The Mad Professah Lectures

For the second sunday in a row, MadProfessah is spending Sunday night at the Hollywood Bowl. Last week I saw Janelle Monae (with surprise guest Stevie Wonder!) and tonight I'm going to see Robyn  and RÖYKSOPP!

On the plane back from Barbados to Miami on May 30, 2013

Five years ago marriage equality was in effect in California and I got married to my Other Half on August 8, 2008. So, today is my 5th wedding anniversary and is the first time since then that other same-sex couples can also get legally married in California, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Hollingsworth. Generally, this is the only day of the year I post pictures of The Other Half. There are previous pictures for our 4th anniversary, our 2nd anniversary, and our 1st anniversary.

According to About.com, the traditional wedding anniversary gift for the 5th anniversary is wood, while the modern 5th anniversary gift is silverware.

Happy 5th anniversary, husband!

more...

It's that time of year again! Last year I went off to Europe in May. The year before that I went to Cape Town, South Africa. Starting Wednesday May 15th until Thursday May 30th, I am officially on vacation. I am going to be visiting the Caribbean (Grenada, where I was born, and Barbados, where I went to secondary school). My husband is going as well, and it will be his first time in the Caribbean.

It should be a great trip!

I will have access to wireless internet and will of course bring devices with me but blogging will definitely be lighter than usual, maybe one post per day. My biggest peeve is that I will have to wait until I get back to see (S3E08) "Second Sons" episode of Game of Thrones.

Me and my husband in front of the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy (May 2012)

Today is my 4th wedding anniversary. On 08/08/08 I got legally married in California, before Proposition 8 passed, preventing other same-sex couples from doing so. Of course, it's somewhat silly just to say it's my 4th wedding anniversary since we have been registered domestic partners in California since 1999 and lived together since 1994 and a couple since 1991! Posting pictures of us together has become a regular tradition of this blog (2009, 2010, 2011), although generally this is the only day where you will see actual pictures of The Other Half.

But there ya go, the state of California only recognizes our marriage as legal and valid from August 8, 2008. I wonder when the United States will do so (when DOMA is struck down sometime in 2013!)

August 8th happens to be Roger Federer's birthday, so it's an easy date for me to remember :)

​Eriosyce paucicostata ​ssp ​floccosa​ is reportedly known only from the region of Blanco Encalada in the coastal mountains of Antofagasta, Chile. It has been known under many synonyms, especially ​Neoporteria floccosa ​and ​Neochil​enia floccosa.

This young specimen has white spines and wool obscuring the green body. Some individuals are not covered quite so completely.

Flowers have the appearance of antique paper, with the outer petals a darker pink, fading to pale pink for the inner petals.


Eriosyce paucicostata ssp floccosa are noted for long hairs under the flowers. Full grown plants look somewhat different, but the plant pictured in habitat is just as completely covered by long spines, wool, and hairs. (This photo is at cactushabitat.com.)

Continuing the theme of "odd miniatures", Copiapoa hypogaea is a spiral, brown or bronzed disc-shaped cactus, 3 or 4cm in the wild or larger 7cm in cultivation.

The pictured plant shows the larger, luxurious, 7cm size of its cushy lifestyle. In habitat, most of the body is under the ground's surface. Spines are small and relatively harmless. Some individuals lack spines entirely. Flowers are yellow and reportedly somewhat fragrant, though I didn't notice much fragrance wafting from the pictured plant.

More unusual is the 'Lizard Skin' variety with a wrinkly epidermis found in only one of the two subpopulations of C hypogaea in the wild. Pictured here is the more typical variety.
 
Native to area near Chañaral (Coastal Chile, 02 Antofagasta).

Active today is this lovely Coryphantha palmeri, native to Chihuahua, Durango, and Tamaulipas, Mexico.


Reported used in shamanic rituals, Coryphantha palmeri makes a nice container specimen, too.

I've had mixed results with genus Astrophytum. I've lost some of these cacti to mysterious, chunk-devouring pests—I suspect rats, but it could be squirrels or birds. I've lost others to rot… perhaps underwatering, dead roots, and then rot growing on the dead roots.

This individual Astrophytum cv 'Onzuka' is doing really well so far. It overshadows its 3-inch pot with a full 3.5-inch diameter. I'll repot it soon. I've heard from an advanced grower that he cuts off the taproot at a certain age, forcing the stem to grow smaller, less rot-prone roots. Sounds radical but I seem to recall he claimed everyone in Japan does this.

It's hard not to like Astrophytum cv 'Onzuka'. It has strange, white-speckled skin, its body is oddly geometric, and its flower is understated but beautiful.



Speaking of Japan, that's where this justifiably popular cultivar of Astrophytum myriostigma is said to originate.

