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COMMUNIQUESAN GABRIEL VALLEY

CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETY

An Affiliate of the Cactus & Succulent Society of America, Inc.Meetings are held at 7:30 PM on the 2nd Thursday of the monthin the Palm Room, Los Angeles County Arboretum, Arcadia

November 2008 Volume 41 Number 11______________________________________________________________________________

SGVCSS Winter Cactus and Succulent Show: Our 15th ANNUAL WINTER SHOW is finally hereand this time is closer to winter which means a lot of our winter growers – Pelargoniums, Tylecodons,Othonna, Aloes, Conophytums, Haworthias- are waking up and starting to grow with the cooler, longernights. Cacti are looking good on their last effort before they go dormant.

The Show is the fundraiser for our monthly meetings, guest speakers, Holiday party, refreshments for showparticipants, club badges, books, etc. Please support our show! Bring in plants to show, bring your friendsand show them your plants, invite them to the sales area, and tell them how great our Society is.

Remember to come to the Show dinner and plant auction. It is a great dinner and is your opportunity to buybeautiful and rare specimen plants. It’s going to be fun!

The sales area will be open for workers and participants from 3:00pm to 5:00pm on Friday, November 7th.Plants not paid for by 5:00pm will be placed back in the sales area.

Remember we need volunteers: We will need plenty of volunteers on Thursday morning (8:30am)November 6th to set-up tables, decorate, and get the show and sales areas ready by noon! Show and saleplants can then start coming in on Thursday from noon till 9:00pm. Remember all show plants must be in byFriday November 7th at 4:00pm. Also, clerks and helpers are needed Friday during judging which begins at5:00pm. It’s Fun! It gives you the opportunity to hear the judges’ comments and learn more about the Show.Call Manny at (626) 793-6917

2007 Trophy Winners: If you won a trophy last year, please have your name engraved on it before youbring it back to the show.

T-Shirts: Be sure to pick up your Winter Show T-Shirt when youbring in your plants. The pre-show price will be $8.00. OnSaturday the price will increase to $10.00.

See you there! Manny Rivera

T-Shirt Design

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Monthly Meeting: Join us Thursday, November 13th at 7:30 pm.Todd Masilko is our speaker for November. Todd has been a member of SGVCSS for some time. He is anavid collector of caudiciform trees with specialty in the Burseraceae. He joined the group that traveled toYemen and Socrota in late 2007 and this program is from that trip. He will focus on the wonderfulcaudiciform plants from those areas and as a Disney employee, we expect his presentation to be terrific_______________________________________________________________________________________

Plants of the Month: (see write-ups attached)

CACTI – Ariocarpus SUCCULENT -- AsclepiadsBring your specimens in for our monthly mini-show. It will help you prepare for the real shows and give youan additional opportunity to show others your pride and joy. If you don’t have any of this type of plant youcan learn about them at the meeting._____________________________________________________________________________

Study Group: Wednesday, November 19th; Topic – MesembsMeetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm in the Palm Room at the LA CountyArboretum, 301 N Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia. A great time to ask questions and learn from experiencedgrowers. Add to your collection from plants on the give-away table brought in by other members.__________________________________________________________________________New Members: SGVCSS wishes to extend a warm welcome to its newest members: Louise Guerin andFred Bahri. Be sure to take a look at the Club’s website http://www.sgvcss.com. If you wish to receive yourCOMMUNIQUE on-line please notify the editor at sgv_css@prodigy.net.__________________________________________________________________________Refreshments: The following club members have signed up to bring refreshments for the Octobermeeting: Anne Keegan, Barbara Nolan, and Rita Gerlach. Remember the first three people to sign up andbring refreshments will receive a plant.____________________________________ _____________________________SGVC&SS Election: The election of officers will take place at the November meeting. The nominees areas follows:

President Buck Hemenway Board Member Phil SkonieczkiVice President Horace Birgh Board Member Karen OstlerTreasurer Rita Gerlach Board Member Ralph MasseySecretary Anne Keegan

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Board Meeting: There will be a Board meeting on Sunday, November 9th during the Winter Show. Wewill gather at the trophy table at 1:00pm to decide on an appropriate place to meet from there._______________________________________________________________________________________

Membership Renewal: It is not too early to pay your dues for 2009.

