The online magazine for cactus and succulent enthusiasts Issue 30 September 2021

Contents
5 Click to read 25 Click to read
Beautiful flowers Hatiora herminiae
Jörg Ettelt Andreas Hofacker

Cumulopuntia iturbicola is a
real eyecatcher at a location
near Iturbe. See ‘Visiting
punas’ Page 13

41 Click to read
Succulents of the
31 Click to read Haraz mountains
13 Click to read
Three South African Frazer Henderson
Visiting punas crassulas and the
Elisabeth and Norbert Sarnes Botanical Art of Baron
von Jacquin
Colin C. Walker

48 Click to read
Succulents in a
suburban garden
Roy Holmes

20 Click to read
51 Click to read
Pachyphytum
Sheilam Nursery and
rzedowskii
Cactus Garden
Ray Stephenson
Richard Torr

21 Click to read
39 Click to read
More interesting
euphorbias Salicornia
Matt Candeias
Bob Potter
 3

Welcome to the September issue of It seems a little premature to be Finally I would like to thank Matt
the ‘Cactus and Succulent Review’. saying this, but it feels as if another Candeias for letting me use another
lost year is drawing to a close. In item from ‘In Defense of Plants’, his
First a small addendum to my
the UK at least, things are starting blog which contains many
previous comments on DNA (June
to get back to normal but this is fascinating items on plants of all
2021). For the present at least,
still not entirely the case. kinds together with his interesting
plants mentioned in articles will be
podcasts. In addition he has
called by whatever name the author And of course the weather has not
written a book, also called ‘In
chooses to give them, whether this helped. Again I am speaking of the
Defense of Plants’, published in the
is a long-standing name, or a name UK, but we seem to have had
US by Mango Publishing, an
based on recent DNA studies. consistently dull, wet weather for
independent company.
most of the summer with only a
In many cases (especially for the
few breaks. Sheila Cude
‘other’ succulents) I would not
necessarily be aware of any name I have often wondered to what
changes, and even if I were I would extent flowering one year is British Cactus and Succulent Society
hesitate to implement them. If an dependent on the growth achieved
author wishes to add alternative in the previous year, or whether it is Zone 6
names in brackets as they discuss
a particular plant, that is fine of
influenced mainly by the conditions
at the time the flowers are
Convention
course. developing. In my case some Sunday 5 September
And now an apology. I have just
plants have continued to perform 2021
as normal, despite the dull weather,
finished laying out the contents Regrettably this event has been
and I have even had a couple of
page for this issue, and realised cancelled due to on-going
plants flower for the first time.
that I had got at least one page concerns regarding Covid-19.
Others, however, which would
number wrong in the June issue’s
normally flower well have not done It is hoped that it will be re-
contents page. The link worked
so or have produced buds which arranged for 2022.
correctly so I hope this did not
have failed.
cause any confusion.

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 4

More Succulent write a few words about it, do

email Sheila to let me know.
Snippets needed With many thanks to anyone who
If you have an interesting plant, or has sent pictures previously, I
a great picture, and would like to really do appreciate your support.

Joyce Cocozza
Joyce Cocozza (1941-2014) Cocozza compiled of her
was a well-known Haworthia plants, which is available on
grower who created the Haworthia Society’s
interesting and attractive website.
hybrids, many of which were
Looking up this number on
selected for UK conditions.
the database seems to
She was also an artist whose
indicate that this plant is a
plant drawings are much
hybrid between H. emelyae
prized.
picta CC821 x ‘Bev’s Wonder’
The number CCO 774 relates CC2945.
to the database Joyce

Haworthia
emelyae v picta
CCO 774 GM 259
This plant came from Joyce Cocozza in 2008
and the origin was given as South of
Oudtshorn.
The picture came to be taken after I had tried
to use it as my ‘plant of the day’ which I had
been running for our Zoom coffee break in the
‘office’.
Mostly I chose a plant with flowers or
something of interest to see on the day and by
this time most of them understood the
difference between a cactus and an ‘other’
succulent. Most of the plants I used, however,
had some height, whereas this was flat to the
top dressing. Tilting it enough for the laptop
camera resulted in the top dressing starting to
fall off onto and into the laptop keyboard.
So I gave that up and took a picture which I
uploaded the next day.
Justin Gilbert
 A celebration of cacti and succulents 5

A series by Jörg Ettelt

Beautiful flowers
Where flowers bloom, so does hope — Lady Bird Johnson

In the time of Covid-19 Lady Bird Johnson’s saying seems to me the best I can choose. And as time
passes hope is coming to us. Let us strengthen it with some flowers which can be surpassed in
beauty by few other species.

My very first contribution to a cactus I am not sure my articles are much better
magazine – very humble – was about a now, but over time my knowledge has
presentable photo of mine of Thelocactus grown as well as my self-confidence.
bicolor var. texensis. The responsible editor
But one thing has remained, my love of the
gave it back to me three times, the text
genus Thelocactus and of the many forms
was completely red. Luckily, I didn’t give Thelocactus
of T. bicolor in particular.
up but learned from it. bicolor subsp.
zwakii

Fig. 1
Beautiful flowers continued 6

Thelocactus bicolor
In former times I visited many cactus
collectors, and I was often surprised that
hardly any thelocacti were to be seen in
their collections. My uncle, the promoter of
my passion, gave me a Thelocactus early
on, which was a wonderful form of
T. bicolor – the so-called variety texensis.
Its typical characteristic is the two flat,
straw-like spines at the upper edge of the
areole, which radiate directly upwards. The
plant my uncle gave me had such spines
about 5–6cm long and extremely attractive.
I learned later that T. bicolor has a wide
distribution in northern Mexico up to the
USA and is therefore extremely variable
(Figs. 1–3).
These plants have always been of interest
to me and in 2003 I tried to sort out my
point of view in a more comprehensive
article (Ettelt 2003). I am not sure anymore
that what I wrote nearly 20 years ago was
helpful as an order of the many forms. And
later, more field workers added new forms
that called my view of things into question Fig. 2
again.
Thelocactus bicolor coll Kuenzler
The species, which has long been known,
was originally described as ‘bicolor’– i.e.
two colours. It’s not really clear what was Thelocactus bicolor var. mapimiensis

Fig. 3
Beautiful flowers continued 7

being referred to, the yellow-red spines or because of this. From time to time they are
the conspicuous flowers, most with violet infested with mealy bugs, but these can be
and red. Both characters attract the quickly recognised and collected or even
collector. And it’s worth having some of sprayed off with a hot water jet.
these forms in the collection – the various
Other thelocacti
spine forms and the flowers, starting in
summer and producing several blooms The genus Thelocactus includes other
until autumn, are always an eyecatcher in attractive species which are just as easy to
the collection. cultivate and flower.

