DOCSLIB.ORG

Restoring the Biodiversity of Canopy Species Within Degraded Spekboom Thicket

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Restoring the Biodiversity of Canopy Species Within Degraded Spekboom Thicket Restoring the Biodiversity of Canopy Species within Degraded Spekboom Thicket By Marius Lodewyk van der Vyver Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister Scientae in the faculty of Science at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University January 2011 Supervisors: Prof. R.M. Cowling & Prof. E.E. Campbell 1 Acknowledgements “In the name of Allah, the most compassionate, the merciful”. Firstly I would like to thank the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Mighty, to whom all praise is due. I am very grateful to my parents for their unconditional love and support, I know I don‘t appreciate them enough. Prof. Richard Cowling, my supervisor, who had been instrumental in making this thesis happen, has opened up for me wonderful new worlds and horizons on many levels. I would like to thank him and his wife Shirley for their love, support and guidance, without which this thesis would not have been possible. Prof. Eileen Campbell is thanked for her encouragement, valuable advice and direction. I thank the Restoration Research Group that provides scientific oversight of the Subtropical Thicket Restoration Project (STRP). Dr. Anthony Mills, whose work has been a model of excellence to aspire to, deserves thanks for his valuable comments and help with the soil sampling procedures, carbon sequestration analyses and his sympathetic ear. Dr. Ayanda Sigwela is thanked for his valuable questions, help and comments. Mike Powell is thanked for his help and suggestions regarding the allometric sampling procedures. Funding for this research was provided by the Department of Water and Environment‘s (DWE) Working for Woodlands which initiated the subtropical thicket restoration project (STRP) of which Gamtoos Irrigation Board (GIB) is the implementing agent. I sincerely would like to thank these organizations for the opportunity and their assistance with the project. Dr. Christo Marais from DWE, and Andrew Knipe, Yolande Vermaak, Pippa Holm, and Victoria Wilman of GIB are thanked in this regard and also the Working for Woodlands contractor teams that fenced off my experimental plots and performed the practical soil sampling procedures. Victoria Wilman is especially thanked as she was instrumental in the propagation and preparation of the propagules, and has provided valuable advice and encouragement. Yolande Vermaak has helped considerably with organizing the fencing of my experimental plots and Pippa Holm has been a great help with handling and sorting the soil samples. I want to thank Dr. Mark Difford for his guidance with statistical analyses, he has proven himself to be a true guru, not just through his thorough analyses and knowledge of statistical intricacies, but also displaying superior patience and i providing clear guidance to an inspired but mostly confused R novice. The late Graham Slater and his wife Rhoda are thanked for their cheerful assistance, friendly conversation and many cups of tea during my fieldwork at Krompoort. I would also like to thank Mr. Desmond Slater for his advice and friendly conversation during long hours of solitary fieldwork. I thank Mr. Warren Rudman and his wife Belinda for their encouragement and their warm, hospitable reception and treatment of me on their farm Rhinosterhoek. Both Mr. Warren Rudman and Mr. Desmond Slater have provided valuable rainfall data, practical advice and personal observations of the ecosystem within which they have grown up and make a living in. Without Mr. Rudman (snr.) and Mr. Graham Slater‘s vision to plant spekboom 50 and 33 years ago respectively, this research and our better understanding of biodiversity regeneration within spekboom thicket would not have been possible. I hereby would like to thank them for this, albeit posthumously. Clayton Weatherall-Thomas and Merika Louw are thanked for their camaraderie and help with fieldwork. Everybody in the Botany Department at NMMU with whom I had dealings with is also thanked for their overall friendly and prompt assistance, enlightening conversation and the occassional lighter moments we shared. I would also like to thank all my friends and family who had to tolerate my rebuffs when I was invited for social gatherings or outings. Thanks especially to Gillian MacGregor, Robert Dugtig, Andre Stahmer, Etienne van der Vyver, Jacqueline Brown, Colette Stoltz, Faadil Khan, Margherita Razza, Steve Kalule, Cornel du Toit, Sadia Bundgaard, Luke Hutchinson, Eduard Lewis and Andon van der Merwe for their precious friendship and encouragement. ii Table of Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. i Table of Contents .................................................................................................... iii List of Figures ......................................................................................................iv List of Tables .......................................................................................................vi Summary ................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 1 – General Introduction ............................................................................ 3 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 3 Restoration and Ecology ..................................................................................... 4 Spekboom Thicket ............................................................................................... 6 Restoration of Spekboom Thicket ........................................................................ 9 Chapter 2 .............................................................................................................. 11 Restoring biodiversity by planting propagules of canopy species in degraded spekboom thicket is neither ecologically nor economically feasible. ..................... 11 Abstract ............................................................................................................. 11 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 12 Materials and Methods ...................................................................................... 15 Study Site....................................................................................................... 15 Nursery Propagation and Planting ................................................................. 18 Survival and Growth Assessment .................................................................. 