perhaps above all by the seemingly It is reached through a rough tunnel over a mile long,
endless spread of one-storey houses over the surrounding once part of the mine-workings. The town has a huge
hills. After the hilly outer suburbs, the motor-toll road church, evidence of its former prosperity, but the place
to Qucretaro, and the later first-class road to San Luis is now little more than a village with only 1,000 popula-
Potosi and beyond, is on the Mexican plateau, with tion. W e had to spend almost the entire afternoon
dead-straight stretches many miles in length. There is awaiting a protracted lunch in a small restaurant, when
no feeling of being some 7,000 ft. (2100 m.) above sea- we could have been on the mountain-side looking for
level. The hills bordering the plain are perhaps some cacti. The tour operators did not, perhaps, really under-
2,000 ft. to 3,000 ft. (600-900 111.) above it. Great areas stand our true priorities. Only after 5 p.m., when the
of prickly pears, and a little later of columnar cerei, sun was already behind the mountain and the light was
were our first glimpse from the coach of cacti in inadequate for good photographs, did we once more
habitat, and therefore exciting, but the real moment was briefly resume our search.

75
 The highlight of the third day was a stop at Huizachc, On arrival at San Luis Potosi there was a rush to buy
half-way between Matehuala and San Luis Potosi, for straw hats, the party taking on quite a Mexican look
more than two hours. This time we had a packed when in the field next day. The tropical sun we enjoyed
lunch, so no time was lost indoors eating. A hill sur- throughout the tour, reinforced by the thinner atmo-
mounted by a micro-wave station a half-mile from the sphere of the Mexican plateau, had caught some
main road was to be the focal point, but almost before unwary European victims in only a very few hours on
setting out we nearly stepped on a large cluster of our first day. From the state capital we made a field
Lophophora williamsii in the baked mud behind a road- trip along the Zacatecas road, and although it was not
side cafe. A little way further we found superb ferocacti, as exciting as Huizachc, we saw several familiar
Ariocarpus, Coryphantha, and Mammillaria formosa and favourites such as Mammillaria bocasana and M. magni-
M. Candida, all in a thick scrub of Hcchtia and Agave, mainma, an Echinocercus pectinatus with two open blooms,
mainly A. stricta. Had I had more success in the past at and numerous stenocacti. The relative disappointment
home in cultivating habitat-collected plants, I should this day was that we were taken back to town at 3 p.m.,
have been tempted indeed by the 7 inch (20 cm.) to be given a well-intentioned guided tour of the main
diameter Ariocarpus retusus, but they all stayed where sights including the museum. The wax-work exhibit of
they were, to rejoice later visitors. Rather aggressive the beautiful Princess Salm-salm, by birth an English-
dogs in charge of a herd of goats were the only slight woman, on her knees begging the successful insurgent
drawback to what was described recently in the Benito Juarez in vain for Emperor Maximilian's life,
American Journal as 'perhaps the richest spot for was no compensation for our lost hours in the field.
varieties of cacti' in the state of San Luis Potosi. At the The final day of the prc-congress tour was taken mainly
next stop we had the pleasure of seeing Echinocercus by the long journey back to Mexico City, but we had
cinerascens with a dozen open flowers, and Opuntia a number of stops, including an especially fine one
stenopetala making a fine display. In general, however, half-way to Queretaro. There, on a hillside a short
we were perhaps a little too early to see many cacti in distance from the main road we found numbers of large
full bloom, and many, like the ferocacti, spread their Echinocactus platyacanthus growing in thickets of
display over a lengthy period. Euphorbia antisyphilitica, superb Ferocactns latispinus,

Lophophora williamsii near Huizachc (photo: Hunt)

The IOS Congress tour party inspecting branched specimens of Cephalocereus senilis and large plants of Echinocactus ingens
near Metztitlan (photo: Tjaden)

Mainniillaria nutehlenpfordtii and other treasures. It was foot and a half high (50 cm.), and the form of Echino-
almost as fascinating as Huizache. After this Elysium cactus platyacanthus so rightly named ingens, were all
came an anti-climax. The lunch arrangements again photographed many times over. We returned up the
went awry. We spent the whole afternoon over a large valley to eat our packed lunch by a stream bordering
meal served at prolonged intervals, in a restaurant in the fertile fields, then most of us hastened once more into
delightful resort town of Tequisquiapan, some miles the up-hill scrub to inspect large plants of the Old Man
off the main road. The day was a Mexican holiday, Cactus, Cephalocereus senilis, which unlike the majority
when all who can afford it fill the restaurants all the so common in this area, had branched freely from the
afternoon. base. Matching their dignity were numerous Echinocactus
During the week of the Congress itself there were ingens likewise conspicuous among the scrub (see
more field trips, the best being to the Barranca or gorge coloured illustration).
of Metztitlan beyond Pachuca to the north-east. The Our debt to Sr. Sanchez-Mejorada was increased still
steep hillside flanking the road a short distance before more on our return journey by the refreshments he and
the small town of Metztitlan, seems almost to have been his wife gave the whole large party in the garden of
planted as a superb cactus garden, so great is the number their family home at Velasco near Pachuca. On another
of fine specimens, easily visible from the road. Hernando day we were taken to the Botanic Garden of the
Sanchez-Mejorada, President of the Mexican Cactus Biological Institute of the University of Mexico, and
Society, did trojan work throughout the tours and once more given hospitality. This was also to celebrate
congress to make them a success. To him, too, we are the very fitting award of the Government of Monaco's
indebted for a fine guide to the succulent flora of this Golden Cactus trophy, first awarded to Prof. Rauh in
gorge, in Spanish and English and with many photo- 1978, this time to Helia Bravo Hollis, author of the in-
graphs. Among the numerous treasures of the area the valuable standard work on Mexican cacti first published
huge mounds of Mammillariageminispina, die fine groups in 1937 and now appearing in a new edition. After
of Ferocactns glaucescens, the Astrophytum ornatttm over a seeing so many fine plants in the wild we were perhaps

77
a little disappointed by some of the plants in the garden. Mexico before, the organizers compressed the lecture
It was still the dry season and even for Mexicans it is sessions into the least possible period. The theme set to
not easy to out-do in cultivation what nature alone give unity to the papers which were presented, was a
achieves. More field trips were enjoyed on the journey broad one, Succulents in Habitat, their ecology and
to Tehuacan in the state of Pucbla, where more lectures taxonomy. Of the two dozen papers given, I personally
and the concluding banquet were held. W e also made liked Lcn Newton's the best, for its content, on the
an excursion to another famous cactus area at Zapotitlan, geographical associations of the succulents of Southern
south-west of Tehuacan. O n the journey to the latter Arabia and the Horn of Africa, and for the manner of
t o w n a few of us were shown one or two remaining its delivery. O n the same level was Edward Anderson's
small specimens of Mammillaria pectinifera, all that re- on the Galapagos Opuntias and their ecology, although
main there after the greediness of collectors in the past. he exceeded the time allowed slightly, and Heidi
The excursion to Zapotitlan provided numerous Hartmann's, delivered in faultless English, on the
highlights, hillsides dominated by tall cerei following adaptation of mesembryanthema to arid areas in SW.
each other in intriguing variety. One wondered just Africa. The linguistic talents of many of the German
what slight differences in soil, aspect or climate, scarcely members was impressive: Beat Leucnbcrgcr not only
noticeable to the observer, could cause one species to gave an interesting account in English of detective work
dominate one area, only to give way soon to another. on pcreskias, but chaired many of the lectures with
Here again the Mexican Cactus Society have published comments in Spanish as well. To mention these few
a fmc field-guide, this time by Jorge Meyran, editor of talks is, however, to be unfair to many others. M y own
the Society'sjournal 'Cactaccas y Suculentas Mcxicanas'. lack of any Spanish meant that I could not appreciate
Among the cerei, which included an old favourite of quite a number of the talks, despite the hard work put
mine in cultivation, the rather plain Stenocereus chichipe, in by Sr. Sanchez-Mejorada in giving summaries in
we found Wilcoxia viperina in flower, a fine grove of English. Some lecturers were a little unlucky in that
Noliua (Beaucaruca) gracilis, and another large barrel- their talks came at the end of some very hot days and
cactus, the form of Echinocacttts platyacaiitlms known as their audiences by then could not do them full justice,
E.grandis. Once again some of us felt that we were taken and the slide projectors sometimes had a mind of their
too soon from all these wonders to return to Tehuacan own, bent on causing some awkward gaps. Neverthe-
and its colourful Saturday market. However, comparing less, it was a highly successful congress, and the Mexican
Gordon Rowley's experiences of Mexican cacti re- Cactus Society deserve the heartiest thanks of all those
counted in the NCSS Journal for 1975, we at least who took part, both for organizing it and for their
achieved more than 5 % each time in the field, and had generous hospitality.
glorious weather throughout.
The post-congress tour was to Oaxaca (pronounced
Wa-ha'-ka) by the direct, fairly new route via Tomcllin.
It gave us not only magnificent mountain scenery, but
cacti w e had not yet encountered such as the wavy-
branched ccrcus, Escoiitria chiotilla, and the most sym-
metric candelabra cereus of them all, Pachyccreus webeti,
as well as handsome xerophytic trees such as the red-
stemmed Bursera microphylla and the Kapok tree, Ceiba
pentandra, the latter bursting its silk-laden capsules. In
the hills before reaching Oaxaca there was one final The IOS Executive Board for 1980-82 is John Donald
delight, Aporocactus conzattii in flower, massed on the (GB), President; Professor Dr. Werner Rauh (W. Ger-
trunk of an oak-tree together with bromeliads and many), Vice President; Lloyd Brinson (USA), Secretary;
Cattleya citrina, also in flower. Nearby on the ground Dr. Heiino Friedrich (Austria), Asst. Secretary; J. D.
were numerous specimens of Ferocactus macrod'scus a foot Supthut (Switzerland), Treasurer; D. R. Hunt (GB), M.
(30 cm.) in diameter, to mention but one other treasure Kroenlein (Monaco), H. Sanchez-Mejorada (Mexico),
there. Members; Dr. Heidrun Hartmami (W. Germany), Co-
The last two days of the tour were spent visiting the opted MemberIIUBS Delegate.
impressive ruins of ancient civilizations at Monte Alban The Board will meet at Zurich in the autumn oj 198l,
and at Mitla. The vast ruins in Mexico, typified by the when discussion will include a revised procedure for admission
innumerable pyramids, really need a tour to themselves of new members and reorganization of active members
to be properly appreciated: m y mind was still on the according to their specific areas of interest. The next Congress
superb vegetation of Mexico alone. W c knew that we will be held at Vienna in late Summer 1982.
had sampled only a tiny fraction of it, for instance, we Membership of IOS is by election only, but the Organiza-
had encountered no Echeverias or Sedums. tion's Bulletin and the Repertorium Plantarum Succulentarum
Knowing that many participants had not visited are available to non-members.

78
The Cactus and Succulent Journal of Great Britain
Volume 42(3): 79-80 (1980)

The cultivation of Sansevierias

by Horst Pfennig
In all species of Sansevieria the inflorescence terminates place until the top of soil is completely dry to a depth
the growth of the shoot. In unfavourable conditions of of 1-2 cm. Mature plants can be induced to flower by
soil, temperature and moisture, flowering—generally reduced watering or complete dryness. As soon as an
desired by the grower—will not take place. The plant inflorescence appears normal watering should be
will continue to produce new leaves or offshoots. resumed.
Drier, brighter and warmer conditions favour the A steady supply of nutrients is physiologically better
formation of flowers, produce more compact growth than intermittent dosage and small amounts of fer-
and reduce the number of leaves. O n the other hand tilizer should always be added to the water. W i t h the
moister, darker and cooler conditions inhibit flowering, soil mixture recommended above it has been shown
while the plant produces more leaves which are fre- that a good dosage is 0.2 gr. of a soluble fertilizer con-
quently etiolated. taining trace elements to each litre of rain water applied
Even though, in the wild, S. singularis is sometimes throughout the year. During winter when watering
encountered in the deep shade of dense bush or S. parva times are reduced the plants will also receive a dimin-
in the full sun, the general rule is that the more cylin- ished supply of nutrients. But if they are kept in very
drical and fleshy the leaves, the brighter their position dry air or above a heat source, such as a radiator, a
should be in the greenhouse, and the flatter and thinner smaller amount of the fertilizer might be indicated.
the leaves the more likely they are to favour more shel-
tered conditions. A habitat with too much insolation is
Propagation
apt to cause a metallic sheen on flat leaves and even-
Sansevierias develop either an underground rhizome or
tually the surface may be bleached.
offshoots above ground. Propagation is achieved most
During the winter months when there is less sunlight easily by division, i.e. the separation of sufficiently
the temperature in the greenhouse should not be mature offshoots near the parent plant. Rhizomes as
allowed to fall below I5°C at night. In daytime it may well as aerial branches often have to be shortened. After
rise by 5°C, and if the plants are kept dry and sunlight dusting with charcoal powder the cut pieces can be
is present, somewhat more. planted at once, but watered very sparingly. Old off-
During the summer months the night temperature shoots when replanted usually develop new plantlets,
should be increased by 2-3°C, while in daytime tem- thus giving a constant supply of new material.
peratures up to 40°C will be tolerated, if necessary with
It is also possible to propagate Sansevierias from
some shading, without damage, provided, of course,
leaf cuttings, but this is more difficult and takes longer.
that the plants are healthy and have well-developed
Mature leaves are cut into strips of 10-15 c m - length
roots.
with a very sharp knife or a razor blade. Depending on
The onset of root-rot—and also lack of moisture— the fleshiness of the leaves the cut sections should be
shows on the leaf surface by the appearance of grooves allowed to dry for some days or even weeks. The lower
due to shrinking. Healthy root-growth is achieved in a end of the cutting is then inserted to a depth of 1-2 cm.
permeable sandy soil-mixture. The following mixture into a mixture of one part of peat to one part of sharp
has proved satisfactory: \ coarse sand, \ peat, sand. After watering gently with 0 . 1 % solution of
J compost. Loamy mixtures, although often recom- Chinosol the container is stood in a w a r m but shady
mended, are not advisable for they often lead to place. The most suitable container is a small aquarium
inadequate root-formation, poor flowering and (es- covered with a pane of glass to preserve the moisture.
pecially with the more delicate species) waterlogging.
Treating cuttings with a growth-hormone does not
For this reason containers should not be larger than
appear to be necessary but it may help. Root and off-
absolutely necessary. W h e r e the usually downward-
shoot formation sometimes starts soon but may also
growing rhizomes permit their use, f clay pots, half
take up to one or two years. Very cautious watering is
pots or pans are recommended.
essential to prevent rotting.
W h e n the recommended soil-mixture is used, Simpler but scarcely quicker is propagation from
watering can be lavish but excess water must not be seeds. Fruits are easily obtained through pollination by
allowed to stagnate. The next watering should not take hand, best carried out in the late evening. The 1-3-
locular berries ripen after 2-3 months, turning to an
Translated by Dr. Peter Bally and G. A. Classen from orange colour. The fleshy mesocarp is removed and
Dr. Pfennig's article 'Die Kultur der Sansevierien', in Garten-
praxis 1977, pp. 550-3. Author's address: Stieglitzweg 18, the bone-white round or oval seeds can be sown in the
4 poo Herfbrd, W. Germany. soil mixture recommended above, preferably in small

79
Three attractive forms of Sansevieria liahnii. Left to right, 'Hahnii', 'Golden Hahnii' and 'Silver Hahtiii'. (photo: Pfennig)

clay dishes. The seeds must be covered with about ness' or by the fungus Fusarium moniliforme. Since it is
0.5 cm. of soil and watered with a 0 . 1 % solution of difficult to distinguish between the two it is advisable
Chinosol. They will germinate in 4-6 weeks at the to cut off heavily infested leaves and to spray the plant
greenhouse temperatures recommended earlier. It is with the well-tolerated fungicide Cercobin M in a
not abnormal for the first leaves of cuttings or seedlings concentration of 0 . 1 % .
to have a different shape (usually flatter), than those of
the parent plant. In some species the characteristic leaf- Literature
and growth-form will appear only on a secondary BROWN, N . E. (1915)- In Kew Bull. 1915: 185-261.
offshoot. S. singularis, for instance, produces exclusively PFENNIG, H. (1970). Injacobsen, H., Das Sukkulenten-
flat leaves at first and only after the production of lexikon, 293-305.
several offshoots with a gradual reduction in the number (i974)- In Palmengarten 38: 47-50.
of leaves is the typical single-leaved cylindrical form (i979)- In CSJGB 41(3): 56-60.
achieved.
Sansevieria Publications
Pests and diseases Sansevieria enthusiasts will be interested in a booklet
Sansevierias suffer from few pests and diseases. Occa- recently published by Adelaide Botanic Gardens,
sionally scale insects attack the leaves. If the infestation N o r t h Terrace, Adelaide 5000, Australia. It is 'Sansev-
is slight they are best removed manually. ieria in Cultivation in Australia' by Robert F. G.
Also, the larvae of certain weevils attack the roots, Swinbourne, and has short chapters on history and use,
while the mature weevils feed at night, preferring culture, propagation, hybridizing and selection, a key
young leaves and leaving semi-circular depressions. In a to species and short descriptions of species and cultivars.
small collection the best remedy is to take out the The text occupies 18 pages and is followed by 30 pages
plants and thoroughly shake off all the soil and then of line illustrations.
replant. Alternatively 0 . 1 % of Basudin emulsion W e also understand that N . E. Brown's monograph
should be added to the water. of the genus, originally published in the Kew Bulletin in
Yellowish spots on the leaves which later become 1915, is being reprinted, and will give further details
b r o w n and sunken may be caused by harmless 'corki- when available.

80
T h e Cactus and Succulent Journal o f Great Britain
V o l u m e 42(3): 81-86 (1980)

The Safe Use of Insecticides

by N. P. Davis

Table o f Contents The carbamates arc also organic compounds, characterized

/. Introduction by a particular arrangement of additional nitrogen and oxygen
A. General atoms. Obviously, inorganic chemicals play a very minor role
13. Methods of Insect Control as insecticides (but are more important as fungicides).
II. Types of Chemical Insecticides Insecticides may also be classified as contact, systemic or
A. Organochlorine stomach poisons depending on the route by which they attack
13. Organophosphorus the pest. Contact poisons must reach the body of the insect
C. Carbamates directly and be absorbed through the skin. Systemic poisons
D . Other Organic Materials are those which are taken up into the sap of the plant and enter
E. Arscnicals and Mercurials the body of the insect when it feeds on the plant juices. Stomach
F. Naturally Occurring Materials poisons are taken in by chewing insects which ingest the
G. Chemical Attractants and Juvenile Hormones poison along with the plant material.
H. Miscellaneous Folk Remedies A measure of the toxicity of chemicals which is commonly
III. The Proper Use of Insecticides quoted is the LD50 (or 50% lethal dose).
A. K n o w the Pest This is the dose required to kill 50% of whatever test animal
13. Dangers to Man and Animals is used for the determination. The value of the LD50 depends
C. Safety Precautions on the way the poison is administered, viz. by feeding (oral)
D. Avoiding the Use of Insecticides or injected into the skin (dermal).
IT \ References The values arc usually determined with rats and rabbits and
V. Appendices so are not necessarily good estimates of the toxicity to humans.
A. C o m m o n Insecticides and their Toxicities Another criticism is that the LD50 does not give any indication
B. Phototoxicity Table of the effect of chronic exposure to low levels of the toxic
C. Compatibility Chart material. However it does provide a useful means of showing
which insecticides are particularly dangerous for short term
exposure to high concentrations, which are the conditions
I. Introduction likely to be encountered by the home gardener.
A. General The labels of some pesticide containers have a number after
In the following discussions some terms may be new to the the name of the material, e.g. R O G O R 40. This states the
reader. This general introduction is intended to give an concentration of the active ingredient (per cent weight per
explanation of a number of words and concepts to make the volume). This information is also to be found printed on the
rest of the paper more easily understood. bottom of the label where the name and concentration of all
The word 'insecticide' is derived from insect combined with the ingredients are listed. This allows the buyer to make a wise
the Latin word caedere, to kill. Many similar terms have been choice when purchasing insecticides, for he can avoid those
formed in this way, e.g. nematocide (for killing nematodes), substances which are extremely toxic or damaging to the
acaricide or miticide (for killing mites), molluscicide, fungicide, environment.
algicide and so on. Different substances have different effects on the environ-
Some compounds will, of course, kill more than one kind ment depending on their bio-degradability, i.e. the ease with
of pest. Those that destroy a wide range of different life forms which soil organisms break them down, and the nature of their
are called wide spectrum formulations; those that are restricted products. Those that are not readily broken d o w n are termed
in action to a few species are narrow spectrum or specific insecti- persistent insecticides and include many organochlorines, e.g.
cides. D D T , Dieldrin. Sometimes a material is degraded rapidly but
These materials may be classified according to their chemical gives rise to products which are even more poisonous. Such
type, since related chemicals often have similar toxic properties, intoxifcation processes are shown by the organochlorine
giving rise to 'families' of poisons. Three such classes of compounds Aldrin and Heptachlor which degrade respectively
pesticide dominate the market and these are the O C or to the persistent and more toxic Dieldrin and Heptachlor
organochlorine compounds, O P or organophosphorus compounds epoxide.
and the carbamates. The organo- in the name of the first two
refers to the fact that the materials are composed mainly of
B. Methods of Insect Control
carbon and hydrogen. This usage steins from the time when
The suitable methods of insect control differ according to
scientists thought that such compounds of carbon and hydro-
the type of pest and the situation in which they occur. The
gen, in association with a few other elements, could only be
treatment required in an open garden differs from glasshouse
produced by living organisms, and so were organic. Although
practice or the requirements of a metre-long w i n d o w box.
the theory has been discredited the nomenclature has been
The present discussion will not be concerned with environ-
retained as a useful distinction between carbon-hydrogen
ments larger than a suburban garden, the usual province of the
containing materials and other compounds.
amateur gardener.
Preventive action to limit the occurrence of insect pests will
Reprinted by permission from The Cactus and Succulent be covered in Section D. The paragraphs below deal with the
Journal of N e w South Wales n : 114-120, 136-140 (1978). direct control of established insect populations, where the term
Prices quoted in the original paper have been omitted. Author's insect is deemed to include mites (mites are not insects but are
address: 542 Grand Junction Road, Northfield, South Australia arachnids). W e shall divide the subject into three categories,
S085, Australia. viz. Physical, Biological and Chemical.

