The Sex Life of Euphorbias
By J. Reese Brown
from the "Cactus Courier"
(Palomar Cactus & Succulent Society San Diego CA USA)
Shows and Judging
By PC&SS Life Member: Dorothy Dunn,
from the "Cactus Courier"
(Palomar Cactus & Succulent Society San Diego
CA USA)
Succulents in Cultivation (Cacti Included),
Cactus Culture (Based on Biology)
A Review of Two Books
by Kerry Krivoshein
From Spinal Column - Michigan C&S
Book Review - Succulent Flora of Southern Africa
by Doreen Court (A. A. Baldema, Rotterdam, revised edition, 2000)
reviewed by Bruce J. Hargreaves
The Cactus Patch (Bakersfield C&SS)
Desert Plants That Were Used for Food And Medicine
by Claude Townsend
SACXS Facts (San Antonio C&SS)
The Saguaro Boot
by Carol S. Blocker
SACXS Facts (San Antonio C&SS)
The Cholla Surprise
by Carol Blocker
SACXS Facts (San Antonio C&SS)
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The Sex Life of Euphorbias
By J. Reese Brown
from the "Cactus Courier"
(Palomar Cactus & Succulent Society San Diego CA USA)
February 2001
Euphorbias have a strange and varied sex life. It ranges from semi celibate to wildly promiscuous with a bent toward polyandry. This is all brought about by the varied and different structure of the flowers.
The flowers of the Euphorbia are born in a complex structure called a cyathium. This starts with a cup like appendage, the involucre, that surrounds the actual flowers. The involucre bears a series of nectar glands (usually 5) around the outer rim and (sometimes) bracts at the base. The flowers themselves grow out of the center of the cup and are found with a variety of combinations. Some species are unisexual in that they have only male or only female flowers in their cyathia. Others are bisexual and have some cyathia with both one female and many male flowers. However, often these same plants also have some cyathia with only male flowers. A commonly encountered cluster of three cyathia with a mixed sexual orientation is called a cyme.
The seeds of the Euphorbias are born in a triangular 3 celled seed capsule. It always contains 3 seeds which are broadcast widely as the capsule ripens. This occurs as the outer shell hardens, shrinks, and then pops open. To collect the seed, the seed capsules should be covered with a collection screen. This can be made from window screening or an old woman's stocking.
Of the succulent Euphorbias from Africa, the plants in the peduncular spined group (e.g.: E. polygona, E. horrida, E. mamillaris) are unisexual. Species from the stipular spined groups (e.g.: E. ingens, E. echinus, E. Knuthii) and the leafy Madagascar species are normally bisexual. Species with the unisexual flower arrangement are called dioecious meaning "two houses". This is because two plants (houses) are required to achieve pollination and therefore seed. The bisexual species are called monecious meaning "one house" as one plant (house) contains all that is necessary for pollination.
The presence or absence of both sexes in one plant tells only part of the tale. Some of the bisexual species are self fertile. That is, the female flowers on a given plant are receptive to the pollen from the same plant. This is normally the case with the stipular spined species such as E. Groenwaldii and E. ingens. Others, however are not self fertile and pollen from a different plant are required for pollination. E. millii and E. lophagona are examples of this class. I suspect that the lack of receptiveness also applies to clones from a common original stock. I have two plants of E. capsaintmariensis that I have attempted to cross pollinate with no success. I suspect that they both came from the same original imported plant by vegetative propagation.
The female plants from the peduncular spined group, which are always unisexual, are receptive to any stray grains of pollen that come along and are always producing mongrel (hybrid) seeds that grow readily and produce equally mongrel and unidentifiable plants. These hybrid plants are often very attractive, and as a result, are to be tolerated despite the confusion that they create to the true Euphorbia students and lovers. This same problem was created intentionally by Mr. Edwin Hummel of Carlsbad with his large number of hybrids of the Madagascar species. The "Hummel Hybrids" were made using the various varieties of E. Millii and E. lophagona though the actual lineage has long been lost (if it was ever recorded). Despite the confusion, the Hummel Hybrids are desirable plants, both for their plant and foliage form and for their continuous production of colorful flowers.
As a result of the varied and often capricious nature of the sex life of Euphorbias, some species are best propagated by vegetative means only. Others can only be propagated sexually using seed. For these, extreme care must be taken to insure that hybrid seed are not created. There are others that can be propagated vegetativly but the resultant plants will never obtain the true form of a seedling plant. This is particularly true of the cauduciform species. For example, a rooted arm from E. Groenwaldii will never produce a caudex; it will always be just a rooted arm cutting. In contrast, a rooted arm of E. ingens will have all of the characteristics of a seedling plant. Each species must be considered as a separate case.
