The online magazine for cactus and succulent enthusiasts Issue 31 December 2021

Contents
6 Click to read 17 Click to read
Arizona, Sansevieria pinguicula
Mexico...Norfolk the ‘walking’
Ian Woolnough Sansevieria
Colin C Walker
Viola coronifera
See Ultra violets Page 51

39 Click to read
Whatever happened to
that Echinocereus?
Peter Berresford
9 Click to read
Orostachys – one, two
or three genera? 21 Click to read
Ray Stephenson Why I don’t like
Lithops
Chris Coombes

51 Click to read
Ultra violets
John Watson and Anita
Flores

28 Click to read
14 Click to read
More diverse
Cumarinia odorata succulents
Graham Evans Jörg Ettelt

16 Click to read 33 Click to read

Growing ghosts The sky’s the limit
Michael Madders Paul Spracklin
 3

Welcome to the December issue of these violas until these were found. Rock Gardener. This covers all 111
the ‘Cactus and Succulent Review’. V. x blaxlandiae (2012) is discussed species, not just those which are
in the article, the other is succulent, and is an eminently
I am delighted to say that I have
V. x zwienenii (2019) shown here. readable and also very important
something really special for you in
work, as it is the first coverage of
this issue.
the subgenus since a one-page
Go to page 51 for the start of ‘Ultra review by Wilhelm Becker in 1925.
violets’, a fascinating article on the It is available to download from the
succulent violas of the high Andes, Scottish Rock Garden Club
written for the CSR by John website.
Watson and Anita Flores.
Finally as we draw to the end of
John and Anita, who are a husband another largely lost year, I would
and wife team, have studied the like to thank everyone who has
subgenus Andinium of the genus contributed in any way to the CSR.
Viola for well over 30 years. During This includes those of you who
that time they have made many have written for me, or supplied
discoveries and are responsible for photographs or drawings,
Viola x zwienenii a natural hybrid
authoring a number of succulent between V. beckeriana and occasionally helped with queries
species including V. lologensis V. atropurpurea. This plant shows and my two hard-working proof
(2011), V. rossowiana (2013), the influence of V. beckeriana. readers.
V. beckeriana (2013), V. anitae (Photo: John Watson)
I would also like to thank all my
(2018), V. abbreviata (2019),
readers for their ongoing support,
V. pachysoma (2019), V. regina John and Anita have recently
without you of course the CSR
(2020) and V. turritella (2020). completed a monograph on the
would not exist.
In addition they discovered and South American Andinopacific
subgenus Andinium of Viola Let’s hope that next year life will
authored three hybrids, two of
published by the Scottish Rock return to normal once more.
which are succulents. Hybrids
were previously unknown among Garden Club with the International Sheila Cude

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 4

The cacti of
Cactualdea

C actualdea was founded in 1995

by the Beisel family in western
Gran Canaria. It claims to be the
amazing plants, were sent to me by
Frazer Henderson.
said it does cater well for the
generalist rather than enthusiast,
with accessible walkways and
He commented that, “It would be a
largest cactus theme park in many photographic opportunities”.
more enjoyable experience for the
Europe, with over 1,000 species.
botanist-gardener with more See the Cactualdea website for
These pictures, of some of its informative signage/labels; that more photos and information.

Erratum
I would like to apologise for an
error which occurred in the last
issue of the ‘Cactus and Succulent
Review’ September 2021.
Ray Stephenson has pointed out
that in the article entitled
‘Succulents of the Haraz
Mountains’, the plant pictured on
page 43 (shown left) was wrongly
named as Kalanchoe glaucescens.
Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi
In fact it is Cotyledon barbeyi.
Kalanchoe and Cotyledon are
closely related to each other,
however Kalanchoe flowers are
strictly four-partite, i.e. four sepals,
four petals, four carpels and eight
anthers.
Cotyledon have five-partite flowers.
Both Kalanchoe and Cotyledon
have petals fused into a tube.
Photos right: Ray Stephenson Cotyledon eliseae
 5

The Mesemb Study Group

Frithia humilis
This issue contains two items on Membership of the MSG is open to
Lithops, both of which make anyone. Members receive a
mention of the Mesemb Study quarterly bulletin and the seed list,
Group (MSG) and its excellent containing many interesting
seed list. species, is issued once a year with
the February bulletin.
The MSG was formed in 1986 to
further the study and knowledge of For more details see the
the Mesembryanthemaceae. MSG website.

It’s been a particularly bad year for mealy bug

 6

Arizona, Mexico...
Norfolk
by Ian Woolnough

A homegrown saguaro takes pride of place in the Eau Brink greenhouse

Carnegiea gigantea, or the saguaro as it

is commonly known, is the tall tree-like
cactus of the Hollywood westerns,
common in southern Arizona and north-
western Mexico (Fig. 1). It even has two
National Parks straddling Tucson to its
name.
When Sarda and I bought the former Eau
Brink Cactus Nursery from the late Derek
Bowdery, (a sad loss to the cactus hobby),
one of the many interesting plants of which
we took stewardship was one such
saguaro bedded out in the large
greenhouse. Our understanding was that
this had been planted in the bed by the late
Charlie Glass, the renowned cactophile,
who was visiting Derek during a lecture
tour, sometime back in the early 1990s.
The plant although quite small would have
been many years old even then.
Unfortunately, soon after we moved in,
another large cereoid, a Pachycereus
pringlei, had to be chainsawed as it was
touching the roof and would have broken
the glass if left any longer. Just over two
years on, the base still has not sprouted.
We hope, however, that the top cut has
rooted and another plant of nearly four feet
in length (120cm), which was donated to
us, has been planted.

In habitat saguaros typically flower a bit earlier

than they do for us, as shown by this picture
taken on 18 April 2019 near Tucson, with Brian
Quantrill from the Norwich Branch of the BCSS
Fig. 1
Arizona, Mexico...Norfolk continued 7

Anyway, back to the saguaro, which

fortunately is still a fair way from the glass
so should be safe for a few years to come.
With this article in mind I have just been
out with the tape measure and can report it
is now just over seven feet in height
(215cm) and its smaller companion, also
shown in Fig. 2, is 45 inches (115cm) tall.
Derek was well known for his sense of
humour and was, how shall we say it,
rather vertically challenged, so I will leave it
to you to work out how many ‘Bowderys’
tall each plant is!
Apparently the plant has flowered for a few
years now, (in habitat they tend to be a bit
larger before starting to flower), and is, I
suspect, the only flowering saguaro in the
UK, although I would be happy to be
corrected on that if I am mistaken.
Last year I remembered to see how many
buds were forming and counted at least 22.
Fig. 3 shows these developing. This year
the saguaro managed a fantastic 33
flowers, at least, so I must be doing
something right. I do wonder, however, if
the plant was helped by Derek’s ashes,
which were scattered around it by the
King’s Lynn Branch of the BCSS. We
hoped that it would be a fitting last resting
place and one of which he would have
approved.
It is difficult to count the exact number of
buds/flowers as not all will necessarily
mature and they do so over a protracted
period of a few weeks.
Perhaps of interest, although I am not
fortunate enough to have two flowering
saguaros, (one is a blessing as most
people do not have the space or the
circumstances for even that), I did manage
to set a fruit on the plant this year. When
the last flower opened I thought it worth
trying to cross the plant with something
else in flower at the time, which happened
to be a Trichocereus. A fruit duly formed
with shiny black seeds in it, although only
time will tell if the seed is viable and if so
what characteristics the progeny will have.
Another large cereoid in the bed, a
Pachycereus (Lophocereus) schottii, also
flowers and produces fruit with seeds that
germinate well. So that at least is self-
fertile and I now have seedlings that are
doing well.

The two saguaros in the bed, note Derek’s picture as a Fig. 2

reminder of his legacy
Arizona, Mexico...Norfolk continued 8

Sarda and I are pleased to announce that

we are now selling plants and have a seed
list.
We are running the nursery on a hobby
basis, and visitors are welcome by
appointment. Please feel free to get in
touch by email or phone to make sure we
are at home. Perhaps you will see the
saguaro in flower for yourself.
We are also planning to visit many major
cactus marts and other events with a wide
range of UK grown plants. n
Photos: Ian Woolnough

Ian and Sarda Woolnough

Cacti and succulents including seed
Address:
Twickers
Eau Brink Road
Tilney All Saints
King’s Lynn
PE34 4SQ
Phone: 01553 617132 Fig. 3
Email: [email protected] Buds forming on 29 May 2020

One of the saguaro flowers open on 21 June 2021

 9

Orostachys –
one, two or three genera?
by Ray Stephenson

Fig. 1

Orostachys
thyrsiflora
resembles the
much larger
O. spinosa and
comes from the
highest parts of
Central Asia
Orostachys – one, two or three genera? continued 10

Fig. 2

Orostachys malacophylla was originally chosen as the type species for Orostachys

W hen small-rosetted Crassulaceae were

discovered in the Far East in the
1770s, they (like Echeveria of the day) were
assigned to Cotyledon as the petals were
somewhat connate (fused at the base).
After botanists juggled with the taxonomy,
plants became Umbilicus, then Sedum, and
it was not until 1809 that the name
Orostachys was coined by Friedrich
Fischer, although it was not accepted until
1935. By this time, two distinct groups of
plants had entered cultivation: subsections
Orostachys with rounded leaf-tips (Fig. 2),
and Appendiculatae for those with
projections at the leaf-tips (Fig. 3).
Orostachys spinosa is one of the most
common plants in Mongolia. It grows in
some of the coldest places on the planet,
such as the Altai Mountains, but remember
that winters there are very dry, and dry
snow covering plants actually protects
them from the sub-zero blasts.