The dues for 2009 are $15 per household if you elect to have the Newsletter (Communique) sent to you viaE-mail or $20 per household if you want to have it sent via US Mail. The advantages of having it sent by E-mail are you get it earlier, the pictures are in color and you are saving the club money.

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Send your check to SGVCSS MEMBERSHIP at 719 S Albertson, Covina, CA 91723 or give it Bill Gerlachat the Winter Show or at the November meeting. Your prompt payment will make it easier on those keepingmembership records and will speed up the issuance of the 2009 Roster.

Please note any corrections or changes in your information when sending in your check. Also note if you donot want your address listed in the roster. This would a good time to add your partner to your membership asthe new membership setup is per household._______________________________________________________________________________________________

Oct-08 Plant-of-the- Month Mini Show Results

Cacti Monotypes Succulent- Lithops

Beginner

1st Cindi Arakaki Cintia knizei 1st Oscar Flores L. werneri2nd Cindi Arakaki Strombocactus disciformis 2nd Louise Stack L. otzeniana3rd Cindi Arakaki Denmoza rhodacantha 3rd Louise Stack L. schwantesii

Intermediate

1st Dick Tatman Leuchtenbergia principis 1st No entries2nd Barbara Nolan Strombocactus disciformis 2nd

3rd H.Birgh-T.Dodson Denmoza rhodacantha 3rd

Advanced1st Frank Nudge Strombocactus disciformis 1st Tom Vermilion L. pseudotruncatella2nd Alan Hooker Leuchtenbergia principis 2nd Tom Vermilion L. fulviceps3rd Jeanne Mullens Obregonia denegrii 3rd Tom Vermilion L. leslei

Master

1st Tom Glavich Leuchtenbergia principis 1st No entries2nd Tom Glavich Obregonia denegrii 2nd3rd 3rd

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CACTUS AND SUCCULENTCALENDAR OF UP COMING EVENTS FOR 2008

NOV. 8th - 9th SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CACTUS AND SUCCULENT SOCIETYSHOW AND SALE---LA COUNTY ARBORETUM301 N. BALDWIN AVE., ARCADIA, CA

DEC. 6th - 7th ORANGE COUNTY SHOW AND SALE AT THE FULLERTON ARBORETUM1900 ASSOCIATED ROAD, FULLERTON, CA 92831SHOW AND SALE OPEN FROM 10AM TO 4PMFOR INFORMATION CALL 714-870-4887

DEC. 14th HOLIDAY PARTY- AYERS HALL, LA COUNTY ARBORETUM

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San Gabriel Valley Cactus and Succulent Society

Cactus of the Month November 2009 – Ariocarpus

Ariocarpus is one of the treasures of theworld of Cacti. This genus, from Central toNorthern Mexico and Southern Texas hassome of the most spectacular species of theentire family. Some succulent growers, whootherwise avoid cacti, make this genus theirsole exception. There are collectors whocollect nothing but Ariocarpus, and havehundreds of plants in their collections. Rarespecimens can change hands for hundreds ofdollars. Rare cultivars with unusual tuberclescan be sold for even more, particularly inJapan. There is no denying that this genushas generated a world wide cult of devotees.

With all of this, you might expect Ariocarpusto be expensive, difficult to come by, anddifficult to grow. Nothing could be furtherfrom the truth. They are no more difficult togrow than any other central Mexican genera.All of the species and all of the varieties arereadily available, and nearly all areaffordable. This genus is well within therange of even beginning novice growers.Field collected specimens are occasionallyavailable, and these are much moreexpensive, and much harder to grow.Recently collected specimens are now almostalways illegally obtained.

