Epi News San Diego Society, Inc.

August, 2011 Volume 36, Number 8

August, 2011 SDES Epi News Page 2

President’s Corner: Don‘t forget about the Volunteer Appreciation Party on August is here already. I hope you are the 20th this month. (See page 5) all staying cool and having time to play If you are interested in becoming more with your . During July I still had a bunch of involved in the Society, consider serving on the Board. epies blooming. I was very happy with the extended The nominating committee will be forming in August season. and looking for wonderful members to serve. Come It was great to see so many at the July join the fun. meeting. There were 54 members and a guest who attended the meeting— that is a recent record. I hope Till next time – Happy Growing! to see more meetings filled with many epi enthusi- asts. To keep interest please feel free to tell any Board member what you would like to see at a meeting. You can also attend a Board meeting the 4th Wednesday of the month and share your thoughts.

SDES Meetings– —Velma Crain Pre-Meeting Workshop: At last month‘s pre-meeting workshop, Ron Crain discussed epis and their native habitat, with photos of epis growing wild in trees, etc. He also brought in some plants to share. The topic for the August workshop was still in the works at press time. Please come to room 104 at 7:00 pm on August 10th to see what he‘ll talk about next!!

July Meeting’s Program: Lasts month‘s program ―Big Buds Gone Wild‖ was a wonderful photo presentation of Extra Large Epi flowers. The sounds of pens and pencils scribbling furiously to add more names to a wish last were heard among the ―ooohs‖ and ―aaahs‖!! Many thanks again to Linda Sinkovic for compiling photographs from several sources to put a show together for us and to Ron Crain and Jerry Moreau for presenting the show!!

August Meeting’s Program: Our August program was yet to be confirmed at press time. Please check our SDES website (SanDiegoEpi.org) and SDES Facebook page, we will post information about our speaker as soon as we have a confirmation!!.

SDES Calendar of Events August 20: September 16-18: SDES Annual Volunteer Appreciation Party Del Mar Home/Garden Show (See page 5) (See page 5) August 27: Southwestern Botanic Garden 4th Annual ―Green Scene‖ (See pages 7-8) August, 2011 SDES Epi News Page 3 Safari Park Epi Display House —–By Jerry Moreau We continued doing regular mainte- Greene, Beth Jackson, Jerry Moreau, Yogi & Carol nance at the park, weeding, feeding, deadheading LeBlanc and Janice Wakefield. the spent flowers, and repotting and trimming back If you are interested in joining the fun and any old or dead branches. We also continued to want to volunteer at the Park there is information prepare some temporary space to move everything can be found on the website from the workhouse. There is always a lot going www.SanDiegoEpi.org click on the Safari Park tab on so if you are interested in volunteering, this is or contact me. the place to come and become an epi expert. Come join the fun. The next work party will be August 13 & maybe Helping out this month was Ron & Velma the 27 . Crain, Sandra Chapin, Marie Dempewolf, Bill

Species on the cover This month‘s featured bloom is the species, Epiphyllum anguliger. When referring to the official directories, it can be a bit of a puzzle to figure out just who discovered and named the species. According to the current ESA Directory of Species and Hybrids, E. anguliger is described: E. anguliger (Lemaire) Don. (E. darrahii, E. “gertrudeanum”[invalid name], E.“beahmeanum”[invalid name]) Mexico. Stems deeply lobed, lobes more or less triangular. Flowers fragrant, inner petals white, outer petals lemon or anguliger was first named and described as Phyllo- golden yellow. According to ―The New Lexicon", David cactus anguliger by Charles A. Lemaire in 1851 in Hunt, Nigel Taylor and Graham Charles, et al, the journal Jardin Fleuriste. Cited as Epiphyllum 2006: anguliger by Don in Loudon's Encyclopedia of 02569 E. anguliger (Lem) Don 1855/EP3 1380. B: Plants, 3rd ed. in 1855. [Judging by the dates it 07366 Phyllocactus anguliger Lem 1851/JF 1: t92. would appear to be George Don] T: nd. LT (Bauer 2003/CSI 17: 26): the plate cited. In addition, there is a description of the Distr: MX (Guerrero, Jalisco, Nayarit, Oaxaca); flowers being 15-18 cm by 10-13 cm. If that is 1100-1800 m. Br cylindric or 3-angled towards the length by width, it would make them small to base, flattened and linear or narrowly lanceolate medium size. above, obtuse or acute, <100 x 4-8(-16) cm, rather E anguliger is in the parentage of many stiff, deeply lobed, the lobes more or less triangular; hybrids, including 'El Tecolote', 'Epicon fl 15-18 x 10-13 cm, scented; otep lemon or golden VIII', 'Katsi', 'Lucky Lennie', 'What Luck' (all by yellow; itep white; fr greenish, fragrant. Wressey Cocke); 'Kaguyahime', 'Kewpie Doll', Translated, this information indicates that E. 'Liberty Cara Belle', 'Nancy Paetz', as well as The abbreviations are: Br branches (stems) Rudolf Hessing's 'Jalisco' series ('Jalisco Beauty', B: basionym fl flower 'Jalisco Disco', 'Jalisco Flirt', 'Jalisco Grace', T: type/typification otep outer tepals 'Jalisco Joy', 'Jalisco Passion', 'Jalisco Queen', LT: lectotype itep inner tepals 'Jalisco Starlight') Distr: distribution fr fruit —- Linda Sinkovic, Librarian MX Mexico August, 2011 SDES Epi News Page 4

