THE OFFSET Echinocereus reichenbachii subsp baileyi JULY 2015 in the Wichita Mountains NWR, Oklahoma. Mount Scott in the background. Photo by Webpage https://sites.google.com/site/cocssok/ Michael Douglas NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTRAL OKLAHOMA CACTUS AND SUCCULENT SOCIETY

OFFICERS IN THIS ISSUE

President: Niki Furrh [email protected] 405-722-1718

Vice–President, newsletter editor and Web master: Rosario Douglas [email protected] Club News pp 2-7 405-447-7617 Cactus and Succulent

Treasurer: Peggy Anglin [email protected] Happenings in the region pp 8 405-840-4583

Librarian: Tony Furrh [email protected] Succulent pp 9 405-722-1718 Article of the month pp10-13

Secretary: Robert Millison What is blooming pp 14 [email protected] The Botanical corner pp 15

CSSA Affiliate: Joyce Hochtritt [email protected] 405-737-1831

Meeting: Third Thursday of the month at 7 pm. At the Will Rogers Garden Center at 3400 NW 36th in Oklahoma City (except for the month of our 1 Show&Sale, picnic and Christmas party). THE OFFSET July 2015 issue

CLUB NEWS

Summer is now in full swing and we are still getting plenty of rain. Got another 4 inches in our backyard for the days of July 2nd and 3rd and another 1.75 inches were added In the last two days.

This month we have a program about our trip to the Canary Islands last Spring. In August we are having our annual “build your own dish garden workshop”. If you have any friends that may be interested let them know since registration is required. See all details in this newsletter.

We are advertising our picnic early this year. In the past we have held the picnic at a member’s home, but it will be easier on everyone to have it at the Gardens. See details and mark your calendar.

Hope to see you at the meeting.

Rosario Douglas, Vice-president ! ------

On the left a male Collared lizard displaying mating season color. This male was spotted on a recent trip to the Wichita Mountains NWR. The common name is “mountain boomer”

On the right some of the last of the blooming Echinocereus reichenbachii . Photos taken in mid June. 2 Photos by Mike Douglas THE OFFSET July 2015 issue

FROM THE EDITOR Rosario Douglas

Dear members,

I would like welcome our two newest members Allison Burrows and Jasen Redus. As you can read later in the newsletter we have some information about Allison’s interest in succulents. It would be very nice to have more members share with all of us similar information. So if you can take a bit of time and put something together and include one, two or more photos I would be very happy to use these materials in the newsletter. This is a request not just to fill up the newsletter with stuff, but I feel that as a club it would be nice to know more about the members that make up the club. Some members have been around for a long time and know other members pretty well. As our club grows or shrinks new people come and go and I believe that almost no member knows every member. So if you agree with me send me your information so we can all learn more about each other’s interests in succulent or other hobbies.

Rosario Douglas, Newsletter editor and webmaster

! ------

JUNE 18, 2015 MEETING MINUTES

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM at the Will Rogers Garden Center. In attendance were: Peggy Anglin, Tom Diggs, Michael & Rosario Douglas, Peggy Holland, Sarah Kraemer, Lyn Pearce, Deb Trimble and new Members Allison Burrows and Jasen Redus.

In the absence of our president, Treasurer Peggy Anglin and VP Rosario Douglas presided. Peggy made a motion that the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as printed in the newsletter. Motion carried. Peggy reported a bank balance of $9,361.28 and sales of $15,587, a new record for our annual sale. She has not received credit card charges yet, so our final profit has not been determined. If any additional expense reimbursements are outstanding, please turn your receipts in to her as soon as possible.

Rosario reminded members about the upcoming dish garden workshop and discussed options for our September picnic. There was no other business, so after a short break for refreshments, a presentation on succulents was given by Nate from the Myriad Gardens. Submitted by,

Peggy Anglin, Treasurer

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COCSS ANNUAL PICNIC

WHEN: September 17, 2015

WHERE: Will Rogers garden center

TIME: 7:00pm

Free Food, 'Dirty Santa in September', raffles for plants & other items and plant sales. Where else can you have an evening like this?! No ants, no humidity, & plenty of space for all.