The most commonly encountered Orostachys is

O. spinosa (with apiculate leaves). For decades it
has been a favourite of growers of alpine plants
as it needs no cold protection in winter. Without
a bitter winter, it stubbornly refuses to flower in
the UK, but examples have been known with
spikes of 40cm+. Fig. 3
Orostachys – one, two or three genera? continued 11

Orostachys boehmeri
‘Keiko’ in October
showing the typical
inflorescences
common to the genus.
The herbarium-sheet
displays both plain
green and glaucous
grey plants, so to
distinguish the two
forms horticulturally, I
christened the latter
‘Keiko’ back in 1994.
Fig. 4

All species of Orostachys produce tiny

sedum-like flowers but, unlike Sedum, on a
pyramidal spike (Fig. 4). Unfortunately, in
the UK this can come very late in the year
so that hapaxanthic (flowering once before
dying) species like O. malacophylla var.
iwarenge flower themselves to death
without producing seeds.
Like Sempervivum in Europe, the plants
thrive on tiled roofs in the Far East,
covering pagodas and temples. They
hybridise in cultivation and the late
Ed Skrocki (US) produced many cultivar
hybrids (Fig. 5).
The Japanese O. japonica (including the
form still sometimes known as
O. erubescens) can be seen in cultivation
but over-wintering this and other species in
the UK is often problematic (Fig. 6). Sadly, I
have failed to over-winter many Orostachys
which have flowered in November and not
produced any viable seed. My biggest
regret is not being able to perpetuate
O. paradoxa (Fig. 7).
Mayuzumi & Ohba (2004) created an
enigma when publishing their molecular
analysis of Far Eastern Crassulaceae, as

Just starting to form inflorescences in late

summer, this is one of Ed Skrocki’s cultivars
which certainly has ‘Keiko’ in its parentage
Fig. 5
Orostachys – one, two or three genera? continued 12

Fig. 6

Orostachys japonica is best kept in a cold frame with careful

winter irrigation

Orostachys fell into two separate clades

Orostachys Fig. 7
with Hylotelephium embedded in between.
paradoxa
I had suspected the close affinity of Byalt (1998)
Orostachys and Hylotelephium (1994) when considered this
I emphasised that the carpels of each were species
uniquely stipitate or attenuate (Fig. 8). midway
between
This was a taxonomic conundrum with
Orostachys
several solutions mooted. It seemed and
sensible, as Orostachys straddles Hylotelephium
Hylotelephium, that all species could be
placed in an enlarged Hylotelephium. This
was rejected on the grounds that
Orostachys is a much older name and
therefore should be preserved.
The next solution put forward would have
been to have three genera:
Acanthororostachys for the subsection
Appendiculatae and retain both
Hylotelephium and Orostachys (rounded-
leaf species only) which to me seemed the
most sensible solution.
But it was also proposed that most folk
associated Hylotelephium with tall, garden
herbs renowned for their autumn blooms
and Orostachys with O. spinosa (the most
commonly grown of the Appendiculatae).

Of all the genera in Crassulaceae only

Orostachys and Hylotelephium have carpels with
a narrow, constricted base. This is
Hylotelephium maximum with two petals
removed. Fig. 8
Orostachys – one, two or three genera? continued 13

Fig. 9

Hylotelephium cyaneum is similar to Orostachys when out of flower but has little resemblance to say, H. maximum, which is
a tall herb.

This latter proposal, though highly flawed, References

has been accepted, (Shenzhen Mayuzumi S & Ohba H (2004) Molecular analyses based on trnL-F an ITS
International Botanical Congress 2017). data. Syst. Bot. 29: (3):587-598.
Low-growing Hylotelephium species, out of Shaw, J.M.H. (2017) New combinations in Hylotelephium for taxa in
flower, are similar to Orostachys (Fig. 9) Orostachys section Orostachys. Sedum Society Newsletter 123: 18-20.
rather than, say, H. spectabile. In addition, Shaw, J.M.H. (2018) ×Hylostachys 'Blue Elf'. SSN 124: 32-34.
the type species for Orostachys was now Stephenson, R. (1994) Sedum, cultivated stonecrops, Timber Press.
placed in Hylotelephium, so a new ‘type’
was chosen (O. spinosa) for Orostachys
(but only the apiculate species).
To emphasise the close relationship
between Hylotelephium and Orostachys,
Chris Hansen of the USA hybridised a
Hylotelephium with an Orostachys. He
described it as ×Sedora (illegal name) ‘Blue
Elf’ and had it ‘micropropped’ for mass
distribution. Julian Shaw (RHS)
(SSN124:32) correctly named it
×Hylostachys ‘Blue Elf’ but this was under
the supposition that one of the parents was
not one of the rounded-leaved Orostachys.
It seems likely though that one parent was
‘Keiko’. So, if both parents were
Hylotelephium, then the name should be
Hylotelephium ‘Blue Elf’ (Fig.10) and Figs 2,
4 and 5 should be labelled Hylotelephium
not Orostachys. n
Photos: Ray Stephenson

Hylotelephium ‘Blue Elf’. Inflorescences are not

flat-topped as in Hylotelephium of old, or
spicate, like Orostachys but kind of halfway Fig. 10
 14

Cumarinia
odorata
by Graham Evans
Small, soft, flaccid, difficult, slightly smelly
and seemingly unique

I n the June edition of the ‘Cactus and Succulent

Review’ I looked at the genus Cochemiea following
the proposal by Breslin et al that it should be
and reported that, according to them, Neolloydia and
Ortegocactus should also be sunk therein. The
proposal further recommended that Escobaria be
expanded to include the large flowered mammillarias subsumed into Coryphantha. Amidst all this taxonomic
transformation, however, one monotypic genus came
through unscathed, perhaps breaking even on all the
confusion in its troubled past.
Cumarinia odorata is a fairly small cactus with a big
history. It grows in the central and north eastern
Mexican states of San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas,
where it seeks out shady conditions on limestone
substrates. The first collection was by Friedrich Ritter
in 1929 but it was Friedrich Boedeker who described it
as Coryphantha odorata in 1930. He chose the specific
name for the plant’s odorous fruit, which smell rather
like cumarin or sweet woodruff, and assigned it to the
genus based on a furrow which runs the length of the
tubercle.
The fit with Coryphantha was always questionable
because the flowers are very much smaller and of a
rather different, narrow shape. The fruits are thin and
elongated while the long, narrow tubercles are soft and
flabby, more so even than those of Coryphantha
macromeris. So in 1937 John Borg transferred the

Above: A view of the small tubular flower.

(Photo: Cactus Art. Taken from LLiffle
Under licence CC-BY-SA 3.0)
Left: Cumarinia odorata: a seedling showing developing
fruits. Young plants are much plumper and less flabby
than mature specimens (Photo: Vicky Davies)
Cumarinia odorata continued 15

species to Neobesseya, a small genus of diminutive, Escobaria and even possibly Echinomastus or
soft cacti with tubercular furrows, which is often Rapicactus (Turbinicarpus).
considered part of Escobaria today; but again the fruit
The genus Cumarinia was erected by Franz Buxbaum
was different, not the bright fleshy berry of
in 1951, the epithet further highlighting the scent of the
Neobesseya.
fruit. C. odorata became the type species and, to this
The next change came only five years later in 1942 day, remains the only taxon at any rank ever assigned
when Curt Backeberg placed our subject in Neolloydia. to the genus. The combination of its low growing,
Today, Neolloydia is a very clearly circumscribed genus shortly cylindrical, clumping habit, flaccid, long, narrow
consisting of probably two very closely related good and furrowed tubercles ending in a small white areole
species, (and a number of minor variations that have with 7–9 white to pale brown radial spines and 3 or 4
over the years been given species or variety status), much darker, hooked, brittle central spines that are
both of which have fairly large, wide opening purple about 25mm long, small, narrow, dirty pinkish brown
flowers. In Backeberg’s concept, unusually for a man (and, it must be said, fairly insignificant) flowers and
regarded as one of the great ‘splitters’, the genus was small, elongate-cylindric purplish brown and scented
more broadly defined and a bit of a mess including fruits make for a unique and interesting cactus of
species now considered to belong in Coryphantha, broadly mammillarioid appearance.

A mature clump growing at the Wroclaw University Botanical Gardens in Poland (Photo: Agnieszka Kwiecień.
Available under license: CC-BY-SA 4.0)
Cumarinia odorata continued 16

In cultivation, C. odorata is unfortunately not the Although Cumarinia do not have extra-floral nectary
easiest of species to grow and large clumps are rarely glands, the mature fruits are prone to leak and can
seen. I have grown them into 12cm pots but no more, leave small unsightly stains which, if not removed, are
although I did once see an imperfect clump of perhaps also a magnet for fungal infections. All the time the
16–18cm during the dispersal of an old and epidermis is a nice intense green, you should be
established collection. I understand the plant alright, but once a dark, soft blemish appears it is
succumbed shortly afterwards. sadly never long before the whole plant turns to putrid
In my experience, they do best in a very open potting mush. The best policy is to have a smaller plant or two
mix with excellent drainage and in a sunny position growing on to support any older specimen. Whether
with good ventilation. Watering should be light but through nature or poor cultivation, I find the lifespan of
relatively frequent in the growing season; in winter the these plants is no more than 8–10 years.
plants need to be completely dry and as free as Since 1951, the debate has raged tirelessly (or
possible from damp air, but nevertheless they need a tiresomely, depending on your point of view) as to
quite cool rest to ensure dormancy and prevent where this species fits in the classification of the
complete dessication, an amount of which is perfectly cactus family, with various subsequent authorities
normal for C. odorata. It is one of those species for expressing their opinions – and occasionally changing
which it is all too easy to feel sorry, as it shrinks and their minds – based on particular aspects of the plant.
wrinkles in January or February, but any water during Now, at last, it seems that DNA has resolved the
this time will almost certainly prove fatal. It is much situation and preserved the unique position of
better to send it to bed with a goodnight drink, fully Cumarinia odorata (although the possibility remains
inflated, towards the end of the growing season giving that it may be of hybrid origin). n
the pot time to dry out before dormancy.

