San Gabriel Valley May Meeting & Succulent Society Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 pm

Meetings are held on the COMMUNIQUE 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm in Ayres Hall, Los Angeles County Arboretum, An Affiliate of the Cactus & Succulent Society of America, Inc. Arcadia. May 2015—Volume 48, Number 5

den. If you wear your club badge and the spe- President’s Message Mini Show : cial Huntington nametag you will be able to at- First, a reminder that the SGVCSS monthly tend the show without paying the Huntington CACTUS: meeting time has been changed to 7:00, 7:00, admission fee. Echinocereus 7:00 pm. The C&S workshops will continue to See you at the meeting. SUCCULENT: be held at the 7:30 time. Gunnar Eisel The CSSA Convention is upon us! Since we are co-hosts with the Gates Cactus & Succulent C&S Workshop: club, we need everyone’s help to make this the Workshop group will meet on best convention ever. It’s not too late to volun- Wednesday, May 20th in AYRES teer. Please see Buck at the May meeting. HALL (until September), Los An- Our April Spring seed workshop was very geles County Arboretum at 7:30 pm. successful. Special thanks go to Tom Glavich for The topic will be: In This Issue leading the workshop and to everyone who par- Vegetative Propagation ticipated in helping to make this a good learning President’s Message 1 experience. Our May 20th workshop will be on Mini-Show Results 2 Material in the COMMUNIQUE publica- Vegetative Propagation. We hope to see you This Month’s Program 2 tion may be reprinted by nonprofit organi- there. Club Bulletin Board 2 zations (unless such permission is expressly C&S Workshop 3 denied in a note accompanying the mate- Finally, there is life after the CSSA Conven- rial) provided proper credit is given to the Welcome New Members 3 SGVCSS and the author, and that one copy tion. It is not too early to get your plants ready to Refreshment Signup 3 enter in the 50th Annual CSSA Show and Sale of the publication containing the reprinted th th Plants of the Month 4 material is sent to the editor. Reproduction June 26 to 28 at the Huntington Botanical Gar- Calendar of Upcoming Events 7 in whole or part by any other organization or publication without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. 1

May 2015 COMMUNIQUE April mini-show Results This Month’s Program Club Bulletin Board Cactus - Eriosyce, “Eastern & 50th ANNUAL CSSA SHOW & SALE Novice Lesotho” AT THE 1st Mary Aparicio Eriosyce senilis Kelly Griffin HUNTINGTON BOTANICAL GARDENS Intermediate We know Kelly today as one of the Dates: Fri., June 26 to Sun., June 28, 2015 1st Joe Cavallo Copiapoa tenuissima world’s foremost explorers of Agaves and 2nd Peter Claridge Copiapoa tenuissima Aloes. His frequent trips to Mexico for Location: Botanical Center (same as last 3rd Louise Stack Copiapoa hypogaea Agaves and Africa and Madagascar for year) Aloes have entertained us for many years. Masters Show Setup: Thurs. June 25, 9am--1pm Kelly is also the premier hybridizer of Enter Plants: Thurs. 1pm—6pm and Fri. 1st Gunnar Eisel Eriosyce curvispina these plants in our hobby. His special 2nd Gunnar Eisel Eriosyce subgibbosa 10:30am—4:00pm. Judging starts at small Aloes and Agaves are in nearly 5:00pm on Friday 3rd Gunnar Eisel every collection. Auction: items need to be registered by He is President of San Diego Cactus & 12pm, Sat. June 27; Succulent - Echeveria, Dudleya Succulent Society, works at Altman Plants and is currently working on the a book on There will be a Live Auction (30 items Novice Dudleya. max.) after dinner and a Silent Auction dur- ing dinner. Auctioneers will decide place- 1st Nilda Howard Echeveria mucronata His talk this month is on a recent trip 2nd Dick Hammer Dudleya lanceolata ment of items. 2 items max per person/ that he made to eastern South Africa and business marked as donation or split. 3rd Sharon Sedillo Dudleya cymosa Lesotho. We will see Aloe polyphylla in Intermediate habitat as well as many Gasterias and Ha- Dinner: Dearmore BBQ: $25 per person. 1st Tom Howard Echeveria ‘Ebony’ worthias that grow in the summer rainfall See Kathleen Misko. Reservations must be 2nd Tom Howard Echeveria ‘Painted Lady’ made by 12 noon, Sat. June 27. 3rd Dick Tatman Dudleya traskiae Tear down: Sunday, June 28, at 4pm Masters There are many opportunities to partici- 1st Tom Glavich Dudleya pachyphytum pate in this year’s Show & Sale. Be sure to 2nd David Hawks Dudleya candida pick up a Show Schedule & Index at the 3rd Peter Sharp Echeveria ‘Etna’ next meeting. All Cactus & Succulent Club members, a CSSA members, vendors, and volunteers or show participants need to