Another advantage is that the species is A not-so-densely spined but also very
easy to grow. Well-drained, predominantly variable species is T. hexaedrophorus
mineral soil, regular watering during the (Figs. 4–6). Originally forms with white or
growing season and fertiliser ensures silver flowers were found, but in the
adequate growth. meantime the range of flower colours has
been extended to various shades of white
Nectar drops sometimes appear on the and even pink. Already in the literature of
areoles, which are often visited by ants. I the century before last, some varietal Thelocactus
have never seen any damage to the plants names can be found for this species. hexaedrophorus

Fig. 4
Beautiful flowers continued 8

Fig. 5

Thelocactus hexaedrophorus subsp. jarmilae

Thelocactus hexaedrophorus subsp. lloydii SB113 Salinas

Fig. 6
Beautiful flowers continued 9

Fig. 7

Thelocactus
Several names have also been given to species with flower colours ranging from rinconensis
those plants that form larger, flat white to yellow to pink (Figs. 7–8). To grow
hemispheres with, usually, radiating spines these you have to use pots with a width of
and different flower colours. These forms at least 12cm, but even then sometimes
are now more or less all grouped under the long, straight spines do not allow other Thelocactus
T. rinconensis – an extremely variable plants in the immediate vicinity. rinconensis subsp.
freudenbergeri

Fig. 8
Beautiful flowers continued 10

Fig. 9

Thelocactus
conothelos subsp
T. conothelos has beautiful forms – while Similar, but recognised as a separate
argenteus
remaining smaller. In contrast to the species, is T. macdowellii (Fig 10). It is –
aforementioned it flowers in late spring apart from T. hastifer – the earliest
(Fig. 9). I had problems with the growth of flowering species of this genus. It is
these plants from time to time, they often therefore advisable to place this species
showed root damage and then stagnated in in the brightest possible place during the
growth. Maybe I did not have the perfect winter, to induce flowers in January or
substrate – it could be that lime is February. It would not produce any flowers
necessary for good growth, but I am not if placed in a dark place (as is the case
sure. I regularly repotted the plants, with Notocactus species).
because after three years at the most, the
growth slowed down.
Beautiful flowers continued 11

Hanging cacti
Hildewintera are long-stemmed plants that
can be cultivated well in hanging baskets
and have interesting flowers. The genus
was named after Friedrich Ritter's sister,
Hilde(gard) Winter, who was the anchor
point in Germany for this cactus hunter.
Through her one could obtain seeds and
probably also plants for a while. Only two
species were described under this genus
name, both of which are now transferred to
Cleistocactus winteri.
However, H. aureispina was the starting
point for numerous successful crosses,
which are now commonly known as
Hildewintera hybrids. I have never been a
great fan of hybrids in succulents, because
in my eyes the selection of natural species
is large enough, but some cultivars
represent something special, so that I
would like to present one of the most
beautiful cultivars in my opinion: ‘Humke’s
Röschen’ (Fig. 11). Fig. 10

Thelocactus macdowellii
One stem of Hildewintera x
‘Humke’s Röschen’

Fig. 11
Beautiful flowers continued 12

Easy to grow, easy to accommodate in need for the flowers to open, i.e. they are
hanging baskets in the greenhouse, cleistogamous. Perhaps this is one reason
abundantly flowering throughout the entire why Frailea are not so popular with
growing season – such plants are genuinely collectors – people look forward to the
attractive. flower, which often does not open at all.
A reviled genus If the plants are well-nourished and the
Species of the genus Frailea are very rarely weather is hot, the white to yellow flowers
seen in collections and only a very few may open and then appear quite large on
special collections of this diverse group are the small bodies.
known to me. The reasons for this are not The substrate for the species can contain
really clear. The species remain small more humus than that of most other cacti,
throughout. Many remain spherical, others and they can tolerate being planted in
become cylindrical like F. lepida (Fig. 12). partial shade. n
They do not live too long – the life cycle of Photos: Jörg Ettelt
these species seems short, perhaps
In the next issue I will turn again to the other
comparable to Rebutia, but they easily
succulents, which will be at their flowering
produce many seeds, which should be peak.
sown immediately after the fruit cracks
open and releases the large seeds. Frailea
Literature
seeds age quickly and then lose their
ability to germinate. Seedlings thrive well Ettelt, J. (2003): Thelocactus bicolor und
and quickly grow into flowering plants. seine Formen. Kakt. u. and. Sukk. 54 (1)
Seeds are readily produced without the
Frailea lepida
GF301

Fig. 12
 13

Visiting punas
by Elisabeth and Norbert Sarnes

A nyone who knows us a little will be

aware that we love Patagonia and its
cacti. But other regions can also inspire us.
The genus
Puna was
established in
We find it particularly appealing to look for 1982 by Roberto
small, hidden cacti. A large Denmoza is Kiesling with the
imposing and beautiful to look at, but you type species Puna
do not have to search for it. clavarioides and the
additional species Puna
We will never forget our joy when we
subterranea. After its discovery, Puna
discovered our first Puna clavarioides on
bonnieae was also placed in this genus in
our first cactus trip. Such impressions are Above: Puna
1997. In the meantime, all these species
memorable and awaken the desire for more clavarioides west
have been assigned to other genera. The
similar experiences. That is why, in addition of Rodeo, San
DNA studies by Ritz et al., which were Juan
to our trips to Patagonia, we have always
published in 2012, were decisive for this.
made side trips to Chile and the north-west Inset: Puna
Nevertheless, many enthusiasts continue
of Argentina. After seeing Puna clavarioides in
to use the generic name Puna. We will
clavarioides, we naturally wanted to find flower
briefly comment on this later in connection
the other representatives of the genus
with each species.
Puna in their natural habitat.
Visiting punas continued 14

Puna bonnieae
Since we usually start our trips in Santiago The next Puna we wanted to see was Puna grows in beautiful
and our first destination in Argentina is bonnieae. For this we drove to the region scenery west of
Mendoza, we have been able to see a lot of Fiambalá in the province of Catamarca. Fiambalá
of Puna clavarioides in habitat in the The area along the road to Paso San
meantime. We deliberately write Puna Francisco is always worth a trip. Besides
clavarioides because we do not agree with an impressive landscape you can see not
the recombination in Maihueniopsis. There only Puna bonnieae but also other
are almost no common features between charming cacti such as Tephrocactus
this plant and any other Maihueniopsis geometricus or Lobivia bonnieae. The It is difficult to find
except genetic proximity. search for this Puna was not so easy. the spiny form of
Puna bonnieae
Visiting punas continued 15

When they are in

flower it is easier to
find the hidden plants

Only after two futile attempts did we finally Puna bonnieae are non-spiny. The spiny
find it. On our last visit to the region, it was plants are easily confused with young
almost a piece of cake. Almost all the plants of Tephrocactus geometricus. Other
punas were in bloom and therefore easy to characteristics also fit the genus
find. Suddenly we could see that there Tephrocactus. Therefore, the recombination
were considerably more plants there than of Puna bonnieae to Tephrocactus
we had previously thought. bonnieae is quite understandable to us.
A flowering cluster
There are two forms of Puna bonnieae. The What we were still missing was the third in of Puna
spiny form is found below 3,000 metres the bunch: Puna subterranea. In our (Cumulopuntia)
altitude. Above this altitude, the plants of collection we have beautiful large cushions subterranea in our
collection
Visiting punas continued 16

labelled Puna subterranea, which reliably Ritter's find FR91 as Tephrocactus

and luxuriantly show their pink flowers. At variiflorus.
a Swiss cactus friend’s, we had seen small When we told our friend Roberto Kiesling in
plants of Puna subterranea that were Mendoza about our plan to look for Fries’
supposed to flower brown. He told us that original plants at El Moreno, he suggested
these came from Robert Fries’ type locality we visit another site in the north. There the
south of the village of El Moreno. We were plants should bloom neither pink nor
really tempted to look for these plants in brown, but red. So, we set off for Jujuy.
Argentina. With so much information, it should
In preparation we studied at home the first hopefully be possible to find Puna
description of Opuntia subterranea by Fries subterranea.
and the later dispute between Ritter and To help us we took our youngest son with
Backeberg. After Fries’ description, us, who is not at all interested in cacti but
Opuntia subterranea was considered lost. has an excellent nose for small plants. We
Ritter was convinced that he had picked him up in Santiago de Chile and
rediscovered this Opuntia subterranea with drove back to Argentina via the Paso San
his find FR91 from the area of La Quiaca. Francisco. Before we reached Fiambalá,
He explained the fact that his plant had we successfully practised searching at a
pink flowers, and not brown as described site where Puna bonnieae had been found.
by Fries, by the fact that Fries had only We continued to Tilcara, from where we Eriosyce
seen a wilted flower. Backeberg, on the made our way to El Moreno. As we wanted umadeave in the
other hand, doubted this, saw more to take plenty of time for the plant search, dry river bed
differences and therefore re-described we only had a few moments for the south of El
Moreno, Jujuy
Visiting punas continued 17

