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The online magazine for cactus and succulent enthusiasts Issue 25 June 2020
 2

Contents
Page 6 Page 17
Looking at Mammillaria surculosa
Lewisia by John Hughes
Tulista pumila from Lemoenpoort
by Paul Go to article
See the article on page 21 (link in
Klaassen the centre column)
Page 19
Go to article
Crassula streyi Page 35
Page 9 by Carlos Zeferino
When things go wrong
Madagascar’s spiny Go to article
by Alan Tuppen
alluaudias Page 21 Go to article
by Colin C Walker
Tulista pumila Page 41
Go to article
by Alan Rollason Mammillaria
Page 13 Go to article
formosa
Neowerdermannia Page 25 by Chris Davies
an odd obsession with a Go to article
Two Florida Harrisia
peculiar plant Page 45
by Graham Photo article by Daniel Green
Evans Go to article
Sedum farinosum – a
Go to
red-listed species
article
Page 29 by Ray Stephenson
Aeoniums Go to article
Page 16 growing them Page 46
A succulent plant in a and knowing The hidden gardens of
coat of arms them Eze
by Len Newton by Elizabeth Maddock by Rick Gillman
Go to article Go to article Go to article

www.cactusandsucculentreview.org.uk

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download from the website.
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 3

the December one as well. My

thanks to everyone who has made
this possible.
This doesn’t mean of course, that I
won’t welcome more. An editor’s
inbox is never full!
Like everyone else, I have been
catching up with the repotting. It is
good to hear the sighs of relief as
plants which have been confined

T ime is a strange phenomenon.

To those of my readers who are,
or have been, at home under
This issue of the ‘Cactus and
Succulent Review’ is a little longer
than usual, which is due partially to
for far too long in the same pot,
finally get to stretch their roots a
little. Of course I now have to find
lockdown restrictions, have you people who have whiled away a extra space for the larger pots,
noticed that, despite all the extra little of the tedium of lockdown by which is not easy in my little
time you have on your hands, there writing extra material for me. In conservatory.
still is not enough of it to do addition I have articles in hand, not
everything that needs to be done? only for the September issue but Sheila Cude

A mouse in the (green)house

 4

More Succulent Snippets needed

I always need more Succulent All you need is just a few words
Snippets. Please get in touch if you about what makes it so special.
have a picture of an interesting
plant, or something that is doing Please email any contributions to:
exceptionally well. Sheila Cude

Fly fertility fact

Fly eggs hatch in 10 days. A
single fly can lay a dozen broods
in one summer. With ideal
conditions, plenty of food, no
predators, and perfect weather, a
pair of flies beginning its family in
April could end up being
grandparents many times over.
Researchers say something like a
billion, billion flies by August.
That’s enough to cover the earth
in 47 feet of flies.
Sue Hakala,
reprinted from ‘Central Spine’ the
newsletter of the Central Arizona
Cactus and Succulent Society

Central Spine is an online

newsletter produced once a
month and includes many great
articles on growing plants in the
Central Arizona area, very
different to our rather soggy UK!
Past issues are available on the
website, address above.

Introducing
C & V Cacti

Crassula columnaris
Crassula columnaris is monocarpic, The picture was taken at a place
so these small plants, no more than called Verlatenkloof, South of
about 6cm high, will flower once Sutherland in South Africa. C & V Cacti is the UK’s newest
then die. There is a sub-species however, cactus nursery. Their excellent
Crassula columnaris subsp. plants will already be familiar to
They might take around five to ten many growers in the UK, but
years to reach maturity and flower prolifera which, as its name
suggests, offsets from the base. they are now offering plants by
so it is a once in a lifetime mail order. See more details on
opportunity to see and photograph With thanks to Alan Rollason for
the next page.
a plant like this. sending me this photograph.
 5

Introducing
C & V Cacti
The UK’s newest mail order
cactus nursery
by Vicky Davies and Chris Haysom

P eople have been referring to C & V Cacti as a

nursery for a little while now, although it is
something that Chris and I have often denied as we
always seem to be more species, subspecies or a
particular collector’s number to add to the collection.
By 2017, space was at a premium, even with a second
have just been selling off the surplus plants from our greenhouse, so we decided that we would have to try
seed sowing exploits. But now it’s time for us to selling our plants at cactus shows further afield and
reconsider that statement. even a mart or two. The number of events we attend
Both Chris and I have always enjoyed growing plants has increased every year and we find ourselves
from seed, and cacti are no exception. In 2006 we travelling ever greater distances; but it’s always great
moved to West Sussex to a house with a conservatory fun meeting new people with similar interests.
and in 2009 we did our first ‘big’ sowing of probably 50 Greenhouse No. 1 has been replaced by the much
different species, followed by a similar number in 2010. larger No. 3 which now houses our collection.
These were all plants we wanted to add to our Greenhouse No. 2 is dedicated solely to seed raising,
collection but we had not really thought of what to do a pastime that has also taken over the whole
with all the seedlings that would grow. conservatory! This year was set to be our busiest yet
and, at one point, it looked as though we would only
After another house move and renovation project, 2013
have one cactus-free weekend in May and June; but
saw the construction of our first greenhouse and in
then everything changed for us all.
2014 we started sowing seeds again. Occasionally, we
sold a few surplus plants at local events. But the seedlings keep growing and having no events
to attend means that we do not have space coming
Seed lists are dangerous things, especially when there
free to pot on the next batch.
are two of you with slightly different interests, and there
We grow our young plants in a very similar compost
mix to the plants in our collection, which comprises
John Innes compost, clay molar and horticultural grit
so they do not later have to suffer the shock of a
completely new potting mix. All our plants are our own
propagations grown from seeds purchased from
reputable sources. We do not sell imports or plants
grown in solid peat!
So we have taken the plunge by registering to issue
Plant Passports to enable us to sell by mail order. I
guess that does now make us some kind of nursery.

If you are looking for some ‘collectors’

cacti, why not take a look at our new
website, C & V Cacti to see what we
Turbinicarpus saueri, bought from C & V Cacti in 2019,
and flowering soon after purchase
have available?
 6

Looking at
Lewisia
by Paul Klaassen

Hooray! 13 May 2020

Plant nurseries opened their doors I forgot about Lewisia until I became the
again to customers! Manager of the Shaw Trust (Salisbury)
Nursery in 2003 and had the pleasure of
Yes, things were a little different, as people deciding which plants to buy in for retail.
snaked their way around a roped-off car The wholesale nursery that made its
park, two metres away from each other; fortnightly round each spring sold plants of
although often up to 10 metres apart as Lewisia cotyledon at the right price. They
they became engrossed in messages, seemed quite easy, able to survive and
movies or music on their mobile phones. thrive until customers bought them and Above and below:
Loud coughing could be heard, but this came back the next year for more. Lewisia cotyledon
was not caused by a symptom of the
coronavirus but by my irritation at the slow
progress of the queue.
There were some interesting Lewisia for
sale – hybrids, with a variety of flower
colours. While I was working at the Holly
Gate Cactus nursery they would have a few
trays of these on display each spring.
‘But they are not succulent plants!’ I would
complain, until the late Terry Hewitt
showed me that they were included in the
BCSS ‘Guide to Shows’ as admissible for
entry. After that I was happy to include
Lewisia when the late Keith Grantham and I
were writing ‘The Plantfinder’s Guide to
Cacti and Other Succulents’ in 1999.
At the time they were regarded as
members of the Portulacaceae, the
Purslane family. Now (2020), they find
themselves in the family Montiaceae as one
of 14 genera, that also includes the genera
Calandrinia and Cistanthe both of which I
have seen in Chile and Argentina growing
in arid areas alongside cacti.
Looking at Lewisia continued 7

Lewisia rediviva near Arroyo Grande

In February 2009, on a trip from Bellflower, My location

Los Angeles County, to Eureka, Humboldt number S1224
County, both in California we stayed with was in the
friends in Arroyo Grande, near San Luis hills inland
Obispo. from Arroyo
Grande, where Lewisia rediviva grew
The area was not very good for seeing
alongside a Dudleya sp. and an American
cacti in habitat, but ideal for seeing
cowslip (Dodecatheon alpinum) that our Dodecatheon
succulent plants such as Dudleya and
friend, Rob, called by their common name: alpinum (Alpine
Lewisia and so the acquaintance
‘Alpine Shooting Star’. Shooting Star)
was renewed.
Looking at Lewisia continued 8