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Shows and Judging
By PC&SS Life Member: Dorothy Dunn
from the "Cactus Courier"
(Palomar Cactus & Succulent Society San Diego CA USA)
Exhibiting plants in a show can be fun, stimulating, and very educational. If it is a competitive show, judged by discerning and knowledgeable plant experts, it becomes even more challenging. And exciting. It's also gratifying to overhear strangers ooh-ing and ahh-ing over your "pampered darlings" which you have (hopefully) groomed and dusted to perfection for their public appearance. Unfortunately, too many of us hesitate to enter plant shows because of lack of information concerning just exactly what constitutes a "show-worthy" plant. So- the purpose of this article is to acquaint the timorous uninitiated with a few basic guidelines in preparing plants for a show. Remember that judging is a very individualistic, opinioned, and often subjective process and that rarely will any two judges ever see the same plant in the same way on any given day. A plant which sends one judge into paroxysms of delight may be passed over almost without comment by another.
The criteria most often followed in a cactus and succulent show is the CSSA (Cactus and Succulent Society of America) Judging Scale, which is as follows: Condition = 70%; Staging = 15%; Size and Degree of Maturity = 10%; Nomenclature = 5%
The condition of the plant relates to general culture. How well has the plant been grown and cared for ? Condition reflects on the grower's ability to assess a particular plant's needs to maintain characteristic, healthy growth. Is the plant etiolated ?-(too green and lanky, indicating too much shade and/or too much fertilizer) - Is it sunburned, scarred, discolored, or diseased ?- Is the growth uniform and even ?- Are there any signs of mealy bug, scale or ants ? An experienced judge will note immediately and automatically all of these things, because the experienced judge knows what the plant should - ideally- look like. (In some shows, plants are judged "against perfection" as opposed to being judged against each other).
Staging is the manner in which the plant is displayed, and includes pots, top dressing, and cleanliness. Pot may be ordinary clay, stoneware, ceramic, or even plastic, but they must be clean (no alkali encrustations, algae, dirt clinging to the pot, etc.) and in good condition (no chips or cracks). The pot should be of a complimentary size, shape and color for the plant: no garish, shiny colors or elaborate designs, and no fanciful, overly ornate or too-cute shapes. Remember, you are displaying the plant- not the pot, and while the pt should always subtly enhance the plant, it should never overwhelm or detract from it in any way. The judges will, however take the total effect into consideration. The plant must, of course be upright and centered in the pot. Top dressing is optional, but generally adds to the well-groomed effect. It may consist of clean gravel, small natural looking pebbles, lava rock (scoria), or course sand or decomposed granite. Aside from being neat appearing, topdressing is also beneficial to the plant; it keeps the soil from cracking, conserves moisture and discourages weeds. Here again, as with the pot, it should never detract from or clash with the plant. If you choose not to use top dressing, the soil around the plant should be clean and fresh looking and free of weeds and debris. The plant itself, should be as immaculate as you can possibly make it - no spider webs and (worse) no spiders, no snail tracks or (worse!) snails, etc. ad nauseum, and it should be cleaned of hard water marks on the leaves or body and free of dust, dead leaves and other debris. Dead blooms should be removed, unless they have been left on the plant for the purpose of setting seed.
A large relatively mature "specimen-size" plant, if well grown, will always take precedence over an immature or seedling plant. This is where size and degree of maturity come in. It is especially satisfying to display a plant, which you have successfully grown from a seedling into a handsome and mature specimen. Due to the recent emphasis on conservation and endangered species, most judges tend to cast a somewhat jaundiced eye on obviously collected plants, and there is some discussion about disqualifying them altogether. Most show rules require that the plant must be grown by the exhibitor for at least six months prior to the show, and some judges feel that the plant should ideally reflect the end result of several years of painstaking effort on the part of the grower. Rarity and how difficult the plant is to grow in cultivation although not listed in the judging scale, can also be factors with individual judges, especially when all other points (condition, staging, etc.) are virtually equal. A rare or difficult to grow plant is bound to influence most judges.
Nomenclature has to do with the proper labeling and correct botanical name (including spelling) of the plant. Even though it counts for only 5%, you should make every effort to provide the correct name for your plant. When in doubt, if all else fails, it is probably better to label it (for example), simply "Mammillaria species, rather than to give it an erroneous specific name, or worse yet an ambiguous common name such as; "Pincushion Cactus". Labels should be clean, neat and inconspicuous, if used. Many shows use entry cards instead of labels. The owners name cannot be visible to the judges.