Growing ghosts
by Michael Madders

M ost years I take advantage of the wonderfully

varied and extensive seed list produced by the
Mesemb Study Group (see page 5) and I am never
disappointed. The 2020 seed list was no exception and
among my selection was No. 3440, Lithops fulviceps v.
laevigata ex C412.
The seeds germinated and, as with the 20 or so other
small pots, I kept them lightly watered away from direct
sunlight. They all ticked along nicely with a few no
shows and the odd lost one. During the summer past,
however, while I was inspecting the seedlings more
closely, I noticed that there was something not quite
right with No. 3440.
The ten seedlings were clustered a little closely
together but were of good regular shape; it was the
colour, or the lack of it, that drew my eye. All ten
seedlings showed a milky white colour with some faint
red dotting. In bright sunlight the seedlings showed a
slight greenish translucence. The ten seedlings were a
good size and I wondered if it was possible that these
little oddities might have a bit of a future.
I am perfectly familiar with the odd ‘ghost’ that might
appear in a batch of Lithops seedlings and quickly
I wonder if any other grower sowed No. 3440 from the
withers away unnoted. These ten, however, had
2020 seed list and did they produce the plants
survived to a second summer although it was to be
expected? How usual is it for a plant to produce seed
their last. In early July I was away from home and on
that is fertile but ultimately not viable? n
my return my little ghosts were reduced to no more
than tiny dried up onion skins. Photo: Michael Madders
 17

Fig.1 Sansevieria
pinguicula in a
27cm diameter pan

Sansevieria pinguicula –
the ‘walking’ Sansevieria
by Colin C. Walker

Sansevieria is a genus in which 86 species Sansevieria pinguicula, the species

were recognised by Newton (2020), this showcased here, is very distinctive and
being the most recent survey of the genus. relatively slow-growing making it a choice
Additions since then bring the current total collectors’ item. It was first described in
to around 90 species. Many of these are 1964 by Peter Bally, the renowned student
large-growing and hence need a of East African succulents, from plants he
reasonable amount of space to discovered in the Tana River region of
accommodate them. Kenya. Today it is still known as having a
restricted distribution and is endemic to the
I grow most of my sansevierias as house or
Coast Province in eastern Kenya where it
conservatory plants and provide them with
occurs on sandy plains with open bushland
winter warmth and water all year round. My
at 120–230m (Newton, 2020).
Sansevieria collection is mostly
accommodated in a range of ceramic pots Bally named his new species pinguicula
or other unglazed pots making them a from the diminutive of the Latin pinguis
doubly attractive feature of the windowsills. meaning fat, for the somewhat fattish
Sansevieria pinguicula – the ‘walking’ Sansevieria continued 18

Fig. 2

Sansevieria pinguicula in a 20cm diameter pot

leaves. Indeed, the chunky succulent

leaves are what make this plant so
appealing (Fig.1).
It has short erect stems that branch via
runners to produce rosettes of up to seven
or eight leaves. The leaves are up to 30cm
long in cultivation, slightly flattened on the
upper surface with a broad channel almost
the width of the leaf and edged with a
reddish-brown margin. The lower surface of
the leaf is rounded with two or three narrow
grooves. The leaves are tough, edged with
a horny margin and taper to terminate in
short but very sharp terminal spines.
Colour is an intense blue-green which
fades with ageing and the surface is
slightly rough. There is no cross-banding at
any stage of growth, a feature that is a
characteristic of the leaves of many other
sansevierias.
I have grown this species for nearly 20
years. My first plant was very successful on
the show bench and accumulated a
number of awards. Its greatest accolade
was that it won first prize in the restricted
pot-size class for a Sansevieria at the 2012 Fig. 3
BCSS National Show. Fig. 1 shows the
same plant four years later in a specially Offsets on a rooted cutting of S. pinguicula in a 10cm diameter pot
Sansevieria pinguicula – the ‘walking’ Sansevieria continued 19

purchased larger black-glazed pan. Sadly with sheaths in the manner akin to that of a
this plant is no longer with me since it strawberry plant. The new growth then
succumbed to low or even freezing sends roots into the ground at a raised
temperatures following an unexpected position, thus making the plant look as if it
greenhouse heating failure. The only plants is growing on stilts. As a consequence of
that suffered were half a dozen this, the plant is known as the ‘walking’
sansevierias which should not have been Sansevieria in Kenya.
left in the greenhouse – lesson learned!
My second plant came to me from the
The plant has a very distinctive growth collection of the late Gordon Rowley who
pattern (Fig. 2). It spreads by sending out obtained it in 1993 from the Sansevieria
horizontal runners or stolons not covered expert Juan Chahinian who, in turn, had

Fig. 4

Sansevieria
pinguicula in
flower
Sansevieria pinguicula – the ‘walking’ Sansevieria continued 20

previously obtained it from Peter Bally. This

plant may be type material but I have no
concrete evidence to confirm this
suggestion.
I have propagated the plant shown in
Fig. 2. A rooted cutting potted on has
produced exceptionally fast growth in my
experience and has itself produced two
offsets after six months of growth (Fig. 3). I
suggest the reason for this is that the plant
lives on a sunny south-facing windowsill
above a radiator, so it has been provided
with near optimal growing conditions.
In all my years of growing this species just
a single plant has flowered (Fig. 4). The
spike was simple, unbranched and no more
than 10cm tall. It is, however, described as
producing branched paniculate
inflorescences up to about 30cm tall. The
flowers are arranged in dense clusters with
up to six flowers per cluster (Fig. 5).
Individual flowers are relatively small for a
Sansevieria, being less than 1cm long. The
lobes are white with a brown mid-stripe. I
detected very little scent which again is
unusual for a Sansevieria which usually
have intense hyacinth-like scents that can
fill the air of a living room. Notice too that
many droplets of nectar are produced at
the base of the flowers, presumably acting
as rewards for their nocturnal pollinators,
most likely moths. The nectar often drips
onto the leaves making them sticky.
In the last decade S. pinguicula has been
Fig. 5
shown to be more diverse than previously
understood following the description of two evidence that the genera Dracaena and Close-up of the
distinctive infraspecific taxa. Plants with a Sansevieria do not merit separate status, flowers of
distichous, as opposed to rosulate, leaf although this is still a very controversial Sansevieria
arrangement were originally described in issue and many commentators prefer to pinguicula
2012 as S. pinguicula subsp. disticha. This retain these as separate entities, at least
has shorter leaves, up to only 15cm long, for now. If you adopt the ‘lumper’ approach
that curve upwards. This and the typical then the species showcased here has
subspecies, however, have been found become Dracaena pinguicula. n
growing together and so it was
Photos: Colin C. Walker
downgraded in status and is now
S. pinguicula f. disticha (Newton & Thiede, References
2015).
Newton, L.E. (2020) Sansevieria Ruscaceae.
Another form also with shorter, dark green In U. Eggli & R. Nyffeler (eds.)
leaves and white flowers was named in Monocotyledons. Vol. 2: Families
2013 as S. pinguicula var. nana, the name Bromeliaceae to Xanthorrhoeaceae.
meaning ‘dwarf’. This grows some distance Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants,
from the type locality for the species, Springer, Berlin, pp. 1353–1385.
however, and its status was upgraded and Newton, L.E. & Thiede, J. (2015) Rank
became S. pinguicula subsp. nana (Newton adjustments for the infraspecific taxa of
& Thiede, 2015). Sansevieria pinguicula P.R.O.Bally
(Asparagaceae/Dracaenaceae).
Finally a note on another name change for Cact. Succ. J. (U.S.), 87: 28–32.
the species. There has been growing
 21

Fig.1
Lithops
verruculosa
‘Rose of Texas’

Why I don’t like

Lithops
by Chris Coombes

I was never a great fan of Lithops but have

always been obliged to keep a few. This
was due to my wife, Janice, being keen on
Oh, and she also builds and maintains the
greenhouses and staging, makes the raised
concrete bases for the water butts, creates
them and in return helping me out on all and constructs the internal mesh doors
the ‘fiddly’ jobs in the greenhouse. I rarely and anything else that requires even a
have the patience for things like the de- modicum of engineering skills, as I am
mealybugging or the extracting, packaging hopeless at it all.
and labelling of dust-like seed from my
So allowing her a small area within my
plants. She also sows most of them for me
growing space to keep some of the plants
as for some reason she always manages to
she likes seemed like a fair compromise!
get far better germination rates than I do.
Why I don’t like Lithops continued 22

Then Jan discovered some of her ‘babies’

had seed pods and was fascinated that
they were hygrochastic (closed when dry,
opening when wet). She loved the act of
dripping a few drops of water on them and
watching them slowly opening up, star
shaped, eager to introduce a new
generation to the world (Fig. 2).
And so then, of course, she had to sow
them. And then some more…
The method we use has proved very
successful for us. Jan removes the
capsules when completely dry and stores
them until the beginning of March.
The capsules are then dropped into a
container of warm water and left overnight.
The next morning all the pods have opened
and the seed deposited on to the bottom Fig. 2
of the container (Fig. 3). Any that float are
rejected and the contents filtered through a Hygrochastic seed pods
couple of sieves. The first removes any bits
of husk that may otherwise become a
magnet for fungi or bacteria and the
second one catches the seeds and drains
off the water.
Lithops germinate far better when sown
during a period that gives them noticeable
differences between day and night time
temperatures. We have found that early to
mid March is best. We use a 50/50 mix of
Westland’s John Innes and Euro Car Parts
Absorbing Granules. This is very similar to
the fine cat litter that many growers now
use. The granules are sterile, light and give
good aeration within the mix without being
so big that the roots have difficultly
Fig. 3
navigating around them. They also absorb
excess water. We prefer to sow in pots, Seeds
rather than seed trays, as the extra depth
these offer makes a huge difference to the
development of the roots (Fig. 4).
Once the seeds have been scattered on
the surface of the damp compost we cover
them with a plastic lid. We do not use the
‘baggie’ method as this encourages the soil
to remain too wet. The lids are removed a
few days after germination and the pots left
in a bright spot out of direct sunlight.
Watering is done from below, but only
when the soil has been allowed to dry out,
forcing the roots down to search for it.
So we soon found ourselves with a
ridiculous number of pots full of baby
Lithops (Fig. 5). But apparently that was Fig. 4
not enough. During the next flowering
period Jan started to ‘tickle’ things with a One year old seedlings with well-developed roots
Why I don’t like Lithops continued 23

Fig. 5

Young Lithops
paint brush, encouraging the production of disturbed at a young age. I wait until they
verruculosa ‘Rose
many more seeds. At the BCSS National are at least a year old, but ideally like to of Texas’
Show there were single-headed plants on sow them thinly and leave them to develop
offer, some with colours and patterns that for much longer. Then disaster struck. Jan
even I found attractive. Despite my best discovered the Mesemb Study Group
efforts, many of these somehow smuggled (MSG) and its seed list. (See page 5.)
themselves into the back of the car. So Jan
So she got some shelves. Not just any
stole another area of much needed space
shelves. These were 12 inches wide, 5 feet
from me, and talked about putting up
long and had a total length of 30ft. I was
shelves!
against it at first because of the shade they
The first batch of seedlings germinated so would cast for part of the day over the
well they were soon climbing all over each more worthwhile plants underneath. Plus
other. I resisted the urge to prick them out the fact they would contain Lithops. But
as Lithops do not take kindly to being our garden is south facing so Jan made