The Essence of Iridescence in the Inflorescence By Ron Crain

An e-mail was passed along to me recently that pleasing to people, could our favorite plants be using raised the question: Has anything been written humans in the form of epi hybridizers to further their about the iridescent quality that is present in some cause? The author, Michael Pollan has written epicactus flowers? I surfed the ‗net to see if any extensively in his book, The Botany of Desire, on the material on the subject existed online. I found way plants may use people to gain an advantage over nothing specifically related to epies and was their evolutionary competitors. But I digress… surprised to find very little else extant on irides- cence in the many other kinds of flowers that share Iridescence is not the product of the way light is this characteristic with epies. Flowers like hibiscus, reflected from a chemically colored surface where a iris, tulips and various species of wildflowers. pigment absorbs most of the wavelengths of the spectrum except for a particular range and reflects the Iridescence, also known as goniochromism (doesn‘t rest back to the eye, producing its apparent color, but exactly roll off the tongue, does it?) is an optical is generated structurally because of the way light is phenomenon of surfaces like that of a flower petal diffracted from a microscopically striated surface like that change color depending upon the angle from that of an iridescent flower petal. These tiny parallel which it is viewed or the angle from which it is striations form what is known as a diffraction grating. illuminated, producing a shimmering effect. This, incidentally, is the same physical structure that Iridescence is seen commonly in the natural world makes a compact disc or CD iridesce. The surface in things such as soap bubbles, oil sheen on the cells of an iridescent flower petal are patterned with surface of water, butterfly wings, the shells of many parallel lines of cuticle about a micrometer apart, very species of beetles, the multi-faceted compound eyes much like but somewhat less regularly arranged than of many insects, the feathers of birds, particularly the striations on a compact disc. peacocks and hummingbirds, sea shells as in mother -of-pearl, semi-precious stones such as opal and Researchers are discovering that many more kinds of other minerals and the petals of many different flowers than previously believed may be iridescent kinds of flowers including many hybrid epicactus. because most of the iridescence may be expressed in the ultraviolet portion of the light spectrum that What material I was able to find on this seemingly insects can see but to humans is invisible. So, many neglected subject suggests that iridescence in more flowers may be iridescent than previously flowers might be an adaptation that is important in thought. More research is being done on just how the attraction of pollinators. Iridescent flowers may many different kinds of flowers may iridesce in the have an evolutionary advantage over non-iridescent visible and invisible parts of the light spectrum and flowers in coaxing a bee or other pollinator to come how often this characteristic has evolved. There to them instead of their less flashy competition. should be much more information available on this Come to think of it, from the ‘s point of view, fascinating topic in the not too distant future since iridescence is a trait that is aesthetically

Now is the Time  Monitor humidity. Mist when necessary.  Groom plants. Remove dried up or scarred  Do not let soil dry out. foliage. Keep debris out of branches and con-  Protect developing fruit. Some birds love to tainers. eat it. Protect plants from extreme sun and wind.   Bait for snails and slugs. August, 2011 SDES Epi News Page 5 From our Librarian:

Outside of A Dog Outside of a dog, a man's best friend is a book. Inside of a dog it's too The second book is a bit more general in subject dark to read. -- Groucho Marx matter. Cacti For The Amateur was first published in 1938 by Scott E. Haselton. Some of you This month I'm reviewing two books. Both of may recognize him as the author of Epiphyllum them are older books, published in the last century, Handbook (1946), reviewed in the March 2009 issue and both books are especially good if you are of Epi News. interested in the history of our hobby. What I thought made this book interesting is that it's The first book is Walther Haage und seine not a typical 'for the amateur' kind of book. Not Blattkakteen-Züchtungen. (―Walther Haage and his limited to the general culture, it explores all facets of Epicactus Hybrids‖). One of the owners of Haage the hobby, from how to start a cactus club to how to Cactus Nursery in Germany, Walther Haage was also build a lath house. It is actually more of an a prolific hybridizer of the epiphyllum; some of his inspirational book, and it's fun to read. However, it hybrids are still for sale today on the Haage Kakteen should be read as a historical document rather than a site, which is pretty interesting. reference for present day cactus growing.