So I bought two Lewisia today, labelled

Lewisia cotyledon – hybrid mix, and two
smaller plants labelled ‘Little Mango’ and
‘Little Peach’ to celebrate the re-opening of
nurseries in England.
That night I wrote this article and emailed it
to Sheila, (editor of the Cactus and
Succulent Review) promising some images
the next day.
Imagine my horror the following morning
when we woke up to what the news
reported as the coldest night for a long
time, with temperatures down to –5°C. The
stalks with advanced buds had collapsed
and the buds had turned black! I wrote to
Sheila to give her the bad news. I spent the
following weekend queueing to get into a
few more nurseries to see their Lewisia. I
was out very quickly – their Lewisia had
been hit as well and not fit for display.
After a few days of warming weather and a
drink with a half strength of Miracle Grow
and tomato fertiliser I was surprised when
Angie told me that the Lewisia had
recovered and were in flower.
So don’t be too hasty to throw out your
Lewisia after a cold spell – they are Lewisia ‘Little Mango’
remarkably tough cookies! n
Photos: Paul Klaassen Lewisia ‘Little Peach’
 9

Madagascar’s
spiny
alluaudias
by Colin C. Walker

Introducing Alluaudia
Alluaudia belongs to the Didiereaceae, a very
small family of succulents encompassing just
22 species in seven genera (The Plant List,
2020). Until about a decade ago this family
comprised only four genera and was considered
to be endemic to Madagascar. However,
recent molecular evidence resulted in
expansion of the family to include
three further genera, two from
southern Africa (seven species of
Ceraria and two species of
Portulacaria) and one from north-east
tropical Africa (two species of
Calyptrotheca). Sadly this expanded
family is therefore no longer one of the
iconic Madagascan endemics.

Fig. 1. Alluaudia procera

about 90cm tall in a 24cm
diameter pot
Madagascar’s spiny alluaudias continued 10

There are 11 endemic Madagascan species in four

genera. These occur in the dry, semi-desert south and
south-west of the island where they form the dominant
component of what is termed the Didiereaceae-
Euphorbia bush, a characteristic vegetation type
unique to Madagascar, known colloquially as the spiny
forest. The Madagascan Didiereaceae are all very spiny
and deciduous, with leaves appearing in the rainy
season and falling at the start of the dry season.
Indeed they have been described as ‘The cacti of the
Old World’ (Rowley, 1992).
My plants in the UK are kept in a conservatory and are
summer growers, when I water them modestly. In the
winter when they are leafless I keep them at least at
10°C and give them an occasional water.
Flowers are rarely produced in pot culture since many
of the plants need to get quite large before reaching
flowering size. So these plants are not grown for their
outstanding flowers (which are somewhat insignificant
if flowering is achieved!).
There are just six species of Alluaudia. These are all
shrubs or even small trees, some growing as tall as
15m at maturity. They produce two types of branches,
each with its own leaf type. The young or long
branches have leaves that are horizontally flattened,
Fig. 2. Close up of young stems of Alluaudia procera with whereas the short branches, analogous to the areoles
only juvenile leaves of cacti, have leaves that are flattened vertically. All
species are spiny, some viciously so.
The generic name commemorates Charles Alluaud, a
French entomologist who collected animals and plants
in Madagascar four times, the first visit being in 1893.
In cultivation I have experience of growing three of the
six species, namely Alluaudia procera, A. montagnacii
and A. dumosa, so these will be showcased here.
Alluaudia procera
This species is the most widely distributed in
Madagascar and is also the most common in
cultivation. As a young potted plant it branches freely
(Fig. 1) and hence is shrub-like. The branches root
fairly easily from cuttings, hence its popularity. It can
also be used as grafting stock for the trickier members
of the family, although I have no personal experience
of this.
The young stems – technically the long branches –
grow relatively quickly and produce horizontally
flattened leaves (Fig. 2). Spines are fierce and about
1cm long. The leaf is produced below the spine and
this point on the stem will become the areole or short
branch that will produce the mature, vertically flattened
leaves in future years, shown on the older portions of
the lower branches in Fig. 1.
The name procera comes from the Latin ‘procerus’
meaning ‘tall’ or ‘slender’ from the shape of the mature
plant. This is very different to that of the juvenile shrub
Fig. 3. Section of stem of Alluaudia montagnacii with only which is transformed into a tree as it ages. At maturity
mature leaves
Madagascar’s spiny alluaudias continued 11

it has a stout trunk and a slender modestly branched Compared to A. procera, A. montagnacii is relatively
crown that can form a tree to 15m tall, all covered with slow-growing, at least under my conditions where it is
leaves in the growing season. Flowers are very small restricted to a pot.
and white but produced in dense, clustered
This is the rarest of the alluaudias and indeed of the
inflorescences.
whole family, both in the wild and in cultivation. It is
Alluaudia montagnacii known only from its type locality at Itampolo on the
south-west coast of Madagascar. Fortunately it was
This species is similar to A. procera in overall growth
distributed in 1981 as ISI 1246 from which my plant
and characteristic features but is considerably more
originated.
spiny (Fig. 3). My plant is formed of a single
unbranched stem about 95cm tall. The spines are Vegetatively the plant is very similar to Alluaudia
densely arranged and up to 2.5cm long, broad at the ascendens, whereas its inflorescence and flowers are
base, grey with darker tips. The mature vertically closer to those of A. procera. This, together with its
flattened leaves are usually paired and produced by the very localised distribution and hence rarity, has led to
short branches (areoles) below the spines. In my the suggestion that this species may in fact be a
opinion this is the most attractive of the Madagascan natural hybrid (Rowley, 1992).
Didiereaceae and its dense spination is equal in appeal
This species was named ‘montagnacii’ after the French
to anything produced by a cactus!
botanist Paul René Montagnac who first introduced
At maturity in habitat it forms a modestly branched tree plants into cultivation in the famous garden Les Cedres
up to 10m tall and has a trunk with a basal diameter of in France.
around 50cm.
Alluaudia dumosa
Again like A. procera its small white flowers are This species stands out from the others by virtue of its
produced in dense clusters but I do not ever expect stems which are dull grey with a waxy surface (Fig. 4),
these to be produced by my pot-grown specimen. together with its viciously sharp spines, the smallest of

Fig. 4. Alluaudia dumosa about 55cm tall in a 12cm Fig. 5. Close up of Alluaudia dumosa showing the
diameter pot thorn-like spines
Madagascar’s spiny alluaudias continued 12

the three species discussed here, being less than 3mm According to Rowley (1992) it is relatively easy in
long and conical in shape (Fig. 5), more analogous to cultivation and cuttings root readily in a hotbox without
the thorns of roses. For most of the time the plant is difficulty. I have yet to try this myself, but will do so in
effectively a leafless stem succulent since the very the future when hopefully my plant is sufficiently large.
small leaves are rapidly caducous (deciduous).
More about alluaudias
My plant has been in my collection for just over four For those wanting to know more about alluaudias
years. When I acquired it the plant was immediately specifically, or the Madagascan Didiereaceae more
repotted and, for three years, it just sat and did generally, the guide by Rowley (1992) is an excellent
nothing, but at least stayed alive! Then, surprisingly, in introduction, whereas all the species are beautifully
the spring of 2019 it suddenly burst into growth and illustrated by many habitat photos in Rauh (1998). n
within just a couple of months it roughly doubled in
size and produced half a dozen new branches in quick References
succession. In the winter I repotted it, so I am hoping Rauh, W. (1998) Succulent and xerophytic plants of
for another growth spurt this year (2020). Madagascar. Vol. 2. Strawberry Press, Mill Valley,
California.
The name ‘dumosa’ comes from the Latin ‘dumosus’
meaning ‘covered in thorn bushes’ for the growth form Rowley, G.D. (1992) Didiereaceae. ‘Cacti of the Old
and spination. Its distribution is in south-east World’. British Cactus & Succulent Society, Richmond,
Madagascar where it initially grows erect, then forms England.
sprawling shrubs and is finally tree-like up to 6m tall. The Plant List (2020) Didiereaceae. Theplantlist.org.
For me personally, of the three species I am currently
growing, this is the most intriguing Alluaudia. Photos: Colin C Walker

Alluaudias and
lemurs
Most of us will be familiar with
images of the succulent rich
spiny forest in southern
Madagascar that is home to the
endearing, similarly endemic,
lemurs. Scenes of lemurs leaping
through the spiny branches have
been made famous by natural
history TV programmes,
especially those fronted by
David Attenborough.
I have never visited Madagascar,
so here I can merely offer you
my own 2-D simulation using a
plastic model of a ring-tailed
lemur (Lemur catta) purloined
from my daughter’s zoo animal
collection (Fig. 6).
It never ceases to amaze me
how in the wild these animals
can walk, climb, run and jump
amongst these fiercely spiny
forests of which alluaudias are
dominant components.