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May 2015 COMMUNIQUE wear their club badges AND a special C&S Workshop Welcome New CSSA/HBG pass that reads “Annual CSSA

Show Participant” to enter for free. Please Members Wednesday, May 20th • Vegetative Propa- see Barbara Hall, Show Chair, or John Mat- thews, our CSSA Affiliate, to obtain a pass gation Please welcome new members and make before the event. We cannot give out these The workshop is an informal, hands-on them feel welcome at our functions. passes at the HBG entry gate. learning experience that is fun for expert and novice alike. Come and learn from the ex- Nora Ashjian, Arcadia Even though this is a one--class Show I would encourage everyone to enter a or perience of others. We are always happy to Jim & Debi Thompson, Alta Dena two. Last year a few novices had plants on share our knowledge. the trophy table. Please consider volunteer- Meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday ing for a few hours in the showroom or sales of the month at 7:30 pm in Ayres Hall at the area, cashiering, information table, hospital- LA County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin ity area, welcome table at the HBG entrance, Avenue, Arcadia. holding table, T--shirt distribution, showroom setup & teardown. We also need 12 clerks to SGVC&SS LEADERSHIP TEAM - 2015 help the Judges on Friday night. See Manny Gunnar Eisel, President Rivera. Refreshment Signup Buck Hemenway, Past President Horace Birgh, Vice President All participants will receive a T--shirt as a Louise Guerin, Secretary thank you. There will be sign up sheets at Mary Aparicio Margie Wilson, Treasurer the May & June club meetings. Last year we Deanna Catalano Rebecca Mallonee, Director had a great turn out of volunteers from the Lynn Olson Mary Brumbaugh, Director LACSS & SGVCSS. Let’s do it again! Fred Parrales Louise Stack, Director Lisa Kornblith Shaun Adams, Director Sharon Sedillo Dean Elzinga, Director Barbara Hall CSSA Show Chair Yolanda Roybal Tom Vermilion, Director [email protected] Manny Rivera, Winter Show Chair The first five club members who sign John Matthews, Winter Sales Chair 818--368--6914 up and bring refreshments each month will Tom Glavich, Intercity Show Chair receive a FREE plant as thanks. We are Jim Hanna, CSSA Affiliate Representative also grateful to have goodies from any other Gunnar Eisel, Website Chair Woody Minnich, Program Chair club members who just feel like sharing. Mary Brumbaugh, Membership Chair Cindy Arakaki, Librarian Richard Roosman, Newsletter Editor