With all of the fuss we make over this genus,we shouldn’t overlook the plants importantethno-botanical uses made of this genus byseveral Native American cultures. Thetubercles contain sticky mucilage, and thiswas often used as glue to mend broken pots.A. kotchybeanus was boiled and used as acure for rheumatism, and several specieswere used as ‘false peyote’ in religiousceremonies.

Ariocarpus fissuratus

Cultivation is not difficult, when the homeenvironment of these plants is remembered.They grow in mineral soils, with very littleorganic matter. They all have large tuberousroots. They grow in areas that are very hot inthe summer, and that have summer rainfall.If they are protected from excess organicmatter, particularly peat, and watered heavilyonly in hot weather, good growth will result.They need protection from winter rains.

Artful Ariocarpi:

There are six species, several varieties, and anear infinite set of cultivars.

Ariocarpus agavoides, as its name impliesresemble agaves. Discovered only in 1941, itis rare in nature and cultivation. It comesfrom just a few areas in Tamaulipas and SanLuis Potosi.

Ariocarpus agavoides

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Ariocarpus bravoanus has flattenedtriangular tubercles. A beautiful species, it isslow growing and rare, although seedlings arenow often available. This species also comesfrom just a few localities in San Luis Potosi.

Ariocarpus fissuratus is much morecommon. This species spreads from thePecos River in Texas south to Durango. Thewide area over which this species grows, andthe isolation of some of the populations hasgiven rise to many forms. This species isalso one of the more collectable species, withmany cultivars produced, with extra hair, widetubercles, etc.

Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus

Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus is theminiature of the genus. This species nevergets above ground. It is widespread inMexico, occurring in silt plains from Coahuilato Queretaro. In habitat, this species issometimes under water! It is relatively easyto grow, requiring only a good, quick drainingpotting mix. Multiheaded specimens of thisspecies are especially appreciated.

Ariocarpus retusus

Ariocarpus retusus was the first speciesdiscovered, first described in 1938. This is aneasily grown species. It is widespreadthroughout the Chihuahuan desert. Asubspecies A. retusus ssp. trigonus hasmore triangular tubercles. As withfissuratus, there are dozens of cultivars,variants, variegates, etc. of the species andthe subspecies.

Ariocarpus scaphirostris is another of thesmall, rare and harder to grow species.Seedlings are available, usually as graftedplants. It is native to Nuevo Leon.

References:Anderson, E. The Cactus FamilyCullman, Gotz and Groner, TheEncyclopedia of CactiPreston-Mafham, Cacti, The IllustratedDictionaryInnes, C. and Glass, C., Cacti

Tom Glavich October 2008

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Hoodia huasabensis

San Gabriel Valley Cactus and Succulent Society

Succulent of the Month November 2008 - Asclepiads

The Asclepiadaceae or Milkweed Family is a large family of succulent andnon succulent plants. The family has a wealth of growth forms, rivaling andpossibly exceeding that found in the Cactaceae, Crassulaceae andEuphorbiaceae families. Forms run from trailing vines, to weak stemmedsprawlers, to cactus-like succulents, to caudiciforms. New species are stillbeing discovered in South and Tropical Africa, and the family will continue togrow. The flowers of all of the Asclepiadaceae are five sided, and complex,with most suited to the activities of a single pollinator, usually a fly..

The cactus-like forms include Hoodiaand Trichocaulon. Most of the Hoodiahave a similar appearance, with softspines. Their flowers are simple, open,and moderately odoriferous. The mostoutstanding quality is their resemblanceto pink, purple, gray or brown radardishes. They are easy to grow, but needheat, and protection from excessmoisture in the winter. They can be

propagated from cuttings fairly easily.Hoodia gordonii and Hoodia bainsii areoften available, and are strong growers.

