Dumpling and His Wife: New Views of the Genus Conophytum 0953932613, 9780953932610

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~umpling andfiis Wife: New Views of the Genus

CONOPHYTUM

•

i e: New Views of the Genus

CONOPHYTUM Steven liafllfller Photography by

Christopher Barnhill

Published and Distributed by: EAE Creative Colour Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of the Publisher and Copyright owners. The copyright of all photographs remains with the credited photographer. ISBN 0-9539326-1-3

81 Barn Road Norwich NR2 4UB ENGLAND

Author/Editor: Steven Hammer. Design/Production: Nick Lear. Reproduction and Printing by: EAE Creative Colour Ltd.

Lisa Weiss and

Russell Wagner (amiculae ab ovo)

Co

TENTS

Contents Contents .. . .... . ............. ...... .10 Preface ... .......... . .. ........... .. .14 Acknowledgements and Asides ....... 16

Conophytum as a Construct ........... 18 Ties That Bind

Notes on Distribution . ... ............ 32 Rock and Role ........ ....... . ...... .33 Have Pen, Will (Not) Travel: Notes on the Describers ........... .40 Collecting Politics .. .. ... . .. . .. ..... .43 Proper Introductions ...... .. . . ...... .44 Notes on Cultivation ................ .46 Phylogeny and the Watering Can Procrustinations Aging Phenomena Growing Conditions

Seed and Plant Sources ............... 54

C. aurijlorum .... . .... .... . . .. ... . . ..... .. 81 subsp. aurijlorum subsp. turbiniforme C. bachelorum .. .. . . ....................... 83 C. bicarinatum .. . ........... .... .......... 84 C. bilobum ................................ 85 subsp. bilobum bilobum elishae linearilucidum muscosipapillatum subsp. a/tum subsp. claviferens subsp. gracilistylum var. var. var. var.

C. blandum ........... . ...... . ............ 89 C. bolusiae . . ..... . ... ............. .... .. .. 90 subsp. bolusiae subsp. primavernum C. breve . . . ..... ............ . ............ .92

C. brunneum .............................. 93 C. bruynsii ............................... 94 C. burgeri ............................... .95 C. calculus . .......................... ..... 96 subsp. calculus subsp. vanzylii C. caroli ....... .. ...... . ............. . . . .112

Notes on the Descriptions ...... ..... .55 otes on the Photographs Abbreviations

The Species

C. carpianum .......... ....... ... ... ...... 113 C. chauviniae ... . .......... . . . ..... ...... 114 C. chrisocruxum ... . .. ..... '. ............... 115

C. achabense . .. . .. ...... .. .. ... . .. ... . . .58

C. chrisolum ................. ... ... ....... 116

C. acutum ..... . ........ ..... .. .......... .59

C. comptonii .. . ..... .. ................... 117

C. albijlorum ............ . .. . .... .......... 60

C. concavum ... . ......... ... ....... ...... 118

C. angelicae ........ ......... . ............. 61 subsp. angelicae subsp. tetragonum

C. concordans ... . .......... .. . ...... ... . .. 119

C. armianum .............................. 63 C. arthurolfago .... .... ...... .. . : .......... 64 10

C. cubicum ... ....... ..... .. .......... .. .. 120 C. depressum ........... ........... .... ... 121 subsp. depressum subsp. perdurans

CONTENTS

C. devium ..... . ... ..... ........... . .... .123 subsp. devium subsp. stiriiferum

C. kubusanum ........................... .171

C. ectypum .............................. .125 subsp. ectypum subsp. brownii subsp. cruciatum subsp. ignavum subsp. sulcatum

C. lithopsoides . . .... ..... ............... . .173 subsp. lithopsoides subsp. boreale subsp. koubergense

C. ernstii .................... ..... ...... .128 subsp. ernstii subsp. cerebellum C. ficifarme ............................. .130 C. jlavum ........ .. . . .... .......... .. . . .131 subsp. jlavum subsp. novicium C. francoiseae ............................ .133 C. fraternum ........................ . ... .134

C. limpidum . ........ . .................. .171

C. loeschianum . .......................... .175 C. longibracteatum ....................... .176 C. longum .............................. .177 C. luckhoffii ............................. .179 C. lydiae ......... ... ............. . .. ... .180 C. marginatum .......................... .181 subsp. marginatum subsp. haramoepense subsp. littlewoodii

C. frutescens ..... ......... ............... .137

C. maughanii ........................... .183 subsp. maughanii subsp. armeniacum subsp. latum

C.fulleri .... ... ........... ...... . .. . ... .138

C. meyeri .. .......... . .................. .185

C. globosum ............................. .139

C. minimum ............................ .186

C. halenbergense . . ................ . . . . ... .140

C. minusculum .......................... .187 subsp. minusculum subsp. aestiflorens subsp. leipoldtii

C. friedrichiae ... . ............ .. ......... .135

C. hammeri ...... ...... . .......... ...... .141 C. hermarium ........................... .142 C. herreanthus ........................... .143 subsp. herreanthus subsp. rex C. hians .. ..... ........... .. ............ .161