If you find you have some plants that just won't fit into either the house or the greenhouse, and want to sell, bring to the picnic already priced. Come prepared to do a little shopping and get some great finds. Since we will be raffling plants & other items purchased by the club & offering members an opportunity to sell some plants, small 'give away' plants/cuttings should be saved for the October meeting.

The club will be purchasing the food in appreciation for our hard work at the Show and Sale. We will play 'Dirty Santa in September' so if you would like to play, please bring a gift for each person playing. It is more fun if they are wrapped so members can not see what the item is until chosen.

Please be sure to RSVP to Niki Furrh by Sept 10th ([email protected]) or 722-1718 (can leave a message) so we have a count on the number to feed. Guests are welcome so be sure to include them in your final count. Some members will be contacted to help bring in food (with reimbursement by the club) and/or help decorate to avoid just one or two people being left with all the preparations. 4 THE OFFSET July 2015 issue

COCSS Program

July 16th

Succulents of the Canary Islands By Mike and Rosario Douglas

Last year we took a 3-week trip to the Canary Islands. We visited the islands of Tenerife, El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma. We were able to see many succulents from genera such as Aeonium, Grenovia, Ceropegia and Euphorbia growing amongst the spectacular steep and rocky landscapes.

a b

a. Euphorbia canariensis photographed in Tenerife.

b) Aeonium valverdense – endemic to the island of El Hierro. 5 THE OFFSET July 2015 issue

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Welcome our two newest members Jasen and Allison Our Show&Sale was a success again this year. Our club and vendors did very well. Another byproduct of our Show&Sale is that we often get new members who either join at the Sale or get interested about joining after attending our Sale. This month we would like to welcome two new members Jasen and Allison to our club. We are happy to have new members especially “young” new members. As you all know younger people are not joining clubs in general and this is a nation-wide problem. I am including information about or two new members and their interests which include growing succulents. Allison Burrows writes:

My husband, son and I moved to Moore last summer and finally have lovely windows that were begging for plants. I started looking for small house plants and noticed the unique and amazing succulents. Since then, I’ve been hooked. My mom always has had aloes, and she has recently started collecting other succulents as well. It’s become a hobby that we have fun sharing with each other. My plants are mostly young and small; I have also lost a few due to overwatering. I search online for care information, but would love to be in a social setting where information can be shared and appreciated. I have about 15 main plants and have started propagating the that fall off of them. My favorites of my collection include a sedum that my mom gave me (Sedum morganianum, I think) and a small, but very sweet Portulacaria afra. I am fond of lithops and am determined to keep the two I currently have alive for as long as I possibly can.

My other interests include crafting, gardening (veggies), and spending time outside. I spend most of my time with my 2 1/2 year old son and I currently teach biology at UCO part time. My education focused mostly on wildlife and humans, not so much on plants, though. I have been learning a lot about plants through growing vegetables, and am looking forward to learning as much as I can about cacti and succulents.

Below are two photos Allison sent showing some of her plants.

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CACTUS AND SUCCULENT HAPPENINGS IN THE REGION

July 16 Central Oklahoma Cactus and Succulent Society monthly meeting at 7:00 pm at the Will Rogers Garden Center. Open to the public/free admission.

Program: Succulents from the Canary Islands by Mike and Rosario Douglas. Open to the public/free admission.

Refreshments: Peggy and Helen Hill

July 18-19 Henry Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society’s Annual Show & Sale, Missouri Botanical Garden St. Louis, MO.

August 8–9 Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society Annual Show & Sale, Loose Park Garden Center, Kansas City, MO.

August 20 Central Oklahoma Cactus and Succulent Society monthly meeting at 7:00 pm at the Will Rogers Garden Center. Open to the public/free admission.

Program: Build your own Dish Garden Workshop (open to the public- registration and fee required).

Sept 5–6 Austin Cactus and Succulent Society’s Fall Show & Sale, Zilker Botanical Gardens, Austin, TX.

Sept 16 No meeting. Annual Picnic at the Will Roger Gardens at 7 pm

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SUCCULENT PLANTS By Rosario Douglas

The genus Neobuxbamia

Neobuxbamia is a genus of 9 of tall columnar a cacti. The genus was named after the Austrian professor and researcher Franz Buxbaum. Findings in the early 90’s placed Neobuxbamia species under the genus Carnegia (this is the genus for our Saguaro cactus). This restructuring of the genus was based on similarities in structures growth habit and vegetative morphology. New findings in the late 90’s placed the species back in to the genus Neobuxbamia and 9 species were recognized, a greater number than the original 6 species. Source: “The cactus family” by Edward F. Anderson. 2001 Timber Press Inc.