Fig. 6

A cat litter tray filled

with young seedlings
Why I don’t like Lithops continued 24

Fig. 7

Lithops dorotheae ex C124 showing variation in plant bodies

some good points. It may actually help
protect the other plants from overheating,
and she had bought the shelves anyway
and wasn’t sending them back! A cristate Lithops

We installed them above the staging, Fig. 8

18 inches beneath the glass which is lined
with twin wall polycarbonate. This diffuses
the light and filters the UV rays, greatly
reducing the risk of scorch. There is also a
series of 6-inch clip-on fans at regular
intervals to keep the air circulating and
reduce the temperature.
By now the original seedlings had long
since been pricked out into multiple cat
litter trays (Fig. 6). Lithops have deep
contractile roots and appreciate the extra
depth these provide. Other generations too
were happily thriving and screaming for
more space and some ‘special ones’ from
the MSG taunted me by looking
ridiculously healthy in carefully labelled
pots on the bedroom windowsill, chomping
at the bit to get into the greenhouse and
further reduce the room available.
I tentatively suggested selling or giving
some away, and Jan looked at me as if I
had offered to raffle off the kids.
Why I don’t like Lithops continued 25

Fig. 9

Lithops bromfieldii
‘White Nymph’
from MSG seed

Once the first few batches had matured the next MSG seed list and am ashamed to
somewhat I noticed that, despite being the say, ticked a few boxes for myself (Fig. 9).
same species, many of them were subtly
Jan bought more shelves. This time to
different. Some had slight variations in the
span some of the sections on the back and
patterns, others were more distinctly
marked. A few of them were actually quite
attractive (Fig. 7) and I started to have
unholy thoughts of back crossing or
crossing the nicer ones with each other to
encourage further enhancements. The
other advantage of seed sowing was that
very occasionally a weirdo would turn up
(Fig. 8). Meanwhile I stole a sneaky look at

Figs. 10 and 11

The deep square pots we prefer to use

Why I don’t like Lithops continued 26

Fig. 12

The prizewinning
front of the greenhouse. Same size, but once home, Jan carefully set about colour Lithops display
this time only totalling 15ft in length. I was co-ordinating them with our babies and
abashed. Some of the space was for me. arranging them in a bigger container.
The more mature specimens were now The following year was the BCSS National
potted on into some wonderful square pots Show and the container was looking so
that fitted perfectly on to the shelves and nice that I decided to put an entry in for the
had the extra depth we preferred (Figs. 10 first time ever, not expecting anything but
and 11). just wishing to share the beauty of our
As most of the original plants were now in home grown creations. I can’t begin to
trays or pans anyway, we entered a bowl in describe how elated we were when it came
several local shows and did quite well. second out of a dozen entries (Fig. 12).
Obsession is a strong word but while on
So now I have a confession to make. I have
holiday, why did I spend all my time
to admit that Jan’s little obsession has
searching the beach for rounded pebbles
become a bit of a secret passion of mine
that looked to be the same colours as our
too.
plants? I collected dozens of them and,
Why I don’t like Lithops continued 27

Now one of the highlights of our year is the at the same time. The excitement mounts
MSG seed list. I’m addicted to seeking out when the seedlings finally start to develop
unusual forms such as Lithops julii ‘Hot their patterns and colours. Then we wait for
Lips’ (Fig.13) and Lithops verruculosa the sowing season to come round again...
‘Rose of Texas’ (Fig. 1) and can be seen
But I still don’t like Lithops. And the reason
animatedly pacing along by the shelving at
for that – is because I LOVE them. n
flowering time praying that those I have
selected to cross will cooperate and bloom Photos: Chris Coombes

Lithops julii ‘Hot Lips’

Fig. 13

Fig. 16

Lithops julii
Fig. 14

Lithops julii

Fig. 17

Lithops lesliei

Fig. 18
Fig. 15
Lithops lesliei var.
Lithops olivacea venteri
 A celebration of cacti and succulents 28

A series by Jörg Ettelt

More diverse succulents

As a matter of fact, an ordinary desert supports a much greater variety of
plants than does either a forest or a prairie
Ellsworth Huntington

T he other succulents are so diverse that,

once again, I don’t know where to start.
Perhaps with those that are sometimes
Three species from the most important
genus, Euphorbia, are presented here, all of
which come from South Africa, a hotspot of
confusingly similar to cacti – let’s take a highly succulent representatives.
look at some spurge plants.
What all spurges have in common is their
It must be emphasised at this point that the milky, viscous sap (latex), which can be
spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, is extremely extremely poisonous. At the slightest injury
large. It is found practically all over the to the plant this sap leaks out. I urge you,
world and includes only a small proportion therefore, not to let this sap get into
of plants that can be considered succulent. wounds, eyes or on the skin, as it can be
Even so, there are so many of these that very irritating and can even lead to
even specialist collections cannot blindness. If it should happen, you should
accommodate them all. rinse immediately with clean water. Euphorbia
stellispina

Fig. 1
More diverse succulents continued 29

Euphorbia stellispina (Fig. 1) is very

reminiscent of a cactus. The plant pictured
on the previous page is still small, but has
already developed the typical star-shaped
spines. The picture also shows the
inflorescences (cyathia) of the species,
which remain attached to the plant for a
long time.
The species forms groups up to 50cm high.
It is dioecious, that is one female and one
male plant are needed to obtain viable
seeds. It is easy to cultivate, grows quite
quickly in well-drained, mainly mineral
substrate in full sun and with adequate
watering during the growing season.
Euphorbia polygona var. minor (Fig. 2) has
the same cultivation requirements. This is a
distinctive plant that also offsets but
remains quite small – at least in relation to
the type species, which grows columnar.
Common to all euphorbias are the relatively
small and inconspicuous flowers. This plant
is also dioecious. The woody
inflorescences are small, and remain on the
plant for a long time. It has a superficial
resemblance to a cactus and there is
always a lot of disgust when I claim that it
is not a cactus at all!
I would also like to introduce another
representative that at first does not
resemble a cactus: Euphorbia micracantha
(Fig. 3). The plant consists essentially of a Fig. 2
thick caudex that sits in the soil in habitat.
In cultivation many growers like to lift it out Euphorbia polygona var. minor
of the substrate, giving the species a
certain exoticism. I leave the caudex in the
pot, you can see the top section in the
photo, if you look closely. You must then
be a bit more careful with watering,
because these plants do not tolerate
standing water, especially in cool
temperatures. The arm-like branches on
which the flowers appear can become
quite long and cling to the neighbouring
plants in the collection. Older branches dry
out, I have already shortened the branches
that have become too long (being careful of
the milky latex!).
This group includes so many more species,
that I must apologise for showing so few
here. The highly succulent representatives
of South Africa and Madagascar are
especially fascinating, and many specialists
have succumbed to their beauty and
exoticism.

Euphorbia micracantha Fig. 3

More diverse succulents continued 30

Another huge group with succulent

representatives is the so-called ice plant
family. They all have very similar flowers
and fruits, but the number and shape of the
chambers of the fruits are an important
feature to distinguish the species. What
they all have in common is the interesting
opening mechanism of the ripe, dried fruits,
which are tightly closed when dry. As soon
as a drop of water gets on to the fruit, the
flaps, which protect the chambers with the
seeds like a lid, (see Figs. 4 and 6), fill up
and open so that subsequent drops can
splash the mostly fine seeds out of the
chambers.
Schwantesia acutipetala (Fig. 4) and Bijlia
cana (Fig. 5, also known as Pleiospilos
compactus subsp. canus) are two
representatives of the highly succulent
species, mostly occurring as local
endemics, that is occurring only in a
narrowly limited area. With these
specialists, a distinction must be made
between those that grow in summer or
winter rainfall areas in habitat. Depending
on this they may grow here, in Europe, in
summer or in winter. This can lead to some
difficulties in keeping them, as our damp
and cold winter days are quite diametrically
opposed to their requirements. The two
presented here are among the easier ones Fig. 4
to keep, as they will grow in a very similar Schwantesia acutipetala
seasonal rhythm to that of cacti.

Fig. 5

Bijlia cana
More diverse succulents continued 31

Also good to grow is Rhombophyllum nelii

(Fig. 6), a small, rather shrubby plant that
shows its flowers early in the year. From a
flower inflorescence, many flowers can be
gradually pushed out. The species is
named after its antler-like shoot ends. The
Latin ‘rhombos’ denotes a spinning top or
a displaced square, the Latin ‘phyllum’
denotes the stem. In common parlance the
species is often called elk antlers.
The predominant flower colour of the
mesembs is yellow but there are also white
and violet flowers with numerous
transitions, rarely also orange. The
relatively monotonous flowers which,
depending on the species, do not grow too
large are not the main attraction of the Fig. 6
group, but rather their exotic body shapes,
succulence and often perfect mimesis. Rhombophyllum nelii
They adapt perfectly to their surroundings
in shape and surface structure in order to
be overlooked by predators. In regions
where water is the most precious
commodity of all, water-retaining plants are
a coveted source of moisture. Camouflage
is therefore essential for survival. When the
flowering season approaches, however,
countless plants then blossom
simultaneously; moreover, it is the time
when water is often briefly available. A
risky but obviously successful strategy for
survival.
I would like to conclude for this time with
two extremely different representatives of
the same plant family. The Crassulaceae is
also a huge family with predominantly
succulent, shrubby representatives, whose
taxonomic classification is still in flux. It is
probably the family with mainly succulent
species that is most widely distributed on
our planet. They are found on all continents
except Antarctica. It is therefore no wonder
that it is so diverse. The houseleek of the
Eurasian mountains is just as much a part
of it as the exotic-looking Orostachys
species of the Asian steppes and
mountains.
Of interest to collectors are the compact
and highly succulent representatives of
southern Africa. But America also has really
beautiful species to offer in the genera
Echeveria, Dudleya and others. Similar to
Echeveria is Pachyphytum, and one of the
most beautiful species of this genus is
P. oviferum (Fig. 7), whose leaves are ovate
succulent and gave the species its name –
Fig. 7
‘ovi’ means ‘egg’, ‘ferum’ means ‘bearing’.
What I always find most fascinating, Pachyphytum oviferum
More diverse succulents continued 32