81
 1. Physical Methods include washing and squashing! Unfor- species over a period of time. Examples are the Vedalia beetle,
tunately for cactus and succulent growers the spininess of the Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, a ladybug (lady bird) which attacks
plants and nature of the pests render physical attack generally cottony cushion scale, the larvae of various ladybugs and hover
unsuccessful. flies; and of lace wing flies which feed on aphids and mealy bug.
Washing is feasible only where all surfaces are accessible and Praying mantids may help control grasshoppers and crickets.
so cannot be applied to clustering plants. Furthermore it is Parasitism is the situation where the attacking insect lives in
unsuitable for the glasshouse where pests will simply be washed or on the victim and does not kill it immediately. It is mainly
from one pot to the next. Aphid populations can be controlled practised by various minute wasps that lay their eggs on or
by hosing them off leaves and flowers if it is done regularly. within the bodies of many pests including scale insects, aphids,
Heavy infestations of mealy bug can be reduced by taking and caterpillars. The larvae hatch out and feed on the host,
plants out of their pots and washing away every visible bug eventually leaving nothing but a mummified skin.
from every section of the plant. (After a few days, pesticide Pathogens are disease-causing organisms, i.e. fungi, bacteria
should be applied to kill any remaining or newly hatched bugs. or viruses. They have been applied to the control of cater-
The solutions may be more dilute than normal to avoid pillars, e.g. the virus infections, granulosis and polyhedrosis and
poisoning the plant in its insect-weakened condition, followed the bacterial infection caused by Bacillus thuringiensis. An
up later by a stronger application.) advantage of pathogenic control of pests is that the infections
Scale insects and aphids on smooth-leaved plants can be con- arc generally restricted to a few species and cause no injury to
trolled by crushing them between the fingers or with any other organisms.
blunt instrument. A constant vigil must be kept to eliminate T w o other methods of use in the open garden which may
every new insect as it appears. Greater success can be achieved be included here are:
if the ants that feed off and spread the pests are also controlled. I. interference with insect breeding and,
Recently, a very interesting method of getting rid of all II. companion planting.
insect pests and their eggs was brought to m y notice (Potocki- In the first, sterilized males of an insect such as the fruit fly
Roth, 1974), viz. the 'Heat-Shock Treatment'. If done cor- are released in large numbers to compete with natural males
rectly, it is claimed, 110 injury is done to even small plants and for mates. This reduces the number of fertilized eggs laid and
flowering is not reduced. Equipment required is a good the insect population drops. Companion planting refers to the
thermometer and a container large enough to immerse the growing of plants with insect repelling properties in association
whole plant. The first step is to shower the plant and pot with with ornamental or food plants. An example of this is the
lukewarm water, wetting the soil right through. Stand the growing of marigolds to repel nematodes; nasturtiums or
pot in a container and fill it slowly with water at 40 C C to 1 cm. chives to repel aphids and tansy to repel ants. Little is known
above the top of the plant. Then by adding hotter water care- about the efficacy of such companion plantings.
fully, bring the temperature up to a minimum of 55°C. It 3. Chemical Methods of control refers to the use of natural
must stay at this temperature for no more or less than 10 and synthetic products which arc poisonous to the harmful
minutes, especially at the bottom where the eggs and soil- insect. Such methods have a number of serious disadvantages—
dwelling pests arc located. the fact that they may be toxic to a wide range of organisms
T o avoid burning the plant the temperature is lowered both harmful and beneficial, they tend to produce resistant
slowly after the 10 minutes, to 25°C, by adding cool water. strains of insect, and they are costly and need to be used in
During the whole procedure the plant body should not touch heavier and heavier concentrations to combat the resistant
anything, otherwise marks will be produced on it, so care must strains.
be taken when removing the plant from the cooled bath. If, for example, a number of red spider mites have thick
Afterwards they should be placed in a warm but completely skins they can survive an application of pesticide because less
shaded position, free from draughts, for a fortnight, to recover of the material penetrates their bodies. Consequently their
from the treatment. proportion in the mite population is increased even though
Plants from outside the glasshouse should be acclimatized their numbers were initially very small. Stronger applications
inside before being treated in this way and rested the fortnight of poison are required to keep the numbers of the resistant
before going outside again. It is advisable to allow one year mites down but even more resistant individuals are bred to
or at least six months between treatments (better still, do not replace them. This aspect is further discussed in Section III A.
allow the plants to become re-infested!). It is claimed that Many insccticidal materials have been discovered by acci-
after their bath the plants have a fresher look. dental observation of their effects on insects. Many more have
The larger the collection of plants, the less efficient physical been tested purposely for such activity, particularly the ana-
methods become, especially when the infestation is widespread. logues of known insecticides, i.e. chemicals based on the same
2. Biological Control is not of great use in the glasshouse structure. Lyle & Heavner (1975) have reported that the syn-
because that environment is inimical to the agents that would thetic pyrethroids (analogues of Pyrethrum) may soon be
destroy the pest. Furthermore, the result of a stable biological among the most important insecticides because they are very
control situation is a dynamic equilibrium between the n u m - active, bio-dcgradable and harmless to mammals. Because a
bers of the pest and its enemy. Although one may temporarily substance occurs naturally does not mean that it is necessarily
breed to disproportionately large numbers, the equilibrium is better or that it is not a chemical. (The oxygen you breathe is
usually restored within a few generations. However the no less a chemical than Pyrethrum or Malathion.)
cultivator of ornamental plants usually wants a zero population In the glasshouse the use of chemical deterrents to insects is
of bugs especially where the damage they cause is prominent mandatory once the pest becomes established. It is to be hoped
and long-lasting (the Red Spider Mite, Tetranychus opuntiae, that the following sections remove some of the mystery of
is the usual cause of long-term disfigurement of cacti and poisons and allow you to use various materials safely.
succulents). Consequently in an effort to achieve 100% kill,
the horticulturalist turns to chemical preparations which have II. Types o f Insecticides
the result of killing off many useful bugs as well as the harmful A. Organochlorine
ones. Outside in the garden when biological control is con- This is a group of chemicals which has been in widespread
tinually in operation, poisonous chemicals should be avoided use for many years. D D T is the most well-known and is said
so as not to kill off beneficial insects. to be the cause of much damage to other organisms including
Natural restraints on insect populations may be summarized sea-birds. O C insecticides are fat soluble and can be rapidly
under three P's—Predation, Parasitism, and Pathogens. absorbed through the skin and stored in the body fat for long
Predation is where one animal feeds directly on another, periods. Their residues have been detected in milk and may be
attacking and killing a number of individuals of the food carried through into other foods. They are characteristically

82
persistent and should be avoided by the home gardener where (2) Dimethoate: A contact and systemic insecticide and
possible. Poisoning by O C materials may lead to irritability, acaricide effective against many insects including fruit fly,
tremors and convulsions. aphids, thrip, leaf miners, bronze orange bugs, etc. Also
(i) Aldrin: A relatively non-phytotoxic contact insecticide. known as Rogor. It can be toxic to some olive, citrus and nut
It is persistent in the soil and is stable to heat, alkali and mild trees and is not compatible with alkaline materials. Available
acid but is slowly oxidized to Dieldrin, It is effective against as 30% w/v e.c. or as 4 0 % w/v e.c.
soil insects and is marketed as 2 ^ - 5 % dusts, 2 - 2 0 % w / w in (3) Fenthion: Also k n o w n as Lebaycid, Baycid, Baytex,
granules or 2 4 - 2 8 % w / w emulsifiable concentrate. Mercaptophos and other names. A contact and stomach poison,
(2) Chlordane: Technical chlordane consists of 6 0 - 7 5 % it is relatively persistent because of its stability to heat, light and
isomers (structural forms) of chlordane and 25-40% of related alkalis. It is oxidized in the plant to other insecticidal products.
compounds including up to 10% of the dangerous material Available as 5 5 % w/v e.c. it is most used against fruit flics,
hepiachlor. A new grade, AG Chlordane, contains approxi- codling moth, leaf hoppers and other enemies of fruit trees.
mately 9 5 % chlordane and less than 1% of heptachlor (Tafuri (4) Lebaycid see above.
et al., 1977). This substance is a persistent non-systemic stomach (5) Malathion: Also known as Mercaptothion and Maldison,
and contact poison and is not phytotoxic in dilution. It is this is a material rapidly degraded in the soil. It is not com-
formulated as dusts and granules (5-10%) and as an emulsifiable patible with alkaline materials and is corrosive to iron (do not
concentrate of 50 8 0 % w/v or up to 2 0 % w/v in kerosine. spray it on metal fittings). It is a non-systemic insecticide and
It is effective against ants, cockroaches, spiders, beetles, centi- acaricide, not phytotoxic (except perhaps to some cucurbits and
pedes and others. beans). It is however, highly toxic to bees. Available as 50%
(3) DDT: Also k n o w n as dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane, w/v e.c.
dicophane and chlorophenothane; the major isomer is pp- (6) Parathion: Also k n o w n as E605 and Folidol, this material
D D T . This material is very persistent non-systemic contact is a non-systemic contact and stomach insecticide and acaricide.
and stomach insecticide. It is said to be non-phytotoxic except Its toxicity is due to a metabolic oxidation product and it is
t o cucurbits and is not toxic to mites. The usual formulations extremely dangerous. It is unstable in alkaline conditions. In
available to the home gardener are 12.5% w / w solutions with the United States of America its use is subject to legal restric-
Malathion (10% w/w) and as a component (2% w/w) of tions and it should be totally avoided by the home gardener.
cabbage and of rose dusts. (7) Rogor see Dimethoate.
(4) Dieqfol: A non-systemic miticide without much insecti- (8) Dichlorvos: Also referred to as DDVP. O f medium
cidal activity; also known as Kelthane. It is less persistent than toxicity this is used as a fly killer in the form of polymer strips
most organochlorines and also less toxic. It is sold as a wettablc impregnated with the material. It is extremely volatile and
powder or emulsifiable concentrate up to 4 2 % w/v. rapidly decomposed.
(5) Dieldrin: An oxidation product of Aldrin, it is stable to C. Carbamates
alkali, mild acids and to light and its chemical stability makes it The production and use of carbamates (and or^anophos-
compatible with many other insecticides. It is non-systemic, phorus) insecticides is increasing as a replacement for the
persistent with high stomach and contact activity to insects carcinogenic and less biodegradable organochlorine com-
but with low phytotoxicity. This is a very poisonous material pounds (Takusagawa & Jacobsen, 1977). Like the O P materials
sold as 15-20% emulsifiable concentrate. the action of carbamates is deemed to be via the inhibition of
(6) Endosuljan: This is a mixture of two isomers, stable to the enzyme acetylcholinesterase.
sunlight and compatible with non-alkaline insecticides. It is a (1) Benomyl: This is essentially a protective and eradicant
non-systemic contact and stomach poison and is highly toxic systemic fungicide, but it is effective against mites as an ovicide
to fish. The half-life (time for half the material to be destroyed) (destroyer of eggs). It has a very low mammalian toxicity.
is about one week on plants and it is not accumulated in fat. It is quite expensive.
Available as 3 5 % w / w in a liquid hydrocarbon solvent. (2) Carbaryl: A contact insecticide with some systemic
It is also k n o w n as Thiodan. activity. It is stable to light, heat and hydrolysis, is non-
(7) Gamma-BHC: The gamma isomer of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6- corrosive and compatible with all but strongly alkaline pesti-
hexachlorocyclohexane, also known as Lindane. It is stable to cides. It is commonly sold as a component of dusts at the level
air, light, heat and acids but it reacts with alkali. A potent of 2 % w / w or as part of a wettable powder (10.7% w/w).
contact and stomach poison and also a fumigant. Said to be
non-phytotoxic in dilute solution. Available as wcttable D. Other Organic Materials
powder, emulsifiable concentrate and as dusts. It is a com- (1) Organofiuorine: Compounds such as sodium fluor-
ponent of a rose dust and a cabbage dust available locally. acetate (or 1080) are extremely poisonous materials. Their use
(8) Heptachlor: This material was first isolated from tech- should be opposed by those concerned with the protection of
nical chlordane and is a non-systemic stomach and contact native fauna. 1080 has been used against rabbits and as baits for
poison, also with fumigant action. It is stable to air, light and dingoes but other animals undoubtedly succumb to these baits.
moderate heat and is compatible with most insecticides. (2) Methyl bromide: This is an extremely toxic gas that is
Formulated as wettable powders, emulsifiable concentrates, used as a fumigant. It is employed by the Department of
dusts and granules. Agriculture to treat imported plants and has been proven to be
(9) Kelthane: see Dicofol. toxic to some succulents, especially euphorbias, exposed to it
(10) Lindane: sec Gamma-BHC. for several hours. Only licensed fumigators are legally entitled
to use it because of its dangerous qualities. It is odourless and
B. Organophosphorns tasteless and so has 2 % chlorpicrin mixed with it as a warning
Compounds of varying toxicity, Malathion being among the agent. Methyl bromide can cause damage to the brain cells.
safest insecticides and Parathion among the deadliest. They can Chlorpicrin is used as a destroyer of rabbits and soilborne pests
deactivate the enzyme cholinesterase resulting in muscle such as nematodes.
spasms and death by paralysis. They are not cumulative poisons (3) Ethylene dibromide: Sold as a 1 5 % w/v solution for the
and are rapidly broken down in the soil. control of nematodes by fumigation.
(1) Demeton-methyl: This is a mixture of Demeton-O- (4) Metaldehyde: This is a very common molluscicide (killer
Methyl and Demeton-S-Methyl (differing in the arrangement of slugs and snails), sold mixed with bran as a powder or in
of oxygen and sulphur atoms around the phosphorus). A pelletized form.
systemic and contact insecticide and acaricide, incompatible E. Arsenicals and Mercurials
with alkaline materials. Sold as emulsifiable concentrates up to Both of these classes of material are extremely toxic. The
5 0 % w/v under the name Metasystox. arsenical and inorganic mercurial compounds are dangerous

83
by ingestion and by inhalation whilst organic mercurials have moths, cucumber juice for woodlice and cockroaches, cyclamen
the added danger of being absorbed through intact skin. extracts and tomato leaf extracts for aphids (Cact. Succ. Soc. J.
Arsenate of Lead is sold as a control of moths and caterpillars N S W 8(8): 145. 1973). Dittany, pennyroyal oil, red cedarwood
on fruit trees. This group of poisons should be scrupulously oil, sweet flag root, tansy, thyme and tobacco leaves (as a
avoided. decoction) arc also suggested.
F. Naturally Occurring Materials The editor of this journal has provided recipes for Quassia
(i) Nicotine: This is a very poisonous material extracted from chips spray to kill aphids, thrips and caterpillars and to repel
tobacco. It is a non-persistent non-systemic contact insecticide possums (Cact. Succ. Soc. J. N S W 9(1): n . 1973). A mixture
and also has some action as an ovicide. Certain nicotine salts of white vinegar, baby oil, and water is recommended for the
have been used as stomach insecticides. removal of scale (Cact. Succ. Soc. J. N S W 9(2): 27. 1973).
(2) Denis Dusts: Derris is obtained from the roots of Derris Further information can be obtained from the list of reading
i'lliptica and is used in the control of caterpillars and other leaf material in Section V.
eaters. Most dusts contain 0.75% of Rotenone (the main active
constituent) and up to 2 % of other active components. These
materials are very toxic to fish and have been used as a means III. T h e Proper Use o f Insecticides
of catching fish by crushing the plant in ponds and streams. A. Know the Pest
(3) Pyrethrins: These are obtained from the flowers of The identity, life cycle and habits of the pest is essential
Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium. Much research is currently information if your spraying programme is to be successful.
in progress to evolve more potent analogues of these materials. A little reading on insect lore can give a much greater under-
Formulations are usually in spray cans and contain 0.025% standing of the problem that is to be faced.
w / w of pyrethrin and 0 . 1 % w / w of piperonyl butoxide. The latter Firstly, it is necessary to realize that many insects can breed
is a synergist or material used to increase the potency of the very rapidly, often asexually, going through a generation in ten
insecticidal component. to twenty days. The eggs of insects are rarely destroyed by
(4) Refined Mineral Oil (Clear White Oil): This is used to insecticides and so one application of spray will kill the adult
control various forms of scale by removing their protective insects and leave a new generation unscathed in the eggs ready
waxy shields. It is plausible that other natural oils will have to hatch out. It is important then, to repeat the attack on them
the same effect. every ten days for a month.
(5) Methylated spirits: This is not an effective means of Secondly, remember that some tough individuals will
control of mealy bug. Dabbing with a probe moistened with survive your spraying and will transmit their resistance to their
methylated spirits probably causes additional physical damage offspring. You should vise a different insecticide for each
to the plant. Spraying with this is not effective unless the dose application to ensure that a population resistant to any given
is repeated and heavy. In an experiment with adult mealy bugs, pesticide cannot develop.
methylated spirits was applied directly to the insect with a Thirdly, you should pay attention to whether your pesticide
dropper. After about 10 minutes the insects had recovered and will actually reach and kill the insect or not. Consider those
were active again. with waxy shields, the scale insects, or those resident below the
soil level, e.g. root mealy bug. Emulsifiablc concentrates
G. Chemical Attractions and Juvenile Hormones contain a percentage of synthetic detergent so that they can be
Many creatures of the world are guided in their actions by mixed with water but additions of white oil may be necessary
chemicals secreted by their fellows. These substances may act to dissolve waxy coverings and allow penetration of the
as warnings of danger or as a guide to sources of food or as insecticide. Dipping of the pot is more effective than spraying
attractants for a mate. The last aspect has been put to the to eliminate root mealy bug.
service of man by subverting its action from that of procreation A period of thought and some research will help you to take
with the female to sterilization or destruction by the pest effective action—you must know the enemy!
removalist. These hormonal attractants are called pheromones B. Danger to Man and Animals
and each insect species has pheromones different from those of You must realize that pesticides can also be a subtle enemy.
other insect species. The attractant is effective in very small It has been mentioned that O C compounds are persistent and
concentration and does not interfere with any other organism, very toxic and the action of O P and carbamate materials has
but is exceedingly difficult to obtain. Furthermore every pest also been described. However, it should be borne in mind that
that may be controlled by luring it over a sterilizing medium even slight exposure may lead to headaches, irritation to
must have the appropriate substance identified and then sensitive tissues, nausea, dizziness and other unpleasant effects
synthesized. Juvenile hormones, which control the meta- Moreover, these chemicals have varying effects on animals
morphosis of the insect from the juvenile to the breeding or other than man. The following notes give an idea of the com-
adult stage, also promise to give effective and safe control of pounds to which some animal groups are particularly suscep-
insect pests. They suffer from the same difficulties as phero- tible.
mones and consequently such materials will probably be
(i) T O X I C T O BIRDS: D D T , D I M E T H O A T E , FEN-
developed only for insects of considerable commercial i m -
THION.
portance.
(ii) T O X I C T O BEES: D I M E T H O A T E , ARSENICALS,
For the purposes of the home gardener, the lid of a jar CHLORDANE, MALATHION.
smeared with honey or j a m will suffice to lure certain types of (iii) T O X I C T O FISH: CARBARYL, C H L O R D A N E ,
insect from their hiding places so that they can be killed. D D T , DIELDRIN, D I M E T H O A T E , E N D O S U L F A N ,
H. Miscellaneous Folk Remedies ROTENONE.
Many home remedies have been suggested over the years, N . B . Snail baits may be attractive to C A T S and D O G S .
often involving the use of 'companion plants' as ingredients. C. Safety Precautions
It is a project well within the means and ability of the average (1) Storage of Poisons
gardener to experiment with these materials to test their Pesticides should be stored in the container in which they are
efficiency against garden pests. purchased and made into solutions only as required. Storing
An anonymous contributor (Cact. Succ. Soc. J. N S W 8(3): the diluted solution will hasten its degradation, especially if
44. 1971) suggests grinding garlic and making a spray by subjected to heat or to light. The usual container for emul-
adding it to water as a remedy for sucking insects. Other sifiable concentrates are dark glass bottles. This acts as a warning
solutions recommended are made from ground onion, mint of their toxicity, slows decomposition and avoids problems of
and geraniums, hot peppers and shallots mixed with water. corrosion. Dusts and wettable powders are sold in cardboard
Other 'botanicals' recommended include Oil of Cade for cylinders with metal caps.

84
 All poisons should be CLEARLY LABELLED and must be I V . References
locked away out of the reach of children and the weather. Lyle & Heavner (1975). In J. O r g . Chem. 40(1): 50-54.
(2) Read the Label
Read the label carefully to determine the recommended Potocki-Roth, B. (1974). In Kakt. u.a. Sukk. 25(4): 94.
mixing proportions and take notice of any information Tafuri et al. (1977). In J. Agric. Food Chem. 25(2): 353.
regarding the dangerous properties of the material. Be sure Takusagawa & Jacobsen (1977). Ibid. 25(2): 329.
that it is suitable for your purpose and follow the precautions
that are recommended on the label.
(3) Protective Clothing
Skin absorption of poisons is the greatest hazard to the home
gardener and adequate measures should be taken to avoid V . Appendices
contact with the insecticide vapour. Wear a hat, impervious A. TABLE 1. COMMON INSECTICIDES AND
gloves and footwear, and clothing that covers the body from THEIR TOXICITIES
the ankles to the throat and to the wrists. A respirator is also
advisable to avoid inhalation of the vapours.
(4) Mixing and Application NAME CLASS i D 5 0 mglkg
W h e n you have donned all the necessary protective clothing (rats-oral)
and everything that you require to do the job has been assem-
bled, then proceed to mix the solutions. Make no more than is Aldrin OC 45-70
required, re-cap all the containers and return them to their Arsenicals Inorganic —
locked cupboard as soon as possible. BHC (Lindane) OC 90-125^
D O N O T SMOKE while preparing mixtures, many Benomyl Carbamate 10,000
concentrates are dissolved in kerosine; and it is also possible Carbaryl Carbamate 850b
to transfer some of the poison to the lips. Chlordane OC 450-600
All protective and spraying equipment should be in good DDD (TDE) OC 2500
working order and without leaks. Pouring the solution over DDT OC 100-250°
the plants or dipping the pots into the solution will reduce the Demeton-S-Methyl OP 40d
amount of insecticide in the air but splashing and spilling the Dimeton-O-Methyl OP 180
liquid must be avoided. Never allow the concentrate or Dicofol OC 680-810=
solution to touch your bare skin. Diazlnon OP 125
Spray only where the material is needed and where it will Dichlorvos OP 25
be effective. Insecticides may be carried on the breeze to Dleldrin OC 45-55*
neighbouring gardens causing your neighbours and their pets Dimethoate OP 245-4008
great discomfort. Disulfoton OP 10
NEVER SPRAY O N W I N D Y DAYS. Endosulfan OC 55-220h
(5) Afterwards Fention OP 215-245'
Check to see that all dangerous materials have been removed Formothion OP 400
and correctly stored. The hands should be washed before Heptachlor OC 100-160
smoking or eating. Change your clothing immediately and HETP OP 7
take a shower. The clothing used should be washed regularly Malathlon OP 3000-5000
and SEPARATELY from the family laundry. Menazon OP 2000
D. Avoiding the Use of Insecticides Metaldehyde Aldehyde —
It is certainly preferable to avoid insecticides than to use them, Methoxychlor OC 2000
even with the greatest care. Mevinphos OP 7
Companion planting, onion sprays and physical methods (Phosdrin)
have all been discussed and should be given a trial at least. Morphothion OP 200
The best situation is one where the pests are not allowed to Nicotine Botanical 50-60
gain a foothold in the collection. The first step is to make sure Parathion OP 3.5-13
that all pests currently infesting your plants are destroyed. Phosphamidon OP 17
Remove any rubbish that can provide hiding places for cock- Pyrethrins Botanical 1500
roaches, beetles, crickets or ants. For a month make an intensive Rotenone Botanical 60
daily check for any sign of insect pests. Remove and burn any Ryania Botanical 1200
dead plants or soil infested with pests. Schradan OP 10
Once rid of all pests you must reduce the probability of TEPP OP 2
reinfestation. This is a difficult task but the following actions Toxaphene OC 60
will be helpful. Trichlorphon OP 450
1. Quarantine all new plants and cuttings in an enclosed (Dipterex)
place some distance from your collection. Mealy bug, for
instance, can move up to 5 cm. per minute so distance is not an a. 100 mg/kg dermal for rats.
insurmountable barrier to them. b. 4000 mg/kg dermal for rats, 020 mg/kg for rabbits.
2. Repot all new plants into fresh soil, burning the old soil c. 2500 mg/kg dermal for rats.
and destroying any pests that come to your notice. Wash the d. 65 mg/kg for technical Metasystox.
pot that brought the plant for it may harbour eggs or adult e. 1870 mg/kg dermal for rabbits.
insects. f. 10-102 mg/kg dermal for rats. Less than 40 parts pel
3. Transfer the new plants to your collection when you are billion for goldfish.
sure that they are pest free. g. 500-600 mg/kg of the pure compound.
4. Inspect all your plants regularly and take appropriate h. 75 mg/kg for dogs, 200-750 mg/kg for ducks,
action immediately. i. 320-330 mg/kg dermal for rats.

85
B. TABLE 2. PHYTOTOXICITY OF SOME INSECTICIDES

Poison Plant
Tolerant Susceptible Not Known
BHC Bromeliads Kalanchoe
Cacti
Crassula
Cissus
Echeveria
Euphorbia
DDT Bromeliads Kalanchoe Cissus
Cacti Crassula Echeveria
Euphorbia
METASYSTOX Cacti Bromeliads Cissus
Kalanchoe Echeveria
Euphorbia
Crassula
DICOFOL Cacti
Kalanchoe
Crassula
DIMETHOATE Cacti Bromeliads Cissus
Some Crassula Cissus Echeveria
Some Crassula Euphorbia
MALATHION Most Cacti Bromeliads Cissus
Euphorbia Some Cacti
Most Kalanchoe Echeveria
Most Crassula Some Kalanchoe
Some Crassula
NICOTINE Most plants
DIAZINON Most Cacti Bromeliads Echeveria
Kalanchoe Some Cacti
Crassula Cissus
Euphorbia
ALDRIN Echeveria
Euphorbia
DIELDRIN Echeveria
ENDOSULFAN Euphorbia
DICHLORVOS Euphorbia Bromeliads

C. TABLES. COMPATIBILITY OF MATERIALS USED IN SPRAYS

1_
3
0) a
a T3 Q.
o o
c to
-a o
c
w
3
1c c 3 o
<D -Q
CO T3 CD
O "o CD
~CD" o Q. o
I
Q.
O x a CJ E E E co CJ
3 1=

OQ to
CJ CJ (JO a Q b a _i _i S z w 5 N

BHC C C D c c C C 1 1 C D c c c
Captan C — c D c c C C 1 1 C D c 1 c
Chlordane c C — C c c c D 1 D c D c c c
Copper
Oxychloride D D c — c D c C — 1 L) C c c D
DDT c C c C — c c C 1 1 C C c c c
Dicofol C C c D c — c C D D C C c c c
Dieldrin C C c C c c — C c c C C c c c
Dimethoate C C D C c c c — 1 1 C C c c c
Lime 1 1 1 — 1 D c 1 — c D C c c D
Lime/Sulphur 1 1 D 1 1 D c 1 C — D c c 1 D
Malathion c c c D c C c c L> D — c c c c
Nicotine D D D C c c c C C c C — c c c
Sulphur C c C C c c c C C c C c — 1 c
White Oil C 1 C C c c c c c 1 C c 1 — c
Zineb C c C c c c c c c C c c c c
C — Compatible. I = Incompatible. D = Doubtful compatibility.