The weak stemmed sprawlers such as Caralluma, Huernia, Orbea, andStapelia are all grown for their spectacular flowers. The flowers of these genera are all very complex,with a central raised zone, and very complex color patterns.They generally have an odor of rotting meat, and many havesmall hairs that move in wind, simulating the hairs that growon mold. All of the weak stemmed species are easy topropagate from cuttings. A cutting is taken, allowed to dry,and simply placed on top of damp potting soil. Cuttings rootin just a few weeks. All of these species are also the victimof a black rot that can reduce a plant from a show qualityspecimen to a pot of black slime in just a few days. Thefungus causing this black rot travels through the plantextremely quickly, and the plant is usually doomed by thetime the problem is noticed. Many growers propagate two or

Huernia ciliata

Principal GeneraBrachystelmaCaralluma

CeropegiaCynanchumDuvaliaEchidinopsisEdithcoleaFockeaHoodiaHoyaHuerniaHuerniopsisKarimboleaOrbeaOrbeanthusOrbeopsisPachycymbiumPiaranthusPseudolithosPseudopectinariaRaphionacmeSarcostemmaSeyrigiaStapeliaStapeliopsisStapelianthusTavaresiaTrichocaulonWhitesloania

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three cuttings of every species so they will have a spare,when the inevitable happens. There are literally dozens ofgreat species in this group, and you can hardly go wrong,regardless of what you grow. Caralluma socotrana, whilea challenge to grow is particularly beautiful. Huerniapendula has dark purple flowers, and is a rapid grower.

Stapelia rufa

The caudiciform genera, Fockea, Brachystelma, some of theCeropegia, and Raphionacme are all really vines. The caudex isgenerally below ground in habitat. Fockea edulis, shown at left isone of the most popular. Easily raised from seed, an impressivecaudex can be grown in just a few years, if it is left below soil levelin the pot. The Fockea are all easy to grow, perfectly happyoutdoors, even with temperatures near freezing. Raphionacme are abit more temperamental, and rot more quickly, but as long as they arekept from being cold and wet, will do fine outdoors. Brachystelmaand Ceropegia on the other hand are much harder to keep.Brachystelma rot easily and quickly when either too cold or too wet.Brachystelma have the worst smelling flowers of all the Asclepiads.Ceropegia have the most complex, with the petals forming a smallenclosure that limits access to only a few pollinators.

Pseudolithos and Whitesloania are two rare genera. Pseudolithos isbrain-like in appearance, as shown at left. Whitesloania resemblesan Astrophytum myriostigma. These are wonderful, complex plants,with small flowers coming directly from the body. Pseudolithos isgenerally available, Whitesloania, rarely so. Pseudolithosmigiurtinus, is actually fairly forgiving and grows well in agreenhouse. It needs protection from cold and damp, but doesn’tlike to get bone dry, even in winter.

Tom Glavich September 2008

Fockeaedulis

Pseudolithos migiurtinusPhoto T. Nomer

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FIRST CLASS MAIL

If you have a cactus or succulent related event that you’d like to have announced in the COMMUNIQUE,please forward the information to the address given below. Please verify event dates - sometimes events arerescheduled or canceled without adequate advance notice. Articles, Notices and Corrections can be sent viaE-mail to: sgv_css@prodigy.net or via post to: San Gabriel Valley Cactus and Succulent Society NewsletterEditor, c/o Evelynn Stevens, 10119 ½ E. Olive St., Temple City, CA 91780-3345. Material must be receivedby the last Thursday of the month to be considered for publication in the next issue of theCOMMUNIQUE.

Material in the SGVCSS COMMUNIQUE may be reprinted by nonprofit organizations (unless such permission is expressly deniedin a note accompanying the material) provided proper credit is given to the SGVCSS and the author and that one copy of thepublication containing the reprinted material be sent to the editor. Reproduction in whole or part by any other organization orpublication without the permission of the publisher is prohibited

COMMUNIQUENewsletter of the San Gabriel ValleyCactus and Succulent SocietyC/o Evelynn Stevens10119 ½ E Olive StreetTemple City, CA 91780