beautiful view of the Cuesta de Lipan on

the way there.
According to Fries, the place where he
found his Opuntia subterranea was south of
the village of El Moreno with a view of the
mountain giant Nevado de Chañi. The first
cacti we noticed were wild spiny
specimens of Lobivia ferox. The path
followed a dry riverbed. There we found
beautiful Eriosyce umadeave as well as
flowering Maihueniopsis molfinoi and
Tunilla soehrensii. It was a long time before
we finally discovered the first ‘subterranea’
with fruit. As so often, it was easier to find
more plants after the discovery of the first
one. Most of them were either hidden deep
in the sand or under tiny dwarf shrubs. We
were able to photograph some fruits, but
we looked in vain for flowers. On the way
back, we had to hurry to be back in Tilcara
before nightfall.
It was not far from Tilcara to the site
Roberto had recommended to us. The next
morning after breakfast we set off in the
direction of Iturbe. We were greeted by
numerous flowering lobivias and
cumulopuntias at the indicated site. So we
guessed it must have rained a short time
before. Despite good indications, it took us
a long time to find the first Puna
subterranea. It was also not so easy to
immediately tell the difference between
Puna subterranea and Cumulopuntia
Puna (Opuntia) subterranea with fruit at the Fries location
iturbicola. Fortunately, there were a few
fruits and even some late flowers. As
described by Roberto, they were dark red.
Our son’s reaction to this find was
interesting. He immediately stated, “These
are completely different plants from
yesterday!” He was right, on closer
inspection we also noticed the difference.
Now, of course, we wanted to see the
flowers of the Puna subterranea near El
Moreno. Were they really brown? Fries had
stated that he had seen them in bloom on
24 October 1901. Thus, for the next trip to
the north of Argentina, we planned a visit
there for the end of October. We were
travelling with two friends who were happy
to make this excursion with us. It was
going to be worth it for all of us!
This time we did not have to look far. When
in flower, the plants were much easier to
find despite the brown flower colour. This
meant that Fries had done his description
correctly. There are not many who have
been able to see this true ‘subterranea’ in
flower at the place where it was originally Cumulopuntia iturbicola at the location near Iturbe
Visiting punas continued 18

Tephrocactus
found. Unfortunately, we had no luck with In the DNA studies plants from La Quiaca variiflorus, (not
the site near Iturbe on this trip. Despite the were examined as Puna subterranea and Puna subterranea)
exact GPS coordinates, we could not find a placed with Cumulopuntia, and if we look near Iturbe with a
late flower and
single plant – subterranea, as the name at the corresponding plants in our
fruits
suggests! Later, at La Quiaca, we were collection and what we have seen at La
lucky enough to find plants of this species, Quiaca and Iturbe, we can understand this.
albeit without flowers and fruits. But does this also apply to the plants at El
Moreno? We have great doubts.
On our last trip to the north of Argentina
(November 2018), we passed the Iturbe site Backeberg had correctly recognised at the
again. This time the timing was optimal. time that these are two different taxa.
Almost all the plants were well stocked and Consequently, his description of
in full bloom, a cactus lover’s dream! We Tephrocactus variiflorus was justified and is
were absolutely thrilled to see that many also valid according to the current rules of
more of these plants were growing there nomenclature. Because of the affiliation to
than we had suspected. When it comes to the genus Cumulopuntia, these plants
flower colour however, the real star here is should therefore be given the name
Cumulopuntia iturbicola which offers a real Cumulopuntia variiflora. This recombination
firework of colours (see front cover). would be a task for a botanist.
Visiting punas continued 19

Puna (Opuntia)
subterranea with
typical flower – note
the elongated ovary

The plants at El Moreno are validly It was truly fortunate that we got to see
described as Puna subterranea (Fries) them all in flower.
Kiesling. This name therefore should only
It is interesting what new insights you can
be used for these plants.
gain when you study the old literature Tephrocactus
In the meantime, we have seen all carefully and then look at the plants in variiflorus (not
Argentinian ‘punas’ in habitat: Puna habitat with open eyes and without bias. n Puna subterranea)
clavarioides, Puna bonnieae, Puna with typical flower
subterranea and Tephrocactus variiflorus. Photos: Elisabeth and Norbert Sarnes – note the short
ovary
 20

Pachyphytum rzedowskii
by Ray Stephenson
An attractive and little-known Pachyphytum

Pachyphytum
rzedowskii and inset a
close-up showing the
attractive leaves

In cultivation Pachyphytum species cross

readily with Echeveria (×Pachyveria),
Sedum (×Pachysedum) and Graptopetalum
(×Graptophytum), only
geography separating

N ot described until 2002, this is still a

rare plant in cultivation though it is
extremely easy to propagate; growing a
them in the wild. Charles
Uhl, the great plant
cytologist, said that
new plant from a single removed potted-up Pachyphytum hookeri
leaf takes only a season. was his ‘universal
It is similar to other Pachyphytum – much parent’, as he used it to
smaller than the common P. oviferum and make over 50 successful
a nicer blue than the common intergeneric hybrids. n
P. compactum and P. hookeri. Flowers are Photos: Ray Stephenson
typical for the genus. Only P. coeruleum This item is taken from the
shares its small compact nature and blue newsletter of the
hue, but its leaves are far more pointed and Northumbria Branch of the
the flowers greenish-yellow. BCSS.
Pachyphytum rzedowskii comes from
Michoacan state of Mexico at c1500m,
Pachyphytum rzedowskii
growing on cliff sides. flower
 21

The Lord Milner Hotel

More interesting euphorbias

No 6 – South Africa and Madagascar
by Bob Potter

F urther to my previous articles, I would

like to introduce you to another two
very interesting euphorbias. This time we
Just outside the town is a series of low hills
and after a climb to the top of the ridge
you will come across Euphorbia multifolia.
will visit South Africa and Madagascar so The plants in this location are best
that I can show you two plants which are described as shrubby mounds, as in my
very different in terms of ease of cultivation experience the individual stems rarely
and in appearance. One has been readily exceed 30cm in height and each individual
available from specialist nurseries while the stem is closely packed to its neighbour,
other has rarely been available and now it giving the impression from a short distance
is becoming even more unlikely that it will of one complete mound of plant.
be offered for sale.
When you get up close it can readily be
So let us initially go to South Africa to look seen that the plants exhibit a multi-
at the first of these interesting euphorbias. stemmed aspect. The individual stems are
Euphorbia multifolia about 2 or 3cm in diameter and are quite
The town of Matjiesfontein in South Africa spiny with a crown of bluish/green leaves.
lies adjacent to Route 1 between Beaufort All in all it is a very attractive plant and, as
West and Worcester. The town is old and is can be seen from the picture (see next
now essentially a tourist trap, but well page), when the sun strikes the plant it
worth a visit if only for the double decker almost has a golden glow.
bus ride up and down the main street, with
a guided tour being given by Joe. The Recently these plants have been available
place to stay is the Lord Milner Hotel, a through the nursery trade as seedling
Victorian style hostelry not to be missed. plants and are generally easy to grow.
More interesting euphorbias continued 22

I have plants bedded out in my greenhouse If you manage to locate some plants of this Euphorbia multifolia
which have grown quite rapidly, although species I would recommend it as a worthy in habitat
the softer conditions have generally made addition to the Euphorbia collection.
the plants more open, rather than a tight
Now we can move over to Madagascar,
mound, and certainly the stems have
one of my favourite plant habitats, for the
grown much longer than those I have seen
next plant which is very different to the
in habitat. I also have plants in pots and
previous one.
they tend to be much shorter stemmed.