86
T h e Cactus and Succulent Journal o f Great Britain
V o l u m e 42(3): 87-89 (1980)

Dorstenia renneyi sp. nov.

by H. K. Airy Shaw and N. P. Taylor
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond, Surrey

Dorstenia renneyi Airy Shaw and N. P. Taylor, sp. like the inside surface of a fig, the Dorstenia hypantho-
n o v . , aff. D. zanzibaricae Oliv. scd fere glaberrima, dium is made up of a dense layer of almost microscopic
caule crecto simplici vcl supernc brcvitcr ranioso, male and female flowers, each reduced to the 'bare
hypanthodiis brevissime (usque 5 mm.) pcdunculatis essentials' and imbedded in receptacular tissue.
plerumque quadratis (2-)4(-5)-brachiatis glabris bra- Further enquiry concerning this Dorstenia elicited the
chiis robustis subaequalibus 10-12 m m . longis apice fact that it had been sent to the Herbarium for naming
tumidis obtu-.is, stylis altc bifidis, di;tincta. Holotypus: some few years previously, and had been determined by
Cult. Hort. Bot. Reg. Kew. (accn.no. 291-70.02846), two colleagues of ours as Dorstenia sp. nov., aff. D.
orig. coll. Kenya, Cent. Prov., Kitui Distr., Matomo zanziharica Oliv. O u r colleagues had, however, taken
(Mutomo) Hill (i°5i'S, 38°i2'E), sandy soil on granite the matter no further, and had not ventured to describe
outcrops, 900-1000 m., coll. Reimey s.n., coram. the plant with a new name. W e felt therefore, as the
Gillett (K). plant obviously succeeded well under cultivation and
was quite an attractive subject, that it would be worth
DESCRIPTION. An erect glabrous perennial succulent herb, looking into further, especially in order to discover
sparsely branched above, arising from a globose to discoid whether it really did represent an undescribed entity,
tuber 3 4 cm. diam. Stem 20-40 cm. tall, terete, 3-7 mm. diam., and if so, to describe it and give it a name.
bare and purplish in the lower portion at maturity (not scaly),
containing milky latex. Leaves spathulate, 6-8 cm. long in- Dorstenia is a group that occurs in almost all tropical
cluding the 1 cm. long, often purplish petiole, 2-3 cm. wide, countries, but of the species seen in succulent plant
long-attenuate at base, broadly g r o u n d e d to obtuse or sub- collections, most are natives of NE. Africa and S. Arabia.
acute at apex, margin entire toward base, irregularly lobulate-
dcnticulatc toward apex, midrib and main nerves impressed Reference to the Kew plant records system indicated
above, prominent beneath, stipules minute, dentiform. Hypan- that our unidentified specimen also came from this
thodia arising singly or in pairs in the leaf-axils, nodding, on region, having been collected at Matomo in Kenya.
short decurved peduncles 5 mm. long, mostly ± quadrate in Probably well over 100 species of Dorstenia arc n o w
outline, 8-15 mm. diam., light green; marginal appendages
(arms) (2-)4(-5), stout, smooth, i p o r r e c t or spreading when
known from tropical Africa, where the genus is in need
old, with an obtuse oblong thickening at the apex and there of considerable study, particularly in the hope that a
flattened on the adaxial surface, hypanthodium sometimes with sound infrageneric classification can be developed. In
three appendages closer together above and one remote below, the famous floristic-taxonomic work, The Flora of
adjacent to which are two pocket-like cavities near the margin;
disc of hypanthodium slightly convex, margin smooth,
Tropical Africa, vol. 6 pt. 2 (1917), the botanist Rendle
glabrous. Male flowers numerous, size and shape irregular and listed no fewer than 94 species of this genus. W e turned
ill-defined, (?) 1-3-androus; females fewer, emergent part of to this account in order to discover whether our plant
style deeply bifid with divaricate lobes. Fruit (achene) c. 2.5 m m . could be fitted in anywhere. Rendle provided an
diam. prior to dehiscence; ejected endocarp (containing seed)
elaborate dichotomous key to the African species,
1 m m . diam., trigonous, pale brown, marked with three raised
lines separating flattened areas ornamented with small conical arranging them in groups according to various
tubercles truncate at apex. (See plate for further details of flowers characters.
and diaspore.)
His first main dichotomy was based on whether the
two styles of the female flower were joined to the top
While walking through the glasshouses of the Lower as one, or were divided and free, at least near the apex.
Nursery at Kew during a lunch-break, we noticed a If they were joined together, this group represented
plant that seemed to be flourishing as a weed beneath Forsskal's old genus Kosaria, which Engler had used
the staging, having escaped from its pot on the bench some years previously as a subgenus of Dorstenia; and
above. Looking at it more carefully, we realised that it Rendle still kept this small group of species together.
belonged to a very curious and interesting genus, N o w D. zanziharica belongs to the Kosaria group having
namely, Dorstenia, a member of the family Moraceae, a i fused style, but our new species clearly had two free
and closely related to Fiats, the fig genus. The inflore- styles above the level of the hypanthodium, and so on
scence of Dorstenia is a remarkable structure, rather like this character it did not seem to belong with its sup-
a fig turned inside out, and usually fringed with tentacle- posed ally. W e therefore started to look laboriously
like appendages ('arms'). The technical term for this through the complicated key to the remaining groups,
highly specialised inflorescence is a hypanthodium, and totalling 80 or more species. Some of the groups were

87
Dorstenia renneyi Airy Shaw & Taylor. A , flowering shoot, x i ; B , base of shoot with tuber, x i ; C , hypanthodium in vertical
section, showing female flowers enclosed in pits, X2; D , hypanthodium from above, showing fruits, x2; E , male flower, X24; F ,
female flower, X14; G , seed, x22. D r a w n from living material by Jackie Panter.

88
clearly unsuitable for our plant, but others seemed from plants originally sent by Mr. J. Gillett of Nairobi,
'possible'. However, examination of herbarium material in 1970. The plant was discovered at Matomo Hill,
at Kew showed that none of these were closely related, Kenya, by Mr. C. A. Renncy, a keen horticulturist and
leaving only the Kosaria group for consideration. Here, member of CSSGB, for whom it is named. Mr. F.
despite the stylar difference, D. zanzibarka Oliv. is Horwood has briefly mentioned and figured this species
obviously the true affinity for the plant we are now in Cact. Succ. J. Amer. 46: 225-6, figs. 8 & 9 (1974),
describing as D. renneyi. It seems that too much weight but, so far as we know, has not attempted to formally
has been laid on the stylar structure, to the extent of describe it himself.
obscuring the more natural relationships of habit, D. renneyi has been at Kew for the past ten years and
foliage, tubers, etc. seems easy to grow. The forcibly ejected 'seeds' (endo-
Apart from the divided style D. renneyi is distinguish- carp diaspores) readily germinate in the pots of adjacent
ed from D. zanzibarka on account of the short (5 mm.) plants, and so propagation results from the weeding that
hypanthodium peduncle, and much longer (8-10 mm.), then becomes necessary. The plant does well under the
porrect hypanthodial appendages. bench in partial shade and requires liberal watering. A
The accompanying plate has been drawn for us by minimum winter temperature of io°C (50°F) is probably
our colleague Miss Jackie Panter. The specimen figured advisable, but further experimentation is required to
(the holotype) was raised from self-sown seed at Kew, ascertain the species' tolerance of cold.

Literature Notes Asclepiadaceae No. 20

The journal of the International Asclepiadaceae Society
Excelsa goes from strength to strength under the editorship of
Excelsa No. 8, dated 'October 1979', arrived for review Colin C. Walker and a reprint of the first eight issues
in May 1980 and as always brings a feast of meaty is now available (price ^6.50 or $15 US from P. J.
articles, well presented and generously illustrated. It is Mitchell, 11 Wingle Tye Road, Burgess Hill, West
priced at ZR 5.00 (about ^1.70) or ZR 10.50 (£3.50) Sussex RH15 9HR). The latest issue, 40 pages plus
for the De Luxe edition and has 95 pages, four of which introductory matter, is a very wide-ranging amalgam
are in full colour. of original and reprinted texts, and includes a three-
Bruce Bayer has been analyzing the Haworthia cornered exchange between Larry Leach, Frank Hor-
herbarium of G. G. Smith and presents a critical wood and Gordon Rowley on the naming of inter-
account of those specimens referable to H. mutka and generic hybrids, articles on particular genera and species,
H. retusa. D. C. H. Plowes reviews 'The Huernia pollination, cultivation, letters and so on. A literature
guttata Complex', with the aid of 16 of his superb survey by the editor covers a dozen recent contributions
coloured photographs. Brian Fearn takes up the on the family and gives some idea of the current high
distribution of the Mesembryanthemaceae, presented in level of interest in the family. Illustrations include two
the form of numerous maps and tables, and Prof. original colour prints, several half-tones and numerous
Desmond Cole leads us enchanted to the richest gem of line drawings. (Publisher: International Asclepiadaceae
the diamond areas: Lithops optica. Society, c/o Dr. C. C. Walker, Dept. of Microbiology,
The account of 'Fascinating Cacti of Baja California' School of Agriculture, University of Edinburgh, West
by Larry Mitich strangely omits mention of Reid Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG. Subscription: ^ 4
Moran's work—notably his interpretation of Pachy- per annum.)
cereus orcuttii as an intergeneric hybrid, x Pachgerocereus
orcuttii. The inexhaustible editor, Mike Kimberley, More Asclepiadaceae
contributes a valuable 23-page register of all new aloes— The latest part of the Flora of Southern Africa to be
32 names—from Tropical Africa published since published (numbered Vol. 27 part 4, but the volumes
Reynold's book of 1966. He also partners T. Gane in a are not issued in numerical sequence), contains R. A.
note on Zimbabwe's two cacti listed as noxious weeds: Dyer's treatment for this area of the genera Brachystelma
Opnntia aurantiaca and Harrisia martinii, and reviews 13 (69 spp.), Ceropegia (53 spp.) and Riocreuxia (6 spp.), the
new books—too leniently, in my opinion, to be of help last-named being restored to generic rank. My colleague
since some contain awful errors. David Field says 'keys dealing with such complicated
Further aloe papers deal with A. globuligemma (by A. plants cannot be simple, but those provided in this work
Ewbank) and the current vogue for using A. vera in should enable us to identify the species occurring in this
cosmetics (by A. Leung). Off the beaten track is a well- part of the African continent. Dyer gives due emphasis
written and fascinating introduction to 'Gregor to the important character of the rootstock, which is
Mendel—from oblivion to immortality' by V. Popicl. often frustratingly absent from preserved herbarium
material because of the difficulties of digging it out
G. D. ROWLEY from between boulders or the roots of trees.' All the

8')
species enumerated by Dyer have full descriptions in
English and there are some illustrations. The work is
Forthcoming Events
available from: Division of Agricultural Information, Society's P i m l i c o S h o w , Saturday, 4 October,
Dept. of Agricultural Technical Services, Private Bag 2 p.m.
X144, Pretoria 0001, South Africa, price 6 Rand (about Details of the Show Schedule for our autumn show at
£2.50), post free. St. Saviours Church Hall, St. Georges Square, Pimlico,
Dyer's recognition of Riocreuxia Dene., which had were in the last issue. If you have not yet obtained your
been included in Ceropegia by Hubcr, is symptomatic schedule please send a stamped-addrcssed foolscap
of the current fashion for generic splitting amongst envelope to Mr. Derek Bowdery, the Show Secretary,
asclcpiadologists. Caralluma is one of the principal as soon as possible, or ask your Branch Secretary for one.
targets, not without justification, of course, but some of Please help the Show Secretary by sending in your entry
the more problematical species arc gathering generic form and due fees as soon as possible. All those entering
synonyms like South American cephalocerei. Latest five or more classes will have a free entry ticket for the
group promoted to genus is one from North Africa, Show, otherwise charges are 2op adults and iop children
Arabia and India with flowers in umbels, for which and Senior Citizens.
Gilbert & Raynal have reintroduced the old name Pine Ridge Cacti (Mr. and Mrs. Smeaton) will have
Desmidorchis Ehrenb. (Gilbert, M. G., & Raynal, J., The plants for sale on the platform and there will be the
Status and Typification of Desmidorchis Ehrenb. and D. usual range of Society goods, seeds, etc. available on the
retrospiciens. In Adansonia 19: 319-323. 1980). Society stand. Tickets for the Grand Draw are now
available and can be obtained from Mrs. Maddams or
Typification o f Stapelia from Branch Secretaries. There will also be a tombola
In m y review 'Orbea back in Orbit' (CSJGB 41(1): 10. and it is hoped that members will bring along suitable
T
979)» I stated that S. varicgata is cited as the type of the prizes for this or send them to Mr. Bowdery or Mrs.
genus by the International Code of Botanical N o m e n - Maddams beforehand. Mrs. J. Ellis, 6 Buxton Crescent,
clature. This is not so. 5. varicgata was the lectotype of North Chcam, Surrey, would like to know of any
the genus proposed by Hitchcock & Green in a supple- members willing to help with refreshments and also
ment to the International Rules of Nomenclature (ed. 3, those willing to supply cakes, savouries etc. on the day.
1935). It is also accepted as lectotype by Index N o m i n u m Anyone else willing to help on the various stalls or on
Genericorum, a publication of the International Bureau the door should contact Mr. Bowdery or Mrs.
for Plant Taxonomy (Utrecht, 1955-), but neither of Maddams.
these citations has a mandatory effect.
The typification of Stapelia is a tricky nomenclatural
Annual Dinner, 22 N o v e m b e r , T980
teaser. S. varicgata was the 'original' species, but may
Linnaeus be deemed to have designated it as the type; Venue: Caprini Restaurant, 77 Waterloo Road, London
If 'yes', then Haworth was out of order in transferring S.E.i.
it to Orbea. If 'no', then the choice of lectotype is Time: 6.30 p.m for 7 p.m.
between S. varicgata and S. hirsuta. As Leach has Cost: ^ 6 . 0 0 (includes VAT and service, but not drinks).
argued, Haworth placed S. varicgata in Orbea, leaving Booking: Please inform the Secretary, Mr. R. H. I. Read,
S. hirsuta as the only Linnaean species in Stapelia. But 5 Wilbury Avenue, Cheam, Surrey SM2 7 D U , as soon
the rules do not make it clear whether such implied as possible if you wish to attend, enclosing your
residual typification is procedurally acceptable, and it remittance for jf6 per person. Please note that a
could be argued that Haworth's choice was arbitrary special b o o k i n g form is not being sent w i t h the
within the meaning of I C B N Article 8. Journal this year. W h e n writing to Bob Read, please
give the names of membcis and guests in your party.
Proposals to clarify the rules concerning lectotypifica-
tion will be submitted to the next International Botani- After dinner, Mr. W . L. Tjadcn will give an illu-
cal Congress in 1981. strated talk about his visit to Mexico.
The name of one of Leach's new genera was also
mis-spelt in my article. For 'Paracymbium' read
Pachycymbitim.
D . R. H U N T
Meritorious Mammillarias
Following the success of his earlier booklet, 'Interesting
W a n t e d : Hybrid Echeverias N e w Mammillarias', our Chairman has penned another,
Member John Collins wants to buy or exchange dealing with forty Mammillaria species which deserve
American hybrid Echeverias: 'top prices given or good to be more widely grown. 'Meritorious Mammillarias'
quality swaps of same'. Write to him at 15 Woodstock is available from GB Society Branche?, price ^ 1 , or
Crescent, Blackburn, Lanes. BB2 5AZ or tcl. Blackburn price j ^ 1 - 2 0 by post from the author at 26 Glenfield
28479. Road, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 2DG.

90
Branch Activities Nursery List
Items for inclusion in the next Issue must Nurserymen and others who regularly offer
reach the Editors no later than 3 October. plants or seeds for sale are listed below as a
Essex service to members, but this does NOT imply
Secretary: F. Braun, 63 Heighams Road, East Ham E6 2JJ. the Society's approval or recommendation of
Meeting Place: Room A3 (film room), Little llford Comprehen- plants or other goods offered.
sive School, Church Road, Manor Park, London E.12.
T i m e : 1st Saturday in month, 7 for 7.30 p.m. North & South Yorkshire
Future events:
4 October Euphorbia Study Evening (please bring Cruck Cottage Cacti (Dorothy &. Ronald Wood), Cliff Road,
plants, photos and slides) Wrelton, Pickering, North Yorkshire Y018 8PJ. Tel. no. Picker-
1 November South America Part 1 (Paul Sherville) ing (0751) 72042. Open daily except Sat. morning. No lists.
6 December Christmas Social Evening Nursery in garden setting.
Whitestone Gardens Ltd., The Cactus Houses, Sutton-under-
North London Whitestonecliffe, Thirsk, North Yorkshire Y07 2PZ. Tel. no.
Secretary: Roger Day, 50 Admiral's Walk, Hoddesdon, Herts. Sutton (08456) 467. Open daylight hours every day throughout
tel. no. Hoddesdon (STD Code from London: 61) 69521. the year. Send 4x8p stamps (UK) or 3 international postal reply
Meeting Place: Capel Manor Primary School, Bullsmoor coupons for list. Everything for the cactophile; plants, seeds,
Lane, Enfield. books, sundries; substantial stocks and extensive collection on
T i m e : 3rd Friday in month, 7.30 p.m. view.
Future Events: Oak Dene Nurseries, 10 Back Lane West, Royston, Barnsley,
19 September Mini Show Yorkshire S71 4SB. Tel. no. Royston (022670) 2253. Open every
17 October Branch A.G.M. day, April-Sept. 9-6, Oct.-March 10-4 (closed for lunch 12.30-
21 November Morocco (Alan Gibson) 1.30). S.A.E. for list. Seed, plants, books and sundries.
19 December Christmas Meeting
The Annual Branch Show on 31 May/1 June was once again
well-supported despite threatening weather on the Saturday. Merseyside
Overall winner was Jean Pearson of Waltham Abbey. J i m Bolton, Southview, 39 Altcar Road, Formby, Liverpool L37
8DR. Tel. no. Formby (07048) 73187. Open all day Sundays,
North Surrey advisable to telephone for weekday visits. Large selection of
Secretary: W. F. Maddams, 26 Glenfleld Road, Banstead, seedlings, etc.. all at reasonable prices. No list.
Surrey SM7 2DG.
Meeting Place: Adult School, Benhill Avenue, Sutton. North Wales
T i m e : 1st Tuesday in month, 7.45 p.m. Jolly's (G. A. & M. A. Coombes), Glanrafon, Talsarnau,
The Restricted Branch Competition on 3 June brought the Gwynedd LL47 6YD. Tel. Penrhyndeudraeth (076674) 643. Open
usual good number of high standard entries and the judges, any time by appointment. No orders by post; no list. Warm wel-
Terry and Jennifer Smale, had quite a difficult task. No doubt come to holidaymakers—we are in the Snowdonia National Park.
those who did not win at least benefited from Terry's helpful
comments afterwards. Len Jeffries amassed the highest total Derbyshire
of points and will be awarded the Mellins Cup, the runner-up
was Nigel Bentley. Abbey Brook Cactus Nursery, Old Hackney Lane, Matlock,
Future events: Derbyshire. Tel. no. Matlock (0629) 55360. Open every afternoon
2 September Mesem Study Meeting with Suzanne Mace 2-6 except Tuesday (closed all day). List free on request, stamp
7 October Overcoming inflation (George Hollis) appreciated. Mail order catalogue illustrated in colour lists over
4 November Borzicactinae (Paul Sherville) 1700 species of nursery-grown cacti and other succulent plants.
2 December Members' Slides
Nottinghamshire
W a r r i n g t o n & District
Secretary: Mrs. D. Pritchard, 81 Birdwell Drive, Great Sankey, Carlton Forest Cacti, Carlton Forest, Blyth Road, Worksop,
Warrington, tel. no. Penketh (092572) 4699. Notts. S81 0TP. Tel. no. Worksop (0909) 731642. Almost always
Meeting Place: Meeting Lane Leisure Centre, Penketh, open but please telephone to avoid disappointment. S.A.E. for
Warrington. list. Mainly cacti, very few succulents.
Future events: Woodside Nurseries (Stuart Dixon), 173 Main St., Burton
24 September Visit to Mexico, 1980 (Heinz Klein, Trois- Joyce, Notts. Tel. no. Burton Joyce (060231) 2142. Closed Mon-
dorf, W. Germany) days, open 10-4.30 other days. S.A.E. for list. Nursery-grown
8 October Aloes (A. Hart) seedlings, specimen plants.
12 October Special Event: see below
12 November Mexican Evening South Humberside & Lincolnshire
A Special Event will be held at Padgate Community Centre,
Warrington, on 12 October, when Mr Tom Jenkins will present Southfield Nurseries (B. Goodey), Louth Road, Holton-le-Clay,
two talks on his recent visit to Kenya and there will be a third Grimsby, South Humberside DN36 5HL. Tel. no. Grimsby
lecture (to be announced later). Lunches and teas will be (0472) 822157. Open daily 10-5 (closed for lunch 12.30-1.30).
available. For further details, contact Branch Secretary. Send stamp for list. Seed-grown cacti, Lithops, succulents.
Glenhirst Cacti (N.C. 4 S.A. Bell), Station Road, Swinehead,
Wirral near Boston, Lines. Tel. no. Swineshead (020582) 314. Open
Secretary: Mrs. I. Boote, 110 Mount Pleasant Road, Wallasey, most days ('phone call advisable if travelling far to ensure
Merseyside L45 5HU, tel. no. Wallasey (051639) 4305. someone available). S.A.E. for list. Lithops, Epiphyllums
Meeting Place: The Grange, Grove Road, Wallasey. Asclepiadaceae.
T i m e : 3rd Thursday in month, 7.45-10.30 p.m.
Jumanery Cacti (June & Tom Jenkins), St. Catherine's
Lodge, Cranesgate Road.Whaplode St. Catherine, Nr. Spalding,
The C a c t u s a n d S u c c u l e n t J o u r n a l of Lines PE12 6SR. Tel. no. Holbeach St. Johns (040634) 373.
America Open 9-5 Sunday-Friday, closed Saturday. S.A.E. for list
Six issues per year, fully illustrated, total on
average 300 pages and catering for all levels Norfolk
of interest. S u b s c r i p t i o n : $16.00. A p p l y direct Richard & Wendy Edginton, The Vines, 2 Green Man Lane,
to Box 3010, Santa Barbara, California 93105, Kirstead, Norwich, Norfolk NR15 1EP. Tel. no. Brooke (0508)
USA. 58113. Open most mornings and weekends. S.A.E. for list.
Seedling cactus plants 35p upwards.

91
Barleyfield Succulent Plant Nursery (Victor & Heather G. N. Short, Greenshaws, 7 Reabarn Road, Brixham, Devon
Graham), Southburgh, Thetford, Norfolk. Tel. no. Dereham TQ5 9DU. Tel. no. Brixham (08045) 2878. Open by appointment.
(0362) 820457. Nearly always open, but telephone call appre- S.A.E. for list. The Devonia Collection of Cacti & Succulents;
ciated. S.A.E. for list. 'Other' succulents, handmade plant pots. over 4000 species. Surplus plants for sale or exchange.
Westfield Cacti (Ralph Northcott), 10 Shillingford Road,
Gloucestershire Alphington, Exeter, Devon. Tel. no. Exeter (0392) 56925. Nursery
W. G. Geissler, 1 Lyefield Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham grown cacti and other succulents. S.A.E. for list. Open to
GL53 8BA. Tel. no. Cheltenham (0242) 517846. Open weekends visitors from 1 January 1981, 9.00 a.m. till dusk, by appointment.
and evenings, No list, no orders by post, but visitors very
welcome in Cotswold country. Cornwall
P. Strong, Green Mead, Green Lane, Chedworth, Cheltenham The Cactus Nursery (Mrs J. Osmond), Brandy Lane, Rosud-
GL54 4AR. Tel. no. Fossebridge (028572) 581. Surplus seed- geon, Penzance, Cornwall TR20 9QB. Tel. no. Germoe (073676)
raised plants. 2397. Open 9 till dusk, Spring Bank Holiday to end of September.
'Phone in winter. List 12p. Large selection succulents. Cornish
Bedfordshire cream teas June-Sept. incl.
A. & V . Parker, 31 Southill, Nr. Biggleswade, Beds. SG18 9HU.
Tel. no. Hitchin (0462) 814022. Open evenings and weekends
('phone first). No list. Seed-raised plants.
Southwest seeds (Doug. Rowland), 200 Spring Road, Kemp-
ston, Bedford MK42 8ND. Tel. no. Bedford (0234) 58970. Open Christmas Cactus Colour Break I
Sunday afternoons. S.A.E. for comprehensive seed list.

Hertfordshire BRISTOL BELLE

R. F. S. & B. R. Dale, Thurnlea, 14 Buttondene Crescent, T h i s new seedling has typical Christmas cactus
Old Nazeing Road, Broxbourne, Herts EN10 6RH. Tel. no. pendant and symmetrical flowers but the petals
Hoddesdon 63234. Open almost any time but write or 'phone. are rose pink shading to orange-red. T h e
No list. Full range B.E.F. pots, labels, top dressing, etc. whole effect, especially with the bright orange-
red buds, is most striking and unusual.
Essex Send stamp for details of this and other choice
M. L. Fussell, 29 The Readings, Harlow, Essex CM18 7BT. Schlumbergera (Zygocactus) cultivars including
Tel. no. Harlow (0279) 23246. S.A.E. for list. Service by return A w a r d of Merit 'Bristol Princess'.
of post.
The Cactus Place (David & Barbara Brewerton), 33 Bridge A . J . M c M i l l a n , 18 T o r r i d g e R o a d , K e y n s h a m
Avenue, Upminster, Essex RM14 2LX. Tel. no. Upminster 29911. Bristol BS18 1QO
No list. Open 9 till dusk, but 'phone first. Large and medium
sized specimens.
H. Guirl, Glenholme, Nursery Road, Nazeing, Essex. Tel. no.
Hoddesdon 62291. Visitors and parties welcome. A prior tele-
phone call would be appreciated. No list.
Hoyas - Senecio - Crassula - Ceropegia
London
The Lithops (Living Stones) Specialist Ltd., (Roy & Sheila
Young), 79 Pearcroft Road, Leytonstone, London E11 4DP. Tel. Please write for price-list
no. 01-556 8048. Visitors by appointment. S.A.E. (A4 size) for
comprehensive list of Lithops plants and seeds available.