however, are the flower panicles. The La Palma at altitudes of 300 to 800 metres,
succulent petals are a similar mealy-grey to and perennial. The tiny bush should be cut
the whole plant. Touching any part of these back from time to time to ensure compact
plants detracts from their beauty, as the and thus attractive growth; with a bit of
mealy coating can be wiped off. The flower, luck, cut shoots can be re-rooted. The
almost hidden in the bracts, offers a flowers, which appear during spring and
wonderful contrast with its surprising red summer, although not very striking, appear
tones – but you have to look very closely. en masse on the beautiful, compact plant,
They are, like the other species of this and which barely reaches 10cm in height.
other genera, true gems that can be
Keeping members of this genus is a bit
cultivated together with cacti without any
trickier, not only because some species are
problems.
annuals, but also because they need a bit
The Achilles’ heel of the Crassulaceae is more water due to their low succulence,
the spiky, racemose inflorescences, often and should be placed in partial shade. Too
with small flowers, which are not very much water and there is a risk of rotting.
attractive. Such a reduction to the You have to develop a little intuition to be
minimum can be seen, for example, in the able to cultivate these species in the long
genus Monanthes, the species of which are term based on the specific conditions you
endemic to the Canary Islands and the can offer. Most species need a rest in
Selvagens Islands. They are tiny plants with winter and should be watered carefully but
inflorescences that bear only a few flowers, regularly in spring and summer. n
which is also indicated by the genus name, Photos: Jörg Ettelt
‘single flower’.
In the next issue I will look at some beautiful
M. muralis (Fig. 8) is one of the most cacti that give us the pleasure of flowering
attractive members of the genus, native early in the year. After all, anticipation is the
only to the Canary Islands of El Hierro and best of all joys. Monanthes
muralis

Fig. 8
 33

November 2020 – the old house

The sky’s the limit!

by Paul Spracklin
An ambitious new outdoor planting of cacti and succulents near the
Thames estuary

I started growing cacti and succulents

outside some 30-odd years ago, looking
for exotic and tropical plants with strong
Recently, however, events took a turn in an
unexpected direction. Early in 2020 my
elderly neighbour passed away and his
architectural form that can withstand the tumble-down old 1920s-built house
dry growing conditions we endure in my eventually came up for sale as a
part of Essex. building plot.
With the passage of time many plants that To cut a long story short my wife and I
were originally sited in full sun now struggle decided to buy it, mainly to preserve our
for light as surrounding plants gain size tranquil bubble and save it from being
and maturity, and I now find myself with developed/new build/family from hell etc.
very little space for new things as existing As a result, of course, there was all that
plants become increasingly overcrowded. extra space now available.
The sky’s the limit! continued 34

March 2021 – no
The house was demolished and the So what I now have, in effect, is a large, house and a view
rubble kept and spread over the footprint open, sunny slope that, with all that
of the house and a couple of metres to the masonry, is going to absolutely bake in
side, leaving me with a southwest facing summer. The high lime content will make
slope where, in places, the rubble is for perfect drainage. To say I am excited by
1.2m deep. the prospects would be an understatement.
May 2021
The sky’s the limit! continued 35

Away from the slope, clearing the we had no idea were present, including a
neglected and massively overgrown site lovely old sundial that had not seen the
has been incredibly hard work but huge fun light of day for decades.
and very rewarding. There were dead trees
Once the site was clear I turned my
and shrubs, self-sown hollies and bay
attention to the planting. I decided to plant
laurel, layered privet, a 12-metre tangle of
mainly, but not exclusively, multiples of
Russian vine that had found its way into
things I know do well here, so I have a
the roof space and five-metre bramble
more limited palette of plants, but used on
stems as thick as my thumb.
a bigger scale, for example a group of five
It was impossible to walk around it at first Agave ovatifolia which should create a
without a struggle. To one side was an large central focus. I had a number of
ancient Buddleja alternifolia that had ‘spare’ potted plants and also, having
spread its wiry branches for four metres in massively overplanted my existing garden,
every direction and had become a huge had loads of plants to transplant. Add to
black hole of light-sucking tangle. We that gifts from friends and I actually had to
disposed of pretty much everything via buy very few new plants. I have a
green waste bins from the council, snipped specimen plant of the slightly tender giant,
or sawn into small bits and rammed in Agave tecta on trial, which will now have to
tight. We have uncovered all kinds of take its chances under the cover of a large
original walls and paths etc, many of which Monterrey cypress.
June 2021
The sky’s the limit! continued 36

October 2021

Thus far I have planted/transplanted 40

cacti, 26 agaves, 12 yuccas, 10 nolinas
and a whole load of Mediterranean climate
plants. I had many of the previous winter’s
‘insurance cuttings’ of Lampranthus in
various eye-watering shades to start
covering the ground, plus a few
experimentals, of course, such as the
Mexican palo verde tree, Parkinsonia
aculeata and ‘stick of blood’ Marcetella
moquiniana from Tenerife. I am keeping the
hard landscaping to a minimum because
first, I like the challenge of letting the plants
provide the structure and second, buying
the plot was not cheap and I do not want
to completely empty the tank!
Planting into the slope has, at times,
brought to mind searching for earthquake
survivors – prizing out bricks and filling
voids beneath. Any backfilling has been
done with all-in ballast to keep it as soil-
free as I can. Each plant has then been
watered in at the time of planting with the
intention of no further irrigation other than
Trichocereus
what falls from the sky, which, as it
sp. – great
happens, was quite a lot in the summer spine colour
of 2021.
The sky’s the limit! continued 37

Some half-dead ‘herbs’ were rescued from also responded beautifully with more
a garden centre compost bin – marjoram, compact growth and more pronounced
thyme, rosemary, hyssop, lavender, curry colour of flesh, tooth and spine and it was
plant and pineapple sage. Immediately the the same with the cacti.
growth shown by these plants was
astonishingly healthy and vigorous. The In amongst the plants I have added some
succulent plants, although not as fast, have drifts of spring bulbs – reticulated iris,

Agave parryi – very black spines developing Agave gentryi – very strong colour especially on the leaf-
bud imprints

Agave salmiana subsp. crassispina – beautifully compact Agave tecta – a potentially massive Agave but a bit tender
and coloured new growth
The sky’s the limit! continued 38

species tulip, grape hyacinth, crocus – to

provide early season interest. A broadcast
sowing of mixed seed of Californian poppy
(Eschscholzia californica), Mexican prickly
poppy (Argemone mexicana) and rose
campion (Lychnis coronaria) will hopefully
provide a continuation of colour alongside
the Lampranthus.
As I write (just after the autumn equinox),
this season is drawing to a close and I am
delighted with how everything has
progressed. How the plants behave during
the winter and into next year is, of course,
the big question but I can hardly wait to
find out. I am sure there will be losses –
already one or two transplants are looking
a bit ‘iffy’ but I still have a greenhouse half
full of surplus plants waiting their turn.
Wish me luck! n
Photos: Paul Spracklin

Lampranthus – this started the year as a small

cutting

Marcetella moquiniana
 39
Fig. 1 Echinocereus
coccineus subsp. coccineus
SB850 Ladrone Mtns.,
Socorro Co., NM JES
96_025

Whatever happened to that

Echinocereus?
by Peter Berresford
Returning to the mystery of disappearing Echinocereus names, this time the focus is
on two relatively recent descriptions, E. coccineus subsp. aggregatus (Blum et. al
1998) and E. toroweapensis (Fischer) 1991.

T he Echinocereus coccineus group in 1998

comprised five subspecies; coccineus, rosei,
aggregatus, roemeri and paucispinus and, with
Echinocereus sect. Triglochidiata Bravo (1973)
Echinocereus ser. Compacti Kunzmann (1985)
E. toroweapensis, contained all the US members of Containing all members of E. triglochidiatus
scarlet flowering ‘claret cups.’ Completely separate Echinocereus ser. Roseiani (Kunzmann) W. Blum,
from these were the species and subspecies of stat. nov.
E. triglochidiatus.
Containing two subseries
By the time of the publication of ‘Die Echinocereus Echinocereus subser. Roseiani Kunzmann 1985
coccineus-Gruppe’ in 2017, there had been several
changes in the organisation of these plants and new Echinocereus subser. Polyacanthi W. Blum,
species had been described. Species or subspecies subser. nov.
now fell under series and subseries ranks all contained
within the major Section Triglochidiata as follows;
Whatever happened to that Echinocereus? continued 40

To discuss the current conundrum, it will be necessary extreme east of New Mexico, and south-east into
to focus on the Echinocereus coccineus group (species Texas to Piedras Negras on the Rio Grande. To the
and subspecies) which all fall within Echinocereus east the distribution reached the area north of San
subseries Roseiani. These are characterised by the Antonio and nearly as far north as Abilene. There was
relatively short flower tube, (which can best be also a small extension of the group into the northern
visualised as considering the distance into the flower area of Coahuila and Chihuahua in Mexico (Fig 2).
which a pollinating proboscis has to reach to collect
New discoveries and research have substantially
the nectar).
altered our understanding of this group of plants and
Echinocereus coccineus, in the broad sense, has thick- the distribution of the subspecies. It is probably easier
skinned fruits with a distinct colour change of the to deal with the other members of the Echinocereus
entire fruit at maturity, changing from green to coccineus group before tackling E. coccineus subsp.
yellowish, or pink and orange to red. Echinocereus aggregatus and E. toroweapensis.
subseries Polyacanthi is characterised by a longer
flower tube. The ripening fruits are dark green and, Echinocereus coccineus (Engelmann) subsp.
depending on the exposure to sunlight, either coccineus
completely reddish when ripe or violet with more This subspecies was originally found by Wislizenus
intense sun. during his 1839 wagon train tour from Missouri
I will return to Polyacanthi later. Nobody said that westwards and down through Mexico and described
taxonomy was simple! How much easier life would be by Engelmann in 1848. Plants were found in the pine
if we didn’t have to carry the historic names forward woods of Wolf Creek near Santa Fe, now part of Mora
and used something more meaningful like subser. County, New Mexico.
Breviflora rather than Roseiani and subser. Longiflora Distinguishing features are the number of ribs (8–12),
rather than Polyacanthi! which it shares with E. coccineus subsp. rosei, and the
The known distribution of the Echinocereus coccineus number of radial and central spines (5–12 and
group in 1998 extended from south-west Utah in a 1–normally 3) respectively (Fig. 1). Over the years
wide band down through central Arizona, south of various attributes of the subspecies were recognised,
Colorado Springs in Colorado, covering all but the attracting new names such as melanocanthus,