However back to the book. This book has a chapter Cacti For The Amateur, Scott E. Haselton, 1958 (fifth about Mr Haage's life, followed by a listing of his printing), no ISBN hybrids by date with a description of each. A warning, this book is in German language, but could Enjoy the summer and your off-season blooms! be read in conjunction with ‗Google Translate‘ or some other translation application if you are interested Haage Kakteen: in deciphering the description of a particular hybrid. history (in English): Of course, if you can read German the book will be http://www.kakteen-haage.com/history.htm more useful and probably easier to read. shop (in Deutsch): http://www.kakteen- haage.de/shop/ This book was published in March 1989, the authors (click on Pflanzen, then Blattkakteen for being Hans-Friedrich Haage (the previous head of the epicactus listings) nursery) and Claudia Schliebener. There is no ISBN; however, this book is available for purchase on the Scott Haselton- his life: Haage Kakteen site. http://shop.cssainc.org/haselton-scott-edson.html

Volunteers Extraordinaire– SDES at the Del Mar Party Time! Everyone is invited Home and Garden It‘s time to relax and enjoy each other‘s company!  August 20th Show—Check your calendars  Home of Jerry Moreau for September 16-18. We will have a booth at (2873 Fir Street, San Diego) the Del Mar Fair Home/Garden Show. I will  3:30 p.m. until ?? have a sign-up sheet for those interested in  Main course and beverages provided spending time talking to people about Epis.  Bring appetizer or dessert to share Show hours are Friday 11-6, Saturday10-6 and  RSVP to Sandra Chapin [email protected] Sunday 10-5. We will be selling cuttings and or Jerry Moreau [email protected] some plants. —Cindy Decker August, 2011 SDES Epi News Page 6

Memory Lane —-By Kathy Elliott, SDES Historian

This week I receive a request for a little With classic simplicity, 1985 celebrated history of some of our previous Mother‘s Mother. Melodies in Epies showcased our Day Show themes. I love requests, please 1986 blooms. The society visited exotic keep them coming! Our society has put climes with South Pacific (1987) and on a lot of shows over the years, so this Oriental Odyssey (1988). In 1989 we time around let‘s just look at the first 22 returned to home sweet home with themes (whew!). Sunday in the Garden. Circus Time celebrated 1990 with a barrel of laughs. When SDES took shape in the early Rainforest Gifts in 1991 changed the 1970‘s, the budding society (pun in- mood to quiet and contemplative. Story tended) simply displayed its beautiful epi time was the order of the day in A Mother blooms on tables without a theme. The Goose Epi Parade (1993) and Epis in first themed show arrived on the scene in Wonderland (1994). SDES returned to 1974 with Epiphyllums in Bottles. This Mexico in 1995 with South of the Border. proved to be a smash hit, so the themes continued. After a refreshing Seashore Many photographs from these years are Fantasy in 1975 and a patriotic Spirit of available in SDES scrapbooks and ‘76, we roamed the world with Down newsletters. Would you like to peruse our Mexico Way (1977), Polynesian Paradise society memorabilia? At the next monthly (1978), and Oriental Fantasies (1979). meeting, please visit the library table. The 80s started off with a bang in a Librarian Linda Sinkovic will happily Galaxy of Epis (1980), followed by The show you what‘s tucked away on the Four Seasons (1981), Holidays Around shelves. But now let‘s end with a couple the World (1982), Salute to Balboa Park of photos to whet the appetite and start (1983), and California Odyssey (1984). you planning for 2012. August, 2011 SDES Epi News Page 7

Coming soon! August 27 South Bay Botanic Garden‘s ‗Green Scene‘ It‘s time again for the South Bay Botanic Garden at Southwestern‘s 4th Annual ‗Green Scene‘!! On August 27th from 9:00 to 3:00 pm, members of SDES will be there selling epi cuttings and educating the public about epiphyllums and our Society. If you can volunteer for an hour or so come on out and enjoy the day!! two, please contact Ron or Velma Crain or sign up It‘s a great way to spend the day!!! at this month‘s meeting. The ‗Green Scene‘ is free, —By Velma Crain