So, now- start making plans to cart your favorite (and most delectable) plants off to the next show with confidence, relax and enjoy it, and try to accept with grace and suitable modesty the compliments and ribbons which are sure to reward your efforts.
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Succulents in Cultivation (Cacti Included),
Cactus Culture (Based on Biology)
A review of two books by Kerry Krivoshein
From Spinal Column - Michigan
Succulents in Cultivation (Cacti Included) published in 1960 by Blanford Press, Ltd., London, 168pp, Vera Higgens. Cactus Culture (Based on Biology) published in 1958 by Blanford Press, Ltd., London, 224PP, Dr. Franz Baxbaum. Both books out of print, but may be available through used bookstores.
With all of the books that have been published about cactus and succulents over the past few years, books like this often sit on people's bookshelves or in gardening club libraries for many years without being opened, are given away, or even tossed. That's a shame, because even though dated, there is still a wealth of information in many of these old books that makes them equal or even superior to many of the newer books published today. Vera Higgens, author of Succulents in Cultivation, was the President of the British National Cactus Society and Editor of the Cactus Journal of Great Britain for many years. She has authored or translated over a dozen other books on the subject, and along with her husband, had quite an extensive collection of plants. Dr. Franz Baxbaum, author of Cactus Culture, was a well-known cactus and succulent grower who is best known for having his name attached to the columnar cactus species NeoBaxbaumia. He was on staff at the University of Graz, Austria, when this book was written. C oincidentally, Mrs. Higgens translated it into English.
The first 50 pages of Succulents in Cultivation is broken down into seven chapters that describe the characteristics of succulents, cultivation, potting, watering, propagating, pests and starting a collection. Higgens' years of experience and vast knowledge about succulent gardening is showcased in this good concise overview of cactus and succulent plant growing that provides a good review for the advanced collector and gets the beginner up to speed quickly. Not much time is spent discussing the classification of different species, although the discussions of various species in the last two-thirds of the book break the plants down by major plant families. Cultural information about individual species is scant, but they are described well. Several black and white photo plates and the author's color drawings are scattered throughout the book.
Cactus Culture is a book about just what the title says (the book doesn't discuss leaf succulents, just members of the tribe cactacae). The first few chapters discuss the different climatic regions of the world where the plants grow and the importance of the proper chemical make-up of the soil and cultural practices. Charts and graphs are shown that compare the effects of different soil pH levels on plants and pictures of plants are shown that have been grown under different kinds of cultural conditions. The chapters about seed raising, grafting, propagating, and grafting are quite extensive. He leaves no stone unturned when discussing the different parameters that can be applied to these subjects. I never knew there were four ways to root a cutting but only one way to raise seed. Baxbaum appeared to be a man of strong opinions. His loathing of growers that use too small of pots to grow plants in and his hatred of clay pots really comes across. Almost three pages were used to support a five-point argument against the use of clay pots. The discussion of species at the end of the book is jammed packed with cultural hints on growing particular plants and a good discussion of taxonomy and nomenclature is given as well. Color and black-and-white photo plates are clustered throughout the book.
As stated earlier, books are dated, i.e., some of the materials and methods described are no longer used and some of the plant names are now invalid. Many readers would likely be amused at the discussion of "low cost electric heat" in Higgin's book, and cringe at the mention of DDT and field collected (imported) plants in Baxbaum's, but these items are so minor that the average reader would barely notice. Although an excellent book, Succulents in Cultivation cannot be recommended for the collectors library if beginners books are on file. There is nothing new here for the average collector. Cactus Culture, however, is almost a requirement for the serious grower. It's probably one of the best books on growing cacti ever written. The chapters on soil composition, light, watering, containers, and propagation provide the reader with a very thorough and scientific discussion on what really is going on with his or her plants, and how the variables may be adjusted to optimize growing conditions. The discussion of ge nera provides a lot of cultural hints as well as a good description of the plants and their habitat. These two 40 year old books are proof that what many of us have been looking for may have been there all the while.