Fig. 2

Distribution of E. coccineus in USA ex Blum et al 1998 v2

Whatever happened to that Echinocereus? continued 41

cylindricus and conoideus but these are now regarded Echinocereus coccineus subsp.
as synonymous with E. coccineus subsp. coccineus. transpecosensis Blum, Oldach T & J
The altitudinal range is from 1,300 to 2,400m. It is impossible to go any further before noticing the
Echinocereus coccineus subsp. rosei (Wooton ‘elephant in the room’ Echinocereus coccineus subsp.
transpecosensis described in 2015, which affected the
and Standley) Blum & Rutow
mapping of a number of members of what is now
First described as E. rosei by Wooton and Standley in subseries Roseiani. The type location for the plant is
1915, Blum used Kunzmann’s specific epithet as the north of Sierra Blanca, Hudspeth Co., Texas.
base for a new series of Echinocereus, Roseiani. The
holotype was described as being from Dona Ana In 2016 I had the pleasure of staying at a ranch on the
County, New Mexico which borders Mexico just north- banks of the Rio Grande in this county which is
west of El Paso. Clumps may reach up to 30 heads in accessed from Sierra Blanca along a road that soon
size, which is somewhat smaller than 500 which turns to dirt; and the flora becomes distinctly that of
E. coccineus subsp. coccineus may approach but the Chihuahua desert environment. Here Echinocactus
E. coccineus subsp. rosei typically has more central horizonthalonius shares the desert with Dasylirion
spines (4–6) (Fig. 3). E. coccineus subsp. rosei also wheeleri, Escobaria tuberculosa and several
favours lower altitudes from 1,300 to 1,600m. The echinocerei including E. enneacanthus, E. stramineus,
mapping of Echinocereus coccineus subsp. coccineus E. dasyacanthus and E. coccineus subsp.
and rosei as a ‘group’ has changed little since 1998 transpecosensis. Revisiting in late April 2019, many of
but the known area of subsp. coccineus has risen to the cacti were in flower (Fig. 4).
greater prominence at the expense of subsp. rosei, By the ranch along the river there were some different-
once thought to extend further north. looking plants which we believed to be a transitional

Fig. 3

Echinocereus coccineus subsp. rosei with Swallowtail butterfly pollinator. Franklin Mountains State Park,
El Paso Co. TX. 1,523m
Whatever happened to that Echinocereus? continued 42

Fig. 4

Echinocereus coccineus subsp. transpecosensis, west of Sierra Blanca, Hudspeth Co. 1,341m

form between E. coccineus subsp. transpecosensis subsp. transpecosensis lies between the two previously
and subsp. rosei (Fig. 5). described subspecies above and the two which follow.
This subspecies is described as having 7–11 ribs, 6–11 All the field-work and study undertaken since 1998 has
radial spines and 1–4 centrals. I am in some doubt as rendered the previous name E. coccineus subsp.
to the criteria regarding central spines here. In 2008, I aggregatus redundant and has also had an impact on
first saw plants in the Sierra del Carmen in Coahuila, the mapping of the following two subspecies (Fig. 7).
subsequently revisiting them on several occasions.
Here E. coccineus subsp. transpecosensis frequently
displays 0–1 central spines, although the rib count is
within the recently documented criteria. In those days
we were calling this plant E. coccineus subsp.
aggregatus (Fig. 6).
In 2017 Blum et al. reported on the results of a new
characteristic that helps to differentiate the subspecies
of the ‘claret cups’. The spine surface was found to be
consistently different between certain subspecies,
which proved critical in understanding the relationship
of plants in this subseries. Spines from subsp.
transpecosensis have a smooth-tubular, grooved
epidermis with an incipient tuberculate structure (the
beginnings of small, rounded projections). E. coccineus
subsp. coccineus and subsp. rosei have, by contrast, a
Fig. 5
smooth, striated spine surface whereas E. coccineus
subsp. paucispinus and subsp. roemeri both have a Transitional form of E. coccineus subsp. rosei and
spine surface which is significantly tuberculate. Both E. coccineus subsp. transpecosensis,
geographically and developmentally it would seem that Hudspeth Co. TX. 1,152m
Whatever happened to that Echinocereus? continued 43

Fig. 6

Echinocereus coccineus subsp. transpecosensis in the Sierre del Carmen, Coahuila displaying 0–1 central spines

Fig. 7

Distribution of US members of series Roseiani ex Blum et al 2017

Whatever happened to that Echinocereus? continued 44

Fig. 8

Echinocereus coccineus subsp. paucispinus, Evans Creek off US90, Val Verde Co. Texas

Echinocereus coccineus subsp. paucispinus Grande, with Jos Huizer and was fortunate to find
(Engelmann) Blum, Lange & Rutow some close to the type locality where the Pecos River
Cereus paucispinus is one of Engelmann’s finds spills into the Rio Grande. If you blink, travelling down
described in 1857 but the combination with US 90, it is easy to miss these plants – far better to
Echinocereus coccineus is attributable to Blum et al. in turn off when you reach the area and search slowly,
1998. The mapped distribution of this subspecies has then you will find them under rock overhangs (Fig. 8)
reduced by some 75% since the combination was between 250 and 500m elevation.
created. Plants growing to the south and east of the This is possibly the easiest of the subspecies to
1998 distribution are now attributed to E. coccineus identify, having very few ribs (5–7) and 0–1 central
subsp. transpecosensis. Over 20 years ago, I went spines accompanied by 3–7 radial spines. The specific
looking for these as I travelled south, following the Rio epithet translates as ‘few spines.’
Echinocereus
coccineus subsp.
roemeri
(Muehlenpfordt) Blum,
Lange & Rutow
Originally described as a
Cereus in 1848, a
combination of this name
was never made with
E. triglochidiatus so the
taxon has made fewer
‘hops’ than many of its
relatives. Like subsp.
paucispinus its range is
quite low (between 300
and 600m) and it relishes

Fig. 9

Echinocereus coccineus
subsp. roemeri accompanied
by E. reichenbachii subsp.
caespitosus Medina Co.
Texas at 351m
Whatever happened to that Echinocereus? continued 45

Fig. 10

Roadside flowers on the Edwards Plateau, Medina Co. Texas

either granite or limestone rocks. The western edge of Plateau. It is easier to distinguish from subsp.
its distribution has been ‘eroded’ by the relatively new paucispinus as all the key criteria are larger (rib count
subsp. transpecosensis but it grows in the area north ranges from 7–10, radial spines from 6–9 and centrals
of San Antonio on the more temperate Edwards from 1–4). There is no need to pack litres of water

Echinocereus bakeri, north of Paulden, Yavapai Co. Arizona 1,717m

Fig. 11
Whatever happened to that Echinocereus? continued 46

Fig. 12

Echinocereus bakeri Barnhardt Trail, Gila Co. Arizona 1,448m

when you go into the field here, the meadows and interest are the longer flowers which can be
roadsides are full of annual and perennial flowers hermaphrodite or functioning female or male flowers
(Fig. 10), most of which do not originate from succulent (Fig. 11). Plants possess 9–11 ribs, 7–11 radial spines
plants. It is not difficult to find these cacti where rock and a normal compliment of 1–2 central spines,
outcrops occur by the side of smaller farm roads. They although exceptionally this may be as many as four.
are often found growing in granite or limestone in
tandem with E. reichenbachii subsp. caespitosus
between 300 and 600m (Fig. 9).
To explore what happened to Echinocereus
toroweapensis which, according to the Echinocereus
1998 monograph, covered most of central and north-
western Arizona (Fig. 2), a good understanding of the
second subseries of series Roseiani, namely
Polyacanthi, (with its accompanying longer flower
tubes) is required. Back in 2003 I explored a large area
of Arizona and confidently labelled all the large clumps
of red-flowered plants in northern Arizona as
E. toroweapensis. The revelation of Echinocereus
bakeri, first described in 2015, had a profound effect
on the understanding of the red-flowering echinocerei
in central/northern Arizona.
Echinocereus bakeri Blum, Oldach T & J
The plant identified and collected by Marc Baker was Fig. 13
named in honour of his extensive contributions to a
Echinocereus bakeri Barnhardt Trail, Gila Co. Arizona
better understanding of the genus. Of particular 1,251m
Whatever happened to that Echinocereus? continued 47

Fig. 14

Echinocereus canyonensis, Toroweap Point, North rim of Grand Canyon, Mojave Co., Arizona. Shown by kind permission of
Traute Oldach

It is rare to see one or two stems of this plant but In 2003, during travels through northern Arizona, I
clumps of more than 30 heads are very common struggled to differentiate E. triglochidiatus subsp.
(Fig. 13), and plants can reach 500 stems. It is no mojavensis from E. toroweapensis but eventually
surprise, coming from this part of the USA, that started to recognise the subtle differences, particularly
E. bakeri grows at altitudes between 500 and 2,450m the different spacing between stems in a clump.
(Fig. 12). The spine surface is also indicative of Clearly, I had not read Blum’s 1999 article before my
separation as a species from previously discussed 2003 visit, which identified E. toroweapensis as a
taxa, having distinct longitudinal grooves with the synonym of E. canyonensis! The type locality was only
beginning of small tuberculate growths. 40km apart for the two names. In the circumstances,
the earlier name of E. canyonensis took precedence
Echinocereus canyonensis Clover & Jotter
and E. toroweapensis ‘disappeared’. Imagine how
The presence of another red-flowering Echinocereus many plants I would find in 2003 without a name to
belonging to subseries Polyacanthi, inside the differentiate them!
distribution of E. bakeri (Fig. 7), is most interesting and
there is a connection here with our other ‘disappearing’ By 2017, after a lot of further work, the small area of
name, E. toroweapensis. E. canyonensis (Fig.14) was distribution of E. canyonensis was mapped as being
described in 1941 having been collected on steep within the distribution of E. bakeri and well-
limestone outcrops ‘100 yards from the river at Bass differentiated by several factors:
Cable below Hermit Creek Rapids in Grand Canyon, E canyonensis E bakeri
Coconino County’. In Blum et al (1998), this plant was Ribs 11–14 9–11
relegated to potential synonymy with Radial spines 9–13 7–11
E. triglochidiatus subsp. mojavensis, another Central spines 4–7 1–2 rarely –3 or 4
widespread ‘claret cup’ ranging from central California, Flower length 30–45mm 50–70mm
through Nevada, Utah and as far east as western Flower diameter 15–35mm 35–45mm
Colorado and down into northern Arizona. Nectar chamber 2.5–6mm length 6–9mm length
Whatever happened to that Echinocereus? continued 48