From the Archives: of a thicker texture and carry tiny spines in the areoles. Out near the ends of the stems are usually roots like The Rick Racks those of and , since this spe- cies may not only hang, but also climb. The flowers are

highly fragrant, 6 inches long, have a short hairy tube, [by Rick Latimer, Epi News Volume 2, Number 9, reddish-purple stamens, and white petals and thick pis- September 1978] til. Many of us were lucky when Jean Pasko brought

hers to a recent meeting in bloom. Our first "Rick Rack" Epiphyte was mentioned in the April [March 1978] issue of the Epi News. Ec- I have been in confusion for years over which plant is cremocactus imitans [Weberocereus imitans] from Epiphyllum anguliger and which is Epiphyllum darra- Costa Rica, has (besides the thematic stems) flowers hii. [Note: currently both are considered to be Epiphyl- with a pungent odor somewhat reminiscent of wet paint lum anguliger] The reason is that some say that the and colors: maroon (Oxblood red) outer shading to pale former has the rounded tips where others say the latter bronze (Naples yellow) and inner yellowish cream with does. The best way to tell the Rick Racks apart is [to a faint greenish tinge. The name 'imitans' refers to the compare] the flowers, although one has to wait until fact that this plant imitates the four Mexican species they bloom! The general consensus agrees that E. mentioned next. Unfortunately no one seems to have anguliger has flowers that are white inner and either this plant yet. yellowish-flesh or reddish yellow or even greenish-

brown sepals. The flower tube is shorter that E. darra- The first time I saw George French's Epiphyllum chry- hii and has either fewer or no scales. E. darrahii's socardium [Selenicereus chrysocardium], I thought it flower is also white inner, but is citron-yellow or lemon might be either a Cycad or a Fern. However a bud in yellow outer with greenish scales on the tube. Both one of the areoles betrayed its true identity. The stems flowers have a honeysuckle fragrance. are up to 12 inches wide. (Just think, what they would look like if they were not deeply lobed!) Johnson's References: catalogues refer to this plant as 'Golden Heart". The Cutak, Ladislaus, Cactus Guide, 1956, pp. 51,51,65. flower has a very long dark pink tube topped by a huge Haselton, Scott E., Epiphyllum Handbook, 1946, white bowl with black anthers looking into a bowl of pp. 144-147,159,162,169. milk with pepper sprinkled in it. Johnson's Cactus Gardens Catalogue, 1964, p. 15.

Kimnach, Myron,"The Eccremocactus", Also from Chiapas, Mexico is Cryptocereus anthon- CSSA Journal, V. XXVIII, #5, 1956, pp. 152-156. yanus [Selenicereus anthonyanus]. It resembles Epi- phyllum anguliger and darrahii rather closely, but its [notes for clarification by Linda Sinkovic] relationship stops there. Its fishbone-shaped stems are August, 2011 SDES Epi News Page 8

2011

Saturday, August 27th 9:00 am to 3:00 pm South Bay Botanic Garden @ Southwestern College Free Admission! - Free Parking!~ Garden Talks!

9:30—Native Plants for the Garden 11:00—Composting in Chula Vista 12:30—Floral Design August, 2011 SDES Epi News Page 9