East & West Sussex MARIN CACTUS

Mrs. Yvonne Warrick, 122 Barnhorn Road, Little Common,
Bexhill, E. Sussex, Tel. no. Cooden (04243) 4726. Not open.
S.A.E. for list. Rare succulents and Epiphytics.
PATCH
Ernest Hepworth, Mira Mar, 133 Ambleside Avenue, Tels-
combe Cliffs, Sussex BN9 7LG. Tel. no. Peacehaven (07914) 61 Granada Drive
3260. Open by appointment; closed Sundays. Send 12p stamp Corte Madera, California 94925, U.S.A.
for list. Lithops, Mesems, Sempervivums.
Holly Gate Nurseries Ltd., Billingshurst Lane, Ashington,
Sussex RH20 3BA. Tel. no. (0903) 892439. Open 9-5 every day,
incl. weekends and Bank Hols. Send 25p for current catalogue
of plants and seeds. Reference collection, entry 25p each.

Dorset
Pine Ridge Cacti (Joan & Dick Smeaton) 197 Ringwood
Road, Verwood, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 6AG. Tel. no. Verwood
H. GUIRL
(020123) 2796. Open 10-6, Closed Saturday and Monday. Choice Grower of Cacti and Succulent Plants
and rarer 'other succulents'.
Shires Mead Cactus Nursery (D. W. & C. E. Sargant) Hamp- 'Glenholme' Nursery Road
reston Village. Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7LX. Tel. no. North-
bourne (02016) 3829. Not open Sundays and Mondays. List 12p. Nazeing, Essex
Plants and seeds.
Telephone: Hoddesdon 6 2 2 9 1
Devon Sorry — No Lists
Phil Goodson, 1 Marsh Lane, Chudleigh, Newton Abbot,
Devon. Tel. no. Chudleigh (0626) 852309. Collection open, plants • VISITORS AND PARTIES WELCOME •
usually for sale. Between the scenic Teign Valley and Haldon
Hills, five miles from M5. 'Phone for directions and convenient A prior telephone call w o u l d be appreciated
times.

92
Whitestone
Whitestone Gardens has everything for succulent fanatics and beginners.
A large stock of plants, seeds, books and sundries is constantly on view,
and the nursery is open to visitors every day.
Our plants are primarily nursery-grown seedlings, but we also stock a
range of larger plants. The nursery shop carries almost everything ever
likely to be needed by the cactus enthusiast, including a range of books
and other publications which is the most comprehensive in the world.
We stock every book in print and many that aren't—why be kept waiting
by your local bookseller when you can ring or write to us and get your
needs by return of post.
Most of the Whitestone Collection is permanently on view to visitors—
free of charge. This is constantly expanding, and now represents one of
the best displays in the country. It is of special interest to serious students
by virtue of the logical arrangement and the high proportion of
authenticated reference material.
Anyone who hasn't been before can find us about 3 i miles from Thirsk
on the A170 Scarborough road in the heart of North Yorkshire's most
attractive tourist countryside.
1980 Whitestone Price List 45 pages of plants, books, seeds, and
sundries, illustrated in full colour and monochrome. Free to existing
clients (sent automatically). New UK customers please send four
8p stamps, and overseas customers three International Postal Reply Coupons.
A few popular book titles from our extensive range:
Cactus Lexicon (Backeberg) £25 plus 86p post
Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Succulents (Rowley) £7.95+80p post
C a c t i : Botanical Aspects, Descriptions & Cultivation (Barthlott)
£7.95+50p post
Illustrated Reference on Cacti & Other Succulents (Lamb)
Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4 £7.50 per Vol.+50p post each
Vol.5 £8.50+ 50p post
T h e Cactaceae (Britton & Rose) 2 Vols. £25+ £1.25 post per set
Cacti & Succulents—A Concise Guide in Colour (Subik & Kaplicka)
£1.50 + 40p post
Post indicated above applies to UK and surface mail overseas
STILL W A N T E D !
Obsolete publications, especially American journals (we pay 50p per issue),
NCSS and GB Society journals (we pay 15p per issue) and all kinds of books
for our second-hand trade.

Whitestone Gardens Ltd

The Cactus Houses
Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe
Thirsk
North Yorkshire Y 0 7 2PZ

Telephone: Sutton 467

You will find a warm welcome CACTUS
and a good selection of
cacti and succulent plants and
at SUCCULENT
THE PLANT SEEDS
CACTUS PLACE from the deserts
(DAVID & BARBARA of the world
BREWERTON)
33 BRIDGE AVENUE, UPMINSTER, s.a.e. for latest list.
ESSEX, RM14 2LX
SOUTHWEST SEEDS
"The Cactus Place" is almost 200 SPRING ROAD
KEMPSTON
always open, but please phone BEDFORD
Upminster 29911 ENGLAND

Collections Bought — No Lists Issued Seeds despatched Air Mail

BRANCH VISITS BY APPOINTMENT to all parts of the World.

WHELD0N & WESLEY

The National Cactus LTD.

& Succulent Society Buy and Sell

has over 100 Branches meeting BOOKS

regularly in all parts of the British
Isles. The quarterly journal re- on a l l branches of
plete with scientific and cultural
information, news and views, has NATURAL HISTORY
the largest circulation in the
English-speaking world, and is especially
amply illustrated on art-paper.
Seed-list with December issue.
Botany & Horticulture
Annual subscription £3.00 or -7.50 U.S. in all languages

LYTTON LODGE,
Further details from the Membership CODICOTE, Nr. H I T C H I N ,
Secretary, Miss W. E. Dunn, 43 Dewar
Drive, Sheffield, England S7 2GR, to HERTS.
whom applications for membership Telephone: Stevenage (0438) 820370
should also be sent.
Telegrams: Wheldwesly, Codicote, Hitchin

Printed in Great Britain by W. H. Houldershaw Ltd., Southend-on-Sea SSI IPF.

Volume 42/Number 4
November 1980
The Cactus and Succulent
Journal of Great Britain
President: A. BOARDER
Vice-Presidents: H. A. AUGER, Mrs H. HODGSON
Mrs. M. STILLWELL, J. E. TAYLOR
Chairman: W. F. MADDAMS, M.sc, M.INST.P.
Hon. Secretary: R. H. I. READ, 5 Wilbury Avenue, Chcam,
Surrey, SM2 7DU.
Hon. Treasurer: D. R. HUNT, M.A.
Council: Dr. C. W. BIRD, D. BOWDERY, K. GRANTHAM,
L. HURLEY, Miss M. A. T. JOHNSON, Mrs. B. MADDAMS,
J. W. PILBEAM, Mrs. D. PRITCHARD, P. SHERVILLE

Editor: D. R. Hunt, M.A., 67 Gloucester Court, Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3EA.
Assistant Editor/Librarian: N. P. Taylor, B.SC, C/O Editorial Office.
Show Secretary: D. Bowdery, 14 Callander Road, Catford, London, SE6 2QD.
Publicity Officer: Mrs. B. Maddams, 26 Glenfield Road, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 2DG.
Seed Piuchasing Officer: Dr. T. C. Smale, 28 St. Leonard's Road, Epsom Downs, Surrey.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1981 SOCIETY SALES ITEMS

Full Membership .. .. .. .. ^6.50 All items post-paid inland. Overseas extra
Joint Membership .. .. .. .. £,7-5° Journal Binders (to hold 4 vols.) .. .. j(,4-00
Junior Membership (under 18 years) .. .. ^4.00 Society badge .. .. .. .. .. ;£ T - 0 0
Senior Citizens' who joined in 1975 or earlier ^4-00 Car sticker .. .. .. .. .. 0.3OP
Joint members (two in family) receive one journal but Booklet on cultivation .. .. 0.30P
are entitled to free seeds and voting rights. Key fobs (mixed colours) .. .. .. o.25p
Ballpoint pens (black, blue or red) .. 10 for o.6op
T-Shirts and Sweatshirts .. .. write for details
BACK VOLUMES
Vol. 24 (1962)—Vol. 36 (1974), per volume £2-5° Order from: Mrs. B. Maddams, 26 Glenfield Road,
Vol. 37 (1975), nos. 3—4 only .. .. Z1-00 Banstead, Surrey SM7 2DG, England.
Vol. 38 (1976)—Vol. 41 (1979), per volume £,5-°°
Prices include postage by surface mail. Cheques, etc., should be made payable to the Society
and not to individual officers. When remitting in a
INDEXES currency other than sterling, please add the equivalent
Vol. 26-30 (1964-68) o.9op of j£o.7op to cover currency negotiation charges.
Vol. 31-37(1969-75) o.9op

Applications for membership, advertising, back volumes

and indexes should be made to the following address: Cover illustration: Rebutia pseudomitiuscula flowering
in the collection of Walter Rausch, near Vienna. See
Cactus & Succulent Society of Great Britain page 104. (Photo: David Hunt).
67 Gloucester Court
Kew Road
RICHMOND
Surrey TW9 3EA The Journal is published quarterly by the Society,
England price £1.25 (ISSN 0007-9375).
The Cactus and Succulent
Journal of Great Britain
Volume 42 Number 4 November 1980 edited by David Hunt and Nigel Taylor

In this issue the copies were very good (and the printers have made
Pollination Syndromes and Cactus Taxonomy 95 an allowance for the rejected ones), but if you think you
Duvaliandra: a new genus of stapeliad . . .. 99 got one that is substandard and would like a replace-
Choice Liliaceae . . .. .. .. .. 102 ment, please return it to us.
Connoisseur's Cacti .. .. .. .. 104 W e must also apologize for the late publication and
Decent re-burial for Echinofossuhcadus .. .. 105 distribution of the August issue, due partly to our
Ferocactus and Stenocactus united . . .. .. 108 running behind schedule and partly to the non-arrival
The identity of Austrocylindropuntia weingartiana 109 of the address labels. Understandably, several members
A new variety of Ceropegia rupicola .. .. in wrote to enquire if their copy had gone astray, but in
The Society's 1980 Seed Distribution: our experience the Post Office does not lose many (if
A germination report (cacti only) .. .. 113 any), so 'not yet received' normally means 'not yet
Notes from Members .. .. .. .. 117 published'.
Branch Activities . . .. .. .. .. 118 W e hope to be back on schedule with the first issue
of next year. Then, for the second issue, wc have a
number of longer articles to publish. For these, we plan
Shurly A w a r d to combine the. May and August issues in one double
W e are pleased to announce that the first Shurly Award issue, to appear in late May or June. The final issue of
—a silver cup and a cheque for ^20—has been won by 1981 will be a special issue to commemorate the
JONATHAN CLARK, a student at Reading University, for Society's 50th Anniversary.
his paper on 'The Stem Anatomy of Opuntia fragilis
(Nutt.) Haw.'. The winning entry will be printed in Higher subscription rates
our next issue. In addition to the 2 7 ! % increase last year, the basic cost
For this first competition, the only restrictions placed of printing the journal has gone up another 15% this
on entrants were that their chosen topic should relate year, and will rise a further 22 J % next year. Another
to the cultivation or study of succulent plants and increase in postal charges has also been announced
should incorporate original ideas, observations or re- which will affect all next year's issues. Consequently,
search. N o t surprisingly, therefore, the six entries re- we are obliged to raise subscription rates yet again. The
ceived were very diverse in content, ranging from new ordinary rate will be ^ 6 . 5 0 , joint membership jQi
seedling morphology, problems of classification and extra, junior and senior rates ^ 4 . Please send your re-
Calandrinia to bacterial infection and that other common newal remittance as soon as possible to minimize our
disease, Succulentomania. clerical work. A National Giro ('Postscheck') Account
The five judges—Bill Keen, Bill Maddams, John has n o w been opened for the convenience of our
Pilbeam, Terry Smale and David Hunt—were a little members in Europe and Japan. All members in the USA
disappointed that the overall content of the entries was and Australia should send their renewals to the local
not more substantial or original, though recognizing agent. Full instructions are on the renewal invitation
the limited time and facilities available to most m e m - form.
bers w h o might like to enter.
Details of the next competition will be announced
in the February 1981 issue of the journal. F O R Y O U R 1981 D I A R Y
28 March Annual General Meeting
Colour quality variable 26 September Pimlico Show
W h e n sending out the last issue, we rejected a number 24 25 October Warrington W e e k e n d
of copies where the colour printing was faulty: out of
register (fuzzy) or with an overall bluish cast. Most of

93
Improved Free Seed Offer The Judges were Mr. and Mrs. Dick Smeaton and
As a result of a report on the 1980 seed distribution principal award winners included Graham Cryer
(printed on pages 113-116) the Society's Council have (Banksian Medal, Sir Wm. Lawrence Cup, Shurly Cup
agreed that this service should be improved. It is not and Pullen Cup), Mrs. Edmonds (Evelyn Theobald Cup,
practicable to increase the number of seeds per packet P. V. Collings Cup and Joan Farrow Memorial Cup),
yet, as most of the packeting is already done, but Len Jeffries (Ibbotson Cup), John Pilbeam (Sarah Cutler
members will be entitled to receive up to 20 packets Cup and Luty Wells Cup), David Hooker (Mrs.
(instead of 10) free of charge (apart from postage) from Pryke-Howard Cup), Peter Bent (Denton Medal) and
the list to be published in the February 1981 Journal. Jean Ellis (Denton Memorial Trophy). Both Novice
Awards and the Pryor Award were won by Miss Best,
Merger talks continuing 'Best Cactus in Show' was Len Jeffries's Lophophora
Representatives of the GB and National Societies will williamsii and 'Best Succulent' was Don Best's Euphorbia
be meeting on 22 November to discuss procedure for bupleurifolia even larger and better than when illustrated
a ballot of members. Now that the idea of a journal on p. 112 of our November 1978 issue.
merger has been widely aired and several viewpoints A list of lucky winners in the Grand Draw can be
established, it seems desirable to use the ballot to obtained from the Editors. The Committee thank those
determine members' attitude to the principle of a full who sold draw tickets and everyone who exhibited or
merger of the Societies, which, for many seems the helped at the Show.
inevitable if not the desirable eventual outcome of a
journal merger. The strengthened financial and admini-
strative resources of a united Society would certainly Seedling Cochemiea flowers
have many advantages and might make possible a Mammillaria poselgeri is notoriously a shy flowerer, but
wider range of publications than is feasible at present. as with many species, some strains can be more obliging
than others. There is some evidence that the form
50th Anniversary Celebrations figured on the front cover of our last February issue is
easier to flower than most. The plant illustrated was
Although our Society was not formally set up until
Gordon Rowley's; ours from the same population also
8 March 1932, the 'birthday' of the Society has always
flowered last year (but not this), and now seedlings
been considered to be the date of the founding meeting
raised from seed collected from plants in the population
at St. Brides's Institute on 28 November 1931, and on
(which had obviously flowered fairly copiously) arc
this basis we are now entering our 50th Anniversary
beginning to flower at five years old. We had one at
Year. The first meeting of the year will be the AGM in
Chobham and Dick Smeaton reports another. The seed
March 1981, and plans are afoot for a display at the
was distributed by the Mammillaria Society in 1975
Royal Horticultural Society's Hall a month or two
(H.8738).
later. There will be another Pimlico Show in September
and a special Anniversary Weekend at Warrington in
late October. More details in the next issue. Non Arbores sed Arborum . . .
. . . as Pope Gregory might have said had he turned to
Spirited efforts in Warrington page 102, where we have a welcome contribution from
Is it the local Vodka distillery that gives Warrington leading Kentish enthusiasts, Bill and Yvonne Tree. We
Branch its vigour and joie de vivre". They seem sober have wishfully numbered their 'Choice Liliaceae' 1-3,
enough (though the Asst. Editor received a can hoping that they (or you) will send further illustrated
of beer as well as a warm welcome when he attended notes to continue the series. We are keen to have
their September meeting unannounced—perhaps other illustrated notes on other 'other' succulents for publica-
branches could introduce this custom;), and we believe tion, too, to complement our occasional series Con-
their success owes much to the untiring efforts of Hon. noisseurs' Cacti.
Sec. and founder member Daphne Pritchard and her In addition to all their other work for the hobby,
stalwart committee colleagues. Those who attended the Bill and Yvonne Tree have recently taken over re-
packed September meeting were treated to a fascinating sponsibility for handling NCSS membership renewals,
lecture on Mexico by Heinz Klein. In August, the Bill acting as NCSS Asst. Treasurer. And we are
Branch staged an award-winning exhibit at the South- pleased to say Bill and Yvonne have agreed to present
port Flower Show (Chelsea of the North). And now an illustrated programme at our AGM at Burgh Heath
they are busy with plans for the Society's 50th Anniver- in March (see p. 118). These days, so much is done for
sary Weekend next October, when they are to be our so many by so few . . .!
hosts.

Pimlico Show Glossary

Exhibits at the Show on 4 October were again down on Syndrome (see next page): A place where geneticists go
the previous year, but the quality of plants very good. for a naughty weekend. (Prof. N. Yelwor).

94
The Cactus and Succulent Journal of Great Britain
Volume 42(4): 95-98 (1980)

Pollination Syndromes and Cactus Taxonomy

by Gordon Rowley
Plant Sciences
The University, Reading, Berks.

Introduction Syndromes and t a x o n o m y

Some plants achieve cross-pollination and seed dispersal Many of the characters beloved of botanists in defining
independently of outside help from the animal kingdom. taxa are adaptive—that is, directly related in some way
Many common deciduous trees make use of the wind to the functioning and survival of the plants. This is
(Faegri & van der Pijl, 1979), and would continue to especially true of features of the flowers and fruits,
flourish even if all the animals disappeared. Other collectively serving to ensure cross-pollination and
plants, including probably all those we call succulents, dispersal of the seeds. Thus we speak of the pollination
are more or less dependent upon animals for the syndrome for bees, for birds or for other vectors. A
transfer of pollen, or of seed, or both. The relation syndrome originally meant 'a group of symptoms
may be rather haphazard, or so highly linked that the characteristic of the same infection or abnormal genetic
absence of either partner would lead to the death of the condition, but not necessarily all appearing together'
other, as in Yucca and its moth pollinator. Saguaro (Darlington & Mather, 1949). From medicine this useful
flowers are visited by bats, moths, birds and bees and term has been expanded for use in general biology, so
other insects in search of pollen or nectar or both, that a flower showing the 'bee syndrome' possesses most
although the bat has been shown to be the most charac- of a series of characters that collectively pre-adapt it
teristic pollen vector, and the fleshy fruits provide food for bee pollination.
for some twenty species of bird (Stcenbergh & Lowe, Classifiers are especially interested in the syndrome
1977)- rather than the single character, because it provides a
The co-evolution of flowering plants and animals— stronger foundation for their units of classification. The
insects in particular—associated with pollination has presence of several associated characters, kept together
been the subject of much study and controversy since by natural selection, gives a good basis by which to
Darwin's day. Initially, chewing insects in search of separate two taxa, and makes their identification easier
food would have found protein-rich pollen and seeds than reliance on a single feature. In a sense, taxonomy
attractive, and by crawling or flying from bloom to is largely a search for syndromes. I shall return to this
bloom accidentally carried pollen with them. Magnolia, later after a brief look at the different syndromes mani-
a primitive survivor of early days, produces a large fest in one family, the Cactaceae.
open flower with many stamens and pollen accessible
to everything from the tiniest beetle to quite large Predicting the pollinator
animals. Its equivalent in Cactaceae is the flower of The first person to make a thorough investigation of
Pcreskia, also considered as the least specialized genus pollination mechanisms in the cactus family was
of its family on morphological grounds. These open, Porsch (1938-9). A recent revival of interest in the
unselective blooms are wasteful of pollen and limit the subject has led to a series of studies by Grant and his
plant to favourable environments like tropical forests. co-workers, summarized in Grant & Grant (1979).
From them, we assume that other types evolved that However, in total we still have very few first-hand
excluded certain types of visitor—notably the pollen observations in the field of animal visitations to flowers,
robbers—and in the final stage admitted one only, the and still fewer actually confirming any one species as
'right' one ensuring cross-fertilization. Sometimes the the only, or the most important, agent of cross-
lock-and-key relationsip has developed to a high pollination. The sightings that have been made confirm
degree: a flower tailor-made to fit a bee, and an insect that, at least in Cactaceae, no flower is visited exclusively
able to perceive and memorize that flower from its by one species alone, but that usually among the
colour, patterning and shape in three dimensions. various animal arrivals one stands out as adapted by its
However, even in these most specialized cases one often size, form and constancy as the principal pollinator.
finds other insects, such as ants, flies, beetles, etc., This must be clearly understood when speaking of
occasionally present on the bloom, and the first lesson 'bat flowers' or 'bee flowers', for example.
to be learnt is that presence of an insect in a flower does Since the often cited example when Darwin pre-
not necessarily mean that it is a reliable or even a dicted that a Madagascan orchid with a long narrow
potential pollen carrier from one bloom to another of spur was pollinated by a hawkmoth, then unknown, it
the same species. has become common practice to predict the agency of

45
pollination from the general form, symmetry, colour, names in the genera Melocactus and Frailea, and e m -
scent, time of opening and other floral features. Vogel phasizes the importance of understanding the breeding
(1954) gave colour plates of flowers from the South system before plunging into taxonomic revisions
African flora illustrating the different syndromes. (explosions;) of this type.
From the publications cited above, from scattered
clues in the literature, and from some original observa- Cactus Classification by S y n d r o m e
tions of m y own, I offer the summary presented in At first sight the recognition of pollination syndromes
Table 1, and a key to syndromes based on floral charac- would seem to be an answer to prayer in the vexed
ters. So far as possible the examples cited are limited subject of cactus classification. Let the birds and the
to actual proven cases. The phylogeny showing prob- bees be our taxonomists! Separation by syndrome has
able directions of evolution has its model in the Grants' obvious advantages: many, macroscopic characters
review of the family Polemoniaceae (Grant & Grant, inherited together, and the natural barrier to inter-
1965). O f the five pollination types here recognized, crossing set up by two taxa having different pollinators.
the bird flowers, with their long, almost closed tubes Any intermediates would be eliminated as unsuitable
and concealed nectar probably come nearest to attract- to either pollinator: a systematist's dream come true!
ing a single type of visitor alone. T o some extent our current classifications do reflect
Another point of interest is the occurrence in four (though usually unconsciously) modes of pollination.
out of the five floral groups of secondary derivatives Borzicactus sensu Kimnach (bird pollinated) is a good
where a pollinator is no longer necessary: reversions to example, and Echinopsis sensu Friedrich & Rowley
self-pollination (autogamy). Although in most cases (moth pollinated) another. But Nature is never as
the full syndrome is still apparent, seed sets largely or simple as we would like her to be, and the fatal setback
wholly by selfmg, and outcrossing rarely or never here has already been mentioned: convergent evolu-
takes place. In certain cases this may be interpreted as tion. The same syndrome can evolve many times over
a response to shortage of available winged pollen in unrelated lines of evolution. So just imagine trying
vectors, as in the high mountain Melocactus species, for to include all the bird-pollinated cacti (as listed in
instance. One exceptional type is found in the cylin- in Table 1) in one genus!
drical-stemmed opuntias where the fruit sets but the The opposite is also true: it would be just as non-
seeds never mature, the whole dropping and growing sensical to insist on separate genera in every case where
into a new plant direct as from a vegetative cutting. two similar taxa have different pollinators. Vogel
The most advanced type of cleistogamy ('closed (1954) found five different pollinators for species within
flowers') occurs in Frailea, where properly formed open the genus Pelargonium, and the Grants even found four
blooms are rarely seen, most of the furry buds changing races of a single species, Cilia splcndens, with different
directly into seed-packed fruits. pollinators and visibly different flowers (Grant &
Autogamy and these related phenomena are inter- Grant, 1965).
preted as evolutionary retrogressions. All the long-
term genetic advantages of cross fertilization have been Discussion
forsaken. For a limited period, autogamous plants can Although I have often seen small beetles, hoverflies,
be, and often are, enormously successful, dispensing flies and other insects in cactus blossoms, there is no
with the need for outside assistance and able to per- evidence that these are the main or reliable agents of
petuate a successful genotype ad libitum. Many of our cross-pollination. Grant & Connell (1979) dispose of
most persistent annual weeds are autogamous. Their the idea of beetle-pollination: the beetles feed on
tiny, inconspicuous flowers attract no visitors but are pollen, filaments and petals but rarely ascend the style,
very economical. However, autogamous plants can and use the bottom of the saucer- to bowl-shaped
evolve only by mutation: having forsaken the full blooms as a convenient nest for breeding. N o r have I
benefits of sexual reproduction they are less able to seen butterflies show much interest in cactus flowers,
keep pace with changes in climate and environment. despite the frequency of bright red colours, and there
For this reason they are treated as evolutionary dead seems little evidence for butterfly-pollination. The
ends: the point of no return in the life-span of a species. most obvious features of butterfly flowers (Faegri &
Autogamous plants tend to produce large popula- van der Pijl, 1979) are that they are large, vivid red or
tions of identical specimens, punctuated here and there yellow, often with radiating nectar guides of con-
by an odd example that looks slightly different—the trasting colour, faintly scented and salverform—that is,
outcome of a rare outcrossing. This easily beguiles the with a flat dish-like landing stage and very long, narrow
field collector into considering these minor variants as tube in the centre down which the proboscis goes to
separate species, and commencing a string of new seek nectar at the base. From bird flowers they differ in
binomials that knows no end. The situation has a long being less stiffly robust, the tube is narrower and there
precedent, going back to Alexis Jordan and his hundreds is less nectar. From moth blooms the most obvious
of 'microspecies' of whitlow grass (Erophila, an in- distinctions are the colour, lack of scent and diurnal
breeder) (Jordan, 1864). It explains the proliferation of opening. The tube length in moth flowers can exceed