Bolivian cactus Rebutia neocumingii was known under genus name Weingartia from its description by Backeberg in 1950 until Weingartia was combined under Rebutia by Hunt in 1987. Its flowers can be yellow, orange or red depending on locality. It's normally solitary and unbranched, though the individual pictured is sprouting additional heads. Typically this species has much longer spines; this plant was obtained as form brevispina. It is about 7.5 cm across; at full growth, it can reach 10cm across and up to 20cm in height.

Rebutia neocumingii obrtained as Weingartia neocumingii brevispina. Plant grown and photographed by Mr Sentient Meat.

Returning from a month-long hiatus, I worried many Sentient Meat plants would be dead. Luckily I had few casualties, and many of the survivors put on noticeable growth in my absence. Since spring is the most active season, many are now in riotous flower... like today's Parodia microsperma.

This plant was obtained without a label, and I had believed it was Parodia herzogii. Consulting Anderson The Cactus Family and other references, I learned this is not wrong, but the accepted name for this type is Parodia microsperma. I also learned this type has been published under literally dozens of different name, all likely synonyms for this basic species.

It has a reputation as a showy plant, and this individual indeed puts on a show. Flowers range from yellow to deep orange (like this one) and even blood-red.

Parodia microsperma and its many synonyms are native to southern Bolivia and northern Argentina.

Turbinicarpus valdezianus is one of the smallest and slowest-growing cactus—small even within genus Turbinicarpus, not known for their tremendous size. The diminutive body is the size and shape of a thimble. The spines are minute, almost microscopic, and flattened against the body in harmless tight formation—more like scales than armament. Flowers are pink, often striped; occasionally white.

Turbinicarpus valdezianus is found in Coahuila, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León, and Zacatecas.
Correction: The plant was originally identified as Turbinicarpus valdezianus. A fallen label was discovered; this plant is actually the related Turbinicarpus pseudopectinatus.

Called "brain cactus", the genus Stenocactus hails from Mexico. It's distinguished by its wavy ribs. Also called Echinofossulocactus, this genus varies widely in size, spination, and number of ribs.

Today's species, Stenocactus multicostatus ("many-ribbed") enjoys wide distribution in Mexico: Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Léon, San Luis Potosí, and Zacatecas. True to its name, it seldom has fewer than 120 ribs. Notice the flat, stout central spines.
Within that natural variation, this individual shows flowers typical of stenocactus: short, funnel- or bell-shaped; white with purple-pink midstripe.

See Also

Stenocactus multicostatus at Cactus-Art.Biz

Even if you limit yourself to the most seductive cacti from genus Mammillaria, you still have dozens of strange and wonderful plants to choose from. Mammillaria pectinifera (Latin for "comb-bearing") has such minute, harmless spines that they appear like legs on tiny bugs—reminiscent of the spines on Mammillaria hernandezii (profiled previously). The spine beds are elongated vertically, like so many miniature millipedes marching in tight formation.

Surprisingly, Mammillaria pectinifera is closely related to M. carmenae (which looks completely different & is also profiled on Sentient Meat), M. glassii, M. picta, M. plumosa, and M. prolifera. Together these species plants form a clade, a group of types likely descending from a common ancestor. They differ markedly from each other in size, spines, and other features.
My plant is just over an inch in diameter. This is its first bloom under my care. The flowers are an elegant pale pink. Overall the plant is neat and understated in appearance.
Mammillaria pectinifera's appeal may be its downfall. It is reported to be nearly extinct due to over-collection within its native Puebla, Oaxaca, Mexico. Consequently, it's protected under CITES I, the most stringent protocol of international protection.

Look at the above image very carefully. It is not just a stunning tattoo. It also contains a significant message, specifically "God Is An Imaginary Friend For Grown Ups." Do you agree? I do!


Hat/tip to Sentient Meat.

Like last week's copiapoa, this week's eriosyce comes from Chile on South America's arid Pacific coast. Eriosyce senilis ssp. senilis has long, curly white spines resembling a scraggly old beard. It hails from the Rio Choapa valley in the Coquimbo region of Chile.

This individual has a dark maroon body—about 3 inches wide—a striking contrast with the long, white spines. Frilly shocking-magenta flowers emerge like trumpets.

For today's edition of Godless Wednesday I point you to an amazingly well-written blog post about atheism which just so happens to have been written by my husband, at his blog sentientmeat.net. So, yes, I married an atheist!

Here's an excerpt from "Atheists Do Not Have Faith":

• Answers prayers
• Demands tribute or worship
• Exacts vengeance or judgment
• New! Favors one religion over others, or over no religion

You should really read the entire piece.

February, 2012, is too mild in Southern California to be called "the dead of winter". While some plants have slowed down drastically, others have reawakened and are pushing new flower buds. My Copiapoa tenuissima is pictured in full bloom with yellow flowers sharply contrasting against the dark maroon body.