Fig. 6. Alluaudia procera with plastic

ring-tailed lemur simulating life in
the spiny forest of southern
Madagascar
 13

Neowerdermannia
An odd obsession with a peculiar plant
by Graham Evans

The search for an elusive cactus species

O nce upon a time Neowerdermannia

vorwerkii was almost impossible to
obtain. I had seen a few photographs of it
would suck air through their teeth at the
mention of its name, while others had
never even heard of it.
Neowerdermannia
vorwerkii showing
the distinctive
position of the areole
and thought it was a fascinating species,
I became increasingly determined to find and spines in the
as the spines appeared to be in the axils axils, leaving the
myself a specimen and in 1998 I embarked
and the tubercles finished at a bare point, tubercles to taper to
on a three-day tour of UK nurseries, (yes,
but I had never seen a plant in the flesh. a bare point
there really were sufficient of them in those
As I asked around, I was told that Holly days), hoping to snare one. To be honest,
Gate Nursery in West Sussex once offered the trip was not just about N. vorwerkii, for
it as a Weingartia, (where it was placed at I had just trebled the size of my
some point), but nobody had seen one in greenhouse and I was eager to stock it, but
ages. The more knowledgeable nurserymen I scoured every venue and pestered every
Neowerdermannia: an odd obsession with a peculiar plant continued 14

proprietor. The odyssey yielded scores of seedlings were on their own roots, but Neowerdermannia
nice plants, including many choice species, priced no differently to his other offerings, vorwerkii showing
but no N. vorwerkii. As I recall, nobody while Haage’s were grafted. I ordered two the variation of
flower colour and the
even had one in their private collections, from each.
naked buds
although at least one nurseryman said they
On their own roots, the seedlings were
used to have a plant, and a couple said it
much taller than wide, about 3cm x 1cm,
was virtually impossible to grow from seed.
with a lengthy taproot and very weak lateral
Time passed and then, like buses, I found roots. The grafted plants were globular with
three sources in quick succession. First, a stronger spination. One of the rooted
visit to Brookside Nursery near Horsham in seedlings rotted very quickly but the other
West Sussex proved successful and very two settled down well enough and added
shortly afterwards I was amazed to be able some more height before filling out and
to order plants online from two German becoming globular. I kept both plants for
nurseries. Like the solitary and expensive seven or eight years and they filled three-
Brookside plant, Andreas Wessner’s inch (7.5cm) pots at the time of their

N. chilensis and N. vorwerkii in 6.5cm pots growing together on the author's staging
Neowerdermannia: an odd obsession with a peculiar plant continued 15

demise, (both dessicated during N. vorwerkii is described as small, solitary

successive mild winters). and globose with a thick, fleshy taproot.
There are approximately 16 ribs divided
The two grafted plants grew rapidly. I gave
into acute tubercles with the areole and
one away but the remaining plant
spines in the depressions between them.
expanded to unnatural proportions,
Spines number up to 10, with two more or
eventually reaching a girth of 10cm and
less central, of which one points down and
slightly more in height. All the plants
is almost hooked. Flowers are small (2cm),
flowered well in the spring. Flower colour
funnel-form and range from white to lilac-
varied from off-white to quite a bright lilac.
pink.
N. vorwerkii is still not common but is now
There is a second species,
occasionally offered by European nurseries
Neowerdermannia chilensis, which is even
and makes sporadic appearances on eBay.
more rarely encountered and most of the
Given that it does not appear difficult to
plants seen on eBay are in fact
grow, requiring an open mix, good
N. vorwerkii. The true N. chilensis is most
ventilation and a cool winter rest, why was
easily distinguished by the areoles being
it once so hard to find?
placed more traditionally towards the tip of
The answer would appear to be that the the tubercle.
seed has a very short period of viability,
I still have several of these plants and I
perhaps only a matter of 6-8 weeks. This N. chilensis, quite a
continue to be fascinated by their unique
would explain the difficulty of germination different looking
appearance. n
in days of yore when it would have been plant from
virtually impossible to transport the seed Photos: Graham Evans N. vorwerkii
from South America to Europe
and then to the purchaser within
this time.
I am told fresh seed germinates
well but damping off is an issue,
especially if seedlings are
pricked out too soon, possibly a
consequence of the soft taproot.
Neowerdermannia was
described by Alberto Fric in
1930 and was originally
monotypic. The name honours
the German botanist Erich
Werdermann (1892-1959), who,
among things, erected the
cactus genera Blossfeldia and
Weingartia, the latter being
where Curt Backeberg placed
N. vorwerkii in 1963, and was
director of the University of
Berlin Botanical Gardens.
Prior to its time in Weingartia,
the genus Neowerdermannia
was subsumed into
Gymnocalycium by Paul
Hutchison in 1959. DNA
analyses however, suggest it is
closer to Eriosyce ‘sensu lato’
and could conceivably be
expanded to include Yavia. The
plants have a wide distribution in
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and
Peru and their roots are
apparently eaten as a vegetable
by indigenous peoples.
 16

A succulent plant
in a coat of arms
by Len Newton

M any years ago I wrote a short note on the

depiction of Sempervivum tectorum in the coat of
arms of Gonville & Caius College, University of
standing to be granted
his own coat of arms
in 1560. This included
Cambridge (Newton, 1972). Incidentally, Cactaceae ‘sengren in the chief’ (i.e. in the
expert the late David Hunt was a student at this upper part of the shield), and sengren (sometimes
College when studying botany. written as sengrene or sengreen) is a vernacular name
for Sempervivum tectorum, and means evergreen
To my knowledge this is the only succulent plant to be (Brown, 1993). When the college was granted arms in
featured in British heraldry. In that early note I wrote 1575, the coat of arms of Cauis was combined with
that I did not know why the Sempervivum had been that of Edmund Gonville, another
included in the arms. of the founders of the college.
More recently I found the
answer, in an old book on A footnote in Oldfield’s book
all of the Cambridge states that sengren was used as
University arms (Oldfield, a medicinal herb for treating,
1931). among other things, ‘shingles and
other creeping ulcers’.
One of the founders of Presumably this is why Cauis, as
Gonville & Caius College a physician, included this plant in
was John Caius M.D. his coat of arms. Oldfield states
(1510–1573), a sixteenth that sengren is Sempervivum
century scholar and majus, but this name is now a
physician. Caius was of synonym of Sempervivum
sufficiently high social tectorum (’t Hart et al., 2003). n

References
Brown, L. (Ed.) (1993) The New Shorter
Oxford English Dictionary. Clarendon Press,
Oxford.
’t Hart, H., Bleij, B. & Zonneveld, B. (2003)
Sempervivum. In U. Eggli (Ed.), Illustrated
Handbook of Succulent Plants: Crassulaceae.
Springer, Berlin.
Newton, L. (1972) The aristocratic houseleek.
The Sempervivum Society Journal 3(1): 4–5.
Oldfield, R.W. (1931) The Arms of the
University & Colleges of Cambridge. A. & C.
Black, London.

Above and inset:

Gonville & Caius College coat of arms
(Photo: A.C.B. Smith, reproduced under ‘Fair
Use’ policy)
Left: Sempervivum tectorum (Photo: Len
Newton)
 17

Mammillaria surculosa
by John Hughes
An attractive yellow-flowered Mammillaria from the Dolicothele subgenus

T he corona virus lockdown has brought many

problems but has also resulted in me spending
more time in the garden, in the greenhouse and
I then usually go into the greenhouses, well two
greenhouses and a lean-to. As I am a bit generous with
the watering can, I am now marking the calendar to
reading. I decided early on that I must return to making show what date I last watered the succulents, but the
lists and having daily goals rather than watching plethora of other pants such as pelargoniums, runner
endless TV. Although April has been exceptionally beans, Mandevilla and Achimenes do need more
warm, I still find the mornings a bit chilly especially regular watering. This daily routine means I am at last
with the easterly wind so I have earmarked the first observing and enjoying my plants.
hour after I get up for reading. I have even organised
It was when I was reading one of the American
the old copies of gardening magazines in month order,
journals, which had an article on yellow flowered
so that I am reading some of the most relevant, and I
mammillarias, that I noticed it said that Mammillaria
am wading through my stash of CSSA, BCSS and
surculosa (or ‘surclosa’ which it was wrongly named at
Mesembryanthemum Society journals.
least three times in the article) had a sweet scent.
Mammillaria surculosa continued 18