96
 Unselective,
various Bees* Birds Bats Hawkmoths
Examples Pereskia Opuntia (most) Schlumbergera Carnegiea Epiphyllum
Opuntia (some) Echinocactus Nopalea Pachycereus Cere us
Rhipsalis (most) Ferocactus Aporocactus Lophocereus Peniocereus
Mammillaria Mammillaria Cephalocereus Echinopsis
(most) Cochemiea Stenocereus Discocactus
Mamillopsis (?all)
Cleistocactus
Borzicactus
Denmoza
Syndrome
Time of opening Diurnal Diurnal Diurnal Nocturnal Nocturnal
Colour Various Bright colours, Vivid, especially White or drab White or pale
especially red
yellow
Scent None or faint None or faint None Unpleasant, Intensely sweet,
fermented, at at night only
night only
Pollen Abundant, freely Least abundant Moderately Very abundant, Moderately
exposed abundant in a brush abundant
Nectar Absent or freely Often present, Abundant, Abundant, At base of long
exposed hidden, dilute, at base dilute narrow tube,
concentrated of tube dilute
Size and form Various, flat Small to Narrow, oblique, Large, robust Large, tubular
medium, half to stiff, not or only
full open partially open
Profile Flat Campanulate Cylindric, Funnelform Narrow
sometimes cylindric to
oblique and/or salverform
S-shaped

\
I
/ --\f^ ^YT J
c^ )
1 \J
1

.4
Retrogressions: ± Barren; Autogamy: Autogamy and Autogamy:
No outside vegetative Lophophora Cleistogamy: Arthrocereus
pollinator propagation Cleistogamy: Melocactus
needed only: Frailea
Opuntia (few)

TABLE i. Pollinators andfloralsyndromes in the Cactaceae. *No cactus flower is especially adapted to bee pollination
as are those of, for example, Labiatae and Scrophulariaceae. Here bees are the only of several visitors that regularly
contact stigmas as well as anthers. Arrows indicate presumed directions of evolution.
KEY T O POLLINATION SYNDROMES IN CACTACEAE
A Flowers diurnal, medium to small, in general brightly coloured, scent faint or none
B Flowers flat, with abundant pollen and nectar (if present) freely exposed
I UNSELECTIVE
BB Flowers not flat, with nectar ± hidden at the base of the tubular perianth
C Flowers bell-shaped, actinomorphic, half to wide opening, yellow or other mostly bright colours, with
little, concentrated nectar
II BEE FLOWERS
CC Flowers tubular, never opening flat, red mostly; stiff and unyielding, limb often oblique, tube often with
a faint S-bend with much watery nectar, often in a special nectar chamber at the base of the long,
narrow tube
III BIRD FLOWERS
A A Flowers nocturnal, medium to large, white, pale or drab, scent if present then at night only
D Flowers stout, funnel-shaped, presenting a large brush of stamens, scent usually unpleasant, like over-
ripe fruit; tree-like genera
IV BAT FLOWERS
DD Flowers narrow funnel-shaped to cylindrical with a flat limb and narrow tube, scent intensely sweet
V HAWKMOTH FLOWERS

97
 FLOWER TYPE/POLLINATOR
UNSELECTIVE BEES BIRDS BATS HAWKMOTHS

Opuntia Nopalea

Cylindropuntia Tacinga

Rhipsalis Schlumbergera

Mammillaria Cochemiea
Mamillopsis

Melocactus Discocactus

Disocactus Epiphyllum

Denmoza Echinopsis

Cephalocereus Cereus

TABLE 2. Examples of vcgetatively similar taxa differing in pollination syndrome. A change in pollinator can lead to genetic
isolation and the evolution of two distinct taxa. But does this also imply the birth of a new genus?

that of any others—30 cm. or more in Epiphyllum References

phyllanthus, for example. DARLINGTON, C. D . & MATHER, K. (1949). The Ele-
It will be noted that bat flowers are found mainly in ments of Genetics. London.
the taller tree-like cacti, as would be expected from the FAEGRI, K. & VAN DER PIJL, L. (1979). The Principles of
high flights of bats. But bird and moth flower syn- Pollination Ecology. Edn. 3.
dromes occur in often unrelated genera of widely dis- GRANT, V. & K. A. (1965). Flower Pollination in the
similar life form and habitat preference. This points to Phlox Family. 180 p p . N e w York and London.
reticulate evolution: the independent development of (i979)- The Pollination Spectrum in the
the same syndrome in unrelated lines in response to the Southwestern American Cactus Flora. In Pi. Syst. &
needs of the day. More of this anon. Evol. 133: 29-37.
Some instances of similar-looking cacti with con- GRANT, V. & C O N N E L L . W . A. (1979). The Association
trasted pollination syndromes are shown in Table 2, between Carpophilus Beetles and Cactus Flowers.
using a narrow, Backebergian generic concept to In Pi. Syst. & Evol. 133: 99-102.
emphasize differences. JORDAN, A. (1864). Diagnoses d'Espcces nouvelles ou
As always, enthusiasm for the value of anthecology meconnues. 355 pp. Paris.
(pollination biology) in taxonomy must be tempered PORSCH, O. (1938-9). Das Bestaubungsleben der
with reserve. W e should strive to understand the Kakteenblute. In Jahrb. Deutsche Kakt.-Ges. 142 pp.
pollination mechanisms and their significance as far as STEENBERGH, W . F. & LOWE, C. H. (1977). Ecology of
we can, but avoid over-weighting them in defining the Saguaro II. Washington D.C.
taxa. Each case has to be judged on its merits. The VOGEL, S. (1954). Bliitenbiologische Typen als Ele-
fieldwork of V. Grant and his co-workers in North mente der Sippengliederung dargestellt anhand der
America is an inspiring start: it is demanding of time Flora Sudafrikas. Jena.
and patience, and so much more needs to be done.
Dare I suggest that some of the field botanists of today
would be better employed in anthecological pursuits
in the habitats than in the never-ending obsessive search
for n e w species;

98
The Cactus and Succulent Journal of Great Britain
Volume 42(4): 99-101 (1980)

Duvaliandra: A new genus of stapeliad

by M. G. Gilbert
East African Herbarium
PO Box 45166, Nairobi, Kenya

Caralhima dioscoridis is a Socotran endemic that shows and Orbea which produce a sequence of flowers, one at
a unique combination of Caralluma sect. Boucerosia a time with the inflorescence elongating with each one.
(Desmidorchis) and Orbea/Duvalia-like features. It is This latter type of inflorescence is almost always basal.
believed that the similarity to Caralluma is through Exceptions to these two types are very few. One is the
convergence and that its true relationships are nearer basal umbel of Pseudolithos migiurtinus and P. cubiforme
Orbea prognatha or Duvalia sulcata. A more detailed which is probably a highly modified lateral branch as
consideration of the comparative morphology of this suggested by the subterminal flowers of the much
interesting species follows. branched P. caput-viperae. Another is in certain species,
Vegetatively the resemblance to certain species including C. dioscoridis, where the flowers are effectively
within the 'umbellata-europaea group' of Caralluma solitary, presumably by the reduction of a more com-
(White & Sloane, 1937) is, superficially, very strong plex inflorescence as there is often a clear indication of
though its exact affinities (on the basis of stem form an abortive bud at the base. Most of the species with
only) are significantly vague. In habit the greatest routinely solitary flowers belong to apical-flowered
similarity is probably with the complex of Arabian genera, notably Pseudopectinaria, Edithcolea and Caral-
species allied to C. hexagona and C. foulcers-delboschii. luma (i.e. C. jrerei, C. quadrangula, C. lavrani and C.
However, these species have distinct leaves, unlike C. pauciflora) thus encouraging the presumption that C.
dioscoridis. Those species lacking leaves arc all very dioscoridis is in the same alliance. However, it should be
robust species with erect, non-articulated branches quite pointed out that a cymose inflorescence if reduced to a
different in habit. Quadrangular stems are also known single flower would show little evidence of its true
in Stapeliopsis and certain species of Pectinaria, genera nature. Moreover, Orbea prognatha, apparently correctly
otherwise very far removed from Caralluma in all other placed with Orbea (Leach 1978a), often has very reduced
features, which does suggest the possibility of con- inflorescences borne in rather irregular positions on the
vcrgeant evolution of such a feature. stem and is thus apparently nearest in inflorescence form
T w o aspects of the inflorescence must be considered: and position to C. dioscoridis. This is here taken to
position and structure. W i t h regard to position, most support the view that the affinities of this latter species
genera of stapeliads fall into one of two very distinct lie with the genera with basal cymose inflorescences.
groups. The first, including Duvalia, Stapelia, Orbcopsis, Corolla form and size are anomalous in Caralluma
etc., has the inflorescence at the base of the stem, never especially following Leach's removal of some of the
more than a few axils up. In the other, including genera atypical southern species. Reflexed corollas are unusual
such as Caralluma (taken here to exclude the species in the 'umbellata—europaea group' and the 'pauciflora—
transferred to Orbea, Orbeopsis and Tridentea by Leach quadrangula groups' being observed only in some
(J975> 1978a, 1978b)), Echiduopsis, Hoodia and Tricho- forms of C. europaea, C. penicillata and C. lavrani, all
caulon, the inflorescences are close to or at the apex. species with much smaller flowers. Somewhat similar
Sometimes these arc active for quite a long time and corollas are met with in members of the 'ango group'
may produce flowers far from the apex but new but these have very different stem forms and, more-
inflorescences are apparently always initiated near the over, it is felt, also have affinities with Orbea rather than
apex. Duvaliandra is unusual in that the inflorescences Caralluma proper and as such will be the subject of
are neither clearly basal nor apical, varying considerably another paper. The most comparable corolla is perhaps
even within a single plant. See, for example, the to be found in the Arabian Duvalia sulcata, matching in
original plate of C. dioscoridis (Lavranos, 1972). Rather form, size and, more or less, colour. It also matches in
similar behaviour has been seen in Orbea prognatha and the presence of long ciliate hairs on the limb, a most
some species of Tridentea but not in other genera. unusual feature amongst northern stapeliads, but
Inflorescence structure is another feature that gener- differs by the presence of vibratile hairs on the margin,
ally falls into two main types, the sessile pulvinate a more pronounced annulus and the longitudinal
fascicles of genera such as Caralluma, Echidnopsis, grooves of the lobes to which it owes it specific epithet.
Trichocaulon, Orbeopsis and Piaranthus, often umbelli- These similarities seem sufficient that when the corolla
form and never elongating with age, and the cymosc is taken in isolation, C. dioscoridis should be placed very
inflorescences of Duvalia, Huernia, Stapelia, Stapeliopsis near Duvalia or Orbea and nowhere near the typical

99
Duvaliandra dioscoridis. I, habit, natural size; 2, calyx, x 2; 3, corolla, x 2; 4, corona, x 6; 5,
vertical section of corona and gynoecium, x 6; 6, pollinia, face view, x 25; 7, pollinia, f view, x 25.
All from Smith and Lavranos 438. Reproduced from the drawing by Mary Grierson for Hooker's
Icones Plantaruni, t.3687 (1972) by permission of the Bentham-Moxon Trust, Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew.

100
members of Caralluma sect. Bouccrosia. unacceptably heterogeneous. O. prognatha is more
Corona form was probably one of the main reasons isolated within Orbea and this, coupled with the geo-
for discarding initial plans to describe C. dioscoridis in a graphical proximity to the Socotran species, does
new genus as both Caralluma quadrangula and C. suggest the possibility of removing O. prognatha from
penicillata have almost identical coronas. However, that genus and erecting a new one for O. prognatha and
similar coronas are met with in other groups of stap- C. dioscoridis. The main objection to this is practical as
eliads otherwise not at all closely related, namely the main points of similarity between the two are not
Echidnopsis cereiformis and C. nubica, Orbea maculata andvery striking, being far outweighed by the clear cut
O. rangeana and Huemiopsis decipiens. It thus seems differences which would make the writing of a key to
possible that evolutionary processes by which the outer genera very difficult. The alternative of trying to
corona lobes can be lost to give rise to a uniseriate include C. dioscoridis in Orbea must be rejected for the
corona are not excessively unusual and have been same basic reasons as for its exclusion from Duvalia.
active on at least three separate occasions. The loss or In these circumstances there seems no choice but to
reduction of parts is one of the commonest features of erect a new monotypic genus. The name chosen reflects
evolutionary change and it does not seem unreasonable the similarity of the translators and pollen masses to
to suggest that Dnvaliandra represents a fourth line of those of Duvalia.
evolution of a uniseriate corona. Certainly there is
evidence of parallel evolution in corolla form within Duvaliandra M. G. Gilbert, genus novum; Duvaliae
the stapeliads, witness the quite remarkable series of Haworth et Orbeae Haworth affine, a quibus caulibus
parallels in corolla form between Huemia and Stapeli- quadrangulatis tuberculis obsoletis, inflorcsccntiis scssili-
anthus or the corolla tube of Caralluma solouophora and bus plerumquc un.ifloris, corona uniseriata differt.
that of Ceropegia ampliata. The corona must also be of Species typica: Caralluma dioscoridis Lavranos.
considerable adaptive significance and thus have the Caulcs quadrangulati, procumbentes vcl adscendentes,
potential to give rise to similar cases of convergent copiosc ramificantcs; folia et tubercula obsoleta; infloresccntiae
evolution. extra-axillarcs, sessiles, a basi usque fere ad apicem cauliuni
sitae, saepius abortu unifiorae, corolla pro rata grandis, rotata
Two types of translator structure have been observed plana vel reflexa, limbo crassiusculo sparse longe piloso, corona
in stapeliads. In the CarallumajCeropegia type the trans- uniseriata lobis extcrioribus obsoletis, lobis interioribus compla-
lator wings are poorly developed and the pollen masses natis super anthcras incumbentibus; corpusculum alis p r o m i -
nentibus instructum retinaculis pro rata longis, pollinia ad
are attached directly to the corpusculum or clip gland 'stigma' per cristam brevem subterminalem hyalinam affixa.
by simple caudicles. In the Stapelia/Huemia type, the Stems 4-angled, procumbent to ascending, branching freely;
translators have well defined wings and the caudicles tubercles and leaves obsolete; inflorescence extra axillary, from
are attached to these rather than the clip-gland itself. the base to just below the tips of the stems, sessile, often I -
flowered by abortion; corolla relatively large, rotate to re-
It can be shown that there is a good correlation between flexed, limb somewhat thickened, with long sparse hairs;
pollinium form and the major features of stem and corona I-seriate, the outer lobes absent, the inner lobes rather
inflorescence morphology such that, with the major and flat and incumbent over the anthers; clip-gland (corpusculum)
significant exception of Caralluma as currently under- with prominent wings and relatively long translator arms
(rctinacula), pollinia attached to the 'stigma' b y a short sub-
stood, the pollinia are fairly constant within genera and terminal hyaline 'anchor-crest'.
apparently good indicators of intcrgencric relation- Only species:
ships. Thus when it was realized that those of C. Duvaliandra dioscoridis (Lavr.) M. G. Gilbert
dioscoridis matched closely those of Duvalia sulcata and comb. nov. Basionym: Caralluma dioscoridis Lavranos,
D. somalica, a major reconsideration of other features Hookers Icones Plantarum 37: sub t. 3687, in textu
of this 'Caralluma' was felt to be essential.
(1971, published 1972).
The evidence strongly suggests that any similarities
between C. dioscoridis and any other members of References
Caralluma sensu latissimo are due to convergence and LAVRANOS, J. J. (1972). In Hooker's Icones Plantarum
that in fact its affinities arc with quite another genus. 37: sub t. 3687.
It must therefore be transferred to another genus, but LEACH, L. C. (1975). The Lectotype species of Stapelia
which one; Two possible closest relatives should be L. and the reinstatement of Orbea Haw. In Kirkia
considered, Duvalia sulcata, with which it shares corolla 10: 287-291.
form, colour and, to some extent, indumentum and (1978a). A contribution towards a new
which also has similar translators and pollen masses, classification of Stapelieae (Asclepiadaceae) with a
and Orbea prognatha which also has a rather similar preliminary review of Orbea Haw. and descriptions
corolla and translators and is rather more similar in of three new genera. Excelsa Taxonomic Series No. 1.
inflorescence form and position. However, both these (1978b). On the classification of Stapelieae
species differ very markedly indeed in stem colouring and the reinstatement of Tridentea Haw. (Asclepia-
and morphology and corona form. D. sulcata is a very daceae). In Trans. Rhodesia Scient. Assoc. 59: 1-5.
typical Duvalia in almost all features and the inclusion WHITE, A. & SLOANE, B. L. (1937). The Stapelieae ed. 2,
of C. dioscoridis into the same genus would make it Vols. 1-3. Pasadena.

101
Choice Liliaceae can be given on sunny days in winter. W e try not to
allow the winter temperature to drop below 5°C
described and photographed (40CF). Our plant grows under the bench on the south
by Bill and Yvonne Tree side of the greenhouse where it receives adequate light
in summer, and then when the sun is low during the
I. A l o e antandroy (below) winter the plants are in sunshine for several hours each
A. antandroy conies from south-west Madagascar. W e day.
have two plants under this name of which the less
attractive seems to fit Jacobsen's description and photo- 2. Gasteria armstrongii (upper right)
graph in the 'Handbook of Succulent Plants', vol. i : G. armstrongii comes from the Cape Province region
146, fig. 146. The one illustrated here is the much more of South Africa, and as you can see from the photograph
desirable form with compact rather than spindly it is a fine-looking plant, whose thick leaves are a very
growth, which conforms to Jacobsen's description in dark green. In time this plant makes a nice clump and
having curved leaves. The plant was purchased in 1969 in our travels we have seen many fine clumping speci-
as a single head, when it fitted well into a 2\ inch mens on the show bench.
plastic pot. N o w , eleven years later it has made three It was one inch across in 1969 when received from the
offsets, two at the base and one on the stem, and has late Wilfred Austin-Smith. For a species of Gasteria
graduated into a 3 ! inch pot. In 1978 it flowered for this is a fairly slow-growing plant, for in all these years
the first time and has flowered every year since then it has only produced two offsets and still fits well into
the attractive buds appearing in February and opening an 8 inch pan. It is not difficult to cultivate when
in late May. These are red with green on the tip, and treated the same as A. antandroy.
then open to reveal golden yellow stamens.
This Aloe has not been difficult to cultivate in a 3. Haworthia badia (lower right)
medium of 50% soil-less compost and 50°,, sharp sand, The cultivation of H. badia (badia means chestnut
and appreciates plenty of water from spring to early brown) is more difficult than A. antandroy and G.
autumn, a little in late autumn and just a few drops armstrongii, and for that reason we keep our plant on

102
the main bench on the south side or the greenhouse, oft its roots three times. W e managed to save it each
where it receives our full attention. W h e n we pur- time, but the formation of a new root system is a long
chased this plant in 1968 it was freshly imported, and business, and meanwhile the plant shrivels and loses
still covered in the red dust ot its habitat in the Cape some ot its leaves. For this reason it is still roughly the
Province, or to be more specific Baver in his 'Haworthia same size as when it was imported, having remained
Handbook' gives a restricted area west of Napier. He in a 4} inch half-pot. Although most difficult to
reduces H. badia along with H. tmitidtila to subspecies cultivate it is a very good plant to take to a show when
of II. mirahilii. in good condition, and certainly rates as one of our
In the twelve years we have had this plant it has gone favourites.

103
Connoisseurs' Cacti or less open receptacle-tube. Contrasting with it is R.
pseudominuscula, which is the type of sect. Aylostera,
chosen by David Hunt characterized by the slim, solid receptacle-tube.

12. Rebutia pseudominuscula (front cover) 13. Mammillaria Candida (above)

It is 25 years since I was given a plant of Rebutia If Rebutia taxonomy is a nightmare, what can be said
minuscula in bud and promptly won a prize with it in of Mammillaria ? Only that if there arc just five species
flower in the school hobbies competition (no rule about of Mammillaria this must be one of them—unless, like
plants being in the possession of the owner for six Prof. Buxbaum, you put it in another genus on its own,
months beforehand!), yet the genus is not one I have Mammilloydia. The reasons for adhering to Buxbaum's
often been tempted to collect. They are relatively un- idea arc, in fact, quite strong: the unique seed and fruit
varied, despite all the names, compared with my pet structure, not found elsewhere in the genus, and a geo-
genus, and though generally quite easy to grow and graphical distribution which docs not fit —these more
propagate they seem prone to red spider and other than hint that the plant only looks like a Mammillaria,
disfiguring drawbacks. But the sight of Walter Rausch's and is not one, anymore than Janet Brown is Prime
magnificent pans of absurdly healthy plants with masses Minister.
of flowers in vivid colours would convert the meanest Less questionable is the status of plants commonly
Mammillariophilc visiting his collection outside Vienna, grown as M. ortizrubiona. These neither fit the descrip-
where the cover photo was taken. tion given for that name, nor differ from 'ordinary'
If, as Prof. Nodrog Yelwor maintains, there are only M. Candida, though M. Candida is no ordinary plant, as
five (or is it seven;) species of Mammillaria, there can can be seen from Margaret Martin's excellent photo.
hardly be more than two of Rebutia] The type of the It has class and pedigree, even though we poor botanists
genus is R. minuscula, which has a relatively wide, more aren't sure what that pedigree is!