Fig. 15

Echinocereus yavapaiensis on limestone rock north of Phoenix, Yavapai Co. Arizona

Echinocereus yavapaiensis M.A. Baker penetrating gaps between boulders or in rock faults
(Fig. 15).
In 2006 another ‘claret cup’ was described from
Yavapai County, the Arizonan county above Phoenix. The dichotomous key produced in Blum et al (2017)
This is relatively easy to reach and by 2013 was on my indicates the defining characteristics of this species to
schedule to visit. This is another long-tubed flowering be its ploidy and the larger size of its flowers
Echinocereus within subseries Polyacanthi. (35–80mm long x 35–50mm diameter). The rib count is
As with E. canyonensis, the distribution area from 9–14. Radial spines number 7–10 and central
(Fig. 7) falls within the much larger range of E. bakeri. spines between 1–6 (Fig. 16).
One should exercise caution before labelling
photographs in northern Arizona! Unfortunately, the plants had long since finished
flowering by the time of my visit towards the end of
Unlike the other plants in this article which are all May but plump fruits had formed on several plants
tetraploid, E. yavapaiensis is hexaploid. Both functional (Fig. 17) and these proved to contain some ripe seeds,
male and female flowers are produced as well as although not as many as one might expect when
hermaphrodite flowers. From observations north of dissecting the fruit of a ‘claret cup’. The seed was left
Phoenix, it is clear that the plant has a strong at appropriate-looking sites for germination and
preference for volcanic rock and grows with its roots development at the location.
Whatever happened to that Echinocereus? continued 49

Fig. 16 Fig. 17

Clump of Echinocereus yavapaiensis north of Phoenix Echinocereus yavapaiensis fruits May 2013

Echinocereus santaritensis W. Blum & Rutow The first time I saw it in 1997 was completely
This is the antepenultimate species, again belonging to unplanned. I was following a lead on Echinocereus
subseries Polyacanthi and the most southerly within bonkerae which was reported as growing along the
Arizona, stretching over the border down into Sonora Salt River on White Mountain Apache land in Gila
and Chihuahua. The original description of 1998 had to County. It was late March and both plants were in
be corrected (Blum 1999) as the herbarium reference flower, although E. santaritensis was an unidentified
was incorrectly cited for the holotype. red-flowering Echinocereus at the time (Fig. 18). The
republished description for the plant in Blum et al
It is named after its occurrence in the Santa Rita (2017) indicates it flowers from April to May, so these
Mountains from where the holotype was collected. flowers were early. It is the long flowers and the fact

Fig. 18

Echinocereus santaritensis Salt River, Gila Co. 1,030m

Whatever happened to that Echinocereus? continued 50

that these are invariably hermaphrodite

that singles this plant out. I have also
found the long stems to be a good visual
indication of the identity of the plant in
habitat at some sites. The plants at Salt
River were clinging to sandstone cliffs,
growing at an altitude of 1,030 to 1,040m
slightly below the lower limit described in
Blum et al (2017) of 1,100m. I found it
again in the Chiricahua Mountains of
Cochise County at some 1,720m, well
below the upper limit of 2,925m.
Echinocereus gurneyi (L.D.Benson)
W. Blum, T & J Oldach
Benson (1969) first identified this plant
from just south of Marathon as
E. triglochidiatus var. gurneyi. For many
years this was regarded as a naturally
occurring hybrid related to E. lloydii but I
Fig. 19
have included this plant as it was recently
recognised as a stable species (Blum et Echinocereus gurneyi stems type location south of Marathon, Brewster
al, 2015) in subseries Roseiana. The Co. Texas
parents are identified (in current
nomenclatural terms) as E. coccineus
subsp. transpecosensis and E. lloydii
(itself a cross between E. dasyacanthus
and E. coccineus subsp.
transpecosensis). We occupy a brief
moment in time in terms of the evolution
of plants so it is a brave judgement to
decide when the creation of a new
species has stabilised.
Distribution is limited to a few localities
south and south-west of Marathon. The
plants have quite a robust, chunky
appearance with individual stems
measuring up to 150mm in diameter
(Fig. 19). Flowers typically have a paler
orange throat and red petals (Fig. 20).
Potential explorers should be aware that
there are a few hybrids which have been
identified which makes visits more Fig. 20
interesting! n
Flower on Echinocereus gurneyi type location
Photos: Peter Berresford unless indicated

Literature 30 – Sonderausgabe 2017. Druck Chapo NV, Sasstraat 4,

3500 Hasselt.
Blum W, Lange M, Rischer W & Rutow J (1998)
Echinocereus Monographie. Privately printed, Belgium. Clover, EU & Jotter, L (1941) Cacti of the Canyon of the
Colorado River and Tributaries. Bulletin of the Torrey
Blum W (1999) Echinocereus toroweapensis (P.C.Fischer)
Botanical Club, 68(6): 409–419. Torrey Botanical Society
H. Fuersch ist ein jüngeres Synonym von Echinocereus
canyonensis E.U. Clover & L. Jotter. Der Engelmann, G in Wislizenus A (1848) Memoir of a Tour of
Echinocereenfreund 12(4): 87–93. Northern Mexico. Washington.
Blum W, Oldach T & J (2015) Cactus-Aventures Fischer PC (1991) Echinocereus triglochidiatus var.
International 106–107. A New Taxon of Echinocereus in toroweapensis. Cact. Succ. J. (U.S.) 63(4).
Arizona. Taylor, N P (1995) The genus Echinocereus. Collingridge
Blum W, Oldach T & J, Baues B & Ruinaard H (2017) Die and The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Echinocereus coccineus-Gruppe. Der Echinocereenfreund
 51

Ultra violets
by John and Anita (Flores) Watson
An introduction to the succulent violas of the high Andes

A section of the vast and insufficiently

explored Andes, home to many
sempervivoid violas (Photo: John Watson)

‘Viologists’ is what our late lamented colleague Kim Blaxland called herself
and the two of us. The genus Viola, or one part of it, a South American
Andinopacific group, has been our principal focus of field exploration and
investigation for well over 30 years.

We are members of a world Violaceae All those from the mid to

study group and have lived permanently in high Andes form tight,
Chile, Anita’s native land, since 1997. (John quite small rosettes of
is English.) dense, overlapping foliage
sitting directly on the ground,
It will surely come as a big surprise to most
for which reason they are
readers, if not all, to discover that there are
known popularly as rosulate
actually succulent violas in the high Andes,
violas. Their morphology is
above our home to the east! In fact they
variable, foliage of the largest
belong to a small, compact, closely related
aggregate at one extreme being flexible
and easily recognisable alliance of 23
and more or less hairy, usually around
published species.
the margins (ciliate), while at the other
Viola as a whole is cosmopolitan in they bear a general basic
distribution and was recently divided into resemblance in form to plants of the
two main groups. The largest, subgenus genus Sempervivum, having very
Viola, is found mainly in the northern tightly imbricate and rigid, fleshy
hemisphere and contains all our familiar leaves with tiny points (apiculae)
wild and garden violets and pansies. The on the tips.
other, subgenus Andinium, our speciality,
extends continuously from Ecuador on the The extent of section Andinium
equator through Peru and Bolivia, reaching and the countries it inhabits. Only
the southern Patagonian extremity of one record of any taxon has been
Argentina and Chile. It is this group of 111 included per country (Courtesy of
species which includes our 23 succulents. the internet)
Ultra violets continued 52

For obvious reasons we call them nectar-bearing spurs extending back from
‘sempervivoids’, and they attain their the lowermost petal. V. sempervivum has
maximum physical expression in our ‘one smallish yellow flowers, those of
under two dozen’ described below. These V. santiagonensis being larger and white.
range along the southern half of the overall
The remaining species, V. portulacacea, is
distribution of subgenus Andinium, from
flat to the ground and, although not
central Chile and Argentina southwards,
preserved in flower, was reported to have
where one of them, V. auricolor, a low, mat-
pale blue corollas. We have searched for it
forming species with showy bright, pale
thoroughly for a long time, exactly where it
orange corollas, is the most southerly of
was collected, but in vain. The valley is
the subgenus.
now shrub-covered and we believe it was
Many species of the subgenus are swept down by a land slip from higher
exceedingly rare, including 20 only ever ground above, either as plants or seeds.
found once and not seen since. Some of V. lologensis, another considered to be
those are now probably extinct. Four extinct and which we have also searched
belong to our group. One, V. comberi from for fruitlessly, was found in the mid-1920s
Argentinian northern Patagonia, resembles by the British horticultural plant hunter,
golden-yellow flowered V. coronifera and in Harold Comber, as two closely adjacent
fact shares (or shared) the same level colonies in Argentinian Patagonia.
mountain top. They can only be told apart
The rosulate violas under consideration
by close examination of herbarium
come in two forms, either with their
specimens.
rosettes short or even flat to the ground as
The others are from the Santiago in V. abbreviata, V. auricolor, V. coronifera,
mountains of central Chile. Two have long V. cotyledon, V. dasyphylla, and V. regina,

Viola auricolor Viola atropurpurea

This has short, or flat, rosettes and is the most southerly One of the columnar rosulate violas, sometimes found on
of the subgenus (Photo: John Watson) steep rocky screes (Photo: John Watson)
Ultra violets continued 53

Volcan Copahue, location of V. pachysoma, V. cotyledon and their hybrid V. x blaxlandiae (Photo: John Watson)

for example, or a mixture of columnar and There is no need to provide descriptions

squat statures in the same species, like here, since pictures ‘speak louder than a
V. atropurpurea, V. pachysoma, and the thousand words’ as the saying has it, and
appropriately named pair V. columnaris and we have provided enough to illustrate the
V. turritella. full range of their variability.