19 Restoration Costs .......................................................................................... 20 Statistical Analysis ......................................................................................... 21 Results .............................................................................................................. 22 Survival and Growth Analysis ........................................................................ 22 Restoration costs ........................................................................................... 27 Discussion ......................................................................................................... 27 Chapter 3 .............................................................................................................. 31 Biodiversity Regeneration and Carbon Sequestration on Restored Spekboom Thicket Landscapes – Portulacaria afra Jacq. as an Ecological Engineer. ........... 31 Abstract ............................................................................................................. 31 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 32 iii Methods ............................................................................................................. 37 Site Description .............................................................................................. 37 Data collection ............................................................................................... 39 Statistical analysis .......................................................................................... 44 Results .............................................................................................................. 45 Carbon ........................................................................................................... 45 Floristics ......................................................................................................... 49 Discussion ......................................................................................................... 54 Chapter 4 – General Discussion ........................................................................... 58 Research significance of this study ................................................................... 60 Shortcomings and limitations of this study ......................................................... 60 What are the next steps ? .................................................................................. 61 Literature cited ................................................................................................... 66 APPENDIX A......................................................................................................... 75 APPENDIX B........................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • CACTUS COURIER Newsletter of the Palomar Cactus and Succulent Society
    BULLETIN NOVEMBER 2014 CACTUS COURIER Newsletter of the Palomar Cactus and Succulent Society Volume 60, Number 11 November 2014 The Meeting is the 4th Saturday NOVEMBER 22, 2014 Park Avenue Community Center 210 Park Ave Escondido, CA 92025 Noon!! Coffee!! Photo by Robert Pickett “Ethiopia – Plants, History, and Cultures” • • Gary James • • Gary James has been interested in succulent In recent years he has been traveling to succulent-rich plants for many years – both his grandmother and his parts of the world to observe plants in habitat. Seeing parents had large succulent gardens. Growing up in South them growing in their natural areas gives an observer a Pasadena allowed him to spend many days visiting the better idea of how to care for the plants in one’s Huntington Botanic Gardens – back when admission was collection. free! In 2000 he organized a tour of Ethiopia for a group of friends. They traveled all over the country and observed a number of wonderful plant habitats. Ethiopia is a fascinating country with a long history of having never been colonized by a European power. The country includes many interesting tribes in the Omo River Valley, intriguing monuments in the north, and unusual Christian churches in the Lalibela area. Theirs is a rich Moslem culture as well. The talk will be a general introduction to the variety of cultures, tribes, historic monuments, as well as a look at many of the unusual plants that are found throughout the country. vvvvvvvv Board Meeting • Plant Sales • Brag Plants • Exchange Table REFRESHMENTS Lorie Johansen Martha Hansen • • • YOUR NAME HERE! • • • Please think about bringing something to share – it makes the day more fun! And we have a reputation to uphold!! Plant of the Month • • Tylecodon • • Tylecodon is a genus of succulent plants in the family Crassulaceae.
    [Show full text]
  • Portulacaria Afra[I]
    Planting orientation of Portulacaria afra cuttings for Thicket restoration: vertical versus horizontal Mutakusi B Ragimana Equal first author, 1 , Alastair J Potts Corresp. Equal first author, 1 1 Botany Department, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa Corresponding Author: Alastair J Potts Email address: [email protected] Aim. The re-establishment of Portulacaria afra in the landscape-scale Subtropical Thicket Restoration Programme has exclusively used vertically-orientated truncheons (i.e. large cuttings with the main stem planted 10-20 cm into the ground). Despite the planting of millions of truncheons, the rates of survival, growth and restoration are low. This may be driven by browsing pressure and/or drought conditions during the truncheon establishment phase. Here we conduct a common garden experiment to explore the establishment of horizontal versus vertically orientated truncheons. Horizontal truncheons have their main stem buried in the soil and only a few side branches exposed above ground — these truncheons may experience reduced water stress. Here we compared the levels of water stress during the establishment phase of truncheons with different orientation. Location. Eastern Cape, South Africa. Methods. Our experiment involved three planting treatments for truncheons: vertical orientation, horizontal orientation, and horizontal orientation with exposed side branches clipped. Truncheons were grown for two months and plants were well-watered. On two occasions during the experiment, photosynthetic efficiency was measured on all plants to ascertain levels of plant stress. After the experiment, the root, stem and leaf dry mass were recorded for each replicate, as well as leaf moisture. Results. The root mass proportion (of the total plant) was not significantly different among treatments.