I had remembered seeing the plant in flower the said to come from Tamaulipas, Miquihuana and San
previous day so went down to investigate. At about Luis Potosi. Although the bodies have taproots, they
9.30am there were only a few buds open but at are uniformly small being perhaps 3cm long and 2cm
11.00am I was greeted with a goodly pot full of open wide, so they do not need a deep pot. Once happy
flowers and yes, there was a sweet scent akin to lily of they can motor away, and I think Jim’s plant was in a
the valley flowers (well if you got close enough). 24inch (approx 60cm) pan. This ease of growth means
that it is unlikely to feature highly on the show bench.
The plant shown is a 5inch (approx 12cm) pot. I have
had this species a few times in my 50+ years of I remember my own plant getting to fill a 12inch
collecting but the present plant had the accession (approx 30cm) pan but, on inspecting it, I found there
number 6009 which meant that I had obtained it in were areas that were doing less well. I felt that it was
2009 as the last pair of numbers indicates the year. better to split and regenerate; also more than a 12inch
This system made it easy to track back to one of my pot would be too much of a good thing. I do not know
books to see that it was a raffle prize at the September quite how many pots I produced from this exercise,
meeting of the now defunct Eltham Branch of the which I think I did in the autumn of 2018.
British Cactus and Succulent Society (BCSS). The
This is a plant I can thoroughly recommend especially
plant consisted of about 12 heads in a 3.5inch (approx
for newer growers. I find it a very reliable flowerer and
8cm) pot and was almost certainly rooted from his
the single hooked spine is not as vicious as on some
large pan by Jim Earles, (Secretary of the Eltham
others. I now have three plants in pots ranging from
Branch and a very successful showman).
3–5 inches. I find it the easiest of the Dolicothele
As with many of the yellow-flowered species, under subgenus and, as I group members of a particular
present taxonomic thinking it belongs to the subgenus genus together in the greenhouse, it always stands out
Dolicothele, but I have never seen plants of this amongst its kin. n
species bearing this older generic name. The plant is
Photos: John Hughes
 19

Crassula
streyi
by Carlos Zeferino
A woodland gem with deep green and
red leaves

C rassula streyi occurs in the Oribi Gorge Reserve in

KwaZulu-Natal and the Mkambati Reserve in
Pondoland where it grows on the heavily shaded
sandstone cliffs of the coastal forest in the river
gorges. Both reserves are on or near the coast.
C.streyi always grows in shade, usually on the cliff
faces of the subtropical forests of that area, where it is
found in the moist, humus-rich pockets of soil on the
sandstone, and also in the leaf litter that collects on
the forest floor
Although rare in nature, it propagates easily and makes
an interesting indoor plant.
In the Red List of South African Plants, Crassula streyi
is listed as ‘Rare’. It is known from fewer than five sites
and it is restricted to a specific habitat, but is not
endangered due to its habitat being inaccessible and
within nature reserves.
Initially it was thought to be a form of Crassula
multicava, however it has a few differences. The main
one being that the guttation glands, which form pits on
the leaf surfaces, only occur along the margins of the
leaves and are not scattered on the leaf surfaces.
[Guttation is the exudation of xylem sap on to the tips
or edges of leaves.]
The broadly elliptic succulent leaves are a dark glossy
green on top while the reverse of the leaf is a maroon
to carmine colour giving it a striking appearance. Some
forms have attractive white spots along the veins on
the surface of the leaf. The leaves have a tendency to
become longer as they age.
It is a fairly slow growing plant, reaching approximately
35cms tall. The stems tend to sprawl and shed the
lower leaves as they get older. The lax stems
sometimes send down roots. In May and June it has
dainty terminal clusters of greenish yellow flowers that
are tinged with red.
Crassula streyi continued 20

Crassula streyi

It was originally collected by Mr. R.G. Strey of the indoor pot plant culture. It is not as fast growing or as
National Botanical Research Institute in Durban and robust as Crassula multicava.
named in his honour. The name Crassula comes from
It is easily propagated from stem or leaf cuttings in
the Latin ‘crassus’ meaning ‘thick’, referring to the
trays containing a mixture of equal parts multi-purpose
leaves.
compost and coarse Perlite. The leaves or cuttings
As this plant is only known from a few localities, there should be allowed to dry out for a couple of days
is not much information about it. It is believed that the before inserting them in the mixture.
bright red underside of the leaf enhances the collection
Planted trays should be kept on the dry side in very
of light in the deep shade of the forest floor.
shaded conditions until the new stems appear and
Growing Crassula streyi then they can be potted into pots containing a loose
It can tolerate very low light conditions and has a very well drained mixture and kept in the shade. n
attractive contrast of leaf colours; it is suitable for Photos: Carlos Zeferino

A tray of cuttings New plantlets forming

 21

Tulista pumila
Tulista (Haworthia) pumila (L.) G.D. Rowley (Duval 1809)
(Aloe pumila L. 1753)
by Alan Rollason
A large-growing and handsome Tulista (previously Haworthia) in cultivation
and in habitat

T he species of Tulista pumila, known to

the hobby until recently as Haworthia
pumila, changed its generic name due to
Only four species, T. pumila, T. marginata,
T. minima and T. kingiana are recognised
within Tulista.
phylogenetic findings. These required,
A few other questionable names are
according to Gordon Rowley, that the
sometimes referenced as species including
original genus ‘Tulista’ first described in
T. mortonii by Breuer and T. opalina
1804 should be resurrected for all species
(considered to be a form of T. minima)
formally known in the subgenus
by Hayashi. It should also be recorded
‘Robustipedunculatae’ of Haworthia.

Tulista pumila in
cultivation has
beautiful white
tubercles
Tulista pumila continued 22

that other synonyms can be found in the Cape around Worcester-Robertson Two forms of Tulista
collections apart from Haworthia pumila Karoo up to Laingsburg in the north-east. pumila in cultivation
including maxima, margaritifera and My good friend Jakub Jilemicky, has
papillosa. recorded some 58 different known
The natural distribution of T. pumila in localities for the species to date. It is
South Africa is the south-western part of most common around the Worcester-

Tulista pumila in
cultivation with super
colours
Tulista pumila continued 23

Robertson areas; the further you go north In my experience it is not always the
and east the fewer you find. easiest plant to grow for any length of
Described as the largest growing time, and has a habit of losing its roots,
brownish/green succulent of the certainly in the UK. To re-root it is best to
Haworthia group, it grows some 30cms lie the plant on its side until you see little
plus tall, rarely offsetting. Leaves are nodules appear around the base of the
hard, upright, mainly incurved, usually plant, this may take some weeks or
with large rough off-white tubercles. longer. Once these appear then plant
again in fresh well-drained growing
It is a variable species differing from medium. If all goes well the plant can live
population to population as well as for 40 years or more.
growing conditions, the colour of leaves,
the shape and size of the leaves and the Growing medium is, for me, individual
number of tubercles. Stated as winter preference, from using pumice, peat,
flowering in the Cape, the flowers are on John Innes to sand/gravel, perlite and
a tall, thin, branching inflorescence, with vermiculite, whatever is best for your
slightly pink white tubular flowers. conditions. If the plant seems unhappy,
change it.
Cultivation is best from fresh seed; leaf
propagation is also possible though very Pests are the usual mealy bug and red Tulista pumila from
slow. The plant rarely offsets and only spider mite. When watering be careful Lemoenpoort (see
then with very old plants. not to let the growing point of the plant also the front cover)
Tulista pumila continued 24

get wet for long periods as this can result

in the loss of the growing point with the
plant rotting from the centre. It is best to
feed and water around the plant or from
the bottom.
A few years ago, I was fortunate to go to
South Africa and visit a number of habitat
localities of Tulista pumila and
photograph some wonderful plants which
gave me a better vision of their beauty.
Like all plants the image is in the
photographs, and included with this
article are pictures from detailed habitats
and from cultivation.
Of all the various different forms the ones
that stand out for me are the purple/grey
coloured plants found at Lemoenpoort
(see the previous page and the front
cover).
Another outstanding form is found at
Boelhouer, north of Matjiesfontein, (see
this page), where we saw some of the
largest specimens we found. n

Photos: Alan Rollason

Above left:
Tulista pumila from
Boelhouer, north of
Matjiesfontein,
growing in shade
Left: Tulista pumila
from Boelhouer,
north of
Matjiesfontein,
growing in full sun
 25

Two Florida Harrisias

A photographic introduction to two little-known species
Photos by Daniel Green

T he genus Harrisia was published by Britton in 1908 and named

for James William Harris (1860-1920), an Irish botanist, who
became the Superintendent of Public Gardens and Plantations of
Jamaica. It was previously classified with those columnar cacti of
north and central America which also have nocturnal scented

Above: Harrisia
fragrans in cultivation
in Lake Placid,
Florida, growing in
a 20 gallon container.
Left: Harrisia fragrans
buds
Two Florida Harrisias continued 26

flowers with long tubes. However, it Harrisia fragrans The beautiful flowers
appears from recent DNA studies that Harrisia fragrans can have stems of over a of Harrisia fragrans
Harrisia is more closely allied to South metre long, and sometimes up to five
American cacti such as Trichocereus. metres. Its spines can be as much as 4cms
Florida may not be a US state that is long and its flowers, which open at night
particularly associated with cacti, but there and are sweetly-scented, can be up to
are a number of endemic species there, 20cm across. Its large red fruit is edible
including two Harrisia. with a tangy taste.