104
T h e Cactus and Succulent Journal o f Great Britain
V o l u m e 42(4): 105-107 (1980)

Decent re-burial for Echinofossulocactus Lawr.

by D. R. Hunt
Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew, Richmond, Surrey
Summary. Britton & Rose's lectotypification of Echinofossulo- dinosaur. Spcgazzini (in An. Soc. Ci. Argent. 96: 69.
cactus Lawr. is rejected as mechanical, and hence arbitrary under 1923) rejected the name Echinofossulocactus out of hand
the terms of I C B N Art. 8.1. Both the generic description and
the generic name imply that the areolar groove was Lawrence's as 'hybridum et scsquipedale, prorsus c.xlex ideo rcjicienduni,
diagnostic character. One of the species demonstrating this and diplomatically substituted Brittonrosea Speg. The
feature, E. heiophorus (Lcm.) Lawr., is selected as lectotype to more pragmatic Orcutt (Cactography, 5. 1926) sug-
supersede Britton & Rose's choice of E. coptonogonus (Lem.) gested Efossus Orcutt for the sake of brevity. Both
Lawr. E. heiophorus is a taxonomic synonym of Echinocactus
platyacamhus Link & O t t o sensu lato, the accepted lectotype Spcgazzini and Orcutt also transferred the numerous
species of Echinocactus Link & Otto. Echinofossulocactus Lawr. is putative species listed by Britton & Rose, but neither
thus reduced to synonymy under Echinocactus. Implications for of the substitute names has been accepted. The only
the classification of E. coptonogonus and allied species are briefly serious contender has been Schumann's subgeneric name
discussed.
Stenocactus, still widely favoured by hobbyists. At
generic rank the publication of Stenocactus is usually
The 19-letter polysyllabic generic name Echino- credited to Berger (Kaktcen, 244. 1929). Throughout
fossulocacttis was invented by George Lawrence, gar- his handbook Berger was equivocal in his use of genera
dener to the Rev. Theodore Williams, in a catalogue of and subgenera, however, grouping species under the
the cacti in his employer's collection at Hendon Vicarage generic names proposed by Britton & Rose and others
published in Loudon's Gardeners' Magazine 17: 313- but retaining the more conservative usage of Echino-
321 (1841). From the nomenclature Lawrence used, it cactus, Cereus, etc., for binomials in the body of the
is clear he had access to, and was no doubt influenced text. In the index he listed the species names under both
by, the publications of Chas. Lemairc on the cacti of the wider and narrower genera without any typo-
the Hortus Monvillianus (usually abbreviated as Cact. graphical distinction, as if they were alternatives. The
Aliq. Nov. 1838 and Cact. Gen. Nov. 1839) where first authors to use Stenocactus as a generic name un-
Lemairc introduced several tribal, generic and infra- equivocally appear to have been Backeberg & F. M .
generic names adopted by Lawrence. Lawrence seems Knuth (Kaktus ABC, 353. 1935). They were followed
to have shared Lemaire's penchant for obscure and by Bravo, Las Cactaceas de Mexico (1937), this being
elongate names, and probably took the term fossula, the standard treatment for Mexico, to which Steno-
incorporated in Echinofossulocactus, from Lemaire, who cactus is endemic, and by Borg, Cacti (1937), for many
had used it in descriptions of species included in Echino- years a standard handbook for amateur collectors, and
fossulocactus by Lawrence. by Marshall in Marshall & Bock, Cactaceae, 146 (1941).
In his new genus Lawrence enumerated some 26 Both Bravo and Borg rejected Echinofossulocactus Lawr.
species, several with varieties, grouped in three sections, on the grounds of its mixture of contents as originally
and with measurements of the individual specimens circumscribed and its excessive length, but these are
which indicate that many were of flowering size. The not legitimate grounds for rejection under the Inter-
species are now considered to belong to five or more national Code of Botanical Nomenclature. In more
genera, including Echinocactus Link & Otto, Ferocactus recent times, general acceptance of the International
B. & R., Astrophytum Lem., Thelocactus B. & R., and Code and the 'type method' have led to a grudging
Echinofossulocactus sensu B. & R. acceptance of Echinofossulocactus sensu B. & R. and its
adoption by such authors as Backeberg, Die Cactaceae
Lawrence's paper seems to have been overlooked or
5: 2752 et seq. (1961), Buxbaum, in Krainz (ed.), Die
ignored, except by James Britten (J. Bot. 54: 338.1916),
Kakteen, Lfg. 21 (1962), Bravo, in Cact. Sue. Mex. 14:
until it came to the attention of Britton & Rose 'while
11-21 etc. (1969), Meyran, ibid. 17: 35-46 etc. (1972-
looking through Loudon's Magazine of Gardening for
77) and Taylor in Cact. Succ. J. Gt. Brit. 41 (2): 35-42
new Cactus names' (The Cactaceae 3: 109. 1922).
(1979). Surprisingly, perhaps, no attempt has been
Britton & Rose duly exhumed Echinofossulocactus,
made to conserve Stenocactus over Echinofossulocactus,
taking E. coptonogonus (Lem.) Lawr. (Echinocactus
and it is n o w perhaps too late for a proposal to this
coptonogonus Lem.), the first species listed by Lawrence,
effect to succeed. It is true that the older name is a
as the type (lectotype) for a group of species corres-
mouthful to say and inconveniently long for plant
ponding to Echinocactus subg. Stenocactus K. Schum.,
labels and data-processing systems, but this is hardly
Gesamt. Kakt., 292 (1898).
enough to bring about its rejection n o w that its use in
Recognition and surgery by the American m o n o -
the literature is widespread.
graphers did not immediately revive their dismembered

105
 In another context, the priority of Echinofossulocactus binomial species in order eligible' method followed
(1841) is an obstacle to the taxonomic union with there. This method of lectotypification is thus explicitly
Ferocactus B . & R. (1922) justified by Taylor (in Cact. proscribed by the Code, and there is n o obligation to
Succ. J. Gt. Brit. 41(4): 89. 1979) and the preparation follow Britton & Rose's choice of E. coptonogonus as
of a proposal for conservation of Ferocactus on these lectotype of Echinofossulocactus (or their lectotypifica-
grounds has been given some consideration, as noted tions of Consolea etc.).
by Taylor I.e.
N o one, however, seems to have questioned the What then, are the principles on which the choice of
propriety of Britton & Rose's lectotypification, though a generic lectotype should be made; O n this matter
it is this, and nothing more, on which the modern usage the Code recommends but does not legislate: all
of Echinofossulocactus ultimately rests. Britton & Rose aspects of the protologuc should be considered, as
admitted that 'the genus as [Lawrence] defines it is not should evidence of the author's intentions; only material
a very natural one', but gave no reason for their choice definitely studied by the author should be taken into
of the first-named species E. coptonogonus, as type. The account, and established usage should be maintained
inference to be drawn is that, as in Britton & Brown's unless the element selected is discordant with the major
illustrated Flora (ed. 2. 1913), Britton & Rose followed elements of the protologue, etc. (ICBN, Guide for the
the American Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Bull. Determination of Types and Rec. 7B).
Torrcy Bot. Club. 34(4): 167-178. 1907), of which The protologuc, in this case, is Lawrence's brief
Britton was the leading proponent, and its Canon 15 description. Although, as Britton & Rose observed,
(I.e., 172) which laid down that where no species was Echinofossulocactus was not a natural genus, its author did
designated as type by the original author, 'the type is make the principal generic character doubly clear, in
the first binomial species in order eligible', subject to the name itself (from fossula, Latin, a little furrow or
various provisions none of which apply in the case of channel), and in his generic description. Some authors,
Echinofossulocactus. Britton & Rose did not specifically like Higgins, The Study of Cacti (ed. 2, 34. 1946) have
invoke the American Code in 'The Cactaceae' but, assumed that the name was a reference to the narrowly
from the following examples, it is clear that their furrowed body of the plants of Lawrence's first section
lectotypifications conform to Canon 15: of Echinofossulocactus, to which the genus was restricted
by Britton & Rose (i.e. Echinocactus subg. Stenocactus
Nopalea Salm-Dyck K. Schum.). But Lawrence described the stem of both
'Three species were included by Salm-Dyck in this genus when Echinocactus and Echinofossulocactus in exactly the same
it was described, of which Optmtia cochenillifera L. was the first words: 'Surface angled or furrowed'. The 'little furrow'
and is therefore considered the type' (I.e. 1: 33. 1919).
of the name is the groove which extends from the upper
Consolea Lemaire edge of the areole in various species enumerated by
'Consolea was described by Lemaire in 1862. H e described five Lawrence and is most in evidence in those of his third
species, of which C. rubesceus is the first and therefore the type'
section. This becomes clear by a comparison of his
(I.e. 1:43. 1919).
generic descriptions of Echinocactus (I.e. p. 316) and
Cereus Miller Echinofossulocactus (I.e. p. 317) in which the said groove
'Type species: Cactus hexagotius Linnaeus, this being the first or channel is the only differential feature referred t o :
species cited by Miller in his Gardeners Dictionary, 8th edition,
1768, where he described 12 species of Cerais (in the 4th edition,
abridged, 1754, he described 14 species), which we n o w know 'GENUS III. E C H I N O C A C T U S
belong to several genera' (I.e. 2: 3. 1920). Surface angled or furrowed. Flowers short and broad, produced
at the fascicles of spines, generally at the umbilicus at the top of
Discocactus Pfeiffer
the plant. Capsule dry, generally concealed in an especial
'Three species were described by Pfeiffer, of which the first,
envelope of down, or else in the tonientum of the umbilicus.
Discocactus insignis, is the type' (I.e. 3 : 216. 1922).
Fascicles of spines [i.e. areoles] d o w n y ; d o w n confined to the
fascicles.'
Only in the case of Echinocactus Link & Otto were
Britton & Rose at pains to establish the lectotype other 'GENUS IV. E C H I N O F O S S U L O C A C T U S
than by the mechanical precept of 'first in order eligible'. Surface angled or furrowed. Flowers and fruit like those of
O n the basis of described characters they concluded by Echinocactus. Fascicles of spines d o w n y : d o w n extended above
the fascicles in a straight or cruciform channel, sometimes
a process of elimination that it should be E. platyacanthus confluent, or else in a circular patch from which the flowers are
Link & Otto, and this is not in dispute. produced invariably in the umbilicus.'
Under the modern International Code of Botanical
Nomenclature (1978 edition), Art. 8, the author w h o The evidence of the name and description thus
first designates a lectotype must normally be followed, argues, in effect, that the areolar groove or furrow is
but his choice may be superseded if it can be shown essential to Echinofossulocactus sensu Lawrence, and that
that the choice was made arbitrarily. As an example of whatever species is chosen as lectotype should plainly
arbitrary selection the Code cites the Britton & Brown demonstrate the character. In fact, as noted earlier,
'Illustrated Flora', mentioned above, and 'the first Lawrence probably took up Lemaire's usage of the

106
word fossula from the latter's descriptions in Cactearum E. macracanthus(De Vriesc) Lawr., 1J ft. (38 cm.) tall and
Genera Nova Speciesque Novae in horto Monvilliano 2 ft. (61 cm.) in diameter. Taxonomically, all these have
(1839). Here Lemaire (I.e. 12) described Echinocactus been treated with varying degrees of certainty as
helophorus Lem. as having 'areolae . . . ad apiccm in synonyms of Echinocactus ingens Zucc. ex PfcifF., which
fossulam linearem, aliquando ad summum bifurcatam is itself referable to E. platyacanthns. This identification of
productae' and E. helophorus [var.] longifossnlatus as E. helophorus, as already discussed, is not in doubt.
having 'areolae sursum in fossulam longissimam polli- Identification of E. platyceras is less certain, since
carem et ultra, linearem elongatae, saepe fere conflu- Lcmaire's illustrations accompanying the description
entes'. Both E. helophorus and E. h. var. longifossnlatus were not the flower of this species (as Britton & Rose,
were transferred to Echinofossulocactus by Lawrence, and The Cact. 3: 169. 1922, assumed), but that of E. ingens,
are nos. 24 and 25, respectively, in his enumeration. as Lemaire stated. E. macracanthus is also problematical.
From the description of the groove, both are positively The illustration accompanying the original description
identifiable with the earlier described Echinocactus (in Hoev. & De Vriese, Tijdschr. 6: 49. 1839) is u n -
platyacanthns Link & Otto. Though no type of Lcmaire's equivocally of Ferocactus hystrix (DC.) Lindsay, but
species is known to exist, the identification is confirmed Schumann referred the species to E. ingens and the name
by his reference to the purple striping of the ribs, may have been misapplied from an early date (cf.
diagnostic to some forms of E. platyacanthns ('inter also Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849, 1850).
areolas macula purpurea, elongata, subregulariter O f all the species included in Echinofossulocactus, E.
notatus') and is consistent with description of the number helophorus thus seems the most appropriate choice as
of ribs and the detailed spination. Although the areoles lectotype. Its characters are most in conformity with
of the species of Lawrence's section I. Gladiatores, the protologue, and it was quite probably the species
including E. coptonogonus, are somewhat elongate, the foremost in Lawrence's mind. It is not necessary to
feature is neither obvious nor remarked on elsewhere in follow ICBN Rec. 7B and maintain established usage
the literature. It is more pronounced in some members by re-selecting E. coptonogonus since Echinofossulocactus
of sect. II Latispineae now referred to Ferocactus B. & R. sensu Britton & Rose has only gained acceptance
and in some of Sect. III. (unnamed) referred to Echino- recently and reluctantly, and over the practical objec-
cactus sensu stricto, Ferocactus and Thelocactus B. & R. tions of numerous authors. Since, taxonomically, E.
Another character mentioned by Lawrence which helophorus is referable to Echinocactus platyacanthns, the
needs to be taken into account is that of the fruit, which effect of its designation as lectotype will be to make
Lawrence says is like that of Echinocactus, 'dry, generally Echinofossulocactus Lawr. a synonym of Echinocactus
concealed in an especial envelope of down, or else in Link & Otto, sensu stricto, and thus to remove it from
the tomentum of the umbilicus'. This, too, tends to contention with later names. Selection of any of the
restrict the choice of species eligible as lectotype, species enumerated by Lawrence which are currently
operating against the species nowadays referred to referred to cither of the later described genera Fero-
Ferocactus B. & R. or Thelocactus B. & R. which have cactus B. & R. and Thelocactus B. & R. would have un-
naked, scaly fruits. E. coptonogonus and its allies [Echino- acceptable consequences for the nomenclature of these
fossulocactus sensu B. & R.) also have scaly rather than genera and cannot be entertained.
woolly fruits, though in some species the umbilicus of I therefore propose that Britton & Rose's lecto-
the stem is woolly. typification of Echinofossulocactus Lawr. by E. coptono-
The only species included in Echinofossulocactus by gonus be superseded under I C B N Art. 8.1 and that the
Lawrence which are not disadvantaged as contenders lectotype of this name, instead, be Echinocactus helo-
for the lectotype by the description are, it seems, those phorus Lem., Cact. Gen. Nov., 12 (1839).
that would nowadays be referred to Echinocactus itself In accordance with this revised lcctotypification,
(following Britton & Rose's choice of E. platyacanthns Echinofossulocactus Lawr. becomes a synonym of
Link & Otto as lectotype, which, as noted above, is not Echinocactus Link & Otto sensu stricto. The oldest
in dispute). It can be no coincidence that these species available name for Echinofossulocactus sensu Britton &
were represented in Lawrence's employer's collection Rose is Brittonrosea Spegazzini (1923), but in view of the
by large and impressive specimens, of which any existence of the much better-known name Stenocactus
amateur collector today would be proud, whereas those (K. Schum.) Backeb. & F. M. Knuth, a proposal to
of most of the other groups (some of the Ferocactus spp. conserve Stenocactus over Brittonrosea would be desirable
excepted) were naturally smaller-growing and rela- to legitimize the use of Stenocactus when the group is
tively insignificant. E. coptonogonus, for instance, was maintained as a genus. There is, however, no obstacle
only 3 inches (7.5 cm.) high and broad, whereas 'E. to the inclusion of the Stenocactus group in Ferocactus
helophora var. longifossulata' mentioned above, was 1 ft. B. & R. or any other genus validly published before
(30 cm.) high and i j ft. (45 cm.) in diameter, and E. Brittonrosea Speg.
helophora (Lem.) Lawr. itself, 11 inches high and i j ft. Hie iacet Echinofossulocactus, nonien genericutn ignoranter
in diamter. A specimen of E. platyceras (Lem.) Lawr. was generatwn, din ignoratum, denique cffossuni, nunc denuo
1 ft. high and 1} ft. in diameter, and, largest of all, infossum. R.I.P.

107
T h e Cactus and Succulent Journal o f Great Britain
V o l u m e 42(4): 108 (1980)

Ferocactus and Stenocactus united

by N. P. Taylor
Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew, Richmond, Surrey

In the November issue of this journal last year I proposed to wait until the composition of the E. crispatus complex
that a more conservative view of the N . American and the status of various unclarified names (e.g. E.
Echinocactoid genera should be taken, to bring their ochotercnaus) have been resolved, before taking further
arrangement in line with similar treatments in other steps. It is likely that the majority of these uncertain
segments of the family, e.g. Mammillaria, Borzicactus, entities will find their place at infra-specific ranks
Neoporteria, Stenocereus, etc. (Taylor in CSJGB 41(4): within E. crispatus.
88-94. I979)- The infra-generic classification of Echino-
cactus (s.l.) employed by K. Schumann in 1898 was used Ferocactus subgenus Stenocactus (K. Schum.) N . P. Taylor,
c o m b . n o v . Basionym: Echinocactus subg. Stenocactus K.
as a guide for re-uniting the less plausible generic Schum., Gesamtb. Kakt. 292, 359 (1898). Lectotype species:
segregates of Britton & Rose and Backeberg. Thus Echinocactus crispatus D C .
Ferocactus B. & R. (1922) was amplified to absorb Ferocactus c o p t o n o g o n u s (Lem.) N . P. Taylor, c o m b . n o v .
Ancistrocacttts, Sclerocactus, Hamatocactus and Glanduli- Basionym: Echinocactus coptonogonus Lem., Cact. Aliq. N o v . 23
cactus, the principal elements of which were all classified (1838).
by Schumann in Echinocactus subg. VII Ancistrocactus. Ferocactus crispatus (DC.) N . P. Taylor, c o m b . n o v .
In m y earlier paper I noted the close affinity of Schu- Basionym: Echinocactus crispatus D C , Prodr. 3: 461 (1828). The
mann's next subgenus (VIII Stenocactus) to Ferocactus, following are considered to comprise a complex for which the
above is the oldest name: Echinofossulocactus arrigens, E. busta-
and would have treated Stenocactus as a further synonym mantei, E. caespitosus, E. confusus, E. guerraianus, E. hastatus*
of the amplified Ferocactus but for the priority of the E. kelkranus, E. iamellosus, E. lancifer, E. lexarzai, E. multiareola-
genus Echinofossulocactus Lawr. (1841). However, the tus, E. obvaliatus and E. piolacifiorus. A distinctive northern
relectotypification of Echinofossulocactus, and its place- geographical segment of this complex which may merit separ-
ate status is E. multicostatus, including E. lloydii, E. zacatecasensis
ment in the synonymy of Echinocactus (see preceding and 'E. erectocentrus'. E. sulphureus is perhaps only a yellow
paper by D . R. Hunt), removes this nomenclatural flowered form referable here. The poorly k n o w n E. ochotercnaus
'spanner in the works', and allows the combination may belong here too (cf. CSJGB 41:40. 1979).
Ferocactus subg. Stenocactus to be made here. Ferocactus phyllacanthus (Dietrich & Otto) N . P. Taylor,
For those w h o may wish to continue regarding the c o m b . n o v . Basionym: Echinocactus phyllacanthus Dietrich &
O t t o in Allg. Gartenz. 4: 201 (1836). Includes E. tricuspidatus.
orphaned Stenocacti as a genus in their own right, it
should be noted that Stenocactus (K. Schum.) Backeb. Ferocactus vaupelianus (Werderm.) N . P. Taylor, c o m b ,
n o v . Basionym: Echinocactus vaupelianus Werderm. in Notizbl.
& F. M. Knuth (1935), unless or until it is conserved,
Bot. Gart. Berlin 11: 273 (1931). Includes E. albatus hort. non
is not the correct generic name in view of the earlier, Dietrich.
but poorly known Brittonrosea Speg. (1923). And
whilst at first sight the 'typical' narrow-ribbed Steno- The following Echinocactus names were recorded as
cacti seem to form a distinctive group, there is, h o w - inadequately typified in my 'Commentary', and their
ever, E. coptonogonus Lcm. to consider, its broad ribs continued use is to be strongly discouraged: E. acro-
and areolar-glands providing a clear link with Fero- acanthus Stiebcr, E. anfractuosus Mart, ex PfeifE, E.
cactus (sens, str.), and leaving little doubt that both have dichroacanthus Mart, ex PfeifE, E.fiexispinus Salm-Dyck,
evolved from a common stock. E. gladiatus Link & Otto, E. grandicornis Lem., E.
The systematic position of the Stenocacti is more heteracanthus Muehlenpfordt, E. pentacanthus Lem., E.
easily settled than the question of h o w many species wippcrmannii Muehlenpfordt and E. xiphacanthus Miq.
this group should comprise. In my 'Commentary on
the genus Echinofossulocactus Lawr.' (CSJGB 41:35-42.
1979) I allowed six taxa to stand at specific rank while
admitting that two (E. multicostatus and E. sulphureus)
were very closely allied to the all-embracing E. cris-
patus complex. At present I am transferring only the
Nigel Taylor is completing a review of Ferocactus sens. lat.
four most reliable taxa to Ferocactus as species, preferring
for publication in a future issue of the Journal. He would
welcome good black and white photographs of any of the
*I have recently seen flowering cultivated plants that match
K. Schumann's description of this taxon and suggest its place- relevant species to illustrate his account. Ij you can help,
ment here; it is yet to be rediscovered in the wild. please write to him cjo the Editorial Office.

108
The Cactus and Succulent Journal of Great Britain
Volume 42(4): 109-110 (1980)

The identity of Austrocylindropuntia weingartiana

by Roberto Kiesling
Institute* de Botanica Darwinion
San Isidro, Prov. Buenos Aires, Argentina

In general, the Cactaceae are poorly represented in Backeberg did not preserve type material, but the
herbaria. This is due on the one hand to the difficulty of photograph (fig. 2) is very clear. Later, he transferred
drying the plants and the poor results obtained; and both O. shaferi and O. weingartiana to Cylindropuntia
on the other to the failure of many authors (e.g. Backe- and finally to Austrocylindropuntia.
berg, Buining, Rausch, Ritter . . .) to understand the In my opinion, A. shaferi and A. weingartiana are one
true significance and usefulness of herbarium specimens and the same species. I have twice collected material in
in general and type specimens in particular. Britton, the province of Jujuy which matches Britton & Rose's
Rose and their collaborators carefully preserved this type and description and Backeberg's photograph. I
kind of documentary evidence, so that it is possible to have also collected material of another Backeberg
check or amplify their descriptions and even to correct species, A. humahuacana (Backeb.) Backeb., from its
their mistakes. type locality in Jujuy, and believe it to be just an
The example which follows shows that a species ecological form of A. shaferi. W h e n the three species
which has remained unknown for many years can be are united, we are able to establish the following key
identified by examination of the type specimen and a and synonymy, completing the description with floral
careful reading of the original description. data from m y collection:
In 1919 Britton & Rose gave the first description of
Opuntia shaferi from N . Argentina (prov. Jujuy): KEY
1. Stems completely covered with hairs; spines less than
'Plants in clusters of 2-4, erect, about 3 dm. high; joints is mm. long A. vestita
terete, 2.5 to 3.5 cm. in diameter, elongated, very spiny; 1. Stems with some hairs on the juvenile growth only; spines
tubercles low, often indistinct; leaves deciduous, 6 mm. long; 10-50 mm. long:
areoles I cm. apart or less, circular, white-felted; glochids 2. Spines up to 15, covering the stems, 3-5 cm. long,
numerous, whitish from the upper margin of the areole; spines usually reddish A. shaferi var. shaferi
about 6 at an areole, brownish, acicular, often 4 to 5 cm. long 2. Spines few, weak, up to 1 cm., usually whitish
and associated with long white hairs; flowers not known; fruit A. shaferi var. humahuacana
globular, about 2 cm. in diameter, bearing numerous large
areoles, the areoles white-felted, with glochids and hairs but no Austrocylindropuntia shaferi (Britton & Rose)
spines; seeds turgid, pointed at base, 4 mm. long. Backeb. in Cact. Succ. J. Amer. 23 :i4 (1951).
'Collected by J. A. Shafer among stones between Purma-
maria [Purmamarca] and Tumbaya, Argentina, February 6, Opuntia shaferi Britton & Rose, The Cact. 1: 72 (1919).
1917 (no. 90). T y p e : Argentina, Jujuy, between Purmamarca and
'Nearest O. vestita but less cespitose, taller and larger, and Tumbaya, 6 Feb. 1917, Shafer 90 (US, holo.; K,
with fertile fruit.' iso.!).
A duplicate (isotype) of Shafer 90 is in the Kew Cylindropuntia shaferi (B. & R.) Backeb., in Backeb. &
Herbarium (fig. 1). F. M. Knuth, Kaktus-ABC, 119 (1935).
In August 1935, Backeberg (Blatter fur Kakteen- Opuntia weingartiana Backeb., Blatter f. Kaktecnf.
forschung 1935 pt. 8) described another new species, 1935 pt. 8, sine pag. (1935). Type (not preserved):
O. weingartiana, and illustrated it with a photograph: S. Bolivia, 3000 m., collector not stated.
Cylindropuntia weingartiana (Backeb.) Backeb. in Backeb.
'Erect, candelabrum-like, young shoots conical, becoming & F. M. Knuth, Kaktus-ABC, 119 (1935).
reddish grey below and up to 5 cm. diam. New growths
1.5-2.5 cm. diam., fresh green, slightly tuberculate. Ca. 3-5 Austrocylindropuntia weingartiana (Backeb.) Backeb., in
stout central spines, up to 6 cm. long, red to pale brown, Cact. Succ. J. Amer. 23:14 (1951).
usually bent sideways or upwards. Glassy white glochids from
the round, white-felted areoles, glochids later yellow. Height of var. shaferi
groups up to 50 cm. Shoots later resembling Op. Rauppiana, DESCRIPTION. Plants forming mounds up to 30 cm. high and
but at first white-haired. Flowers unknown. Fruit carmine. 15 cm. diam., stems 2-20, branching near soil level, ascending
Occurrence: South Bolivia at ca. 3000 m.' cylindric, 2.5-3 cm. diam., dark green; tubercles low, frequently
indistinct, irregular; areoles 1 cm. or less apart, circular, white-
*Member of the Carrera del Investigador of the Consejo felted ; glochids numerous, prominent, whitish, from upper edge
Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas, Republic of of areole. Leaves conical, 6 mm. long, dark green, caducous.
Argentina. Work carried out at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Spines numerous, 10-15, unequal, varying from 1-5 cm. long
Kew, during the tenure of a CONICET scholarship abroad. at one areole, acicular, flexible, reddish brown to whitish; hairs
Translated by D. R. Hunt. few to several (5-20), 0.5-2 cm. long, white, caducous.

109
Fig. I (left), part of the isotype specimen of Opuntia shaferi (Shafer 90) in the Kew Herbarium. Fig. 2 (right), a reproduction of the
original illustration of O. weingartiana Backeb. in Blatter f. Kakteenf. 1935[8].