Lago Vintter, Argentina, location of V. columnaris and one of the southernmost locations of these violas (Photo: Harry Jans)
Ultra violets continued 54

Evolution
So why and how did these particular violas
get to be so different from others of their
kind, and what is their evolutionary origin?
Thanks to modern molecular analysis we
know where, when and under what
circumstances this happened, which
enables us to provide speculative but
realistic answers to those questions.
The origin of the Violaceae has been
determined to have taken place in what is
now the south of South America. At the
time it was covered in tropical forest and,
as now, except for most of Viola, genera of
the Violaceae family consisted of short
shrubs or subshrubs. We may reasonably
assume they grew in any habitats where
sufficient light was available, such as
clearings and by riversides. It was from
among these that the first violas, also more
or less woody, evolved.
Then, around 34 million years ago, a
dramatic global cooling event gave rise to
Antarctica, converting the rain forest of the
southern half of the subcontinent to plains
and local sectors of temperate woodland.
During the same period, tectonic collision
along the Pacific coast of South America
resulted in the initiation of precipitous
localised vulcanism and the gradual
orogeny that gave rise to the Andean chain.
Inevitably, most old habitats were
destroyed and new ones created. Only
species which could adapt to the abrupt
change and those newly evolved to take
advantage of it survived.
Viola proved to be particularly adept. As
well as retaining elements of its woody
features to this day, a new line evolved
which was able to occupy the chemically
rich but hostile and otherwise almost
vacant ash and pumice fields of the new
volcanoes, most or all of which were still
active at the time. They were the ancestors
of our succulent sempervivoid species; in
fact the very first herbaceous violas.
Violets or pansies only came into existence
millions of years later, so our sempervivoids
must have evolved from the woody
conglomerate, although we have no
present chain of intermediate forms to
confirm this. Continuing frequent and

Portillo, location of V. atropurpurea, a typical

mountain habitat of ‘sempervivoids’ in central
Chile and Argentina (Photo: John Watson)
Ultra violets continued 55

violent eruptions certainly extinguished herbaceous violas reached the lands of the
large numbers as well as providing new northern hemisphere and spread rapidly to
habitats, which led to further evolution, and cover almost every part of it except
among those eradicated were all but one of deserts, tropical forest and the Arctic.
these ‘intermediates’. That species,
Meanwhile, our particular subgenus has
V. fluehmannii, a dwarf, ericoid shrublet,
gone on evolving to produce many new
exists to the present, mainly on some
and varied forms, including annuals, these
Araucaria (monkey puzzle) clad volcanoes
latter reaching down as far as the Pacific
of near-southern Chile, but also in adjacent
coast. Our succulents, however, are only
Argentinian north Patagonia.
found sparsely to the north of mid-Chile
Harvey Ballard of Ohio University and his and adjacent Argentina as a mere five
colleagues have shown that ancestors of species up to the equator. In all probability
the Hawaiian violas were transported there they were continuous once, but the
across the vast Pacific reaches by birds. extreme uprise of the central Andes (the Viola fluehmannii
(Photo: John
Without doubt, our subgenus Andinium Altiplano) simply proved to hostile for them,
Watson)
species were, and probably still are, being as for almost all others of their kind.
spread along the Andes, predominantly
from south to north, evolving as they went,
to meet the new geoclimatic conditions of
Andean uplift. Whether they reached the
top limit of the subcontinent and were
wiped out above Ecuador by the Gulf of
Mexico region meteorite effect, or were
unable to inhabit the Andes above the
equator, we do not know. For certain
though, about 16 million years ago

V. fluehmannii often grows in open groves of monkey puzzles (Araucaria) on southern Chilean volcanoes.
(Photo: Anita Flores)
Ultra violets continued 56

Some sempervivoid violas

Viola dasyphylla (Photo: Anita Flores) Viola aizoon (Photo: Anita Flores)

Viola leyboldiana (Photo: Anita Flores) Viola petraea (Photo: Anita Flores)

Viola beckeriana (Photo: John Watson) Viola skottsbergiana (Photo: Anita Flores)
Ultra violets continued 57

Viola coronifera

Anita exploring an
Poor little blighter. Argentinian
It’s suffering as Patagonia
much as we were. V. coronifera
But at least we habitat in
could go back to a unseasonally
warm hotel room wintery late spring
for the night! weather. (Photo:
(Photo: John Watson) John Watson)

Viola coronifera
(Photo John
Watson)
See also the front
cover
Ultra violets continued 58

Lago Teno,
an atypical high
Andean habitat of
V. cotyledon in central
Chile. It is usually
found lower down in
Patagonia
(Photo: Anita Flores)

Viola cotyledon
(Photo: Anita
Flores)

Environment
Given this picture of their evolution, history
and distribution we can place their
Several succulent
particular succulent, rosulate form into a
species of the Bromeliaceae, notably
particular environmental context. Most
puyas, also inhabit semi-arid sectors in the
succulent plants have evolved to cope with
same regions. These places are not
heat and prolonged periods of drought,
populated by violas, however, and climatic
storing water in their bodies (stems) or
aridity is not the reason for their
leaves, or both, until the next precipitation
succulence.
eventually arrives. As readers will obviously
know, South America is a major centre of Volcanic ash and pumice drain very rapidly
distribution for the cactus family, which and soon dry out superficially: but our
even inhabits the Atacama Desert there. violas have deep vertical roots which reach
Ultra violets continued 59

The upper Andean site, Los Andes province, Chile where our friend Carlos found V. regina.
Inset: Viola regina. (Photos: Carlos Celedón)

down to the constantly moisture-laden levels of the Andes are extreme, with
levels up to a foot or more below the summer heat, snow in winter and powerful
surface which supplies them with all they winds. No typical herbaceous plant can A small colony of
need. But climatic conditions on the upper survive these, for which reason these high V. rossowiana in its
points are largely uninhabited. The very extensive type
sempervivoids, however, have evolved the site, extreme
dense, ground-hugging, succulent rosettes northern Patagonia,
to give them the resilience to combat these Argentina
conditions. They are immune to any wind (Photo: John Watson)
force and their sturdy form protects them Inset:
Viola rossowiana
(Photo: Anita Flores)
Ultra violets continued 60

from all the conditions Mother Nature ground-covering herbage, and for this
throws at them, except very occasional reason they are usually found in splendid
landslides and volcanic eruptions. Even the isolation or in bare stretches between
last named only rarely destroy more than a patchy dwarf high-altitude central Andean
part of a local habitat. The need for the or Patagonian vegetation. It also explains
maximum of exposed leaf area to enable why they only occasionally occur lower
photosynthesis is also paramount, and for down than mountain tops.
this the overlapping rosette is
Exceptions to that generality are the narrow
unsurpassable. Their form to suit their
leaved species V. dasyphylla,
environment could not be bettered.
V. aizoon and V. cotyledon, which can
One aspect of the alliance is their inability tolerate a more significant neighbouring
to tolerate competition from vigorous flora. Their more attenuated leaf-shape and

Viola abbreviata (Photo:

John Watson)

Viola abbreviata
The same plant with
our jeep keys to give
an indication of its
remarkably tiny size
(Photo: John Watson)
Ultra violets continued 61

Our jeep churning up dust on our way to be shown a new viola which we described as Viola turritella. (Photo: John Watson)

frequently extensive cushion-forming habit

leads us to believe they were probably
among the earliest to evolve; and the wide
leaved and columnar species appeared
later.
At the other habitat extreme is that majority
which cannot tolerate near-neighbouring
competition: V. abbreviata, V. atropurpurea,
V. beckeriana, V. × blaxlandiae,
V. columnaris, V. pachysoma, V. regina,
V. rossowiana, V. skottsbergiana and
V. turritella. Seeking solitude,
V. atropurpurea at times inhabits steep,
unstable mobile screes!
The remaining five are somewhat more
accommodating: V. auricolor, V. coronifera,
V. leyboldiana, V. petraea and
V. × zwienenii.
Despite the abundance of natural violet and
pansy hybrids, none were known for
subgenus Andinium until we discovered
and published three. Two of these
nothospecies, as they are known
scientifically, are sempervivoids. One,
V. × blaxlandiae, is of particular interest for
being a hybrid between narrow-leaved
V. cotyledon and broad-leaved and
columnar V. pachysoma.

Viola turritella
(Photo: John Watson)
Ultra violets continued 62

Viola x blaxlandiae, an interesting hybrid

between narrow-leaved V. cotyledon (shown on
page 58) and broad-leaved and columnar
V. pachysoma (Photo: John Watson)

Shown below, two different forms of

V. pachysoma
The white-flowered one (shown on the right) is
almost invariable, but Anita found just one or
two of the yellow-flowered form at the same
location. This is an interesting example of how
the violet-blue-white spectrum and the red-
yellow-orange one can occur in the same
species (including also V. atropurpurea,
V. dasyphylla, V. sacculus and V. turritella) in the
subgenus Andinium, which only otherwise
occurs among violas in the pansies (subgenus
Viola section Melanium)
Viola pachysoma, yellow-flowered form
(Photo: Anita Flores)
Viola pachysoma, white-flowered form (Photo:
(Kees Jan van Zwienen)
Ultra violets continued 63

Viola anitae (Photo: John Watson) Viola micrantha, the only succulent annual
(Photo: David Haselgrove)

Other succulent violas They occupy a much longer range, as far

In addition to the sempervivoids, another as the equator, the northern limit of the
seven similar but more variable species, subgenus. V. anitae, named for one author
which lack the points on their leaf tips and here by the other, is interesting
are never columnar, also qualify as for spreading underground
succulents. via slender white
rhizomes.

The location of V. sacculus at 1,000–2,100 metres

(Photo: Kees Jan van Zwienen)
Inset: Viola sacculus (Photo: Anita Flores)
Ultra violets continued 64

Viola polycephala,
Similar in form but not rhizomatous is Northernmost of all is Ecuadorian endemic the northernmost
V. sacculus with showy white flowers. Both V. polycephala with its remarkable blackish of all the
inhabit Patagonia. V. micrantha, widespread green and yellow flowers. The numbers in rosulates, almost
but intermittent from extreme north-west the tropical Andes are completed by reaches the
Argentina to central Peru, is the only V. bangii, V. pygmaea and V. pusillima. equator
succulent annual. (Photo: anon)

As a footnote, when we first

introduced these violas as
seed, many said they could
never be grown. They were
right...then...but only then.
Subsequently the following
have been raised and
flowered in cultivation:
V. coronifera, V. cotyledon,
V. pachysoma,
V. skottsbergiana and others
of the subgenus. Admittedly
though, they require expert
attention and are too
difficult to have been
established in commercial
horticulture. n

Viola pachysoma raised from

collected seed
(Photo: Mike Kintgen)