Late-Season www.SanDiegoEpi.org is the official SDES website. When you bring up July Blooms the site into your browser, there is a place to log in. Sandra Chapin: ‗All That Jazz‘, ‗Born Do not be concerned or confused with this feature– Free‘, ‗Cadet‘, ‗Defender‘, ‗Fred it is not active yet . All of the current information Boutin‘, ‘Futon‘, ‗Garland O'Barr‘, ‗Ilmesmuhle‘, about our society is clearly accessible to everyone ‗Joy Edstrom‘, ‗Katydid‘, ‗Kirsten Pellymounter‘, without having to ―log in‖. Thanks to all of our ‗Orange Icing‘, ‗Madame Sallier‘, ‗Mr. P.‘, ‗Marseillaise‘, ‗Shangri La‘, ‗Something Special‘, internet-savvy officers (Jerry Moreau and Ron ‗Venetta‘ Crain) who keep our site current and easy to navi- Velma & Ron Crain: E. hookeri (formerly strictum), gate! ‗Padre‘, amazonicus. Linda Eastman: ‗Bronze Star‘, E. hookerii, ‗Front Runner‘, ‗Jerry's Jubilee‘, ‗Jovan‘, ‗King Midas‘, Has your ‗Orange Bowl‘, ‗Secretary Eva Clover‘, ‗Shangri La‘ membership expired? Dick France: ‗Love in Bloom‘, ‗Toy Town‘ Beth Jackson: ‗Casper‘ Is your SDES membership about to expire? Check Mildred & Gerry Mikas: ‗Arturo‘, ‗Bisco‘, ‗California Dream‘, ‗Carmen Paetz‘, ‗Charming your mailing label on your current issue of Epi Beauty‘, E. strictum, ‗Epi Society‘, ‗Fatima‘, ‗Fred News. It will indicate the date your membership Boutin‘, ‗Happiness Is‘, ‗Ilie Gaceu‘, ‗Jackpot‘, expires. Send your renewal in soon so you can ‗Kirsten Pellymounter‘, ‗Mildred‘s Memories‘, keep abreast of all SDES activities. Don‘t miss a ‗Orange Icing‘, ‗Rosetta‘, ‗Smokey Topaz‘, ‗Westcoast‘, ‗Winston‘ single issue! Jerry Moreau: 'Attila', 'Christmas Elf'. 'Diva', 'Evening Delight', 'Faryal', 'Frida Kahlo', 'Go Go Girl', 'Little Guy', 'Mecca', 'Mr. P', ‗Petey Kelley' 'Rusty Canyon', 'Silly Girl', 'Tiny Jewel' Allen Pellymounter: ‗Brüno Förster‘, ‗Marmalade ‗N‘ Honey‘, ‗Something Special‘ Linda Sinkovic: 'Deutsche Kaiserin', E. oxypetalum, , Membership: 'Gold Charm', 'Jalisco Grace', 'Scarlet Macaw', 'Slightly Sassy' Single Membership $15.00 per year Dual Membership $20.00 per year (Dual is for two people, same address, one newsletter) International Membership $25.00 per year Refreshments at our Epi News is published monthly. Deadline for submis- General Meetings: sions is the 15th of the month prior to publication. Please Call Marj Myers at 619-448-3613 or e- let the editor know of your intention to submit any articles mail her at [email protected] so she will by the date of the General Meeting so that appropriate be able to coordinate the food brought to space can be allocated. ( e-mail at jill- the SDES general meetings. [email protected] ) Have You Moved? Details of How To Become A If you have moved or recently changed your address, please let us know your new address so that you can Volunteer at the Safari Park: continue to receive your newsletter without interruption. Can be found on our website: Send it to membership – USPS or email address : (PO SanDiegoEpi.org . Click on ―Safari Park‖, then Box 126127, San Diego, CA 92112-6127 or click on ―Epi House‖, then ―Volunteer‖. [email protected] ) San Diego Epiphyllum Society, Inc. NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE P.O. Box 126127 PAID San Diego, CA 92112-6127 SAN DIEGO, CA PERMIT NO. 2646

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SAN DIEGO EPIPHYLLUM SOCIETY OFFICERS San Diego Epiphyllum Society, Inc (SDES) President: Jerry Moreau P.O. Box 126127 [email protected] (619) 208-7654 San Diego, CA 92112-6127 1st Vice President: Velma Crain Epi News is published monthly by [email protected] 619-421-4785 San Diego Epiphyllum Society, Inc. 2nd Vice President: Sandra Chapin Editor- Jill Rowney: [email protected] (858) 451-1744 (209) 966-3364 Treasurer: Janice Wakefield [email protected] [email protected] (619) 464-1086 Epi News E-mail: [email protected] Recording Secretary: Marie Dempewolf SDES Web Site: www.SanDiegoEpi.org [email protected] (619) 573-5060 Membership queries: [email protected] Corresponding Secretary: Gerry Mikas [email protected] (760) 690-1124 General membership meetings are held Membership Secretary: Beth Jackson on the second Wednesday of each month [email protected] (858) 638-0956 at 7:30 p.m. in Room 101, Coordinator– Pre-meeting Workshops: Casa del Prado, Balboa Park Director: Ron Crain: (619) 421-4785 Coordinator– Sales Events: NEXT GENERAL MEETING: Director: Cindy Decker: (619) 698-6662 August 10, 2011 Coordinator– Garden Caravan; Chair- EpiCon XIII: Director: Mildred Mikas: (760) 690-1124 SDES Board Meetings are held Librarian: on the fourth Wednesday of each month Director: Linda Sinkovic: (619) 583-1172 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 104, Coordinator– Hospitality: Casa del Prado, Balboa Park. Director: Bob Buchs: (858) 792-8081 Past President: Sandra Chapin Next Board meeting will be: Coordinator Safari Park : August 24, 2011 Jerry Moreau: [email protected] (619) 208-7654