Euphorbia multifolia
in cultivation
More interesting euphorbias continued 23

A typical quartz field

Euphorbia quartziticola

Euphorbia quartziticola
These plants can be found in the high
central plateau of Madagascar at an
altitude of approximately 1500 metres.
They are located in flat grassy plains of
quartz fields, hence the name. They are not
easy to locate from a standing position as
they are quite well camouflaged and it is
not until you get down closer to the ground
that they become readily visible.
The plants are deceptive in that all that can
be seen are quite small (4–5cm) glossy
green leaf rosettes on the soil surface.
Sometimes you will find maybe 10 or 12
rosettes together which will all belong to
one plant. These rosettes are only the tip of
the iceberg, as it were, because beneath
the soil surface lies a large tuber, and from
this tuber radiates smaller arms that
terminate at the soil surface from where the
leaf rosettes appear.
More interesting euphorbias continued 24

If you arrive at this location at the right time have seen for sale in recent years were
of the year you can find the plants a little seedlings grafted on to Euphorbia obesa.
more easily because of the intense small I would guess that these are no longer
yellow flowers that form at the tips available and I feel that it is unlikely that
of the rosettes. they will ever be offered for sale again.
I have no idea of the age of these plants There is no doubt that this plant is
but some of the larger clumps must be of extremely difficult to grow successfully in
a great age. cultivation. The only plant that remains with
Growing alongside these plants is a form of me in my collection I keep buried in pumice
Pachypodium brevicaule that almost in my plant beds and it is fingers crossed
mimics the appearance of the Euphorbia. every year that it throws up some leaves.
So far so good but nothing is certain. n
E. quartziticola plants have never been
widely available and the only ones that I Photos: Bob Potter

Pachypodium
brevicaule
 25

A typical tree on which

Hatiora herminiae grows near
Campos do Jordão

Hatiora herminiae –
a beauty from Brazil
by Andreas Hofacker

B razil is a hotspot for epiphytic cacti.

Several genera are exclusively native to
this South American country, one of which
used in 1763 for plants that are now
assigned to the genus Rhipsalis. Britton &
Rose (1915) recognised this and chose the
is the genus Hatiora. name Hatiora for the genus, an anagram of
the original name.
Originally the genus name was Hariota
(1834) from the name of the English Based on DNA studies, some species
mathematician, astronomer and explorer formerly placed in Rhipsalidopsis,
Thomas Hariot. This could not be used for previously a subgenus of Hatiora, have
these cacti however, as it had already been been transferred to the genus
Hatiora herminiae – a beauty from Brazil continued 26

Schlumbergera (Calvente et al. 2011), Hatiora herminiae was discovered in 1936

and Rhipsalidopsis has again been by Paulo Campos-Porto and described in
recognised as an independent genus 1941 as Hariota herminiae (Campos-Porto
(Korotkova et al. 2011). & Castellanos). It was named after
Thus the genus today consists of the three Herminia Castellanos, the wife of the
species: Hatiora cylindrica, second author, Aldo Castellanos. The type
H. salicornioides and H. herminiae. This locality is said to be in the Horto Florestal
article deals exclusively with H. herminiae. near Campos do Jordão in the north of the

Hatiora herminiae
growing upright on the
trunk of a tree
Hatiora herminiae – a beauty from Brazil continued 27

Brazilian state of São Paulo. This Horto also due to the fact that the plants are A cluster of
Hatiora herminiae
Florestal is a protected area at an altitude rarely, or not at all, found in the Horto
growing with
of 1500–2000m, which was founded as Florestal. bromeliads
early as 1941 to preserve the last
Approximately 10km from the protected
contiguous Araucaria and conifer forests.
area, however, the author was able to
Since its first description the species has discover larger occurrences of this species
remained extremely rare. Only a few a few years ago. Numerous plants were
collections have been cultivated and, apart found over several kilometres. Hatiora
from the type, there are hardly any herminiae grows here at altitudes between
specimens in the herbaria. This is certainly 1800 and 1900m, always on older, mostly
Hatiora herminiae – a beauty from Brazil continued 28

mossy deciduous trees colonised by ferns, trees that were completely overgrown with
orchids and bromeliads, but never on Hatiora herminiae in 2012 only had isolated
Araucaria or conifers as stated in the first plants in 2016. A disappearance due to the
description. Only rarely are terrestrial plants removal by plant collectors or fire can be
found. excluded, so that only climatic causes can
be considered. It is possible that a
Hatiora herminiae can be relatively exposed
prolonged drought led to the death of the
to light compared to other epiphytically
plants. Whether the populations then
growing cacti. The plants also receive
recovered could not be determined.
shade from time to time however, and are
thus protected from overheating and Together with Hatiora herminiae,
prolonged blazing sun. The populations are Schlumbergera opuntioides grows here in a
not completely stable, however. During few places, and Rhipsalis floccosa in the
several visits, the author observed that wider surroundings.

Hatiora herminiae growing and flowering in the shade Hatiora herminiae also growing in the sun
Hatiora herminiae – a beauty from Brazil continued 29

Growing sympatrically
with Hatiora herminiae,
the orchid Cattleya
(Sophronitis)
mantiqueirae

Hatiora herminiae grows to about 50cm tall long. The petals are magenta, with the
(usually smaller in cultivation), initially inner petals forming a kind of tube. The
growing upright and then changing to fruits are conical, 7–8mm long and yellow-
overhanging growth. The shoots are dark green to greyish.
green to grey-green and lignify on older One reason for the rarity of the plants in
plants. The individual segments grow up to collections might be their cultural
4cm long and 5mm thick. The plants only requirements which are not easy. A shady,
branch at the end of these segments. The Schlumbergera
airy and cool location in summer and opuntioides is
flowers almost always appear singly at the overwintering at 10–15°C has proved to be found growing
end of the segments and are up to 2cm successful. together with
Hatiora herminiae
Hatiora herminiae – a beauty from Brazil continued 30

Flowers and fruits

The substrate should be well drained but on Hatiora
should not completely dry out. herminiae in
Literature cultivation
Waterlogging should be avoided at all
costs however, because of the sensitive Bockemühl, J. (2010): Hatiora
root system (Bockemühl 2010). herminiae (Campos-Porto &
Castellanos) Barthlott. – EPIG Nr. 65:
These experiences are confirmed by 26–29.
observations at the natural growing sites.
Britton, N.L. & Rose, J.N (1915): in
Due to the relatively high altitude for Brazil,
L.H.Bailey, Stand. Cycl. Hort. 3: 1432.
it gets very cool at night (in extreme cases,
temperatures can reach the frost line in Calvente, A., Zappi, D. C., Forest, T, F.
winter). During the day, however, the & Lohmann, L. G. (2011): Molecular
temperatures rise again to 15–20°C. phylogeny of tribe Rhipsalideae
Standing heat is to be avoided at all costs (Cactaceae) and taxonomic
and inevitably leads to plant death. implications for Schlumbergera and
Hatiora. – Mol. Phylogenet Evol. 58:
Summer cultivation outdoors with only a
456–468.
little direct sunlight is advantageous.
Campos-Porto, P. & Castellanos, A.
Hatiora herminiae is self-fertile, usually
(1941): Hariotae novae Brasiliensis. –
forming fruits without a pollination partner Rodrigúesia 5: 353–354.
and can thus be propagated well from
seed. The segments do not root easily, but Korotkova, N., Borsch, T., Quandt, D.,
can be grafted on to Selenicereus, for Taylor, N. P., Müller, K. F. & Barthlott, W.
example, so that handsome plants develop (2011): What does it take to resolve
relationships and to identify species
in a few years.
with molecular markers? An example
Hatiora herminiae flowers willingly in spring from the epiphytic Rhipsalideae
(February to May or, in its native habitat, (Cactaceae). – Amer. J. Bot. 98: 1549–
August/September). n 1572.