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Book Review - Succulent Flora of Southern Africa
by Doreen Court (A. A. Baldema, Rotterdam, revised edition, 2000)
reviewed by Bruce J. Hargreaves
The Cactus Patch (Bakersfield C&SS)
I accidentally met Doreen Court in 1984. We had planned a Christmas vacation in Port St. Johns, South Africa and a colleague and I took a side trip to Grahamstown, he to visit the fisheries institute and I to visit Amy Jocot Guillermot, the founder of the herbarium at the University of Lesotho. While visiting Amy I was asked if I had met Doreen. I was embarrassed to admit I didn't know she was in Grahamstown. Fortunately, I had a copy of her "Succulent Flora" which had been published in 1981 (although I missed the part where it mentioned where she lived). We had a pleasant visit and I was able to compliment her honestly on her excellent book.
Now she has revised her book and a new edition is available. The price has increased a bit (originally $40, now $75), but it is still a bargain for a book with hundreds of color photos (and more in black and white). The revision is considerable and includes lots of new photos and new names (for instance, the split of Anacampseros into the typical species with visible leaves and the new genus Avonia which has papery scales covering them). The genus Adenuim is still presented as having 12 species with 4 in Southern Africa, a view not universally held. She also holds out for separation of Pachypodium lealii and Pachypodium saundersii while admitting this is based on geographic isolation rather than morphology. It is not all splitting, however. In the milkweeds Larryleachia is placed back in Lavrania, Trichocaulon is placed under Hoodia and Hoodia lugardii is just a subspecies of Hoodia currorii. Also, in the spurges, Euphorbia valida is now a subspecies of E. meloformis and E. symmetrica is a subspecies of E. ob esa.
I am sorry that she has now left out the Welwitschia section. Although this is admittedly not a real succulent it is one of the most unusual plants of southern Africa. I am very pleased to find Monadenium mafingense, a species which I named from Malawi, is described and illustrated in color. (The picture, by Mrs. Pritchard, is the first flowering one I've seen other than my original illustration.) Euphorbia limpopsana a new species named by Susan Carter did not make the book (although its synonym E. malevola subsp. bechuanica did). How soon before a third edition? Doreen mentions that Botswana is botanically underexplored. I know of at least one unnamed Euphorbia there. I guess I'll have to go back and help finish up the job.
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Desert Plants That Were Used for Food And Medicine
by Claude Townsend
SACXS Facts (San Antonio C&SS)
In the early days in the desert the doctors were few and far between. Most times it was several days ride away. So people living there had to depend on nature for food and medicine. While in college, in the mountains of North Carolina where I grew up, I wrote a paper on the folk lore and home remedies of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Most of what I wrote was told to me by my grandmother. It was about the people who lived in the mountains in olden times. Their home remedies, food and how they lived there in the woodland mountains.
Today I find myself living in a different environment on the edge of a desert. On my first trip to the Big Bend, I was sure that those moon photos were taken there and nothing could possibly survive in such an environment. On that first trip all I could see was the harsh landscape with cactus and plants with thorns and a land torn apart by volcanic upheaval, erosions and the sun that baked the land into bricks. It took a second trip to realize that people had lived there, raised family, food and doctored their own for thousands of years in conjunction with nature. Now each time I go back I learn more about these people and their lives.
In the next several months I hope to share with you several of these remedies and recipes.
Now, let's talk about my favorite subject, FOOD! For many years the cactus has been a source of food in Mexico and the border States. One of the most common type of cactus for cooking is called Nopalito. The young pads of the prickly pear have few spines and they can be taken off easily with a knife and paper towel. The pads can be kept for several days in the refrigerator before using, just keep dry. These pads can be fried, boiled, sauteed and many other ways. So, let's make a breakfast taco.
3-4 eggs
cooked bacon, ham or sausage
salt to taste
taco sauce
black pepper
chopped nopalito pads
butter
1 jalapeno, chopped finely
6-8 flour tortillas
1/2 cup onion
flour & water
In a large pan of boiling water blanch chopped nopalito for two to three minutes. Then cool in cold running water. Let drain. In a medium hot pan add shortening, saute nopalito, onion, jalapeno and meat (I like a little garlic added to mine) until lightly browned, mix eggs with 1 tsp water and 1 tsp flour, add egg mixture to pan. When eggs are done, serve with flour tortillas, salt and pepper to taste.
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The Saguaro Boot
by Carol S. Blocker
SACXS Facts (San Antonio C&SS)
The giant saguaro cactus from Arizona provides a home to many desert creatures. One of the most interesting homes is created by a woodpecker, and the saguaro itself. The woodpecker pecks out a good sized hole in the cactus. The it leaves for a while for the saguaro to do its work. The saguaro secretes a sap around the exposed flesh which hardens like a type of bark to protect the wound. When this hardening process is complete, either the woodpecker comes back to build his nest in the cavity, or another bird species takes advantage of this ready-made nesting site. Owls frequently use the "boot" that the woodpecker and saguaro made.