Harrisia fragrans with

developing fruit
Two Florida Harrisias continued 27

Above left and right: Harrisia fragrans, a ripe fruit, and the fruit cut open showing the edible flesh inside.

It is found mainly in St. Lucie county (on Harrisia aboriginum

the eastern side of the state), where it The stems of Harrisia aboriginum can be up
prefers to grow in lightly shaded conditions to 6m long, and it grows either upright, or
such as areas of sandy scrub or on coastal sprawling. It will grow in similar habitats to
hammocks. A hammock is an elevated those favoured by H. fragrans, including
stand of hardwood trees, sometimes only coastal hammocks. The specific epithet is
a few inches high, between lower areas derived from the fact that H. aboriginum
which are too wet to support them. Many has also been found growing on pre- Harrisia aboriginum,
of these locations are now heavily Columbian aboriginal shell mounds. The with the Gulf of
fragmented due to development, and purpose of these mounds is not altogether Mexico in the
H. fragrans is listed as endangered. clear but they were probably built by the background
Two Florida Harrisias continued 28

Harrisia aboriginum growing in wood land and, right, showing the developing tip

Calusa Indians, who lived in the south-west These photos were taken in Sarasota County
of what is now Florida, and used shells for in the south-west of Florida, in May 2012.
tools, jewellery and ornaments for their Unfortunately the plants were not in flower,
shrines. but they were developing ripe fruits. n

Harrisia aboriginum with fruit

 29

Aeoniums
Growing them and knowing them
by Elizabeth Maddock
A detailed introduction to cultivating these popular plants in the UK and some
stunning habitat photographs

A eoniums grow mainly in the Canary Growing them Aeonium undulatum

Islands (to the west of the coast of Aeoniums are winter growers in the Canary
Morocco), Madeira and parts of Africa. Islands and Madeira where there is winter
Since I acquired my first Aeonium I have rain but little during the rest of the year,
collected many more and visited the although there is limited moisture from
Canary Islands and Madeira many times water that condenses on the tops of the
to see them growing in their natural habitat; highest mountains.
a wonderful sight as they grow large and
in large numbers. I have managed to Spring in the UK is very much like their
collect some seed as well and, as a result, Canary Island winters and the UK summer
I have amassed a considerable collection. is more like their spring, so they adjust well
I have refined how I grow them and this to our climate. I put them outside in spring
introduction to the genus includes an after the frosts have finished and bring
account of my yearly routine. them back inside in autumn. I use a cold
Aeoniums, growing them and knowing them continued 30

frame as a halfway house, as this is useful greenhouse, it gets protection and heat Aeonium goochiae
to put them in when it gets very wet during from the house. I put them next to the
early spring, and in September when it house wall and water them enough to keep
cools and can be wet before the arrival of them damp. This stops them losing the
winter in November/December mass of leaves that they would if kept dry,
and gives them a good start in spring to
Winter
take off and flower.
In the UK I try to keep them ticking over in
my greenhouse over winter. I do this by Spring
keeping it above freezing with a fan heater, In spring as the days warm up and become
some insulation and, as it is also a lean-to longer, and the nights are not freezing, I

Aeonium aureum (Greenovia aurea)

Aeoniums, growing them and knowing them continued 31

increase watering. Eventually, I put them

outside once night temperatures stay
above 5°C and water them when they have
dried out. I feed them occasionally, too; a
couple of times in spring and maybe once
in autumn.
Summer
When we get a few weeks of extra heat in
summer some species will show signs of
wanting to go dormant. There are those
that will curl up and die if you water them
at this time, notably Aeonium tabuliforme
and all the ones formerly known as
greenovias, G. aizoon, G. aureum,
G. diplocyclum and G. dodrentale. These
are not watered and left to go dormant;
usually they curl up their leaves and
become tight. Most are happier and look
better, in my opinion, if you do not water
them at this time.
Autumn
Come September I water them all more
generously and put them back into the
greenhouse as it begins to cool down. They
most definitely liven up and come back into

Above: Aeonium tabuliforme Above right: Aeonium glandulosum. These are both species which grow on cliff faces
Aeoniums, growing them and knowing them continued 32

growth at this time and this watering will

continue until the coldness of winter starts
to strike. Then I start to reduce watering
until they are no more than damp.
If you do not have access to a heated
greenhouse, then you can keep them in a
cold greenhouse. In this case keep them
dry over winter, watering them when the
days and nights are warmer, usually from
March until June or early July; after which
the ones that go dormant should be left
un-watered as above. The rest just need a
little water to keep them ticking over, no
prolonged soaking. Once September has
arrived you can start watering them all
again, until they have to go into the
greenhouse, where they should be left to
dry out.
Otherwise you can keep them indoors over
winter and water as for a heated remarkably varied, with distinct types that Aeonium sedifolium
greenhouse. Do try to get them outside at grow on every island, including the Canary
least from May until September, they grow Islands, Madeira and the Cape Verde
better with improved colour and strength, islands, as well as eastern Africa.
much more as they would in nature. Aeonium tabuliforme is flat, growing off the
Knowing them face of cliffs and can reach the size of a
Aeoniums are known mostly through the dinner plate. Similarly the Madeiran
many hybrids of Aeonium arboreum Aeonium glandulosum grows on cliff sides
‘Zwartkop’. However, aeoniums are and is nearly flat, too.

Aeonium leucoblepharum Both the two species illustrated on this page show pronounced tannic stripes
Aeoniums, growing them and knowing them continued 33

Aeonium haworthii with small rosettes

Aeonium sedifolium, is a shrubby branched

plant with rosettes at most 3cms in
diameter. With good light it produces tannic
stripes, thick red lines running along the
leaves. Aeonium leucoblepharum is from
East Africa and the Yemen, with thick
leaves on shrubby branches, and
pronounced tannic stripes when grown in
full sun.
Aeonium simsii has small rosettes and
leaves that can have short tannic stripes
and very hairy leaf edges, called cilia.
Aeonium smithii has very hairy stems, small
rosettes and leaves that have a very hairy
edge. Other small-rosetted aeoniums are
A. haworthii, A. decorum, A. spathulatum
and A. castello-paivae, all have rosettes
about 5-8cms across and form small
branched shrubs with thin woody stems.
There are also very large ones, with
rosettes 30cms or more across, including
A. canariense with varieties canariense
(from Tenerife), palmense (La Palma),
subplanum (La Gomera) and virgineum
(Gran Canaria), A. appendiculatum,
A. nobile and A. cuneatum all of which are
mostly stemless. Aeonium simsii with small rosettes and very hairy leaf edges
Aeoniums, growing them and knowing them continued 34

Aeonium canariense var. canariense, with magnificent large rosettes but stemless

There are some that are large and have tall I find the plants beautiful in their own right
stems, such as A. ciliatum, A. undulatum and in their own habitat quite astounding.
and A. urbicum. They branch mainly from As with all plants they look their best in
the base, except A. urbicum which has a their natural setting. n
solitary rosette. Photos: Elizabeth Maddock

Aeonium ciliatum. This, like A. undulatum, has large rosettes borne on stems
 35

When things
go wrong
by Alan Tuppen

It may be thought that experienced, long-time growers of cacti and succulents have
only perfect plants in their greenhouses. I can assure you that even the best growers
have their disasters, and lose plants to pests, disease and accident.