Photos: Andreas Hofacker

 31

Three
South African
crassulas
and the
Botanical Art of
Baron von Jacquin
by Colin C Walker

Fig. 1 Crassula barbata – detail

of part of the inflorescence.
(Photo: Brian McDonough)
Three South African crassulas and the Botanical Art of Baron von Jacquin continued 32

Introduction
Crassula is a relatively large and very
diverse genus with perhaps around
200 species worldwide excluding
Antarctica, (including one native
British species), (Rowley, 2003).
For succulent growers, however, the
greatest diversity of desirable species
occurs in southern Africa where
Tölken (1985) recorded 149 species
with many subspecies and varieties.
Here just three South African species
are showcased because they feature
in the botanical art of Baron von
Jacquin:
Crassula barbata,
C. perforata and
C. pellucida.

All three species have a long history in

cultivation and are illustrated here with
three plates from ‘Plantarum rariorum
horti caesarei Schoenbrunnensis
descriptiones et icones’ known as one
of Baron von Jacquin’s finest books.

Fig. 2

Crassula barbata in cultivation with a developing inflorescence

(Photo: Brian McDonough)
Three South African crassulas and the Botanical Art of Baron von Jacquin continued 33

Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin

Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin (1727– Blunt & Stearn (1994) describe Jacquin’s
1817) was the Director of the Imperial ‘Plantarum rariorum horti caesarei
Palace gardens at Schönbrunn just outside Schoenbrunnensis descriptiones et icones’
Vienna, Austria and Professor of Chemistry as his “greatest work on cultivated plants”.
and Botany and Director of the Botanic This was issued in four volumes between
Gardens at the University of Vienna. 1797 and 1804 and includes 500 hand-
coloured plates with accompanying text.
Schönbrunn, under Jacquin’s leadership,
became one of the most celebrated Of these only 36 illustrate succulents with
gardens of its time, where gigantic a rough breakdown, using modern generic
glasshouses were erected. In 1780 a names, as follows:
severe frost accidentally brought about the
loss of a significant number of plants. To Aeonium (1 sp.),
replenish stocks the collectors Franz Boos Aloe (1 sp.),
and Georg Scholl were sent to South Crassula (7 spp.),
Africa from where frequent consignments Epiphyllum (1 sp.),
of bulbs and seeds were dispatched to
Euphorbia (6 spp.),
Vienna, mainly from what is now the
Western Cape Province. Gasteria (2 spp.),
Haworthia (1 sp.),
Schönbrunn is home to the oldest potted
succulent in captivity: ‘The Old Lady of Haworthiopsis (1 sp.),
Schönbrunn’, a venerable specimen of Kalanchoe (1 sp.),
Fockea capensis collected by Boos and Kumara (1 sp.)
Scholl, in cultivation there for over 200
and 14 species of shrubby mesembs
years (Zecher, 1988).
(published as Mesembryanthemum but
The material collected was used as the now in several modern genera).
basis for many of Jacquin’s extravagantly Thirty two of the 36 species are South
produced books filled with hand-coloured African.
plates, often published in very small print
runs. Today Jacquin’s books – in which All seven crassulas were illustrated for the
many of the plants illustrated were newly first time, hence the reason for this article
described – are revered as wonderful to showcase the work of Jacquin. The
works of botanical art (Blunt & Stearn, plates themselves are magnificent hand-
1994). coloured works of art. Some are larger
than A3 size (folio), for example the plate
Many of his books include succulents, but of Kumara (Aloe) plicatilis, whereas others,
the only one to focus on our favourite such as the Haworthia plate, are relatively
plants is his ‘Stapeliarum’ which includes small.
64 folio-sized coloured plates of stapeliads
(Rowley, 1984), fortunately reprinted in Eleven of Jacquin’s new species are still
facsimile in 1982 because this is one of recognised today including Crassula
the rarest of his rare books. dejecta (not discussed further here).
Three South African crassulas and the Botanical Art of Baron von Jacquin continued 34

Fig. 3

Crassula barbata (as C. turrita) from Jacquin (t.52, 1797)

Three South African crassulas and the Botanical Art of Baron von Jacquin continued 35

Fig. 4 Crassula barbata – the

rosette
(Photo:
Brian McDonough)

Crassula barbata parts of the Great Karoo from the eastern Crassula barbata –
Cedarberg to near Prince Albert, growing newly developing
This species was first described in 1778
on gravelly slopes” (Tölken, 1985). offsets
but Jacquin (1797) illustrated it as (Photo:
C. turrita (Fig. 3), now considered to be a Brian McDonough)
synonym (Tölken, 1985).
Fig. 5
This is deservedly a very popular species.
It forms small single rosettes up to just
7cm in diameter (Fig. 4). The name
‘barbata’ means ‘bearded’ and is highly
appropriate and descriptive because the
leaves are edged with silky hairs
(trichomes) up to 5mm long.
The thin inflorescence is up to 30cm tall
(Fig. 2) bearing numerous small, white
tubular flowers (Fig. 1).
I have grown and flowered this species but
unfortunately did not take any photos, so I
am indebted to Brian McDonough for his
excellent photography. As is usual,
flowering terminates the growth of the plant
(monocarpic) and mine promptly died! The
plant could therefore be described as a
biennial or even an annual if growth is fast.
However, occasionally offsets are produced
as in the case of one of Brian’s plants
(Fig. 5). These can be removed and rooted
to propagate the plant.
Crassula barbata comes from the Western
Cape Province of South Africa “in
mountains bordering on the south-western
Three South African crassulas and the Botanical Art of Baron von Jacquin continued 36

Fig. 6

Crassula perforata
(as C. perfossa)
Crassula perforata (re-discovered by Ernst van Jaarsveld on from Jacquin
cliffs adjacent to the Kouga Dam, after (t.432, 1804)
This species was also first described in
1778 but Jacquin (1804) illustrated it as which he named it (van Jaarsveld & van
C. perfossa (Fig. 6), now considered to be Wyk, 2009).
a synonym (Tölken, 1985). However, this plant has a longer history,
The plant is a perennial scrambler with regrettably not referred to by van Jaarsveld
woody branches up to 60cm long. The leaf and van Wyk. It was first imported into the
pairs, which are fused at the base, look like UK in 1930 by W.T. Neale and named as
they have been threaded as beads, to C. nealeana Higgins in 1955 (Higgins, 1964).
which the name ‘perforata’ meaning This new subspecies “grows on sheer cliffs
‘pierced’ refers. The leaves themselves are at an altitude of 400–700m, mainly on
roughly ovate, greyish green with reddish exposed, north- and west-facing aspects
or yellowish margins. of quartzitic cliffs” (van Jaarsveld & van
The species has a wide distribution Wyk, 2009) (Fig. 7). This plant is smaller
throughout southern South Africa, from the growing than subsp. perforata with shorter
Western Cape Province to north-eastern stems up to about 30cm long and shorter
KwaZulu-Natal. internodes producing a denser
arrangement of the paired leaves; it readily
A distinctive and localised form is sprawls over the edge of a pot in
showcased here: subsp. ‘kougaensis’. This cultivation (Fig. 8). The shortish
is an obligate cliff-dweller (cremnophyte) inflorescences bear small tubular yellow
from the Eastern Cape Province, flowers.
Three South African crassulas and the Botanical Art of Baron von Jacquin continued 37