Flowers arising at upper areoles. Receptacle globose, 1.5-2 cm. F. M. Knuth, Kaktus-ABC, 119, 411 (1935). Type
long and in diam., green, with numerous areoles bearing hairs (not preserved): 'In regione limitanca Argcntino-
and glochids but no spines. Perianth rotate with few (c. 20)
segments, the outer smaller, greenish red, the inner 2 cm. long, Boliviana, in vallibus', collector not stated.
broad, shining deep red. Stamens relatively few (20-30), 1.6 cm. Austrocyliitdropuiitia humahuacana (Backeb.) Backeb. in
long, filaments and anthers yellow. Oi'ary globose, 0.8 cm. Cact. Succ. J. Amer. 23:13 (1951).
diam.; style cylindric, a little longer than the stamens, creamy
yellow; stigma with about 4-5 short, obtuse, papillose, green Differs from var. shaferi only in the stems 3-4 cm. diam. and
lobules. fewer (up to 5), shorter (1 cm. long) and less dense, whitish
Fruits globose, 2 cm. diam., half-dry, carmine red, caducous spines.
when ripe; umbilicus flat, clear light brown; pulp white. Seeds MATERIAL STUDIED. Argentina, prov. Jujuy: near Humahuaca
10-30, pyriform, 2 mm. long, 1.3 mm. diam., smooth, yellow- at c. 3000 m.s.m., Feb. 1978, Kiesling 2514 (SI).
brown, with apical hilum and a prominent slightly paler dorsal
line. Known only from the environs of Humahuaca,
FURTHER MATERIAL STUDIED. Argentina, prov. Jujuy: Churqui usually in the shade of thickets formed by Prosopis
Aguada, Dec. 1967, Kiesling 28 (LP); depto. Santa Catalina, ferox. In cultivation, the variety retains its character,
Quebrada de Toqueros, Jan. 1969, Kiesling s.n. (LP).
DISTRIBUTION. In S. Bolivia and N. Argentina (Jujuy), from unlike the type variety which produces somewhat
the Quebrada de Toqueros to Cajas in the north to Purma- smaller spines, though otherwise readily distinguishable.
marca, between 1500-3 500 ni.s.m.
Acknowledgements
The fruits are not dehiscent, except insofar as they I am grateful to the Director, Royal Botanic Gardens,
break up as they rot on the ground. I have not seen the
Kew, for the use of herbarium and library facilities
seeds carried away by ants, as is common with other
during 1979 and to D . R. Hunt for his assistance in the
fruits.
preparation of this paper.
var. humahuacana (Backeb.) Kiesling, c o m b , et
stat. n o v . A revision of the genus Pterocactus by Dr. Kiesling will be
Cylindropuntia humahuacana Backeb. in Backeb. & published in the Journal next year.

110
The Cactus and Succulent Journal of Great Britain
Volume 42(4): i n 112(1980)

A new variety of Ceropegia rupicola

by N.P. Taylor
Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew, Richmond, Surrey

Ceropegia rupicola Dcfl. var. stictantha N . P.

Taylor, var. n o v . , a var. rupicola corolla brcviorc at
superne latiorc tubo angustiorc lobis inter sc latius
hiantibus, colore crcmco brunneo-kcrmesino-maculato
distincta. Typus: Cult. Hort. Bot. Reg. Kew. (accn.
no. 409-77.03145), orig. coll. Yemen Arab Republic,
3 km. N . of Al Qa'idah (on road to Dhi Sufal), 1700 m.,
4 August 1977, A. Radcliffe-Smith & Henchie 4437
(K, holo); the same locality, 28 August 1977, Wood
1874 (K); 32 km. N . of Ta'izz on road to Sana'a, 1976,
Lavranos & Newton 13109 (K) (distributed in cultivation
under I.S.I. 1134, see Walker in Asclcpiadaccae 19:
18-21, fig. 3. 1980).

Ceropegia rupicola was discovered and named by the

French botanist Dcflers, who collected the type plant

Geographical distribution of the two varieties of Ceropegia

rupicola.

near Manakhah, N . Yemen, in May 1887. Deflcrs also

found his new species further to the south near Hayfan,
and again to the east of Aden. During the 1890's
Schwcinfurth collected in S. Arabia and visited the
Manakhah area, where he obtained C. rupicola from
two more localities, sending living material back to
Berlin. These plants flowered and were studied and
figured by Karl Schumann (sec Monatsschr. Kaktccnk.
9:168-71. 1899).
Recently J. R. I. W o o d has recollected this species
in the vicinity of Hayfan, and two new localities have
been found: one to the northeast of Manakhah, the
other northwest of Ibb (Smith & Henchie 4495). The
above eight collections seem to be of the same taxon
(i.e. var. rupicola), characterized by erect then twining
succulent stems, bearing heart-shaped to lanceolate
leaves and clusters of large deep brownish-crimson
flowers. In cultivated material of Radcliffe-Smith &
Henchie 4495 at Kew, and to judge from Schumann's
figure (loc. cit.), the corolla-lobes of this plant seem to
open (separate) relatively little.
Flowers of C. rupicola var. rupicola (left) and var. stictantha
(right). The new variety named here was found near Al

III
 var. rupicola var. stictantha
Floral characters R-S. & H. 4495 R-S. & H. 4437
corolla:
colour dark brownish-crimson, basal creamy-white (greenish at tips of
2-3 mm. white, dark spotted lobes and base) spotted dark
brownish-crimson
length 45-47 mm. 35-40 mm.
diam. at widest part of lobes 12 mm. 15 mm.
length, apical connate part of
lobes 5-6 mm. 3-4 mm.
diam. of openings between lobes c. 4-5 mm. c. 6.5 mm.*
length, unexpanded part of tube 12 mm. 13 mm.
diam. at base 7 mm. 6.5-7 mm.
calyx-lobes:
length 5 mm. 3 mm.
pedicels:
length/diam. 6x2 mm. 4x1.5 mm.

Table comparing flowers of C. rupicola vars. rupicola and stictantha. Data from living material of A. Raddiffe-Smith & Heiichie 4495
and 4437 respectively. T h e illustration of Lavranos & Neii'ton 13109 in Walker, loc. cit., shows the flowers of var. stictantha opening
somewhat widerthan this.

Half-flowers of Ceropegia rupicola: A, var. rupicola, x 2; B, detail of var. rupicola, x 6; C, var. stictantha, x2; D, detail of var '
stictantha, x6. A and B from R-S. & H. 4495, C and D from R-S. & H. 4437. Note the hairy interior of the flowers of var. stictanth"
and the more robust inner corona-lobes. It is not known to what extent these features may vary in other populations. Disscctions
and drawings by Christabcl King.
Qa'idah in 1976 [Lavranos & Newton 13109) and then Though difficult to accomplish, a study of their respec-
at another locality a little to the west in 1977 (R-S. & H. tive pollintators in habitat might prove very interesting.
4437, type; Wood 1874). The accompanying illustrations, I have named C. rupicola var. stictantha in the hope of
and that published by Walker (loc. cit.) clearly indicate drawing attention to its divergent characteristics,
the differences in flower coloration between vars. especially since it is now much more common in
rupicola and stictantha, but perhaps this conspicuous cultivation than the type variety—apparently the reverse
feature is not as significant as the marked divergence in of the situation in the wild.
corolla shape and degree of separation of the lobes
(sec table). It is conceivable that this divergent pair arc Acknowledgements
in the process of speciating in response to different I am grateful to Mr. David Field and Mr. J. R. I. W o o d
pollinators, but examination of their coronal morpho- for helpful discussion, and to Mr. H. K. Airy Shaw for
logy suggests that they still belong in the same species. supplying the Latin diagnosis.

112
The Cactus and Succulent Journal of Great Britain
Volume 42(4): 113-116 (1980)

The Society's 1980 Seed Distribution:

A Germination Report (Cacti only)
Compiled by David Hunt
The annual Seed Distribution is one of our principal Bowers standard formula soilless sowing and potting
services to members. Apart from being one of the compost in 2-inch BEF pots, with the top few m m . of
most enjoyable ingredients of the hobby, raising from compost shaken through a 2 m m . sieve. The pots were
seed is something to be encouraged as a contribution to soaked in warm water and the seed pressed into the
conservation. It saves importing wild plants, relieving surface but not covered. The contents of one packet,
pressure on the natural populations, and it increases the minus fragments, was sown in each pot which had
chances for threatened species surviving in cultivation. been pre-labelled with the order number from the list.
Each year the Society distributes over 100,000 seeds Apart from the Society seed, some 50 other species
and it seems desirable that we should monitor the from other sources were sown for general comparison.
results to sec that they are satisfactory both as to Plastic trays containing 28 pots each were covered with
germination and as to identification of species. This sheets of glass and remained in a centrally heated room
year, therefore, assisted by Margaret Johnson and at Z | Z 68 0 F (20°C) without additional heat (the propaga-
Nigel Taylor, I sowed samples of nearly all the Cac- tor having failed!), until removed to the greenhouse
taceae offered, omitting only the two common species in early summer.
of Cereus and the mixed Haagcocereus. The report Germination figures were recorded on several dates
which follows is concerned simply with success and and the totals recorded up to 1 October are given in
failure in germination under ordinary conditions, and Table 1. The seedlings received practically no attention
includes observations from members who have answered in the greenhouse and several have been lost through
editorial requests for data in the two previous Journal scorching or desiccation. A top dressing of fine grit
issues. Later, Nigel and I hope to be able to comment was added to about half the pots to conserve moisture
on the naming of the plants raised. As stated already, and prevent the growth of moss, etc., and the glass
we sowed cacti only this year, but hope to try a similar sheets have been left in place to keep up humidity and
experiment for the 'other succulents' to be offered by exclude pests.
the Society next year. Most varieties germinated within 1-4 weeks of
sowing, and 9 0 % of the total seedlings after six months,
Distribution procedure 370, appeared within six weeks. Assuming that from
Seed is mainly purchased by the Society in lots of iooo 95 packets there should have been 950 seeds in all (10
from commercial sources. Choice and ordering are the per packet), this represents an overall germination rate
responsibility of the Hon. Seed Purchasing Officer, of only 39% or 3.9 per packet. From 17 of our 95
Dr. Terry Smale. Volunteers then divide the seed into packets no seed germinated at all, although other seed-
individually labelled packets. Society Chairman Bill raisers had some germination with 10 of these items,
Maddams, who for many years supervised the seed- and the Tephrocactus, no. 271 should probably have
packeting, says that as a rule each packet should contain been prc-trcated by chilling. The individual results are
10 seeds which, given a satisfactory percentage germina- listed in the table on pp. 115-6.
tion and reasonable skill on the part of the raiser, will Low germination rates were obtained with several
lead to the establishment of as many plants as most species which grow well from fresh seed, like Noto-
growers will have room for, if not a surplus to give cactus leninghausii, where we obtained virtually 100%
away or exchange. A Seed List and Order Form arc germination from seed harvested from a cultivated
sent to members with the February issue of the Journal, plant in 1979 and sown under the same conditions at
which also contains descriptive notes for each species the same time. The conclusion that the Society's seed
offered. It is now the Society's policy to record any was not fresh, and had lost its viability, is inescapable.
field-collectors' numbers or other source data received The same explanation can probably be applied to most
with the seed. Seed orders are handled by the Society's of the other failed items and stalcness of the seed may
Hon. Seed Distributor, Mrs. Isobel Boote. largely account for the low average germination of
39%. a much lower figure than we would consider
Editor's methods and results desirable. Only 37 of the 95 packets yielded five or
For this report, two packets of each of 95 varieties were more seedlings. In many packets, however, we found
obtained. One packet was sown in March and one kept less than 10 whole, filled seeds. W e found little evidence,
for reference purposes, help in verification and poten- however, that the carefully packed seeds had been
tial SEM-work. As a sowing medium, we used J. Arthur crushed in the post.

113
 That one should not be too hasty in throwing out 'I must thank you for restoring m y faith in cactus-
seeds which do not come up within a month or so was raising from seed and I shall continue to obtain seeds
demonstrated by several late-starters in our lot, notably from CSSGB and carry out further experiments with
no. 230 Lobivia larae and no. 243 Matucana madisoniorum. vermiculite.'
Seedlings of some fifteen species germinated more than T. c. DUNN remarks that 'the percentage of seeds
six weeks after sowing. germinating has been very much higher this year than
it has in any of the previous years with GB seeds', but
Observations by other m e m b e r s 'still not so high as I have obtained from many commer-
At the date of going to press, reports had been received cial suppliers, although these seeds are, of course, very
from twelve members and their analyses are incorpor- much more expensive'. Mr. Dunn's sowing method is
ated in the table. The results are consistent with our own, as follows: 'Seeds were germinated in Levington com-
overall germination rates of 18-45% being obtained, post diluted with much gravel and coarse sand. Each
with an average of 3.6 seedlings per packet from the packet of seed was scattered on the surface of the mix-
total of 296 packets sown. ture in a 2-inch pot. I should say that I had put a little
Several members recorded the number of seeds in cotton wool in the bottom of each pot and pulled a
some or all of the packets they received. The average little through the drainage holes. The full pots were
(51 packets counted) was 10.7. JOHN FISHER recorded placed on a piece of capillary matting dipping into
two packets with 19 seeds in each, and got 18 seedlings water and the whole lot placed in a Humex "Bigtop"
from one of these (no. 223 Gytnnocalycium schicken- propagator at 85°F. They arc still there (30 September)'.
dantzii). Junior member IAN HOWELL got 18 seedlings IAN ECKFORD confesses to treating his seeds 'in a most
from one packet of another item, no. 214 Espostoa nana, cavalier manner', depositing them unceremoniously on
and the packeters also gave me generous quantities of a compost of equal parts John Innes no. 2 and gravel
these two items, with 14 seedlings germinating from and soaked by Chinosol. 'The temperature varied from
each. These results were exceptional, and very few 70-85°F but germination 'was best in the lower seventies.
other species averaged better than five seedlings per Due to neglect the soil dried out frequently, also one or
packet. two seedlings.'
Although, as already implied, we consider the overall E. E. T. HOBDAY planted his seeds in vermiculite and
germination figures disappointing and unsatisfactory, watered with a nutrient solution. He remarks that 'it
some recorders commented favourably on this year's may be of interest that seed of Austrocactus patagonicus
results, including John Fisher and Ian Howell, influ- from the 1979 distribution failed to germinate that
enced perhaps by the performance of nos. 214 and 223 year but was kept on in 1980 and one plant germinated.
already mentioned! John Fisher says, 'I sowed seed from It is coming on very slowly'.
four different sources and had most success from GB R. j . HUMPHREY modestly describes his skill at seed-
seed.' Ian Howell had his faith in seed-raising restored: raising as 'virtually zero' and says 'by my standards this
'I have been growing cacti now for five years, obtaining year's batch of Society seed is by far the most successful
them as small plants from nurseries and specialists. M y I have ever sown'. He also used 2-inch pots, but 4 5 %
first attempts at seed-raising were a disaster and subse- John Innes Seed Compost, 35% medium gravel and
quent attempts were no better. The few seeds which 20% Bedford sand in a propagator 'at about 7 5 ° C
germinated mostly died, due to m y ignorance, since (surely, 7 5 T again;!). His happy little family suffered
the abundant articles on raising cacti from seed each some untimely bereavements on pricking-out and
gave different methods so that I simply became con- when two healthy seedlings of no. 211, Echinofossulo-
fused. From these attempts I managed to keep alive cactus sp. 'were hit by a low-flying hammer' (a cruder
two seedlings of Harrisia martinii and Opuntia rufida, six method of despatching Echinofossulocactus than that
epiphyllums and a few others from mixed packets. I described on pp. 105-7 of this issue!).
vowed never to buy another packet of cactus seeds MIKE JONES considered his results 'very disappointing
again. and I cannot put this down solely to my methods since
'Then, on joining the CSSGB I received a seed list seeds from other sources did quite well'. He also
from which ten packets could be ordered free of complains that 'most of the Society's Top Men seem
charge. This I did, for what had I got to lose; Also, I to be more interested in cacti than other succulents and
wanted to experiment with vermiculite since my prob- this seems to be reflected in the seed list which was
lems had stemmed from watering: too much and sadly lacking in really interesting succulents, e.g.
seeds and seedlings rotted, too little and they died euphorbias, caudiciforms, e t c ' Without doubt, the
through dehydration.' Society's Top Man on seed-raising, Dr. Terry Smale,
Ian Howell sowed his seeds in damp vermiculite in would answer that the reason why the list is predomin-
2-inch pots 'above a paraffin heater at a temperature of antly cacti is simply that seed of worthwhile 'other
70°C' (surely he means 70°F=!) and didn't water again succulents' is very much scarcer, and as a result their
until well after germination. His success, like ours, was propagation by cuttings is often more usual.
moderate, as shown in Table 1, but he concludes: LES PEARCY found that 'this year the success rate has

114
been very good with a few exceptions'. He notes germination rate would be liable to put up the cost per
difficulty with no. 204, Coryphantha grccnwoodii 'only packet very considerably. All this still will not ensure
two remain but do not appear to have a growing point'; the delivery of the seeds in good condition, but the
no. 208, Echinocereus hngisetus 'very attractive seedlings, Seed Distributor, Isobel Boote, has given a lot of
quite slow'; disappointing germination amongst the thought to packaging and makes it as difficult as
mammillarias (our M. barbata failed too, but M. baxterana possible for the Post Office to crush the life out of even
and M. nivosa were all right); and the first time out of the most can't-wait-to-germinate seed before it reaches
five sowings that any seeds of Neowerdermannia chilensis the grower.
have germinated. Finally, looking on the brighter side, 300 or so
seedlings (allowing for those which succumbed to mal-
General Conclusions treatment and various infantile ailments) are not bad
Although the results presented above do not amount value for an outlay of (95—10=) 85 X 5p = ^4.25 + i2p
to a thorough-going survey, the generally comparable postage, i.e. about i.5p each, especially as this does not
results obtained by different growers using a variety of take into account of the entertainment value of watch-
methods suggests that the viability of the seed, rather ing for germination, the first spine and so on! If you
than the method, is to be blamed for the relatively poor have not tried seed-raising, or have been disappointed
results, and the quantity of seed supplied consequently with the results, do try and try again.
insufficient to yield a reasonable number of seedlings
from each packet. Allowing for losses after germina- Key to Recorders (see table)
tion, the grower may reasonably want to get say half a Members whose data are listed in the table below are:
dozen plants per packet from which to keep some for David Hunt (DH), Clive Bird (CB), T. C. D u n n (TD),
the collection (and, hopefully, further seed-production) Ian Eckford (IE), John Fisher (JF), Bob Hollingsbee
and some to give away or barter. O n this basis, an (BH), E. E. T. Hobday (EH), Ian Howell (IH), R. J.
average of 10 seeds per packet may not be quite enough, Humphrey (RH), Mike Jones (MJ), "William Morris
and the Society's officers have already agreed on the ( W M ) , Ray Pearce (RP) and Les Pearcy (LP).
desirability of increasing the number to 15. W e are Postscript
also conscious of the need to sec that what goes into the Since the report was compiled, data have also been
packets is whole, filled seeds and not just fragments or received from: J. L. Brooker, F. W . Chalkley, M .
extraneous material. The desirability of improving the Evans, M. A. Gem and W . J. Walker. Their data were
quality of the seeds is self-evident, and ways of reporting generally in accord with the other figures, but when
back to, and encouraging the suppliers, will be looked added to the totals in the table they reduce the overall
into, although naturally, the introduction of stringent average seedlings per packet to 3.4 (total no. of packets
precautions to ensure seed meets a minimum acceptable 355)-

No. Name Ir itials of Re c o r d e r / S e e d s G e r m i n a t e d Totals No.

DH C B T D IE JF BH EH IH RH MJ W M RP LP G e r m ' d Pkts

192 A c a n t h o c a l y c i u m variiflorum 1 0 1 2 3 192

193 Ariocarpus furfuraceus 0 0 0 2 193
194 A s t r o p h y t u m capricorne var. minor 8 0 8 2 194
195 o r n a t u m var. mirbellii 7 5 5 17 3 195
1 4 11 3 196
196 senile 6
197 B u i n i n g i a brevicylindrica HU167 3 0 4 4 6 17 5 197
133 Cereus hexagonus 3 3 1 133
134 j a ma ca ru
— 134
198 Copiapoa aurata KK1397
—
6 3
—
9
—
2 198
199 cupreata KK1382 2 1 3 2 199
200 dealbata var. d e m i n u t a KK1383 5 2 0 7 3 200
201 l o n g i s p i n a KK1135 3 0 3 2 201
202 pendulina KK1391 3 3 1 202
203 C o r y p h a n t h a bergeriana 5 10 9 4 4 32 5 203
204 greenwoodii 5 3 2 3 5 18 5 204
205 Echinocereus a d u s t u s 0 2 5 1 2 10 5 205
206 dasyacanthus 0 3 1 0 4 4 206
207 gentryi 4 2 3 9 3 207
208 longisetus 1 4 0 5 10 4 208
209 subinermis 3 3 6 2 209
210 Echinofossulocactus multicostatus 4 4 1 210
211 sp. 4 5 3 2 14 4 211
212 Echinopsis mamillosa KK719 1 0 0 2 3 4 212
141 Erdisia ayacuchensis KK1274 0 0 0 2 141
213 Escobaria dasyacantha 3 8 4 15 3 213
214 Espostoa nana KK301 14 5 5 18 7 49 5 214
215 Eriosyce ausseliana KK1327 4 0 3 7 3 215
216 sp. (Los Loros) KK1322 1 1 2 2 216

115
No. Name Initials of R e c o r d e r / S e e d s G e r m i n a t e d Totals No.

DH C B T D IE JF BH EH IH RH MJ W M RP LP Germ d Pkts

143 Eulychnia p r o c u m b e n s KK1284 6 4 10 2 143

217 ritteri KK95 4 3 2 1 4 14 5 217
218 Ferocactus g l a u c e s c e n s 10 6 4 20 3 218
219 G y m n o c a c t u s beguinii var. (Paila) 0 4 4 2 219
220 G y m n o c a l y c i u m castellanosii 5 2 3 2 12 4 220
221 friedrichii 4 2 6 2 221
222 pugionacanthum 5 2 5 12 3 222
223 schickendantzii var. Lau 473 14 8 18 9 49 4 223
224 spegazzinii 2 1 3 2 224
225 Haageocereus horrens KK325 3 3 6 2 225
149 mixed s p p . 149
226 Lobivia charazanensis
—
6 2 8 10 9
—
35
—
5 226
227 chilensis 3 4 6 0 13 4 227
228 corbula KK1539 3 2 7 0 12 4 228
229 haageana 1 5 6 2 229
230 larae 4 2 9 2 17 4 230
231 zecheri var. fungiflora 5 1 6 2 0 14 5 231
232 Loxanthocereus eulalianus KK452 7 7 1 232
233 Mammillaria barbata 0 3 8 8 0 19 5 233
234 baxteriana 6 6 0 12 3 234
235 centraliplumosa 5 8 3 16 3 235
236 cowperae 3 2 5 2 236
237 eriacantha Lau 1104 11 4 6 1 22 4 237
238 guelzowiana 2 3 3 8 3 238
239 mundtii 5 6 3 14 3 239
240 nivosa 10 8 7 8 0 33 5 240
241 xaltianguensis 10 2 4 7 5 3 4 35 7 241
242 M a t u c a n a intertexta KK1216 5 5 4 14 3 242
243 m a d i s o n i o r u m KK456 8 4 12 2 243
244 M e l o c a c t u s alpescens KK1047 8 5 6 4 23 4 244
245 longispinus 6 5 2 13 3 245
162 Mila cereoides KK1404 0 0 1 162
246 Neoporteria aerocarpa var. fulva 11 5 10 8 34 4 246
247 calocephala 3 4 7 2 247
248 cephalophora 3 5 8 2 248
249 deherdtiana KK114 7 2 5 7 1 22 5 249
250 glaucescens 6 2 3 11 3 250
251 p a u c i s p i n a KK348 3 1 5 9 3 251
252 polyrhaphis 5 6 8 19 3 252
253 N e o w e r d e r m a n n i a chilensis KK625 0 0 0 1 2 3 5 253
254 N o t o c a c t u s brevihamatus HU43 0 0 1 0 1 4 254
255 herteri 2 0 1 3 6 4 255
189 leninghausii 3 3 1 189
256 warasii 3 1 1 4 9 4 256
257 werdermannianus 0 0 0 0 3 257
258 O b r e g o n i a denegrii 7 4 4 4 5 24 5 258
259 Oreocereus hendriksenianus
var. densilanatus KK1117 5 6 11 2 259
260 Oroya acollana KK578 3 6 3 12 3 260
261 citriflora KK1463 3 0 2 3 8 4 261
262 Parodia hausteiniana 2 2 1 262
263 maxima KK691 3 3 6 1 13 4 263
264 pluricentralis 6 1 7 2 264
265 tilcarensis 1 1 1 265
178 sp. (Pazna) KK967 5 5 1 178
266 Pfeiffera ianthothele 5 1 4 3 0 4 17 6 266
267 Philippicereus castaneus KK197 4 1 6 11 3 267
268 Pilocopiapoa Solaris
var. luteispina KK1239 2 2 4 8 3 268
190 Rebutia fiebrigii 4 4 1 190
269 gracilitlora var. borealis 0 0 1 269
270 narvaecense 1 0 1 2 270
191 S e t i e c h i n o p s i s mirabilis 0 0 1 191
271 T e p h r o c a c t u s chilensis var. rubra KK1501 0 0 0 2 271
272 T h e l o c a c t u s bicolor (Huizache) 0 1 7 5 13 4 272
273 flavidispinus 3 2 2 7 3 273
274 wagnerianus 0 0 5 0 5 4 274
275 sp. (Rayones) Lau 744 0 0 0 1 1 4 275
187 Trichocereus spachianoides 8 8 1 187
276 T u r b i n i c a r p u s klinkerianus 1 4 1 4 1 2 13 6 276
277 Weberbauerocereus longicomus 7 6 13 2 277
278 W e i n g a r t i a saintpieana KK1573 0 2 0 5 7 4 278

Number of seedlings germinated 370 40 129 27 117 86 71 39 23 9 22 51 71 1055

Number of packets s o w n 95 18 35 10 26 19 16 10 10 5 10 14 28 296

A v e r a g e seedlings per packet 3.9 2.2 3.7 2.7 4.5 4.5 4.4 3.9 2.3 1.8 2.2 3.6 2.5 3.6