In early February, the most active cacti and succulents are plants from regions with winter rainfall (or fog), typically near western coasts. Copiapoa tenuissima follows this general rule since it comes from around Chile's Pacific Ocean (western) port city of Antofagasta.

Look at the 10 or 11 new heads branching off from the central body. These can be re-rooted and grown as new plants, though it takes a while for a detached head to grow new roots.

The currently accepted name is Copiapoa humilis subspecies tenuissima, since the original description of Copiapoa tenuissima was invalid. I'm mildly dissatisfied with this classification for sentimental reasons: Copiapoa humilis is a rough and lumpy species which grows fast and messy. By contrast, this Copiapoa tenuissima seems to be rather elegant.

See Also

Hunt, David. 2006. The New Cactus Lexicon. dh books. The Manse, Chapel Lane, Milborne Port, Sherborne DT9 5DL, England.

Chief among the pleasures of succulents are their otherworldly shapes and colors. Euphorbia obesa is a very familiar shape... familiar, that is, in a beach ball or balloon! This oblate spheroid is not a common shape in the world of plants.

This UFO-shaped plant is dioecious (unisexual). I think the plant pictured is male, but I'm not completely sure. On my to-learn list is better positive identification of the sex of euphorbia blooms (called cyathia).
With any luck, I'll have a breeding pair of these choice succulents from southern Africa. Here's my second plant. Look at the cute second body! This kind of branching is quite unusual in this species:



Euphorbia obesa grows wild in the Graaff-Reinet district in the Eastern Cape. The form pictured here (subspecies symmetrica) is found in the Willowmore district, where it's protected voluntarily by some farmers, partly with the effort of enthusiasts from the Euphorbia Study Group of Warrington, England.

The subspecies symmetrica is distinguished from the base type by a rather technical distinction: it produces multiple peduncles from single flowering eyes. Amateur growers and fans of this plant also know that Euphorbia symmetrica stays compact, rather than elongating and growing tall like the species type, Euphorbia obesa.
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See Also
Euphorbia obesa ssp symmetrica at Cactus-Art.Biz

If you were marooned on a... ahem... DESERT island and could only grow one genus of cactus... okay humor me here... don't you think it would probably be...

 

Mammillaria

Mammillaria is a large genus with about 140–180 species, depending on who's listing them. So if you're stuck on that hypothetical desert island, you won't be limiting your options very much.

Pilbeam (1999) recognizes 181 Mammillaria species and of these Hunt (1999) accepts 145. Any way you split this genus, it is one of the most varied in the Cactaceae, and it also has wide distribution: southward as far as Colombia and Venezuela and northward extending into the American Southwest. The greatest richness and diversity of Mammillaria varieties is in Mexico.

Mammillaria carmenae is native to Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Mammillaria is a very diverse group; however none of these cacti are giant trees. They are all small-to-medium-size "globular" (roundish) cacti. Some are solitary; others grow into large clumps. They all have distinctive bumps which remind scientists of breasts enough to earn the name mammillae—thus the genus name (or as they say in the lingo, the generic epithet).
The plant pictured is fully grown at around 3 inches tall and 2 inches in diameter. This species is known to grow in clusters, so it's probably time for me to move it to a larger pot where it can spread out and grow more bodies.

Mammillaria carmenae has pale yellow to white spines, and each areole (at the tip of each mammilla) has over 100 spines, obscuring the surface of the plant almost entirely. It reminds me a bit of Mammillaria candida (profiled recently) or Mammillaria lasiacantha (in the collection but not profiled yet). Surprisingly, these similar-looking cousins are not its closest relatives.

Instead, according to molecular studies by Butterworth and Wallace (2002), Mammillaria carmenae is most closely related to M pectinifera, a bizarre subminiature which is about to bloom in my yard. I hope to profile it soon. You'd never guess these two are so closely related. M pectinifera (means "comb-bearing") resembles a strange, round top with spine-beds (areoles) like tiny, multilegged creatures. You'll see!

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See Also

ANDERSON, E. F. 2001. The cactus family. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, USA.

HUNT, D. 1999. CITES Cactaceae checklist. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, UK.

BUTTERWORTH, C.;  WALLACE, R.  2002. "Phylogenetic studies of Mammillaria (Cactaceae)—Insights from chloroplast sequence variation and hyptothesis testing using the parametric bootstrap". American Journal of Botany 91(7): 1086–1098. 2004.

PILBEAM, J. 1999. Mammillaria. Nuffield Press, Oxford, UK.

Also... coming soon, Mr Sentient Meat, chief plant profiler for Succulent Sunday, is very excited to be upgrading his library with the top, current, go-to reference for cactus:
HUNT, D. 2006. New cactus lexicon. dh books. Sherborne, England, UK.

[I can practically feel your excitement from here. —Mr S M]