Ihave only a small collection, so you might

think this would mean I can easily keep
on top of any problems that could arise,
is for things to escape notice and you find
you have a dead plant or an outbreak of
pests.
but I have to admit that I have suffered all
Pests – small and large
of these despite growing cacti and
succulents for around 60 years now. What will come to mind first will probably
be mealy bug (including root mealy bug)
Maybe I just don't learn! (Figs. 1 and 2). To avoid this, strict
This is one reason to have more than one quarantine of new plants should be
of something you especially value. Things observed if possible, until you can be sure
go wrong, and in so many ways. Some are the plant is uninfected. If a plant is bought
failures of attention, some of cultivation, in winter, the mealy bug may only become
and the bigger the collection, the easier it active when the greenhouse warms up in

Fig. 1 Mealy bug on Matucana polzii Fig. 2 Mealy bug on an orchid stem

Root mealy bug is smaller and, as its name suggests, is found on the roots of plants, together with its eggs.
When things go wrong continued 36

Fig.3 Red spider mite damage on Sulcorebutia Fig.4 Red spider mite damage on a Lophophora
hoffmannii

spring, so be especially vigilant then. You It is becoming more and more difficult to
may think you have cleared them all, but treat these pests and others as effective
you may have missed eggs, so wait until insecticides are removed from sale on
they have had time to hatch before putting environmental and health and
Pests
the plant into the collection. safety grounds, meaning an eagle
eye and swift action are our best
Red spider mite is the next worst pest, l Mealy bug
protection.
often gaining hold and ruining a good plant l Root mealy bug
before it is noticed. Because they are only If slugs get into a greenhouse they
l Red spider mite
just visible to the naked eye the damage are not much threat to spiny
terrestrial cacti, but they will attack l Slugs and snails
they do may be the first sign of them;
followed, on branching plants, by fine the soft growing points of l Mice
webbing around the growing tips (Figs 3 spineless ones, also epiphytes and l Sciarid flies
and 4). If it is caught early and stopped, succulents such as Lithops.
the damage may be limited and grow out, Similarly mice, so make sure there
but that can take many years. Sometimes are no gaps big enough for them to get
red spider mite affects only a plant’s in. A mouse recently got into my
offsets, which can be removed to save the greenhouse for the first time. I set a trap
plant. Nearby conifers are a source of and caught it, but not before it had caused
infection, as are tomatoes, which always damage to several plants (Fig. 5). Sheet
get red spider mite at the end of the aluminium and expanding foam were used
season when grown in the greenhouse. to close up any entry points.

Fig. 5 Mouse damage to two Lophophora seedlings

When things go wrong continued 37

The only other pests that are likely to do Viruses

much damage are sciarid flies, the larvae of Viruses attack plants just as they do other
which are a real threat to small seedlings. organisms and, in cacti and succulents,
Wherever possible avoid peat-based can cause stunting, malformation,
composts which sciarids love. Some blotchiness and discolouration. I wondered
commercial growers use peat-based, or why new growths on my Cumulopuntia
other forms of soilless compost, for cacti pentlandii were tuning black (Fig.
because they are light and make the plants 6) until a grower who had seen Viruses
cheaper and easier to transport. Repot any these plants in habitat said he had
plants acquired in this soilless compost as seen the same thing there, and Viruses can cause:
soon as you can. This gives you a chance that it was a virus infection.
to inspect the roots for pests at the same l Stunting
time. Early detection of pests is where a I have an Acanthocalycium l Malformation
small collection is advantageous as, when thionanthum that has a similar
l Blotchiness
watering each plant individually, it is easier problem (Fig. 7). I have removed
and rooted a healthy looking offset l Discolouration
to check them over at the same time and
spot something before it can become and will wait to see if it will l Corkiness
serious. reoccur.

Fig. 6 Virus infection on Cumulopuntia pentlandii Fig. 7 Virus infection on Acanthocalycium thionanthum

Fig. 8 Nopalxochia phyllanthoides with spots possibly Fig. 9 A badly marked Echinocereus triglochidiatus
caused by a latent virus
When things go wrong continued 38

Fig. 10 Splitting on Conophytum filiformis

The stems of Nopalxochia phyllanthoides watered with hard tapwater. Regular

get dark, sunken spots that only develop repotting helps anyway to avoid stale
when the plant gets old and loses vigour compost, which seems to affect some
(Fig. 8). This is thought to be a latent virus plants more than others. In my experience,
that only shows in weakened plants. This is echinocerei suffer particularly by marking
the time to take healthy cuttings and
discard the original plant. It may be that the
excessive corkiness shown by some
plants, e.g. Echinocereus (Fig. 9) may also
be a virus, and maintaining vigorous growth
is the way to keep it at bay.
If you find a plant with a virus infection, it is
best to remove it from the collection,
discard it, dispose of the compost and
sterilise the pot. At the very least, keep
infected plants away from the main
collection. Bear in mind also that viruses
can be spread – one should also sterilise
any knife used to cut or prune your plants.
Finally pests, especially slugs, that damage
the epidermis of a plant may also introduce
a virus.
Mistakes
Errors of cultivation are more avoidable. We
have most control over watering. Plants
should never be left standing in
water. Some plants, e.g. Conophytum
filiformis, can split if watered too much at a
time (Fig. 10). I even split the stem of
Leuchtenbergia principis, though it has
grown out now and is no longer noticeable
(Fig. 11).
Where possible use rainwater for watering.
If your water supply is hard, regular
repotting may help; you can see the crusty Fig. 11 Healed trunk of Leuchtenbergia principis
build-up of lime around the rim of plants
When things go wrong continued 39

and developing corky stems, even though I

use rainwater.
Over-wintering in the greenhouse
For those plants that need to be absolutely
dry at the roots over winter, such as
Ariocarpus, I pot them into clay pots, then
put the clay pot into a plastic one for the
growing season. It can then be removed for
the winter, to let the roots dry out.
I have found that plants in large plastic
pots can stay damp at the roots right
through winter. In winter my greenhouse
does not get any sun until the late
afternoon because of big trees on adjacent
land to the south. This means that the air in
winter can get quite damp, especially
during a long wet spell. This can lead to
plants that exude nectar at the areoles
developing sooty mould there (e.g.
Maihueniopsis mandragora, Ferocactus
fordii) which disfigures the plant, so that
ventilation and/or air circulation becomes
Fig.12 Multi-headed Mammillaria hahniana, resulting from
necessary. If you have space, or an damage caused by a drip
accommodating spouse, bringing such
plants into the house for the winter can be Ventilation is especially important if you use
an option. I have to do this with my paraffin for heating, because of the water
Cyphostemma bainesii as, when watering is vapour produced. Electric heating is more
stopped and the leaves fall, the cool expensive, but safer for your plants, unless
dampness of the greenhouse means that you suffer a power cut!
grey mould can develop on the leaf scars
and lead to dieback, which can only be Another point to consider in the winter, for
stopped by unsightly amputation. those plants that need water such as
epiphytes, conophytums and tylecodons, is
I also find that, because Ariocarpus flower to make sure the water is not too cold.
so late in the season, by the time the Either store some water in the greenhouse,
flowers are over, the floral remains cannot so that it is at the ambient temperature, or
dry out properly and they can develop add a little hot water to take the chill off.
mould that can travel down into the plant.
I learned this the hard way when I lost an Although many of our plants can tolerate
Ariocarpus agavoides I had grown from lower temperatures than the literature
seed, after its first flowering. For this suggests, there are many that cannot, and
reason it is a good practice to remove all it is a good idea to check before acquiring
easily removed floral remains so that they
cannot be a focus for mould or rot. But if
they will not come off easily, do not force
them, as the plant could become damaged
and still rot.
This is also when it is important to get the
bubble plastic installed before the cold
weather sets in. From late October it can
still get warm in the greenhouse, but as
soon as the sun starts to go down, the
moisture in the air condenses out on to the
glass, and can drip off the roof panes. I
have an old Mammillaria hahniana, which
should be solitary, but it received a drip to
the growing point one winter that turned to
rot, needing drastic surgery, so that I now Fig. 13 Cryptocereus marked by low temperatures
have a multi headed plant (Fig 12).
When things go wrong continued 40

a new plant whether it needs temperatures very quickly, making good ventilation
you are not able to maintain. I cannot keep essential. If your greenhouse does not have
melocacti or Matucana madisoniorum for enough vents, a fan to circulate the air can
this reason, and be helpful.
some epiphytes,
Similarly, watering
especially
Cryptocereus and
...in habitat the air is always in hot weather is
best done in the
Epiphyllum species in motion, even if it’s only a evening for two
can be seriously
light breeze. reasons. First, so
marked by low
that the plants can
temperatures, or
take up the water
die, (Fig 13).
overnight and
Scorch second, so there is no risk of water
In contrast, the hottest part of the summer droplets getting on to the plant body. A
can bring problems which are equally water droplet can act as a lens in the sun
serious. Ventilation is just as important. We and cause a burn mark, so if you water
imagine plants growing in 45°C and think with a hose take great care.
they can cope in our greenhouses, but in It may seem that so many things
habitat the air is always in motion, even if can go wrong it is a wonder any of our
it’s only a light breeze. In our greenhouses plants survive, but a little attention and
the air can be motionless, with local thought go a long way, and even the most
hotspots leading to some plants being experienced growers are happy to give
scorched. This may not kill the plant but advice.
will spoil its looks for years until the Fig. 14 Scorch
damage grows out (Fig 14). In this respect And after all, the rewards of a well-looked
marks, gradually
a small greenhouse is worse than a large after collection make it all worth while. n growing out, on a
one as, in hot sun, temperatures can soar Photos: Alan Tuppen Gymnocalycium
 41