116
 diameter upwards. Here then was a stable, ecologically
Notes from Members healthy state of affairs. Happy in this knowledge, I
Nomenclature of fasciated plants
continued myjourney southwards to Bolivia, and once
from Paul Heath
again due to the generous hospitality of Roberto
In the May issue some notes by Len Newton claimed Vasquez and his family, and that of Edgar Aguilar also,
that Article 71 of the International Code of Botanical I was able to make some very interesting forays into
Nomenclature forbids the use of Latin names for the Bolivian cactus habitats.
monstrosc or cristate plants. Unfortunately this is no Alas, here in Bolivia I found things changed since
longer so because in the latest (1978) edition of the Code my previous visit and experienced quite conclusively
Article 71 has been abolished. In its place the current the devastating effect on the populations of the 'desir-
ICBN simply has a note which reads: 'Article 71, able' species, of their selective removal solely for the
dealing with monstrosities, was deleted by the Lenin- purpose of languishing in someone's greenhouse. For
grad Congress, 1975'. me, the most dramatic example was near the small
Paul Heath town of Epizana, where the road to Sucre leaves the
9 Hazeldene Meads Cochabamba to Santa Cruz road. On my previous
Brighton trip to Bolivia with John Medway in December 1978,
Sussex BNi 5LR. we had visited this very same site, and even in the
gathering dusk we had not had any problem at all in
Yes, and the Editors had overlooked the deletion of Art. 71 finding good, clean specimens of Sulcorehutia bicoloris-
until it was too late too. The problem with Art. 71 was how pina to photograph; plants of 4 and even 5-inches in
to define monstrosities and hence where to draw the line anddiameter were all over the tops of the large granite
decide which names to reject. Whether or not to treat cristates
boulders, and the same boulders were also the home
etc. as forms or cultivars is now simply a matter of taxonomic to a host of other plants, being completely clothed in
judgement or preference. We would recommend the use of vegetation, including numerous Tillandsias (another
cultivar rank in any instance where the plant is propagated group of plants of interest to me). On the occasion of
artificially, i.e. perpetuated by the agency of Man.—Eds. my second visit in May 1980 to try and obtain better
photos of the plants, even in bright sunshine of a
Conservation and the Vicious Circle winter's afternoon, we had to spend almost an hour
from Paul Sherville searching for a Sulcorehutia worthy of being photo-
I should like to back up Werner Reppenhagen's plea graphed. The rocks, once clothed in vegetation, were
in the August issue for 'Conservation by propagation', now completely bare, yes—the Tillandsias also have
and to add from my own experience that it is not only their followers—and there were only some eleven
in Mexico that cacti are endangered by selective collect- rather scruffy plants, no seedlings, and more impor-
ing. Like another contributor to the August issue, Will tantly, no nice damp niches amongst the other vegeta-
Tjaden, I attended the IOS Congress in Mexico last tion where any seed produced by the remaining plants
March, and witnessed the avarice of some participants could germinate and develop.
(not, I understand, IOS members) for whom the Much further south, between Tarija and Narvaez,
temptation to own habitat material was so great that there are many cacti. In places, they could even be
they flouted the 'no collecting' rule of the Congress, considered to be the dominant members of the flora.
ignored rebukes from IOS President John Donald and, We visited one site where a distinctive and beautiful
of course, abused the hospitality of our Mexican hosts. cactus was discovered by Walter Rausch not many
Naturally, the plants they collected were not the years ago, and introduced to cultivation where it
myriad opuntias or myrtillocacti which clothed the gained immediate popularity. This particular species
landscape but the small rare species like Pelecyphora grows in association with Lobivia tiegeliana near the
aselliformis, small mammillarias, thelocacti, and the like. base of some low hills in a rather stony, sandy soil. We
At the end of the Congress, I left Mexico and made found the Lobivia quite readily, although further travels
my way to Peru, and all thoughts of the events in to other habitats revealed that this particular population
Mexico were erased from my mind as I focussed my was considerably reduced in both density and quality
camera on the large stands of Espostoa ritteri, E. lanata, of the specimens remaining. However, after some
Weberbauerocereus longicomus, large specimens of Melo- three hours of diligent searching, the habitat produced
cactus and of Borzicactus (Matucana) intertextus, many not one single specimen of the plant we were particu-
showing flowers and fruits. Here were the plants that larly looking for. The habitat is not very large in
I had used to illustrate a talk at the Congress, all growing extent, and there is not much other vegetation to
happily, many absolutely exuding health, others near impede the search. The plant; Rebutia (Aylostera)
the end of their lives were dying, even decaying, often heliosa.
also supporting large populations of Mealy Bugs in By way of conclusion may I make some requests»
their final days; but also there were, in every possible If you are the proud owner of a habitat-collected
niche, seedlings from plants a few millimetres in Rebutia heliosa, do try to ensure that it stays alive. Try

117
to propagate from your specimen, or cross-pollinate it ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 28 March 1981
with another plant and produce some seed. At least this Preliminary programme details
will keep the species in cultivation, because, almost Venue: Pickard Motor Hotel, A217 Brighton Road,
certainly there will be no more imported plants avail- Burgh Heath, Surrey.
able. There will certainly be no more from the type
locality. I say the same to owners of Sulcorebutia Morning session: 10.00 Coffee on arrival. Plant Sales by
bicolorispina, although your task is less easy as this 'Pete and Ken'; 10.30-12.30 Illustrated programme
species is considerably more difficult to propagate. by Bill and Yvonne Tree.
My final message may, I fear, fall on stony ground: Lunch: 12.30-2.00. Available at the Hotel or local
do resist the temptation to acquire and own habitat- 'Happy Eater'.
collected plants. Why am I pessimistic; Because there Afternoon session: 2.00 Annual General Meeting; 4.00
is an element of status to habitat plants and it is human Tea, Plant Sales; 5.00 Meeting closes.
nature to attach even more status to owning something Further information from the Publicity Officer, Mrs. B.
which is scarce. As habitat plants become ever more Maddams, 26 Glenfield Road, Banstead, Surrey SMj 2DG,
difficult to acquire, so their acquisition will become of Tel. Burgh Heath 54036.
even more importance to some collectors . . . one of
life; s many vicious circles!
P. H. Sherville
51 Park Road
Enfield
Middx. EN3 6SR Branch Activities
Items for inclusion in the next Issue must
reach the Editors no later than 19 December.
Insecticides
Essex
from W. F. Maddams Secretary: F. Braun, 63 Heighams Road, East Ham E6 2JJ.
It may be helpful to indicate sources of supply in Meeting Place: Room A3 (film room), Little llford Comprehen-
sive School, Church Road, Manor Park, London E.12.
Britain for the insecticides listed in N. P. Davis's T i m e : 1st Saturday in month, 7 for 7.30 p.m.
valuable article (in CSJGB 42(3): 81-86). The majority Future events:
6 December Christmas Social Evening
of the organochlorine materials (Aldrin, Dieldrin, DDT
and Heptachlor) have been withdrawn from use be- North London
Secretary: Roger Day, 50 Admiral's Walk, Hoddesdon, Herts,
cause they have proved deleterious to wildlife, and tel. no. Hoddesdon (STD Code from London: 61) 69521.
parathion is not available to amateur growers because Meeting Place: Capel Manor Primary School, Bullsmoor
Lane, Enfield.
of its toxicity. Other materials are marketed as follows: T i m e : 3rd Friday in month, 7.30 p.m.
Future Events:
19 December Christmas Meeting
T y p e and Trade Name Source
North S u r r e y
A. Organochlorine Secretary: W. F. Maddams, 26 Glenfield Road, Banstead,
Chlordane Fisons Surrey SM7 2DG.
Dicofol PBI Meeting Place: Adult School, Benhill Avenue, Sutton.
Kelthane Murphy T i m e : 1st Tuesday in month, 7.45 p.m.
Endosulfan Boots The Branch's new venture with tha local Beekeepers—The
Gamma-BHC/Lindane Boots Carshalton Cactus and Honey Show—proved a very successful
Lindane occasion. The judges of the Branch's part of the Show, Mr. and
Gammacol Plant Protection Mrs. R. Holt, had great difficulty in making awards with such a
fine and large display of good condition plants. Of particular
B. Organophosphorous note was the Parodia class with most of the fine exhibits in
Demeton-Methyl Plant Protection six-inch pots. Dr. and Mrs. Smale were presented with the
Metasystox Boots Chelsea Award for the highest total points and also awards
Daratox Shell for the highest total points in both sections. The Chuter Cup
Dimethoate/Rogor Fisons for novices was shared jointly with Mr. Ellis and Mr. O'Connell
Fenthion/Lebaycid/ and Mrs. Leach won the Flora Award for her attractive minia-
Baycid/Baytex/ Bayer ture garden.
Mercaptophos
Malathion Murphy Future events:
Dichlorvos/Nogos 50EC Ciba-Geigy 2 December Members' slides
6 January 1981 New Year Party
C. Carbamates 3 February Branch AGM
Benomyl Du Pont W a r r i n g t o n & District
Carbamyl Boots, Union Ca bide Secretary: Mrs. D. Pritchard, 81 Birdwell Drive, Great Sankey,
Murvin Murphy Warrington, tel. no. Penketh (092572) 4699.
Meeting Place: Meeting Lane Leisure Centre, Penketh,
Warrington.
W. F. Maddams, M.Sc. A.Inst.P. The Branch's 2nd Annual Show was very successful and the
26 Glenfield Road Committee would like to thank all those who entered and
helped to make it a pleasant occasion. It is gratifying that the
Banstead display we staged at Southport Flower Show gained a Silver
Surrey SM7 2DG. Medal, not to say some new members.

118
 Annual General Meeting
In accordance with Rule 6, I hereby give notice that the Annual General Meeting of the Cactus and Succulent
Society of Great Britain will be held on Saturday, 28 March 1981, at the Pickard Motor Hotel, A217 Brighton
Road, Burgh Heath, Surrey, commencing at 2 p.m.
The attention of members is drawn to Rule 5, sections (d) and (e), which define the procedure to be followed
in the election of Officers and Council. The Rule requires that the several Vice-Presidents be elected annually
by a show of hands at the Annual General Meeting. The Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer
and members of Council to fill the vacancies resulting from the retirement of members who have completed
their three year term of office will be elected by postal ballot in the event of the number of nominations exceeding
the number of vacancies. Following the change in Rule 5 (d) made at the 1979 Annual General Meeting retiring
members of Council are ineligible for re-election for one year.
Nominations are therefore invited for the offices of Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and
three members of Council. These nominations must be in writing and must bear the signature of a proposer and
seconder and be accompanied by the written and signed consent of the person nominated. Such nominations
must be in the hands of the Honorary Secretary not less than nine weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting,
that is, not later than Friday, 23 January 1981.
The following are due to retire:—
Chairman Mr. W. F. Maddams "1 ,. .,, r
Honorary Secretary Mr. R. H. I. Read f .-•
Honorary Treasurer Mr. D. R. Hunt J
Members of Council Mr. D. Bowdery, Mr. L. Hurley, Mrs. B. Maddams
In the event of the number of nominations exceeding the number of vacancies, a ballot paper will be circulated
to paid-up members not less than six weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting.
R. H. I. READ
Honorary Secretary.

Future e v e n t s : Merseyside
10 D e c e m b e r Branch A G M , followed by a social even- J i m B o l t o n , Southview, 39 A l t c a r Road, Formby, Liverpool L37
ing at w h i c h 'Plant of the M o n t h ' trophies 8DR. T e l . no. Formby (07048) 73187. Open all day S u n d a y s ,
will be presented. advisable t o telephone for weekday visits. Large selection of
For copies of the 1981 programme, please contact Mrs. seedlings, etc., all at reasonable prices. No list.
Pritchard.
Wirral North W a l e s
S e c r e t a r y : Mrs. I. Boote, 110 M o u n t Pleasant Road, Wallasey, J o l l y ' s ( G . A . & M. A . C o o m b e s ) , G l a n r a f o n , T a l s a r n a u ,
Merseyside L45 5HU, tel. no. Wallasey (051639) 4305. Gwynedd LL47 6 Y D . T e l . Penrhyndeudraeth (076674) 643. Open
M e e t i n g P l a c e : T h e Grange, Grove Road, Wallasey. any time by a p p o i n t m e n t . No orders by p o s t ; no list. W a r m w e l -
T i m e : 3rd T h u r s d a y in m o n t h , 7.45-10.30 p.m. come t o holidaymakers—we are in the S n o w d o n i a National Park.

Derbyshire
Nursery List A b b e y B r o o k C a c t u s N u r s e r y , Old Hackney Lane, Matlock,
Derbyshire. Tel. no. Matlock (0629) 55360. O p e n every afternoon
Nurserymen and others who regularly offer 2-6 except Tuesday (closed all day). List free on request, s t a m p
appreciated. Mail order catalogue illustrated in c o l o u r lists over
plants or seeds for sale are listed below as a 1700 species of n u r s e r y - g r o w n cacti and other s u c c u l e n t plants.
service to members, but this does NOT imply
Nottinghamshire
the Society's approval or recommendation of C a r l t o n Forest C a c t i , Carlton Forest, Blyth Road, W o r k s o p ,
plants or other goods offered. Notts. S81 0TP. Tel. no. W o r k s o p (0909) 731642. A l m o s t always
open but please telephone t o avoid d i s a p p o i n t m e n t . S.A.E. for
North & South Yorkshire list. Mainly c a c t i , very few s u c c u l e n t s .
C r u c k C o t t a g e C a c t i ( D o r o t h y & Ronald W o o d ) , ClifT Road, W o o d s i d e Nurseries (Stuart Dixon), 173 Main St., B u r t o n
W r e l t o n , Pickering, North Yorkshire Y 0 1 8 8 P J . T e l . no. Picker- J o y c e , Notts. T e l . no. Burton Joyce (060231) 2142. Closed M o n -
ing (0751) 72042. Open daily except Sat. m o r n i n g . No lists. days, open 10-4.30 other days. S.A.E. for list. N u r s e r y - g r o w n
Nursery in garden setting. seedlings, specimen plants.
W h i t e s t o n e G a r d e n s L t d . , T h e Cactus H o u s e s , S u t t o n - u n d e r -
W h i t e s t o n e c l i f f e , Thirsk, North Yorkshire Y 0 7 2PZ. T e l . no. S o u t h H u m b e r s i d e & Lincolnshire
S u t t o n (08456) 467. Open daylight hours every day t h r o u g h o u t S o u t h f i e l d Nurseries (B. Goodey), Louth Road, Holton-le-Clay,
t h e year. Send 4 x 8 p stamps (UK) or 3 international postal reply Grimsby, S o u t h H u m b e r s i d e DN36 5HL. T e l . no. G r i m s b y
c o u p o n s for list. Everything for the c a c t o p h i l e ; plants, seeds, (0472) 822157. Open daily 10-5 (closed for l u n c h 12.30-1.30).
b o o k s , s u n d r i e s ; substantial stocks and extensive collection on Send s t a m p for list. S e e d - g r o w n c a c t i , L i t h o p s , s u c c u l e n t s .
view. Glenhirst C a c t i (N.C. &. S.A. Bell), S t a t i o n Road, S w i n e h e a d ,
O a k D e n e Nurseries, 10 Back Lane W e s t , Royston, Barnsley, near B o s t o n , Lines. T e l . no. S w i n e s h e a d (020582) 314. O p e n
Y o r k s h i r e S71 4SB. Tel. no. Royston (022670) 2253. Open every most days ('phone call advisable if travelling far t o ensure
day, A p r i l - S e p t . 9-6, O c t . - M a r c h 10-4 (closed for lunch 12.30- s o m e o n e available). S.A.E. for list. L i t h o p s , Epiphyllums
1.30). S.A.E. for list. Seed, plants, books and sundries. Asclepiadaceae.

119
Jumanery Cacti (June & Tom Jenkins), St. Catherine's Shires Mead Cactus Nursery (D. W. & C. E. Sargant) Hamp-
Lodge, Cranesgate Road,Whaplode St. Catherine, Nr. Spalding, reston Village. Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7LX. Tel. no. North-
Lines PE12 6SR. Tel. no. Holbeach St. Johns (040634) 373. bourne (02016) 3829. Not open Sundays and Mondays. List12p.
Open 9-5 Sunday-Friday, closed Saturday. S.A.E. for list Plants and seeds.

Norfolk Devon
Richard & Wendy Edginton, The Vines, 2 Green Man Lane, Phil Goodson, 1 Marsh Lane, Chudleigh, Newton Abbot,
Kirstead, Norwich, Norfolk NR15 1EP. Tel. no. Brooke (0508) Devon. Tel. no. Chudleigh (0626) 852309. Collection open, plants
58113. Open most mornings and weekends. S.A.E. for list. usually for sale. Between the scenic Teign Valley and Haldon
Seedling cactus plants 35p upwards. Hills, five miles from M5. 'Phone for directions and convenient
times.
Barleyfield Succulent Plant Nursery (Victor & Heather
Graham), Southburgh, Thetford, Norfolk. Tel. no. Dereham G. N. Short, Greenshaws, 7 Reabarn Road, Brixham, Devon
(0362) 820457. Nearly always open, but telephone call appre- TQ5 9DU. Tel. no. Brixham (08045) 2878. Open by appointment.
ciated. S.A.E. for list. 'Other' succulents, handmade plant pots. S.A.E. for list. The Devonia Collection of Cacti 4 Succulents;
over 4000 species. Surplus plants for sale or exchange.
Westfield Cacti (Ralph Northcott), 10 Shillingford Road,
Gloucestershire Alphington, Exeter, Devon. Tel. no. Exeter (0392) 56925. Nursery
W. G. Geissler, 1 Lyefleld Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham grown cacti and other succulents. S.A.E. for list. Open to
GL53 8BA. Tel. no. Cheltenham (0242) 517846. Open weekends visitors from 1 January 1981, 9.00 a.m. till dusk, by appointment.
and evenings, No list, no orders by post, but visitors very
welcome in Cotswold country. Cornwall
P. Strong, Green Mead, Green Lane, Chedworth, Cheltenham The Cactus Nursery (Mrs J. Osmond), Brandy Lane, Rosud-
GL54 4AR. Tel. no. Fossebridge (028572) 581. Surplus seed- geon, Penzance, Cornwall TR20 9QB. Tel. no. Germoe (073676)
raised plants. 2397. Open 9 till dusk, Spring Bank Holiday to end of September.
'Phone in winter. List 12p. Large selection succulents. Cornish
Bedfordshire cream teas June-Sept. incl.
A. & V . Parker, 31 Southill, Nr. Biggleswade, Beds. SG18 9HU.
Tel. no. Hitchin (0462) 814022. Open evenings and weekends
('phone first). No list. Seed-raised plants.
Southwest seeds (Doug. Rowland), 200 Spring Road, Kemp- Hoyas - Senecio - Crassula - Ceropegia
ston, Bedford MK42 8ND. Tel. no. Bedford (0234) 58970. Open
Sunday afternoons. S.A.E. for comprehensive seed list.
Please write for price-list
Hertfordshire
R. F. S. & B. R. Dale, Thurnlea, 14 Buttondene Crescent,
Old Nazeing Road, Broxbourne, Herts EN10 6RH. Tel. no.
Hoddesdon 63234. Open almost any time but write or 'phone.
MARIN CACTUS
No list. Full range B.E.F. pots, labels, top dressing, etc.
PATCH
Essex
M. L. Fusseir, 29 The Readings, Harlow, Essex CM18 7BT. 61 Granada Drive
Tel. no. Harlow (0279) 23246. S.A.E. for list. Service by return
of post. Corte Madera, California 94925, U.S.A.
The Cactus Place (David & Barbara Brewerton), 33 Bridge
Avenue, Upminster, Essex RM14 2LX. Tel. no. Upminster 29911.
No list. Open 9 till dusk, but 'phone first. Large and medium
sized specimens.
H. Guirl, Glenholme, Nursery Road, Nazeing, Essex. Tel. no.
Hoddesdon 62291. Visitors and parties welcome. A prior tele-
phone call would be appreciated. No list. H. GUIRL
London Grower of Cacti and Succulent Plants
The Lithops (Living Stones) Specialist Ltd., (Roy & Sheila
Young), 79 Pearcroft Road, Leytonstone, London E11 4DP. Tel. 'Glenholme' Nursery Road
no. 01-556 8048. Visitors by appointment. S.A.E. (A4 size) for
comprehensive list of Lithops plants and seeds available. Nazeing, Essex
East & West Sussex Telephone: Hoddesdon 62291
Mrs. Yvonne Warrick, 122 Barnhorn Road, Little Common, Sorry — No Lists
Bexhill, E. Sussex, Tel. no. Cooden (04243) 4726. Not open.
S.A.E. for list. Rare succulents and Epiphytics. • VISITORS AND PARTIES WELCOME •
Ernest Hepworth, Mira Mar, 133 Ambleside Avenue, Tels-
combe Cliffs, Sussex BN9 7LG. Tel. no. Peacehaven (07914) A prior telephone call w o u l d b e appreciated
3260. Open by appointment; closed Sundays. Send 12p stamp
for list. Lithops, Mesems, Sempervivums.
Holly Gate Nurseries Ltd., Billingshurst Lane, Ashington,
Sussex RH20 3BA. Tel. no. (0903) 892439. Open 9-5 every day,
incl. weekends and Bank Hols. Send 25p for current catalogue The Cactus and S u c c u l e n t J o u r n a l of
of plants and seeds. Reference collection, entry 25p each. America
Six issues per year, fully illustrated, total on
Dorset average 300 pages and catering f o r all levels
Pine Ridge Cacti (Joan & Dick Smeaton) 197 Ringwood of interest. S u b s c r i p t i o n : $16.00. A p p l y direct
Road, Verwood, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 6AG. Tel. no. Verwood to Box 3010, Santa Barbara, California 93105,
(020123) 2796. Open 10-6, Closed Saturday and Monday. Choice USA.
and rarer 'other succulents'.

120
Whitestone
Whitestone Gardens has everything for succulent fanatics and beginners.
A large stock of plants, seeds, books and sundries is constantly on view,
and the nursery is open to visitors every day.
Our plants are primarily nursery-grown seedlings, but we also stock a
range of larger plants. The nursery shop carries almost everything ever
likely to be needed by the cactus enthusiast, including a range of books
and other publications which is the most comprehensive in the world.
We stock every book in print and many that aren't—why be kept waiting
by your local bookseller when you can ring or write to us and get your
needs by return of post.
Most of the Whitestone Collection is permanently on view to visitors—
free of charge. This is constantly expanding, and now represents one of
the best displays in the country. It is of special interest to serious students
by virtue of the logical arrangement and the high proportion of
authenticated reference material.
Anyone who hasn't been before can find us about 3 | miles from Thirsk
on the A170 Scarborough road in the heart of North Yorkshire's most
attractive tourist countryside.
1980 Whitestone Price List 45 pages of plants, books, seeds, and
sundries, illustrated in full colour and monochrome. Free to existing
clients (sent automatically). New UK customers please send four
8p stamps, and overseas customers three International Postal Reply Coupons.
A few popular book titles from our extensive range:
Cactus Lexicon (Backeberg) £25 plus 86p post
Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Succulents (Rowley) £7.95+80p post
C a c t i : Botanical Aspects, Descriptions & Cultivation (Barthlott)
£7.95+50p post
Illustrated Reference on Cacti & Other Succulents (Lamb)
Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4 £7.50 per Vol.+50p post each
Vol. 5 £8.50+50p post
T h e Cactaceae (Britton & Rose) 2 Vols. £25+£1.25 post per set
Cacti & Succulents—A Concise Guide in Colour (Subik & Kaplicka)
£1.50+40p post
Post indicated above applies to UK and surface mail overseas
STILL W A N T E D !
Obsolete publications, especially American journals (we pay 50p per issue),
NCSS and GB Society journals (we pay 15p per issue) and all kinds of books
for our second-hand trade.

Whitestone Gardens Ltd

The Cactus Houses
Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe
Thirsk
North Yorkshire Y 0 7 2PZ

Telephone: Sutton 467

You will find a warm welcome CACTUS
and a good selection of
cacti and succulent plants and
at SUCCULENT
THE PLANT SEEDS
CACTUS PLACE from the deserts
(DAVID & BARBARA of the world
BREWERTON)
33 BRIDGE AVENUE, UPMINSTER, s.a.e. for latest list.
ESSEX, RM14 2LX
SOUTHWEST SEEDS
200 SPRING ROAD
"The Cactus Place''' is almost
KEMPSTON
always open, but please phone BEDFORD
Upminster 29911 ENGLAND

Collections Bought — No Lists Issued Seeds despatched Air Mail

BRANCH VISITS BY APPOINTMENT to all parts of the World.

WHELD0N & WESLEY

The National Cactus LTD.

& Succulent Society Buy a n d Sell

has over 100 Branches meeting BOOKS

regularly in all parts of the British
Isles. The quarterly journal re- on all branches of
plete with scientific and cultural
information, news and views, has NATURAL HISTORY
the largest circulation in the
English-speaking world, and is especially
amply illustrated on art-paper.
Seed-list with December issue.
Botany &. Horticulture
Annual subscription £3.00 or $7.50 U.S. in a l l languages

LYTTON LODGE,
Further details from the Membership CODICOTE, Nr. H I T C H I N ,
Secretary, Miss W . E. Dunn, 43 Dewar
Drive, Sheffield, England S7 2GR, to HERTS.
whom applications for membership Telephone: Stevenage (0438) 820370
should also be sent.
Telegrams: Wheldwesly, Codicote, Hitchin

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