    [Show full text]
  • Phoenix Active Management Area Low-Water-Use/Drought-Tolerant Plant List
    Arizona Department of Water Resources Phoenix Active Management Area Low-Water-Use/Drought-Tolerant Plant List Official Regulatory List for the Phoenix Active Management Area Fourth Management Plan Arizona Department of Water Resources 1110 West Washington St. Ste. 310 Phoenix, AZ 85007 www.azwater.gov 602-771-8585 Phoenix Active Management Area Low-Water-Use/Drought-Tolerant Plant List Acknowledgements The Phoenix AMA list was prepared in 2004 by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) in cooperation with the Landscape Technical Advisory Committee of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, comprised of experts from the Desert Botanical Garden, the Arizona Department of Transporation and various municipal, nursery and landscape specialists. ADWR extends its gratitude to the following members of the Plant List Advisory Committee for their generous contribution of time and expertise: Rita Jo Anthony, Wild Seed Judy Mielke, Logan Simpson Design John Augustine, Desert Tree Farm Terry Mikel, U of A Cooperative Extension Robyn Baker, City of Scottsdale Jo Miller, City of Glendale Louisa Ballard, ASU Arboritum Ron Moody, Dixileta Gardens Mike Barry, City of Chandler Ed Mulrean, Arid Zone Trees Richard Bond, City of Tempe Kent Newland, City of Phoenix Donna Difrancesco, City of Mesa Steve Priebe, City of Phornix Joe Ewan, Arizona State University Janet Rademacher, Mountain States Nursery Judy Gausman, AZ Landscape Contractors Assn. Rick Templeton, City of Phoenix Glenn Fahringer, Earth Care Cathy Rymer, Town of Gilbert Cheryl Goar, Arizona Nurssery Assn. Jeff Sargent, City of Peoria Mary Irish, Garden writer Mark Schalliol, ADOT Matt Johnson, U of A Desert Legum Christy Ten Eyck, Ten Eyck Landscape Architects Jeff Lee, City of Mesa Gordon Wahl, ADWR Kirti Mathura, Desert Botanical Garden Karen Young, Town of Gilbert Cover Photo: Blooming Teddy bear cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii) at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monutment.
    [Show full text]
  • Validating the Traditional Use of Medicinal Plants in Maputaland to Treat Skin Diseases
    Validating the traditional use of medicinal plants in Maputaland to treat skin diseases Sibongile Nciki Student number: 712730 A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the degree of Master of Science October, 2015 0 Declaration I, Sibongile Nciki declare that this dissertation is my own work. It is being submitted in fulfilment for the degree of Master of Science at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. It has not been submitted before for any degree or examination at this or any other University. …………………………….. Sibongile Nciki …………………………….. Date i Dedication To my loving mother and siblings, Nikeziwe, Mzee and Phiwe. Thank you for your continual support, tireless faith and confidence in my abilities. ii Acknowledgements Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD-NRF) scholarship, University of the Witwatersrand Postgraduate Merit Award and Faculty Research Committee. This project would not have been possible without their financial assistance. To my supervisor, Prof S. van Vuuren, I express my deepest gratitude for your invaluable advice, comments and follow up from the beginning to the completion of this work. If it wasn’t for your hard work and dedication in cooperation with your students, it would not have been possible to see this project to completion. To my co-supervisor, Dr D. van Eyk, there are no words enough to describe my gratitude towards you. You have been incredibly patient and supportive in completing the pharmacology part of this project. I truly appreciate your kindness and being a listener during frustrating times.