Mammillaria formosa
and friends
by Chris Davies

Or why you can never have too many Mammillaria formosa

W hen I was starting to specialise my collection

around a core of Mammillaria, I did not really think
much of Mammillaria formosa. What I saw in the
or simply at field collection number level. So I am
going to use for this article the names that were used
in the original descriptions, though it seems they are all
various nurseries that I frequented was a fairly uniform M. formosa.
species which grew well and flowered nicely, albeit
with fairly small flowers. Typically the seed from which
these plants were grown probably came from De Herdt Mammillaria is a very large genus, perhaps
or Mesa Garden. the largest in the Cactaceae, and botanists
As I have learnt more about the genus, its species and have produced a structure which brings
their variability, as well as having travelled fairly widely together related species.
in Mexico, my view of this species has changed. It is These are called Series, and these
one of the most widespread of mammillarias, and as a themselves are broken down into Groups.
result highly variable in form, spination, flower colours,
and the amount of its wool. Mammillaria formosa belongs to

I am neither a ‘lumper’ nor a ‘splitter’ when it comes to l Series Leucocephalae,

classifications, as species is a construct created by our meaning white-headed,
human need to define things clearly, and nature, of l which itself comprises two groups of
course, is not quite so prescriptive. I think that if a species,
geographically distinct population of plants exhibit
consistent characters not present elsewhere then they l Geminispina Group
should have some recognition for that distinction. Such l Sempervivi Group.
recognition could be at species level, subspecies level

Fig. 1 Mammillaria sempervivi SB91 Fig. 2 Mammillaria sempervivi

Valley of Metztitlán, Hidalgo Near San Gilo
Mammillaria formosa and friends continued 42

Fig. 3 Mammillaria formosa subsp. pseudocrucigera Fig. 4 Mammillaria formosa subsp. chionocephala
Queretaro and Guanajuato Typical of plants from Coahuila or northern Nuevo Leon

In this article I will look at the Sempervivi group. This plants do exhibit a small number of very short radial
contains just two species, one with four subspecies spines (Fig. 2). In his book ‘Mammillaria’, John Pilbeam
according to the last work by the late Dr David Hunt, suggests that Mammillaria formosa subsp.
the CITES Cactaceae Checklist CCC3. pseudocrucigera is a link from typical M. formosa
forms to M. sempervivi. My limited observation of the
l Mammillaria sempervivi
populations around San Gilo suggests to me that this
l Mammillaria formosa subsp. formosa might be where this transition starts.
l Mammillaria formosa subsp. chionocephala Mammillaria formosa subsp pseudocrucigera
l Mammillaria formosa subsp. microthele The neighbouring states of Queretaro and Guanajuato
are where Mammillaria formosa subsp.
l Mammillaria formosa subsp. pseudocrucigera
pseudocrucigera can be found.
The four subspecies structure for M. formosa hides a
It was described in Craig as being solitary, body up to
number of ‘names’, some of which I use in the
9cm across, with up to 18 very short somewhat
following text.
dehiscent radial, and 2-6 central spines, white with
Mammillaria sempervivi black tips, and significant axillary wool. The flowers are
We will start our journey in the valley of Metztitlán in pale pink with white margins. An example is shown
the state of Hidalgo. In the hills to the north and west above (Fig.3).
of Venados we first find Mammillaria sempervivi. The Mammillaria formosa subsp chionocephala
form here is one of tightly packed angled tubercles,
At the very northern end of the distribution range of
bearing usually no more than four white
M. formosa we have the subspecies M. formosa subsp.
central/subcentral spines, tipped brown, the lower one
chionocephala. The subspecies name relates to the
slightly longer than the other three, together forming a
large amount of white wool that is present in the axils
typical cruciform shape. The flowers have clear yellow
of the upper part of the plant. It can be found as far
petals, the sepals having a dull pink line, and yellow
north as Coahuila, and ranges into Durango and Nuevo
stigma and style.
Leon. It is perhaps slower growing than the species,
These forms can be found commercially under Steven and certainly that would appear to be the situation
Brack’s collection number SB91, (Fig. 1) and are judging from plants in my collection. It has variously
significant because of the flower colour and the lack of been given species names of M. ritteriana and
any shorter thinner radial spines. The axils produce M. caerula, the former being rather less prolific in
wool, especially so in the flowering zone. In habitat production of wool. Examples of this subspecies from
they rarely offset, but they can do so in cultivation, Coahuila and northern Nuevo Leon tend to possess the
although my 25 year-old SB91 has not done so. most wool, and in my judgement are the best plants to
Plants which fit the general description of head for (Fig. 4).
M. sempervivi can be found a relatively short distance Mammillaria formosa subsp microthele
away towards the town of San Gilo. These plants are a Between these two outposts of the M. formosa group
good match for those near Venados except that over a we have an area nearly 300 miles north to south and
relatively short distance the plants tend to possess perhaps 50–100 miles in width. In this area, covering
flowers that are pinker rather than yellow, and those the states of San Luis Potosi, southern Tamaulipas and
Mammillaria formosa and friends continued 43

Fig. 5 Mammillaria formosa subsp. microthele Fig. 6 Mammillaria formosa subsp. microthele
A young single-headed plant A much older plant of the smoother form

southern Nuevo Leon, we find the species and the last into two. In cultivation you can find two forms of the
of the subspecies, Mammillaria formosa subsp. plant, one with a very smooth appearance, and one
microthele. which looks just a bit rougher in outline. This is just
down to variations in length of spines and degree of
This subspecies is immediately recognisable from its
appression to the plant body. Both forms grow in
small and densely packed areoles, its covering of
similar ways. Above left shows a young single-headed
closely appressed white spines, and its propensity for
plant (Fig. 5) and on the right an older plant of the
dichotomous division. You would not grow this plant
smoother form which has divided dichotomously
for its flowers, which are pale cream to white and
several times (Fig. 6).
relatively small. However its seed pods stick upright
like small candles, on which many visitors to my Mammillaria formosa subsp formosa
greenhouse have remarked. So, now to the species itself.
Apart from the flower colour, I feel that it has more in Mammillaria formosa subsp. formosa is widespread
common with Mammillaria perbella than M. formosa, with reports coming from the states of San Luis Potosi,
though the botanists have put M. perbella in the as well as Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and even
M. geminispina group and M. formosa and all its Aguascalientes, Zacatecas and Guanajuato. As you will
subspecies in the M. sempervivi group. In growth it immediately see, there is considerable overlap of this
appears to come fairly easily from seed, and then with the distribution of the other subspecies, and this
tends to slow down a bit, putting on weight and size immediately makes me question whether reports in
until about 6–7cms in diameter, at which point the some of these areas are correctly attributed. I think the
growing point will elongate and the plant slowly divides problem is that with such a large distribution area you

Fig. 7 Mammillaria formosa subsp. formosa Fig. 8 Mammillaria formosa subsp. formosa
A typical plant from Guadalcazar, in San Luis Potosi Described as Mammillaria eumorpha
Mammillaria formosa and friends continued 44

Fig. 9 Mammillaria formosa subsp. formosa ROG 326 Fig. 10 Mammillaria formosa subsp. formosa
originally described as Mammillaria vonwyssiana from the state of Zacatecas