Neobuxbamia is native to Mexico. Their size (many species can reach upwards of 45 feet) makes them uncommon in cultivation, yet they are an impressive sight in the field. The valley of Tehuacan, about 130 miles SE of Mexico City is home to a number of species of Neobuxbamia where they occur abundantly forming “cactus forests”.

b Plants in the genus Neobuxbamia have 30-50 d ribs and are found either at the tip of the stem or are arranged laterally. Source: “Encyclopedia of Cacti:” by Cullman,Gotz and Groner, 1987 Timber Press .

The bell-shaped flowers can be white or pink and c are pollinated by bats. Source: Cactiguide.com

a) Neobuxbamia tetetzo in Tehuacan, Mexico.

b) Neobuxbamia macrocephala in Tehuacan, Mexico.

c) Landscape in Tehuacan, note Neobuxbamia along road. 9 d) Rosario next to Neobuxbamia tetezo in Tehuacan , Mexico. All photos taken in 2103 by Mike Douglas

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ARTICLE OF THE MONTH By Rosario Douglas

Caudiciforms and Pachycauls or “Fat plants”

Succulent refers to plants that store water in their tissues. Succulence allows plants to inhabit areas with little or intermittent rains. Another term used for a plants that can survive in dry environments by storing water, is xerophyte. The word xerophyte comes from the Greek xero dry, phuton plant (Wikipedia).

There are many plants besides cacti that have developed succulence and can thus be called “succulents”. Some plant families with succulent species include the Cactaceae (all cacti), Fouquiereaceae (Ocotillos), Didieraceae (the genus Didiera endemic to Madagascar), Liliacea (Aloes), and (the genus ). b

Botanists have made distinctions between succulents based on the location for water storage in any given plant. Thus we have succulents (Kalanchoe, Echeverria or Sedum), stem succulents (Baobab and Pachypodium), root succulents, or plants with large swollen underground roots (Peniocereus, Ibervillia).

Delving deeper into the terminology used for succulents we come to the terms caudiciform and pachycaul. c a) Echeverria sp. d Photographed at the botanic garden in Mexico City.

b) Adansonia digitata (baobab). Photographed in South Africa.

c) Fouquiera formosa. Photographed in Tehuacan, Mexico. d) Ibervillia tenuisecta Wikipedia commons. by Frank Vincentz - Own work. Wikimedia Commons. 10

Photos a,b and c by Mike and Rosario Douglas

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The term caudiciform refers to plants with a swollen short stem (caudex). Caudex is the botanical term for a plant stem or more precisely it is the stem from which new growth arises (Wikipedia). Thus “caudiciforms” are basically succulent plants that have short swollen stems or trunks. (University of Arizona Division of Agriculture, research and extension at: http://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/resource- library/plant-week/caudiciform-6-30-10.aspx

Another definition of caudiciform plants is: “Caudiciform plants, also known as Fat Plants, are a morphologic grouping of many a totally unrelated plants all having a fat stem/trunk or succulent roots that can be raised up in cultivation”. From article by b Geoff Stein featured on the Dave’s garden at: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/ view/266/#b

Caudiciforms are further subdivided into four types. Phanerophytes are plants with an above ground caudex. Examples include Adeniums, Moringa and Beaucarneas.

Chamaephytes are plants with a stem aboveground but the growing part of the Stem is fairly close to the ground. Examples include and Calibanus hookeri.

c a) Pachypodium lealii photographed in Namibia by Rosario Douglas.

b) Moringa ovalifolia Etosha National Park in Namibia. Photo by Mike Douglas

c) Dioscorea elephantipes. By Andrew Massyn - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

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Hemicrypthophytes are plants with stems or caudexes below the ground, but the growing center is above ground. Examples include plants like the cycad b Ceratozamia and Euphorbia tuberosa.