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May 2015 COMMUNIQUE Plants of the Month as Claret Cup, Strawberry Cactus, Calico Cactus. These common names are often at- Enter your specimen plants in our tached to more than one . Echinocer- monthly mini-show. It will help you prepare eus flowers erupt through the skin, leaving for the real shows and give you an additional scars. Offsets also may erupt through the opportunity to show others your pride and skin. joy. If you don’t have any of these species Almost all the species need bright of plants you can learn about them at the light and warm temperatures to grow well meeting. and flower. Some are quite easy, but many have somewhat fragile root systems that are prone to rot. They often benefit from being CACTUS OF THE MONTH — slightly underpotted. Good drainage is a Echinocereus Echinocereus triglochidiatus ssp. mojavensis must. A low organic potting mix, with mostly to all pumice will give the best re- Echinocereus is one of the earliest E. engelmannii, to pencil thin sticks such a sults. The plants will keep their natural recognized genera of Cacti; first described in E. poselgeri. 1848 by George Engelmann from a plant character. Recent publications have shown collected in 1846 in what is now New Mex- In general, Echinocereus is an under- the benefit of low pH (slightly acid) water. ico. The type species (the first one found, appreciated . Many cactus growers try This improves growth and minimizes rot. and after which the genus is named) is Echi- one or two; but having killed a few in their City water is high pH, often over 8. Reduc- nocereus viridiflorus, a widespread species early collecting days, often because of over ing pH is a great way to improve plant ap- with a distribution that ranges from Southern watering, concentrate on other genera. Most pearance and growth. Wyoming, South Dakota, and Kansas to of the species are easy to grow. Eastern New Mexico. As the name suggests, Many species are variable displaying it has brilliant green flowers. different spination and flower colors depend- Echinocereus species can be found ing on the local environment. This caused a throughout the Western United States, and confusion of names with too many species the range of species stretches through the named. These are being reduced to a more American west and through Northern and conservative 30 to 50, but the number of col- Central Mexico to about Mexico City. As lectable forms remains very high. The varie- might be expected from a genus covering ties and local growth forms provide an enor- such a large range, Echinocereus are ex- mous range of interesting plants to grow. tremely varied in form, ranging from nearly Most Echinocereus have spectacular spineless green balls such as E. knippelianus, flowers, giving rise to such common names to very spiny short columnar species such as Echinocereus viereckii

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May 2015 COMMUNIQUE

Propagation from seed is easy. Seed or Oleander. At last count there were 25 germinates in a few days to about two weeks accepted species—20 of those native to in warm weather, as long as soil mixture is Madagascar alone, owing to the many and kept moist. Once germination occurs, the varied microhabitats found there. seedlings need to be moved to an environ- All pachypodiums produce spines and ment with moving air. They need to be kept swollen stems, features which discourage damp until they have hardened off. Once predation, and enable them to weather pro- seedlings get to a size where they can be longed droughts or root desiccation from safely handled, they can be pulled out of the sunlight. seedling mix and repotted in straight pumice. Growth and survival rate will improve dra- A few of the more sought-after pachypo- matically. diums to grow: Fig. 1 Pachypodium brevicaule Propagation from cuttings is relatively easy, Pachypodium baronii — P. baronii pro- but attention to cleanliness is important. Use duces spectacular red flowers, with beauti- of a good rooting compound containing a fully contrasting white to off-white centers. onto the hardier P. lamerei. This species has been known to endure temps of 158º! fungicide helps ensure success. Flowers will appear in early spring and last for a few weeks to a month. P. decaryi — Similar to P. succulentum Tom Glavich, May 2015 P. bispinosum —Very similar to P. suc- when young, but resembling P. lealii more culentum, it is hard to differentiate the two as it matures. The flowers are white with a without flowers. This species’ flowers are yellow center and emit a pleasant scent. SUCCULENT OF THE MONTH — campanulate with white petals and purple- P. densiflorum—P. densiflorum and P. tinted throats, and are produced the most rosulatum are distinguished from one an- Pachypodium freely of all cultivated pachypodiums. other only when in flower. P. densiflorum Pachypodium (“thick-footed”) is a P. brevicaule —This species was com- produces a bright yellow tubular flower with member of the Dogbane Family pared by Professor Rauh to a pile of potatoes petals flared open on top (“salverform”). P. (), and is related to Nerium on the ground, mimicking the jumble of rosulatum will produce a yellow blossom (Oleander), Fockea, Vinca (Periwinkle), rocks on and around which it grows. Highly that is either salverform (var. rosulatum) or Plumeria, and , to name a few. It is compressed, it produces virtually no stems, inflated into 5 large sacs (var. borombense). native to Madagascar, Angola, Botswana, its flowers and leaves arising from growing P. geayi — Known as Madagascar Palm, Mozambique, , South Africa, points surrounded by a tuft of spines. it is one of the most widely cultivated of the Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Its flowers, Grown in cultivation on its own roots (Fig. Pachypodium species. The leaves are very described as “propeller-shaped,” can be 1, courtesy of Tommy Dodson), P. brevi- long, narrow and green with a light grey felt white, yellow or red. Its fruits are long, two- caule is quite sensitive to overwatering and covering. The white flowers will set in about horned capsules, similar to those of Stapelia to cold, and, for that reason, is often grafted

