2009 January December Meeting Recap CCCSS December 2008 Meeting Recap Oh what fun it was, to attend CCCSS’s annual Christmas Potluck and Auctions! The Live Auction was an entertain- ing event hosted by Nick Wilkinson and Charles Spotts. Their knowledge, humor, and enthusiasm set the stage for a prof- itable bidding war that ricocheted amongst many salivating cactus and succulent lovers. A diverse collection of auction included a mutant Mammalaria (named “Fred”) and an exotic Dorstenia that bears inside out flower. The Silent Auction was also an exciting event as bidding bal- looned, especially among the Conophytums, until clos- ing bell. All contributors to the Silent Auction are sincerely appreciated. The potluck feast was a yummy festive treat. A big thank you is given to all who contributed their deli- cious food and a special thanks is extended to hospitality members Maggie Wagner and Pat Gibson who organized the potluck banquet. Thank you too, to all who helped set up and clean after the Christmas Potluck Auction event. Last, but not least, thank you Rob Skillin, Charles Spotts, and Nick Wilkinson for obtaining the diverse twenty- six auction plants that provided CCCSS with an entertaining auction and a profitable club treasury contribution. To all Happy CCCSS New Year! ~Eva Zayha On the Dry Side and Tylecodon •Upcoming Speaker •Upcoming Events •Hospitality News • of the Month: Inside this issue CENTRAL COAST CACTUS AND SUCCULENT SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

Central Coast Cactus & Succulent Society c/o Markus Mumper 780 Merced St. Pismo Beach, CA 93449 JANUARY’S PROGRAM January’s speaker is NEXT meeting: Michael Glikbarg of Sun, Jan. 11th Orchids of Los Osos, l0l San Luis Obispo a specialized nurs- N at 2:00 pm ery situated on almost SLO Public Library Mill (large room) nine acres in Los Osos Palm

Valley, which has been Monterey 995 Palm Street S Santa Rosa

Osos growing orchids for 30 Higuera San Luis Obispo years. Along with Chorro Morro 805-781-5991 40,000 square feet of greenhouse space devoted to production. He also has a tissue culture propagation lab where many hard next...... to grow are propagated. Michael BOARD—MEETING will be speaking about succulent & drought The next Board Meeting will be held on Jan. 11th right after our General tolerant orchids from all over the world with Meeting. As always, members are welcome. many examples to show our club - and lots of plants for sale. Please join us.

Central Coast Cactus and Succulent Society e-mail: [email protected] All submissions to the CCCSS newsletter must be submit- ted two weeks prior to the monthly meeting.

PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY CSSA AFFILIATE TREASURER Mary Peracca Charles Spotts Eva Zahya Rob Skillin Edie Price 550-6977 237-2054 546-8202 473-0788 489-8491

EDITOR ASS. EDITORS PUBLICITY LIBRARIANS HOSPITALITY Markus Mumper Nick & Kara Joan Field Martin Howell & Maggie Wagner, 773-1499 773-1499 Wilkinson 773-6644 Jeanne Hanysz Pat Gilson, 481-5596 528-8880 544-5389

A one time free newsletter will be shipped out to those who sign in at the monthly meetings. After this dues must be paid in order to continue this service. Sponsors Upcoming Events

JAN 17 Botanical Watercolors: Desert Plants Huntington Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Rd. San Marino, CA 626-405-2128

APR 10-15 CSSA 2009 Biennial Convention Westin La Paloma Hotel, Tucson, AZ Go to www.cssainc.org for more information.