Fig. 7

Crassula perforata
subsp. kougaensis
growing at
Whiskey Creek,
The Crags, near
Plettenberg Bay,
Nov. 2011.
(Photo: Derek
Tribble)

Fig. 8

Crassula perforata
subsp. kougaensis in
an 18 cm diameter pot
(Photo:
Colin C Walker)
Three South African crassulas and the Botanical Art of Baron von Jacquin continued 38

Fig. 9

Crassula pellucida var. marginalis (as

C. marginalis) from Jacquin (t.471, 1804) Crassula pellucida var. marginalis in cultivation
(Photo: Colin C Walker)
Crassula pellucida Fig. 10
This species was first described by
Linnaeus in 1753. Of the three species
considered here this has the widest
distribution, ranging from South Africa
northwards into tropical Africa (Kenya,
Tanzania and Uganda). Consequently this
species is extremely variable and has been
split into five subspecies (Tölken, 1985) of
which just subsp. marginalis is considered
here. This was first named C. marginalis in
1789 and first illustrated by Jacquin (1804)
(Fig. 9).
Crassula pellucida subsp. marginalis has
sprawling or prostrate stems up to 60cm
long with leaves in fused pairs. The leaf
margins are red or colourless, hence the
name ‘pellucida’ for the ‘colourless
margins’, whereas the name ‘marginalis’
comes from the pronounced red edges
(Fig. 10).
Three South African crassulas and the Botanical Art of Baron von Jacquin continued 39

The short inflorescence bears many star-

References
shaped white flowers tinged with pink.
Blunt, W. & Stearn, W.T. (1994) The art of botanical illustration. 2nd.
Subsp. marginalis has a broad distribution
ed. Antique Collectors’ Club/The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
in the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces London.
of South Africa where it grows “from near
George to East London, usually associated Higgins, V. (1964) Crassulas in cultivation. Blandford Press, London.
with rock outcrops where it grows in Jacquin, N.J. von (1797–1804) Plantarum rariorum horti caesarei
shaded moist places under rocks or in Schoenbrunnensis descriptiones et icones. 4 vols., tt. 1–500 Vienna.
forest” (Tölken, 1985). n [Copy at the Linnean Society of London Library.]

Acknowledgements Rowley, G.D. (1984) Jacquin and the Stapelieae. Bradleya, 2: 1–8.

Andrea Deneau and the Linnean Society of Rowley, G. (2003) Crassula – A grower’s guide. Cactus & Co.,
London are thanked for providing the three Venegono, Italy.
images from Jacquin’s book and for Tölken, H.R. (1985) Crassulaceae in O.A. Leistner (ed.) Flora of
permission to reproduce these here. Southern Africa. 14. Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria.
I thank Brian McDonough and Derek van Jaarsveld, E. & van Wyk, A.E. (2009). Crassula perforata subsp.
Tribble for use of their excellent photos. kougaensis, a new cliff-dwelling taxon from South Africa. Aloe, 46: 22–
23.
My wife Marjorie read and commented on
an earlier draft of this article. Zecher, E. (1988) The Old Lady of Schoenbrunn. Asklepios, 43: 88–93.

Salicornia –
some salty succulents by Matt Candeias

S ucculent plants come in a variety of

shapes, sizes, and colours. They also
hail from a variety of plant families. If there
is one thing that unites these plants (other
than their succulent habit) it’s that the vast
majority of them are found growing in dry
places. Whether it’s the heart of a desert or
up in the canopy of a tree, succulence has
evolved as a means of storing water. There
are a handful of salt marsh plants however,
which are succulent as well. How is it that
plants so frequently found growing in
standing water have evolved a succulent
habit? The answer lies in salt.
Salt water is pretty bad for most plants.
Just as we get dehydrated from drinking it,
or eating high amounts of salt, so too do
plants. In general salt both dehydrates
plants and causes issues with nutrient Salicornia europaea
highly reduced morphology and extreme
uptake. Such is not the case for genera like (the type species) in
phenotypic plasticity, delineating species
Salicornia. Commonly referred to as the Wadden Sea
among the genus is something best left to
glassworts, pickleweeds, or picklegrass, National Parks.
Salicornia experts. What we do know is
the various Salicornia are true salt-lovers. Photo:
that they all belong in the amaranth family,
Belladonna2, Wikipedia
The genus Salicornia has been called a Amaranthaceae. This confusion should not
‘taxonomic nightmare’. Thanks to their CC-BY-NC 3.0
take away from your enjoyment of
Salicornia – some salty succulents continued 40

Salicornia. Indeed, there is a lot worth with salt, water will diffuse out of the cell to
appreciating in this family, including their balance out the concentrations on both
ability to grow in conditions that would kill sides of the cell membrane. Salicornia use
most other plants. this to their advantage.
Salicornia are not simply salt tolerators that These plants actively take up salt from their
can hang on under saline conditions. They environment and dump it into their
are true salt lovers or ‘halophytes.’ In fact, vacuoles. This means that the
experiments have shown that various concentration of water within the vacuole is
Salicornia grow much better when salt less than the concentration of water
levels are high. This all has to do with the outside of the cell. Osmosis then takes
way in which these plants deal with their over and water rushes into the plant’s cells.
salty environment. Like all succulents, By concentrating salt in their vacuoles,
Salicornia have enlarged vacuoles that Salicornia are always ensuring that they are
store water. These large vacuoles however, on the receiving end of the water gradient.
store more than good old H2O. They also Water is always moving into these salty
store salts and lots of them. plants and not the other way round. By co-
opting morphological adaptation to
The secret to Salicornia’s salty success has
drought, Salicornia are able to conquer a
to do with osmosis. As you may remember
niche that is largely unavailable to most
from science class, substances in our
other plant species. It also means that,
universe like to move from areas of high
despite all the water in their environment,
concentration to areas of low
these plants maintain a pleasingly
concentration. In the case of water within
succulent habit. n
the tissues of an organism, this often Salicornia prostrata
occurs between biological membranes. As This article was reprinted from In Defense of growing near a
you add salt to water, it actually displaces Plants an online blog with many fascinating small dried out salt
water molecules such that the more salt articles on all plants. For more amazing lake in Austria.
you add, the less concentrated the water botanical stories, please make sure to visit Photo: Stefan
becomes. That is why salt water In Defense of Plants Lefnaer
dehydrates us. When you surround a cell CC BY-SA 4.0
 41

Succulents of the
Haraz mountains,
Yemen
by Frazer Henderson
Succulents of the Haraz mountains continued 42

T he Haraz is an isolated massif within the

western escarpment of Yemen. It runs
south to north along the whole length of
Yemen and extends into Saudi Arabia as
the Sarawat and Asir mountains. The
escarpment is, in general terms, a
disordered series of mountains, massifs
and high plateaux incised by deep valleys.
To the west rests the humid Tihama coastal
plain and the Red Sea. To the east lies the
high Yemen plateau which gently slopes to
arid hills, then the Great Arabian Desert
and finally the famed Empty Quarter.
Formed during the creation of the Red Sea
rift valley the escarpment comprises a
complex of tuff, basalt and metamorphic
rock with slabs of partially formed granite
and small areas of limestone and
sandstone. The mountains rise to nearly
3,000 metres and, due to their precipitous
nature, inclines and declines of well over
1,000 metres are common, which makes
for arduous exploration. Indeed, at the end
of a day’s botanising, I found myself in full
agreement with the late great explorer
Wilfred Thesiger who wrote “Nowhere have
I experienced more strenuous travelling
than in Yemen...I had the cartilages
removed from both knees: apparently I had
worn them out.”
On approaching the Haraz from the east I
managed to record Caralluma quadrangula,
its bright, yellow inflorescences reflecting
Caralluma quadrangula
the morning sunshine.