a

Finally Geophytes are caudiciform plants that have the caudex or stem and the growing center underground. Examples include plants in the genus Brachystelma and Ibervillia. Source: Article by Geoff Stein cited above. Most cacti have swollen stems, but they are apparently not c considered caudiciforms because cacti use their stem to photosynthesize. In contrast plants such as the Adenium (desert rose) or Baobabs have swollen stems, but the leaves accomplish photosynthesis. We should remember that except for a few so- called “primitive” cacti (meaning closer to their ancestors) such as Pereskia and Pereskiopsis and the short-lived minute leaves in prickly pear pads, most cacti do not have leaves. a) Euphorbia tuberosa. Burman, J., Rariorum Africanarum plantarum, t. 4 (1738)Illustrations contributed by Real Jardín Botánico, Madrid, Spain.

b) Brachystelma oianthum Burman, J., Rariorum Africanarum plantarum, t. 4 (1738).

c) Pereskia aculeata Descourtilz, M.E., Flore médicale des 12 Antilles, vol. 4: t. 294 (1827) [J.T. Descourtilz]. Missouri Botanical Gardens, St. Louis, USA.

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Another term applied to some succulents is pachycaul, a term we often see in association with the term caudiciform. a The word pachycaul is derived from the Greek pachy- meaning thick or stout, and Latin caulis meaning the stem. Thus a pachycaul is a plant with a succulent or fat stem. The fat part of pachycauls is the above ground stem, but the term is applied to plants that are fat compared to their height and have small leaves.

The key difference between the terms pachycaul and caudiciform appears to be a matter of scale and proportion. The definition being used for pachycaul is: “plants with a disproportionately thick trunk for their height, and few branches” (Wikipedia). Height is an important element here since all plants referred to as pachycauls are large or mid-size such as plants in the genus Adansonia (Baobab),Cavanillesia, Beaucarnea and Pachypodium.

c Pachycauls could be then considered a type of caudiciform, but the term is applied primarily to plants that are fat trees with small branches.

The ability to store water b regardless of where the plant is doing so (leaf, stem, root) and whether it is above or below ground, is key to the survival of succulent plants living in dry environments.

The term caudiciform refers to plants with fat caudexes or stems with further terminology applied in reference to the location (growing center of the plant above ground, at ground level or below ground).

Regardless of the varied terminology used to describe our beloved “fat succulents” I believe many enthusiasts such as myself love caudiciforms and pachycauls. All photos by Mike An extensive reference for this subject is the book: and Rosario Douglas “Caudiciforms and Pachycaul Succulents” by Gordon D. Rowley. 1987 Strawberry Press. a) Cavanillesia sp., Minas Gerais, Brazil, b) Mike and Pachypodium lealii, Namibia, 13 c) Beaucarnea gracilis, Tehuacan-Mexico

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WHAT IS BLOOMING By Mike Douglas

a

a) Flower of Echinocereus pentalophus.

b

b) Blooming desert rose or Adenium obesum.

c

c) The bloom of Tylecodon paniculatum.

All photos taken by Mike Douglas in our greenhouse 14 THE OFFSET July 2015 issue

THE BOTANICAL CORNER by Rosario Douglas

a Central Spine The spine or spines arising from or near the center of an areole; usually the predominant spine or spines.

Cephalium Modified flowering zone of some cactus stems often marked by copious development of hairs and or bristles. A distinction is sometimes made between the true “cephalium” of Melocactus, for b example, where vegetative growth ceases when the cephalium forms and various kinds of “pseudocephalium” where growth can continue.

Ceraceous Waxy in appearance or color. a) The “Chisos Mountains c hedgehog cactus has thin radial spines (usually 10-17), which are exterior to the 3-4 central spines. The illustration shows 13-14 radial spines and 4 central spines.” From: Texas Parks and Wildlife website at: b) The cephalium of https://tpwd.texas.gov/ Cephalocereus senilis. huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/ Photo taken in the Valley nongame/listed-species/ of Metztilan by Mike plants/echinocereus- Douglas. chisoensis.phtml c) Melocactus intortus. Curtis’s (go to wildlife, wildlife diversity, Botanical Magazine, vol. 58 non-game and rare species, [ser. 2, vol. 5]: t. 3090 plants, Chisos Mountain (1831) [W.J. Hooker]. hedgehog)

15 Terms from the book. “Glossary of succulent plant terms” by W. Taylor Marshall and R.S. Woods, 1938. (Wikipedia). Also terms from CactiGuide.com at http://cactiguide.com/glossary/ .