will get variations from the original formal description. Another form of the species is Mammillaria eumorpha,
It is really a matter of judgement as to how significant also from the state of San Luis Potosi. To me this
the variation is from the original description. This is seems to have some of the characters of both the
why I prefer to grow plants which have some locality species and its subspecies M. formosa subsp.
data, even though after multiple generations of ex-situ pseudocrucigera. It mostly lacks the radial spines,
propagation the original character might have become although they are produced on very young tubercles,
blurred. they soon drop off. The axils are woollier than in the
typical species form, and in some plants with good
The original description of M. formosa was made in
light can totally crown the top of the plant. The flowers
1838, and is of a plant whose body is solitary,
are similar though with a more pronounced pink mid
sometimes clustering with age. Stems depressed
stripe and an overall more iridescent sheen to the
globose to short cylindrical, light green, 15–20 cm
petals. The plant was found by Reppenhagen near Villa
(5.7–7.9 in) high, 9–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in) or more in
del Reyes, in San Luis Potosi and described a number
diameter. There are typically 20–22 radial spines,
of years later in the AfM Journal (Fig. 8).
sometimes absent, thin, needle- or bristle-like,
sometimes flattened, white, 3–6mm (to 0.2 in) long). There are some more extreme examples of the species
The central spines number 4–7, usually 6, pinkish with such as the one above on the left (Fig. 9). This is a very
darker tips, to 8mm (0.3 in) long. The flower is pale tightly spined plant, with more radials than typical, and
pink or pale yellow, 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) in diameter. just a single darker upwards pointing central spine.
This plant comes with the field number of ROG 326,
That certainly does not conjure up a single image of a
and was found near Cerritos in San Luis Potosi. This is,
plant, which we can hang on to in our minds and easily
I believe, exactly the same plant as that called
say ‘that’s M. formosa’. What it does do is to describe
M. vonwyssiana, which was dismissed as a valid
a variable species, and one which encompasses quite
species because of a lack of habitat information,
a wide range of forms. To show some examples will
although it was published some time ago in Schweiz.
perhaps reinforce this, so the following pictures are all
Gart. 1945, 171. It has been put into synonymy with
plants which are M. formosa subsp. formosa and show
several other species including M. parkinsonii and,
why, for the fanatical Mammillaria collector, you can
more recently by Hunt, into M. perbella. I have had a
never have too many.
plant since 1991, which has remained single and
First what for me is the typical form of the species, relatively small, still in a 3.5inch pot, though it has been
which is found mainly in the state of San Luis Potosi. It topped once as a result of lignification of the base.
is generally a flattened globe, darker green than some
The plant on the right above is an example of the
mammillarias, with 15 to 20 short white radial spines,
species from the state of Zacatecas. It is pretty similar
distributed equally around the areole, and two to four
in most respects, and just illustrates how widespread
central spines, thicker than the radials and often darker
this species is (Fig. 10).
tipped. The flowers vary from pale yellow or cream to
pale pink. Rarely do you find plants of M. formosa with Further north, in the state of Tamaulipas a plant was
six central spines as per the description. Two centrals described under the name of Mammillaria brauneana.
only are quite common. The plant shown on the This turns out to be a form of M. formosa of course,
previous page is an example from Guadalcazar, in San and one that perhaps is only significant in that this
Luis Potosi (Fig. 7). form has typically four central spines, arranged in a
Mammillaria formosa and friends continued 45

Fig. 11 Mammillaria formosa subsp. formosa Fig.12 Mammillaria formosa subsp. formosa
Described as Mammillaria brauneana Described as Mammillaria arrroyensis

cross formation, and flowers that are more yellow than larger flowers it is a form worth growing (Fig. 12).
pink. It is shown above on the left (Fig. 11).
I hope I have shown you some of the variations in this
Around the town of Dr. Arroyo in Nuevo Leon a plant widespread species which, together with its
was found and, perhaps not surprisingly, described as subspecies, can make a nice little collection. n
Mammillaria arroyensis, although it was soon dismissed
Photos courtesy of Maurizio Lenzi’s Mammillarias from A to
into synonymy. It differs little from the typical
Z on the Mammillaria Society Forum
M. formosa, though with 2-4 central spines and slightly

Sedum farinosum, a red-listed species

by Ray Stephenson

It is wrong to think that all sedums are easy outdoor it close to S. anglicum. I must say that, except for
plants. Sedum farinosum comes from the highest bits sharing pale rose-tinted white flowers I did not see the
of Madeira. Back in the 1920s, Praeger said he thought similarity but the latest DNA studies show him to be
perfectly correct in his assumption!
I have managed to kill this plant on two previous
occasions. It dislikes hot greenhouse conditions but is
not hardy in Northumberland. The Royal Botanic
Garden, Edinburgh did manage to keep a little colony
outdoors on a south-facing slope for three years but a
bad winter wiped it out.
I have passed bits on to everyone I know who may
keep it going, in the hope they can pass a bit back if
mine fails. It is a red-listed plant so legally cannot be
sold but this is a poor way of preserving the species.
Three Sedum species in addition to this one grow on
this Atlantic island: one is almost extinct but this and
the other two are yellow-flowered and appear, although
closely related to each other, only very distantly related
to S. farinosum. The biggest shock of all is that the
three yellow-flowered species seem to have their
closest relatives in America NOT Europe!
Photo: Ray Stephenson
 46

Fig. 1 Lesley in a rare wide gap

between the stone walls

The hidden gardens

of Eze
by Rick Gillman
A little-known gem on the Côte d’Azur in France

E ach year, my wife (Lesley) and I go

away somewhere different for our
wedding anniversary which falls in mid-
a beautiful little village. To
get there, we took a short
but exhausting uphill walk
summer. In 2019 we chose a short break in from our hotel, on a
Monaco, a very expensive choice, but I had sunny 28°C day, to
always wanted to go there to ‘see how the catch a bus to the
other half lives’ and, in particular, to see village.
Les Jardins Exotiques – but that’s a
We arrived a little later
different story.
in the village of Eze.
The village of Eze Disembarking, we
Several people had suggested we make were dismayed with what we
the trip to Eze, just west of Monaco on the saw. One main road, an
Cote d’Azur in France, telling us that it was uninspiring café, two bus stops Fig. 2 Part of the drinks menu at
(one on each side of the road), ‘Le Cactus’ restaurant
The hidden gardens of Eze continued 47

Fig. 3 View from inside the gardens looking back to the entrance

a couple of building sites, and a hill this was soon ruled out based on the
leading up to a what looked like a likely huge expense, and the fact that
monastery. We didn’t fancy the walk up none were available anyway!
the hill, so we had a coffee and took a
We then decided on a slow walk up the
look around the tourist shop, but didn’t
hill to take a look at the ancient
buy anything. We crossed the road to
building. On the
the bus stop to take us back to
way up
Monaco, but were horrified to find that
the next bus was in three hours’ time.
We considered a taxi but

Fig. 4 An Agave, a banana palm and a cycad. Above is a

seat for an almost inaccessible viewing point!
The hidden gardens of Eze continued 48

we found a few more tourist shops, this craft shops tucked here and there,
time with plenty of interesting products eventually stopping at a little restaurant for
mostly made by local artisans. What we a light lunch (Fig. 2). It was then that I
discovered at the end (or so we thought) of noticed some people queueing to
the walk was a stunning ancient village, pay some money to get into an
originally a castle, dating from the 14th attraction. It was the
century. We followed a maze of narrow botanical gardens at Eze.
stone paths (Fig. 1) We could not see much
which meandered without entering and did
between ancient not expect to see much
buildings with thereafter, but we went in
wonderful anyway (Fig.3).

Fig. 5 View of steep cliffs and the Mediterranean Sea

The hidden gardens of Eze continued 49

Figs 6 and 7 Typical views of the garden

The hidden gardens of Eze continued 50

Fig. 8 A rest area, but how do we get down there?

Inside the gardens gardens were much more extensive than I

I was amazed to find a large botanical had expected and, although not as large as
garden carved into the cliffs overlooking those in nearby Monaco, had a more
the Mediterranean Sea towards Nice relaxed feel.
(Fig. 5). Wow! Not only that, it was full of There were quite a few educational and fun
cacti and succulents! (Figs. 6 and 7) items (Figs. 9 and
We entered the gardens near the top of the 10), and although
precipitous cliffs (Fig. 4), and having many of the plants
explored that area, set off to see where the were labelled many
steps and paths below led to (Fig. 8). The were not.

Fig. 9 A sign explaining the difference between Agaves and Aloes. There Fig. 10 A rubbish bin assures you of where
was another explaining the difference between cacti and the other you are!
succulents
The hidden gardens of Eze continued 51

Fig. 11 A mesemb at home on the cliffs Fig. 12 Haworthia limifolia has its own private patch

The gardens have been there since the species are duplicated here and there
1940s, meaning that there are now lots of throughout the gardens. Quite a lot of the
large plants (Fig. 13) as well as smaller plants do not have labels, but for most
plants (Figs. 11 and 12). Many of the larger visitors this does not really matter.

Fig. 13 Some Astrophytum ornatum and X Kroenleinia grusonii nestled amongst various succulents
The hidden gardens of Eze continued 52

Fig. 14 A tropical area with a large Cycad and a Fig tree

In addition to cacti and other

succulents, there are plenty of
other interesting ‘exotic’ plants
to admire (Fig. 14).
Entry to the gardens is free for
children under 12, and only €6
for adults in peak season and
they are well worth spending an
hour or two in.
One last image to finish –
Lesley points out a heart-
shaped cladode on Opuntia
microdasys. This was quite
appropriate as it was our
anniversary. n
Photos: Rick Gillman
 53

Stay safe and well during the Coronavirus pandemic