The flower of Kleinia semperviva

Succulents of the Haraz mountains continued 43

The village of Lakamat al Qadi viewed from Qahil

Kalanchoe glaucescens and (inset) its flowers

In the foothills, as my shared taxi made its
way to the small mountain town of
Manakha, the road passed through deep-
sided gorges with valley walls festooned
with the pendulous Kleinia semperviva; the
bases of the plants tightly wedged within
the rock fissures thus providing support, .
Basing myself at lodgings at Manakha my
exploration started at the village of Qahil.
This commanding mountain village sits
just one kilometre to the south of
Manakha and is accessed by a
steep well-worn path and a
stone staircase. The village
enjoys wondrous views
over the Haraz including
the neighbouring village
of Lakamat al Qadi.
Qahil is largely empty
as former residents
have migrated to the
capital Sanaa for
employment, however, it
possess a faded charm with
its white-washed, stucco stone-
built tower houses.
Around the village can be seen Kalanchoe
glaucescens subsp. arabica with its glossy,
lipstick-red, tubular flowers.
Succulents of the Haraz mountains continued 44

Aeonium chrysanthum
(syn. leucoblepharum)

On rocks, and often in places inaccessible Heading westwards out of Manakha along
to even the most determined goat, masses the Turks’ Road – so called because it was
of Aeonium leucoblepharum can be previously the principal route taken by
observed. This species is the only Ottoman officials between the Red Sea
representative of the genus in Yemen and coast and Sanaa – the village of Al Hajarah
can also be found from Eritrea south to is quickly reached.
Tanzania.
The village of Al Hajarah
Succulents of the Haraz mountains continued 45

Close to the town are large stands of the popular for its fruit as well as a hedging
well-known Arabian endemic Euphorbia plant and when dried is used as fuel.
ammak, reaching over five metres in height However, it is an extremely invasive
and towering over the introduced Opuntia species and is colonising the ground to the
ficus-indica. The so-called Prickly Pear is detriment of native species.

Euphorbia ammak
at Al Hajarah
Succulents of the Haraz mountains continued 46

From Al Hajarah paths may be taken westwards

towards the mountain Jabal Masar (2760 metres). The
paths negotiate the boundaries of terraces with the
occasional need to traverse small streams. Where the
land has not been terraced various Aloe species can
be found including the stemless, presumed Aloe
tomentosa as well as the red flowering A. vacillans.
Aloes are fiendishly difficult to identify for non-
specialists because of their propensity to hybridise,
accordingly one is tempted simply to admire the plants
and forego any identification!

(Possibly) Aloe tomentosa Aloe vacillans

Succulents of the Haraz mountains continued 47

On the drier slopes are Euphorbia ammak

This short review draws on an earlier more
with its smaller cousins E. fruticosa and the
extensive article by the author with an emphasis
unarmed grey-green E. schimperi, named,
on the alpine flora of the Haraz that was
of course, after Wilhem Schimper, the published in ‘The Rock Garden’ Issue 128 and
Ethiopian flora specialist who, incidentally, which can be freely accessed at
coined the phrase ‘The rain forest’ – a term http://files.srgc.net/journals/SRGC_128.pdf
certainly not applicable to Yemen. I also
noted specimens of a dome-shaped
species Euphorbia sp. aff. fruticosa.
In addition to the aforementioned species, I
also recorded Crassula alba and
C. schimperi with its trailing moss-like
foliage on, or close to, terraces. n Euphorbia fruticosa
Photos: Frazer Henderson inflorescence

Euphorbia fruticosa and Euphorbia schimperi

Euphorbia schimperi on rock

 48

Succulents in a
suburban garden
by Roy Holmes

W here I live, adjacent to Mousehold Heath in

Norwich, the soil is extremely sandy, gravelly, and
gritty. It is difficult to grow the usual garden plants
without extra compost and feed, and this soon washes
through every year.
I have been collecting cacti and succulents for many
years in two greenhouses and have been a member
of the British Cactus and Succulent Society (BCSS)
since 1987.
Succulents in a suburban garden continued 49

About 20 years ago I thought I would use the

experience gained from BCSS meetings etc to try
growing cacti, succulents, and alpine plants in the
open. The plants would be growing in my south facing
front garden.
An important factor in growing these plants would be
(and still is) that they would have no protection, and
would just have to put up with whatever the British
climate throws at them, summer and winter.

The same view of the garden taken in summer and winter.

Inset above, a smaller Agave taken in winter
Succulents in a suburban garden continued 50

Opuntia flowers July

2021. The opuntias
flower every year.

The front garden faces on

to the road where
passers-by can see the
plants and often make
comments.
Over the years I have
tried many different
plants and finished up
with about seven
opuntias and some
agaves. The opuntias
flower every year.
The pictures shown were
taken in the snow in
February 2021, and the
flowers in July 2021. n
Photos: Roy Holmes

The author with a

magnificent Agave
 51

Sheilam Nursery and

Cactus Garden
by Richard Torr
A tourist in South Africa Part 2

Fig. 1 Looking
back towards the
entrance
Sheilam Nursery and Cactus Garden continued 52

O ur stay in Cape Town continued with a

trip to Sheilam Nursery and Cactus
Garden in late October 2019. We were
Sheilam Nursery is situated near the town
of Robertson in the Cape Winelands, about
170km north-east of Cape Town. It is easily
enjoying a five-night stay in the area as reached by car, in a little over two hours, A general view of
part of our almost month-long holiday in on the excellent roads in this part of South the cactus garden
South Africa, based in Johannesburg, with Africa. from near the
our good friends Ian and Val. sales area

Fig. 2
Sheilam Nursery and Cactus Garden continued 53

On arriving at the nursery, you are greeted experience. There is also the option of a
at the gate by a magnificent tree Euphorbia 90 minute guided tour at R125pp (about
and a superb Echinocactus grusonii, £6.50p) for a minimum of four people –
although these are by no means the there were only three of us, so we could
biggest specimens in the cactus garden by not do it. There is a map of the garden
a long way. The entrance sign gives details available however, with a route marked out
of the opening hours at the garden; open to take you round most of the more notable
seven days a week from 8.00am, and only features.
shut on three days a year – Good Friday,
Sheilam is roughly divided into four areas:
Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
the garden area near the entrance,
Sheilam Nursery and Cactus Garden was propagation tunnels, nursery beds, and a
established in 1954 by a Mr Malherbe and further area of nursery beds across the
named after his six children – Suzan, road from the main site. As you enter there
Helene, Elizabeth, Izak, Louise And is a small sales area on the right, but
Marsha, hence SHEILAM. Since 1967 it has looking back to the entrance (Fig. 1) there
been owned by the Schwegmann family. are magnificent specimens of Ferocactus,
Lloyd and Winnie Schwegmann initially Echinocactus and Agave among many
bought the nursery and cactus garden from others. The site is flat and open, with views
Mr Malherbe, with ownership transferring of the mountains in the distance (Fig. 2)
to Garth and Minette Schwegmann in 2003. and beyond the garden area you can see
extensive nursery beds for growing on
There is a charge of R10pp (about 55p
specimens (Fig. 3). Many of the plants are
when we were there in late 2019) to enter
labelled, but many are not, so I will attempt
the nursery and cactus garden, a small
some identifications, but please forgive me A view through
sum to pay for such a wonderful
if I am wrong! the garden to the
nursery beds

Fig. 3
Sheilam Nursery and Cactus Garden continued 54

On starting our tour around the garden, we We also came across a magnificent
could not help but be impressed by the Alluaudia procera, in a superb stand of
largest Beaucarnea (Nolina) recurvata I plants (Fig. 5). We had seen others on our
have ever seen (Fig. 4), multi-headed, in full travels but not as big as this 6m+
flower and standing at least 3m tall. I had specimen and certainly not in full flower .
seen several other specimens on our trip,
Many of the plants we saw could be
but none could match the majesty of this
described as ‘common in cultivation’,
one.