    [Show full text]
  • UFFLORIDA IFAS Extension
    ENH854 UFFLORIDA IFAS Extension Low-Maintenance Landscape Plants for South Florida1 Jody Haynes, John McLaughlin, Laura Vasquez, Adrian Hunsberger2 Introduction The term "low-maintenance" refers to a plant that does not require frequent maintenance-such as This publication was developed in response to regular watering, pruning, or spraying-to remain requests from participants in the Florida Yards & healthy and to maintain an acceptable aesthetic Neighborhoods (FYN) program in Miami-Dade quality. A low-maintenance plant has low fertilizer County for a list of recommended landscape plants requirements and few pest and disease problems. In suitable for south Florida. The resulting list includes addition, low-maintenance plants suitable for south over 350 low-maintenance plants. The following Florida must also be adapted to--or at least information is included for each species: common tolerate-our poor, alkaline, sand- or limestone-based name, scientific name, maximum size, growth rate soils. (vines only), light preference, salt tolerance, and other useful characteristics. An additional criterion for the plants on this list was that they are not listed as being invasive by the Criteria Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC, 2001), or restricted by any federal, state, or local laws This section will describe the criteria by which (Burks, 2000). Miami-Dade County does have plants were selected. It is important to note, first, that restrictions for planting certain species within 500 even the most drought-tolerant plants require feet of native habitats they are known to invade watering during the establishment period. Although (Miami-Dade County, 2001); caution statements are this period varies among species and site conditions, provided for these species.
    [Show full text]
  • Soil Spectroscopy As a Tool to Assess Organic Carbon, Iron Oxides, and Clay Content in the Subtropical Thicket Biome of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
    Centre for Geo-Information Thesis Report GIRS-2009-13 Soil spectroscopy as a tool to assess organic carbon, iron oxides, and clay content in the Subtropical Thicket Biome of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa Marco Nocita Date: 02/07/2009 Assigned and supported by: Soil spectroscopy as a tool to assess organic carbon, iron oxides, and clay content in the Subtropical Thicket Biome of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa Marco Nocita Registration number 800327606130 Supervisors: Lammert Kooistra Martin Bachmann A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree of Master of Science at Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands. Date: 02/07/2009 Wageningen, The Netherlands Thesis code number: GRS-80439 Thesis Report: GIRS-2009-13 Wageningen University and Research Centre Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing Abstract In the subtropical thicket biome of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, heavy browsing by goats, which remove shrub biomass more rapidly than it is replaced, transforms the dense closed-canopy shrubland into an open savanna-like system. This transformation causes a lot of changes, among which, soil fertility depletion. This document presents a project dealing with organic carbon (OC), iron oxides, and clay content assessment, in the degraded thicket biome, through the combination of soil spectroscopy and partial least square regression (PLSR) techniques. The study area is a transect crossing in direction south east-north west the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, from latitude -33.57 to -32.59 and longitude 25.38 (eastern extreme) to 25.26 (western extreme). The study area has been selected based on a GIS analyses, realized overlaying vegetation type, rainfall and topography data sets.
    [Show full text]
  • Jade-Plants Catalog
    SucculentShop.co.za Page: 2 DWARF ELEPHANT FOOD - SPEKBOOM - PORTULACARIA AFRA 'MINIMA' Dwarf version Dwarf Elephant Food is a low-growing variety of the usually upright growing succulent shrub. It grows to about 6 inches tall with a 4-6 foot spread and is excellent for use as a groundcover. Elephant Food is SucculentShop.co.za Page: 3 named for being a favorite food source for elephants in Africa. An easy care plant that does well in partial to full sun and is drought tolerant when established. Source: https://www.evergreennursery.com Read More GOLDEN JADE PLANT - LUCKY PLANT - MONEY TREE - CRASSULA OVATA ‘HUMMEL'S SUNSET' Crassula ovata, commonly known as Jade plant, Lucky plant, Money plant or Money tree is a succulent plant with small pink or white flower. It is native to South Africa and Mozambique, and is common as a houseplant. These plants can last a lifetime and grow to be very large with the proper care. Leaves stay green in low light conditions, edges will turn red in dry hot summer conditions. Tender soft succulent - will not tolerate frost. Known to bless the house in which it resides, the Jade Plant transcends cultures and language barriers to become one of the most popular succulents. Read More SucculentShop.co.za Page: 4 JADE PLANT - LUCKY PLANT - MONEY TREE - CRASSULA OVATA SucculentShop.co.za Page: 5 Crassula ovata, commonly known as Jade plant, Lucky plant, Money plant or Money tree is a succulent plant with small pink or white flower. It is native to South Africa and Mozambique, and is common as a houseplant.