Hospitality: 15% off for all CCCSS members Donations to the Hospitality Kitty, located at the food table during the monthly meetings, provide for supplies such as con- diments, coffee, beverage cups, paper plates, napkins, etc. including those used at the Christmas Potluck. CCCSS member Douglas & Athans fees do not contribute to the Hospitality Fund. Donations have A financial advisory been sparse in recent months and supplies are running low. practice of Ameriprise Financial Please remember to contribute - Thank You. Services, Inc. Jay M. Douglas, CFP®, ChFC® Financial Advisor, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM

555 Chorro Street, 816 Main Street, hospitality Suite D-2 Suite D CCCSS Library San Luis Obispo, CA Cambria, CA 93428 news: 93405 Tel: 805.927.5024 Thanks to everyone for pro- CCCSS has a library of books that viding last meeting’s potluck- can be checked out by CCCSS mem- treats. bers. You will find the most updated WHEEL THROWN AND Richard Rowe list of books available for check out at HAND BUILT CERAMICS potter / artist This month Eva Zayha, each meeting. Please contact librarians Maggie Wagner and Linda EST. 1988 Martin Howell & Jeanne Hanysz, 544- Drahos will host. 5389, for more information and avail- 7432 Exotic Garden Rd. If you’re interested in provid- ability. Cambria, CA 93428 P 805 924 1340 ing a snack for future meet- * Any book lost or damaged will require The ings please sign up at the a replacement fee. [email protected] front desk or contact Maggie Clayworks www.richardrowe.com Wagner, 773-1499 or Pat Gilson, 481-5596. Division: Spermatophyta Class: Magnoliophyta CotyledonL. & TylecodonH.T. Order: Family:

Cotyledon - Linneaus (1753) with reddened margins. Cotyledon orbiculata is a traditional remedy for Greek: kotyledon = cup-shaped treatment of warts and abscesses. hollow Tylecodon H. Toelken (1978) Cotyledon is a of 10 spe- cies of perennial shrubby leaf The name Tylecodon originates as and stem succulents from South an anagram of Cotyledon. with numerous varieties and cultivars. Cotyledon has Tylecodon is a genus of around 47 been a catch-all genus including species of small shrubby plants from species from Echeveria, Rosularia, South Africa and Namibia, which Tylecodon and , now were separated from Cotyledon grouped separately. Toelken sep- in 1978. Their deciduous succulent arated 47 species of Tylecodon leaves are produced in a spiral with seasonal spirally-arranged arrangement during the winter and leaves from Cotyledon with flowers produced after the leaves perennial leaves. As taxonomic have been shed in the spring or fashions change and with new summer. Tylecodon species range insights from DNA analysis, it from an inch to over 6 feet in height. is possible that the scope of They are not hardy but the caudici- Cotyledon will change again. form habit of many species appeals Some confusion over species to many collectors. Many species included in Cotyledon validly still can be propagated from stem cut- exists on plant labels and across tings. The thick stems of Tylecodon the internet. paniculata (Afrikaans: botterboom) and some other species have Cotyledons generally colonize attractively peeling bark. rocky ground and cliff faces, a clue that they appreciate well- Most species are poisonous. Some drained conditions in cultivation. are grubbed out by South African The fleshy leaves of some species farmers to protect livestock. T. pear- are slightly pubescent or farinose sonii ( syn. Tylecodon luteosqua- (e.g. Cotyledon ladysmithensis, mata ) is said to be sufficiently toxic Cotyledon orbiculata). Their clus- that it should only be handled while ters or umbels of pink or orange wearing gloves. tubular cup-shaped flowers with spreading lobes, are bird polli- Cultivation: Most species are easy nated. The flowers of Adromischus to grow in any free-draining gritty phillipsiae are similar to those compost and grow well on any of Cotyledon, with which it was sunny window ledge or greenhouse. once grouped. These plants are suitable for gardens in a Mediterranean climate. Stems Cotyledon orbiculata is a com- can be carefully pruned to maintain mon roadside weed in the Cape an attractive shape. They tolerate Province, albeit with most attrac- cool, frost-free conditions during the tive umbels of orange flowers. winter if kept dry. It is best to keep The Afrikaans name ‘Plakkie’= water off the leaves. pig’s ear refers to the shape of the large bluish-grey fleshy leaves