A magnificent
Fig. 4 Beaucarnea recurvata
Sheilam Nursery and Cactus Garden continued 55

Fig. 5 Looking through the garden to a superb

Alluaudia and inset, the Alluaudia in full flower.
Sheilam Nursery and Cactus Garden continued 56

Fig. 6

Carolyn with a
but to see them at this size and in such included my wife, Carolyn, in the shot for huge Euphorbia
superb condition, under the South African scale, she is 1.6m tall and comes in very milii
sun, was something else. There was the handy for size comparison!
ubiquitous ‘Crown of Thorns’, Euphorbia
Further on we found clumps of Agave
milii, in full flower and approaching 1.8m
victoriae-reginae (Fig. 7), with clumps of
high and 2–3m in width (Fig. 6). I have

A nice clump of Agave victoriae-reginae Agave parryi in excellent condition

Fig. 7 Fig. 8
Sheilam Nursery and Cactus Garden continued 57

Fig. 9

An enormous
Mammillaria and a multi-stemmed Everywhere you looked there were clump of
Oreocereus for company. Large clumps of magnificent plants to see. Euphorbia in full
Mammillaria were everywhere! Nearby was flower
One plant I was particularly taken with was
a perfectly formed Agave parryi (Fig. 8),
a multi-stemmed Espostoa melanostele
some 60–70cm in diameter. Turning
with multiple cephalia (Fig. 11) standing
another corner, we came across a
alone in a bed near the entrance. Close by
magnificent stand of Euphorbia (Fig. 9) in
were giant clumps of Echinocactus grusonii
full flower, some 4–5m wide and almost 2m
(Fig. 10) and a large four-headed
high. I’m not going to attempt the species!

A huge Echinocactus
Fig. 10 grusonii
Sheilam Nursery and Cactus Garden continued 58

A superb Espostoa
Fig. 11 with multiple cephalia
Sheilam Nursery and Cactus Garden continued 59

Fig. 12

Ferocactus histrix (Fig. 12), full of buds. We to offer some protection from the intense Ferocactus histrix
saw Echinocactus grusonii used as sun.
landscaping features to create impact in
After a wonderful couple of hours
several modern show gardens back in
wandering around the garden admiring the
Johannesburg. The helicopter-like
plants and taking photographs, we
In the nursery beds, I came across several adjourned to the shade for a picnic lunch. insects
Cyphostemma juttae, just coming into leaf
Fig. 13
and flower. One specimen was covered in
about 20 iridescent, black insects about
4–5cm long, busily searching for nectar
(Fig. 13). Beautiful insects, but the
interesting thing about them was that in
flight they had a very distinctive wing beat
and sounded like miniature helicopters
buzzing around. Eager to capture the
sound, I spent several minutes flapping
about trying to get them to fly so I could
get a video; but without success as they
would not pose for the camera. I later
found out they were probably a type of
South African wasp with a nasty sting.
If I had known that at the time, I would not
have been so manic in my efforts to get
them to perform!
The propagation tunnels for the nursery
and garden are in the far corner of the site
from the entrance. Large polytunnels house
numerous stages of propagation and
growing (Figs. 14 and 15), with larger
plants being planted out in nursery beds to
fully mature. Plants preferring shade have
their own nursery area covered with netting
Sheilam Nursery and Cactus Garden continued 60

Then off to yet another wine tasting!

Wineries in South Africa are like the
Wainwrights in the Lake District – once you
have done a few, you want to do them all.
We also visited several other botanical
gardens during our time in South Africa, all
of which can be recommended for a visit if
you are over there.
The Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens,
Roodepoort, near Johannesburg
A relatively new botanical garden founded
in 1982, particularly notable for a breeding
pair of Verreaux’s eagles nesting high on a
cliff near the waterfall – which is
spectacular when in full flood!
Lowveld Botanical Gardens, Nelspruit
Sited on the Crocodile and Nels rivers this
is home to a fantastic collection of rare and
endangered cycads and is playing a central
role in their conservation, including
establishing a cycad gene bank.
Pretoria Botanical Gardens
This is situated in the eastern suburbs of
South Africa’s administrative capital. Here
we saw our first sighting of dassies, a large
African rodent a bit like a giant guinea pig.
Fig. 14
Dassies, also known as rock rabbits, are
hyrax whose closest relatives are elephants Seed raising in the polytunnels
and manatees.
Little Karoo Desert National Botanical
Garden
This lies at the foot of the Hex River Larger plants growing on in the polytunnels
Mountain range in Worcester, about 120k
from Cape Town. Here there are extensive Fig. 15
plantings of aloes, and a reference
collection of asclepiads (which can be
viewed by appointment).
After flying back to Johannesburg, during
the Rugby World Cup Final, we had a
further trip out, this time for a few days in
the Drakensberg region, doing a bit of
walking and enjoying the scenery. We
ended our stay in South Africa in mid-
November, flying back via Dubai, where we
had a 24hr unscheduled stopover due to
delays taking off. We slept most of the time
in Dubai as we were exhausted from such
a fantastic time in South Africa, and I
haven’t even mentioned the Kruger safari!
Many thanks again to Ian for his excellent
navigating, chauffeuring and generally
looking after us while we were in South
Africa, and for his patience (and Carolyn’s)
in allowing me to look at plants for so
many hours. n
Photos: Richard Torr
 61

Woodside Cacti
Quality plants at affordable prices.
Cacti and succulents grown in our nursery.
Seedling cacti
Our main love is succulents – particularly
grown in West Sussex Echeverias and Haworthias – propagated
from our own collection.
All our plants are UK grown.
We do not buy in plants to
sell on.

A wide variety – from collectors’

cacti to plants suitable for
beginners.

Visit out website www.cvcacti.co.uk www.woodsidecacti.co.uk

BCSS Zone 14 presents

Cacti at the Castle Auction (From 1.00pm)

In conjuction with Cacti/succulents/books/anything related to the
Lullingstone Mexican Weekend hobby.

25 & 26 September 2021 • 11am-5pm £1 lotting fee per item +10% seller commission.
Reserves are welcome, but there is no lotting fee
Cacti at the Castle will consist of sales from refund in the case of unsolds.
the trade and private individuals together The auction will be limited to 100 lots per day
with promotional stands for BCSS Branches with a maximum of 昀ve lots per person on
or other organisations. each day, more if we need to make numbers
An Auction will take place on one or both up.
days. See right for full details. Just turn up and bring your lots to the auction
To enquire about being involved in this stand when you arrive. Lotting is from
event email: 11.00am to12.30pm.
Dave J Appleton Payment in cash only after each lot. All lots
BCSS Zone 14 representative accepted at the auctioneer’s discretion.
davejappleton@hotmail.com

Entry
Lullingstone Castle
Adults £10
Eynsford, Kent
Under 16s FREE
DA4 0JA
BCSS Members £5 (with BCSS
https://www.lullingstonecastle.co.uk/
membership card)