    [Show full text]
  • Nyffeler Taxon 2010 V.Pdf
    Nyffeler, R; Eggli, U (2010). Disintegrating Portulacaceae: a new familial classification of the suborder Portulacineae (Caryophyllales) based on molecular and morphological data. Taxon, 59(1):227-240. Postprint available at: http://www.zora.uzh.ch University of Zurich Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich. Zurich Open Repository and Archive http://www.zora.uzh.ch Originally published at: Taxon 2010, 59(1):227-240. Winterthurerstr. 190 CH-8057 Zurich http://www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2010 Disintegrating Portulacaceae: a new familial classification of the suborder Portulacineae (Caryophyllales) based on molecular and morphological data Nyffeler, R; Eggli, U Nyffeler, R; Eggli, U (2010). Disintegrating Portulacaceae: a new familial classification of the suborder Portulacineae (Caryophyllales) based on molecular and morphological data. Taxon, 59(1):227-240. Postprint available at: http://www.zora.uzh.ch Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich. http://www.zora.uzh.ch Originally published at: Taxon 2010, 59(1):227-240. Disintegrating Portulacaceae: a new familial classification of the suborder Portulacineae (Caryophyllales) based on molecular and morphological data Abstract Traditional classifications of the suborder Portulacineae recognize six families: Basellaceae, Cactaceae, Didiereaceae, Halophytaceae, Hectorellaceae, and Portulacaceae. However, phylogenetic analyses based on molecular sequence data indicate that the traditional family Portulacaceae is paraphyletic and consists of three distinct lineages that also include Cactaceae, Didiereaceae, and Hectorellaceae. We use sequence data from the chloroplast genes matK and ndhF representing 64 species of Portulacineae and outgroups to reconstruct their phylogenetic relationships with Bayesian and maximum parsimony inference methods. Evidence from these molecular phylogenetic analyses as well as from comparative morphological investigations allow us to propose a revised familial classification of the suborder Portulacineae.
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 Houseplant & Succulent Sale Plant Catalog
    MSU Horticulture Gardens 2020 Houseplant & Succulent Sale Plant Catalog Click on the section you want to view Succulents Cacti Foliage Plants Clay Pots Plant Care Guide Don't know the Scientific name? Click here to look up plants by their common name All pot-sizes indicate the pot Succulents diameter Click on the section you want to view Adromischus Aeonium Huernia Agave Kalanchoe Albuca Kleinia Aloe Ledebouria Anacampseros Mangave Cissus Monadenium Cotyledon Orbea Crassula Oscularia Cremnosedum Oxalis Delosperma Pachyphytum Echeveria Peperomia Euphorbia Portulaca Faucaria Portulacaria Gasteria Sedeveria Graptopetalum Sedum Graptosedum Sempervivum Graptoveria Senecio Haworthia Stapelia Trichodiadema Don't know the Scientific name? Click here to look up plants by their common name Take Me Back To Page 1 All pot-sizes indicate the pot Cacti diameter Click on the section you want to view Acanthorhipsalis Cereus Chamaelobivia Dolichothele Echinocactus Echinofossulocactus Echinopsis Epiphyllum Eriosyce Ferocactus Gymnocalycium Hatiora Lobivia Mammillaria Notocactus Opuntia Rebutia Rhipsalis Selenicereus Tephrocactus Don't know the Scientific name? Click here to look up plants by their common name Take Me Back To Page 1 All pot-sizes indicate the pot Foliage Plants diameter Click on the section you want to view Aphelandra Begonia Chlorophytum Cissus Colocasia Cordyline Neoregelia Dieffenbachia Nepenthes Dorotheanthus Oxalis Dracaena Pachystachys Dyckia Pellionia Epipremnum Peperomia Ficus Philodendron Hoya Pilea Monstera Sansevieria Neomarica Schefflera Schlumbergera Scindapsus Senecio Setcreasea Syngonium Tradescantia Vanilla Don't know the Scientific name? Click here to look up plants by their common name Take Me Back To Page 1 Plant Care Guide Cacti/Succulents: Bright, direct light if possible. During growing season, water at least once per week.