When the saguaro dies and the flesh decays completely, a skeleton is left of the woody infrastructure the cactus uses to support its huge weight. The "boot" (what this bark-like cavity is called) also remains. I have a saguaro skeleton and a "boot" which I purchased from a nursery in Arizona. Like living cactus, it is also illegal to collect or transport dead skeletons from Arizona to Texas. I was planning to make a lamp out of the skeleton, but until that happens it is leaning against the house on my patio with the boot placed in it like it would appear in the wild.
We have had little brown house-wrens visiting our back yard for several years. Some winters they sleep in a hollowed out coconut hanging from the roof, but they have never nested in there. There is probably not enough room. This spring, however, the wrens discovered the cactus boot. My husband, Richard, and I watched every day as both parents took bits of sticks, grass, and lint into the boot. We would check the boot daily when the parents were away, and pretty soon two eggs appeared. Once the eggs hatch, both parents were kept busy feeding small insects to the babies. They were very protective of the nest and refused to enter or even go near the nest if they felt someone was watching. They were especially upset when our orange tabby cat, Ozone, was let out in the backyard. Ozone never attempted to climb up the skeleton to reach the nest, but the wrens were still fearful. Both parents would shriek loudly (you would be surprised at how loud this small bird can be), and would refuse to go near the nes t until Ozone was taken out of view. If Richard and I sat very still in chairs about 20 feet away, the wrens would finally deliver their insects to their babies. Richard felt fortunate to have taken some pictures of the babies while the parents were away hunting insects. Then one day the nest was empty. We never observed the babies trying out their wings, but we assume they fledged and flew away.
The parents have not returned to nest again this year, but we have heard their song while we are in the back yard. We do hope that they will return to this nesting site next year, and for many years to come. The saguaro boot provides yet another home for a wildlife species.
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The Cholla Surprise
by Carol Blocker
SACXS Facts (San Antonio C&SS)
"Cholla", the common name for a variety of opuntia, is a common sight in the natural West Texas and South Texas landscape. It grows rapidly in almost any type of soil; is resistant to drought, is cold hardy in San Antonio; has lovely hot-pink flowers several times throught the year; and it can be treated like a shrub - being trimmed and pruned to the individual space and aesthetic appearance of the home owner. My husband, Richard, and I planted several small segments of cholla in our cactus-garden front yard. We never expected the cholla to be a nesting site for a variety of birds.
The first bird to take advantage of this site was the mourning dove. For the past five years we have had mourning doves successfully raising as many as five clutches of eggs each year in our cholla. They seem to appreciate the spines as good protection for their nests, in spite of the fact that their nests are at eye-level for humans.
The second bird to nest in the cholla was the mockingbird. Unlike the mourning dove, these birds aggressively defend their nest. Many times our orange tabby cat, Ozone, has been chased away from the nest with both parents "dive-bombing" him until he sought safety underneath our boat. Ozone learned soon after joining our household that the cholla is not a plant he can climb. But, he is still fascinated by the birds and will continue to sit at the base of the plant until the mocking bird parents chase him away. The mocking birds have laid and hatched three sets of eggs (approximately two to three eggs per clutch). However, their parenting skills need to improve. In all cases the parents coax the babies out of the nest before they can fly. On the ground with no ability to fly away, the babies become easy prey for the many stray cats and dogs in our neighborhood. Ozone does not get to play outside unless someone is watching him, so I know that he is not the one killing the babies. Out of the six or eig ht babies this year, only two survived after leaving the nest.
The third bird to take advantage of a secure nesting site was the white-wing dove. With both the mourning dove and the white-wing, we have only seen the mother sitting on the nest and feeding the babies. Both mockingbird parents are actively involved in raising their brood. This year is the first year that a white-wing dove has nested, and has successfully raised three clutches. The first was one baby; the second, two; and the third, one. I believe that it is the same mother who continues to use this nest site. Usually white wings are very skittish and fly before you can get very close to them. This mother must have gotten used to people coming close, or she felt protected in the cholla, because she let me and Richard come very close to see her babies. Her parenting skills were good , and all her babies successfully left the nest.
Our cholla plants are now about eight feet tall with many, many branches. We prune them every year after the nesting season is over. In addition to providing nesting sites for a number of species, their flowers attract humming birds in the area. What an unexpected surprise that this lowly cactus species is a home to so many birds!