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May 2015 COMMUNIQUE

10 years. www.pachypodium.org P. lamerei — Also known as Madagas- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachypodium car Palm, P. lamerei’s flowers are white with yellow centers. Flowers will set in about ten years under good conditions.

P. lealii — P. lealii var. saundersii is popular because it is a fast grower and will flower when only 5 years old. P. namaquanum — Probably the most dramatic of the genus, “Halfmens,” as they are known to the locals in Northern Cape and Namibia, look like cereoid cacti topped with palm branches. This is the slowest- growing pachypodium, but grafting it onto P. and close-up of flower lamerei, for example, greatly speeds up its growth. P. rutenbergianum —This plant may reach 30 feet in time. The flowers are large, white and resemble those of P. lealii, with a yellow center and the smell of perfume. This species is one of the least widely cultivated of the tree species. P. succulentum — One of the more cold -hardy pachypodiums, this one is differenti- ated from P. bispinosum by its white or pink salverform flowers with petals accentuated by darker pink midribs. Horace Birgh, May 2015 References: Rowley, Gordon, Caudiciform & Pachy- caul Succulents (1987)

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May 2015 COMMUNIQUE

Calendar of Upcoming Events

May 2 and 3, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and May 3, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm — Sunset Cactus and Succulent Society Show and Sale at Veterans Memo- rial Center, Garden Room, 4117 Overland Ave., Culver City. For information call 310-822-1783. Note: La Ballona Bromeliad Society Show & Sale at the same location and time.

May 9 and 10, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm — Long Beach Cactus Club Show and Sale at Rancho Los Alamitos, 6400 Bixby Hill Road, Long Beach, CA. For information call 310-922-6090 or visit www.lbcss.org.

May 15 and 16 (Fri. and Sat.), 9:00 am to 4:30 pm — Gates Cactus and Succulent Society Annual Show and Sale, at the Waterwise Garden, 450 Alessandro Blvd, Riverside, CA. For information call 951-360-8802.

May 17, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm — The Epiphyllum Society of America 56th Annual Flower Show and Sale at Ayres Hall, LA Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia. For more information call 909-438-8242 or visit www.epiphyllums.org.

May 23 and 24, 10:00 to 4:00 — Central Coast Cactus & Succulent Society Annyal Show & Sale at Ludwick Center, 864 Santa Rosa, San Luis Obispo, CA. For information call 805-237-2054 or visit www.centralcoastcactus.com.

May 30 and 31, 9:00 to 5:00 (30th) and 9:00 to 3:30 (31st) — Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society Show and Sale at Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Blvd, Encino. For information go to www.lacss-show.com.

2015 Plant-of-the-Month and Workshop Topics

Cactus of the Month Succulent of the Month Workshops Jan. Mammillaria Clusters Agave Mammillaria Feb. Coryphanta, Escobaria African Crassulaceae Tips, Tools and Techniques Mar. Opuntioideae Haworthia Haworthia Apr. Eriosyce, Copiapoa Dudleya, Echeveria Spring Seed Workshop May Echinocereus Pachypodium Vegetative Propagation June Echinocactus, Ferocactus, Thelocactus Gasteria Echinocereus July Astrophytum Lithops Staging Workshop Aug. Favorite Cactus Favorite Succulent Monadenium Sept. Turbinocarpus, Pediocactus, Sclerocactus Asclepiads Pests Oct. Ariocarpus Sansevieria Sansevieria Nov. Varietates Variegates Winter Seed Workshop

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