    [Show full text]
  • Elephant Bush, Portulacaria Afra
    A Horticulture Information article from the Wisconsin Master Gardener website, posted 2 Nov 2015 Elephant Bush, Portulacaria afra Elephant bush, Portulacaria afra, is a perennial succulent shrub from South Africa that is a popular succulent garden plant around the world. It is easily grown as a seasonal accent plant or low maintenance houseplant in our part of the world. Also sometimes called elephant food or elephant plant; dwarf jade, miniature jade or small leaf jade (but not related to jade plant, Crassula ovata); porkbush; or spekboom (in Afrikaans) or other common names in Africa, it is found on rocky outcrops and slopes from the Little Karoo in the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape northwards into KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga and the Limpopo Province and further north into Mozambique. Although it is considered to be in the purslane plant family (Portulacaceae), molecular phylogenetic studies suggest this genus should be in the Didiereaceae, a group otherwise found only in Madagascar. Recent research has shown Portulacaria afra, at the Karoo Desert P. afra is an excellent Botanical Garden, Worcester, South Africa. ‘carbon sponge’, with the ability to effi ciently use more carbon from the air than most other plants (since it can use both normal and CAM pathways to grow despite adverse climatic conditions) and can therefor remove more carbon from the atmosphere than an equal amount of deciduous forest. Elephant bush as a houseplant. This is a soft-wooded, semi- evergreen upright multi- stemmed shrub or small tree that can grow 8 to 15 feet tall in the ground in mild climates (hardy in zones 9- 11).
    [Show full text]
  • Succulent Book 8.Indd
    At Home with Succulents Ken Altman Free with Purchase of a Succulent Succulents are Plants that Solve Problems S ucculents look great with minimal care, Photographers, collectors, landscap- won’t wilt if you forget to water them, and ers and container garden enthusiasts are delightful to collect and use in gar- prize dwarf and diminutive succulents dens and containers. The more you know with geometric shapes. Among these are about these intriguing plants, the more sempervivums (hens and chicks), echeve- you’ll enjoy growing them. rias, agaves and aloes. Chances are you’re familiar with jade Most cacti are lea ess succulents with and big agaves (century plants), but did spines that radiate from central points. you know that nearly 20,000 varieties of All cacti are succulents but not all succu- succulents exist? Many of those currently lents are cacti. Some have long, overlap- available in nurseries and garden centers ping spines that create starburst patterns. were introduced to the marketplace dur- Collectible cacti include those covered ing the last few decades. with what appears to be white hair. Such Succulent leaves, which typically are laments serve as a frost blanket in winter thicker than those of other plants, range and shade the plants in summer. in size from dainty beads to 6-foot swords. Nearly all succulents do well in pots, Some succulents, terraces and planter notably cacti, are boxes. Some variet- as round as balls. A A plant is a succulent if ies (such as jade), few, particularly eu- when con ned, phorbias, resemble it stores water in juicy will naturally bon- undersea creatures.
    [Show full text]
  • Succulents and Cactus
    9Succulents and Cactus Southern California has had a long love affair with succulents and cacti. And it’s no wonder. These plants provide dramatic statements, energizing colors, and exciting forms—all for low water and maintenance costs. There is a lot to love. 122 CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY MAINTENANCE: YOUR FIELD GUIDE A succulent is a plant that actively stores water in its stem, leaves and roots. All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Cactus is distinguished from other succulents by its spines and hairs. Cactus spines grow in clumps, succulents do not. These clumps of spines and hairs are the places where new flowers and growth comes from; succu- lents do not bloom or grow in this manner. As a general rule: succulents do better along the coast, where there is little danger of frost and freeze. Cactus does better inland, where there is less danger of moisture and rot. This chapter provides notes on indi- vidual plant care, which includes right type of soil, irrigation, mulches, fertilization, pruning, pests and propagation. Scientifically speaking, not every plant in this chapter is a succulent, but they’ve been included here because they are often treated like one. Variegated blue agave, Aloe arborescens, blue chalk fingers (Senecio mandraliscae) and Cotyledon orbiculata (in the background) creates a dynamic landscape that requires little maintenance and water. 9: SUccULENTS AND CACTUS 123 General Growing Tips Below are general guidelines for growing succulents and includes information on soils, irrigation, mulches, fertilization, pruning, pests and propagation. Following this section are specific recommendations for individual succulents.
    [Show full text]