C. minutum ..... .. .. . ..... ..... . .. ...... .190 var. minutum var. nudum var. pearsonii

C. irmae ................. ....... ....... .162

C. mirabile ....... . ... . ...... . ..... ..... .192

C. jarmilae ... ... ....... ........ ... .. ... .163

C. obcordellum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .209 subsp. obcordellum var. obcordellum var. cereszanum subsp. roljii subsp. stenandrum

C. joubertii ..... . .. .................. ... .164 C.jucundum ....... ... . .. . ....... ....... .165 subsp. jucundum subsp. fragile subsp. ruschii subsp. ruschii

C. khamiesbergense ... .. ........... . . ..... .168 C. klinghardtense . ........................ .169 subsp. klinghardtense subsp. baradii

C. obscurum ........ ... ..... . ............ .212 subsp. obscurum subsp. barbatum subsp. sponsaliorum subsp. vitreopapillum C. pageae .. . ... .. ............... ... ..... .214 1 1

CONTENTS

C. pellucidum ...... .. . . . . . . . . .... ...... . .216 ub p. pellucidum var. pellucidum var. lilianum var. neohallii var. terricolor subsp. cupreatum var:. cup reatum var. ten-estre subsp. saueri

C. phoeniceum .......... ... . ............. .221 C. piluliforme ........................... .222 subsp. piluliforme subsp. edwardii

C. praesectum ........................... .223 C. pubescens ............................. .225 C. pubicalyx ............... .... ..... ... .. .226 C. quaesitum ............................ .227 subsp. quaesitum var. quaesitum var. rostratum subsp. densipunctum C. ratum .. .. .. . . ....................... .229

C. reconditum ........................... .230 subsp. reconditum subsp. buysianum

C. regale .. . ........... ....... .......... .232 C. ricardianum ......... ... .. ... ... .. . . . . .233 subsp. ricardianum subsp. rubrijlorum

C. roodiae ...... .... ............... . .... .234 subsp. subsp. subsp. subsp.

roodiae corrugatum cylindratum sanguineum

C. rugosum . ......... ................... .237 C. saxetanum ... ..... ................. .. .238

C. stephanii . .. ....... .... . . . ............ .258 subsp. stephanii subsp. helmutii

C. stevens-jonesianum ..................... .260 C. subfenestratum ...... . . ....... . . . .. . . .. .261 C. subterraneum .... ...... , .......... .. .. .262 C. swanepoelianum ... ........ ........... . .263 subsp. swanepoelianum subsp. proliferans subsp. rubrolineatum

C. tantillum ...... . . . .. ... . . . .. .. ....... .265 subsp. tantillum subsp. amicorum subsp. eenkokerense subsp. heleniae subsp. inexpectatum subsp. lindenianum

C. taylorianum .......................... .269 subsp. taylorianum subsp. ernianum subsp. rosynense

C. tomasi [a.k.a. C. hanae] ....... .. ...... .. .271 C. truncatum .................. .. ....... . .272 subsp. truncatum var. truncatum var. wiggettiae subsp. viridicatum

C. turrigerum .............. . ... . ..... . . . .275 C. uviforme ......... .......... .... .. .... .276 subsp. uviforme subsp. decoratum subsp. rauhii subsp. subincanum

C. vanheerdei ........................... .278 C. velutinum ........ . . . ................ . .279 subsp. velutinum subsp. polyandrum

C. schlechteri ............................ .239

C. verrucosum . . . ........ ..... .. ....... .. .281

C. semivestitum ........ .... ............ .. .240

C. violacijlorum ..... ..................... .282

C. smorenskaduense ....................... .257

C. wettsteinii ...... ...................... .283

12

CONTENTS

Appendix 1 . ........................... 285 atural and Artificial Dumplin' Mixes (Cross Purposes)

Appendix 2 .. ............. ...... . .. . . . .298 A tale of two species-unraveling C. jarmilael danielii and C. hanael tomasi By Terry Smale

Appendix 7 ..... ..... .......... . ....... 348 Conophytum and the quartz fields By Ute Schmiedel

Appendix 8 . ........... .. ... ... . ....... 363 Conophytums and Commerce By Chris Rodgerson

Appendix 9 .......... . ... .. ............ 365 Appendix 3 ........... .... ............. 300 Conophytum Leaf Structures By Matthew R. Opel

Appendix 4 ................ ......... .. .322 Floral scent compounds in nocturnal Conophytum species: chemical composition and its relevance to taxonomy and pollination biology By Andreas Jurgens

Appendix 5 . ........... ...... ....... .. .332 Chromosome numbers of Conophytum and related genera By Matthew R. Opel

Momento Mori

Appendix 10 ..... .... . . ........ ... . .... 375 Innocence Abroad

Appendix 11 ..... .... ...... . ......... . .382 11.1-Species List 11.2-Additions, Subtractions and Changes Since The Conograph

Index .. . .... ........ .......... ........ .389

Appendix 6 .... ....... ........... ... .. .341 Half a Century of Conos in the UK By Terry Smale

13

P REFACE

C. jucundum subsp. ruschii (Photo: Chris Rodgerson)

14

PREFACE

Preface /I nother book on Conophytum? Didn't you just write one?" I have heard that query at least a f l hundred times since I announced the preparation of the present tome. "Just" is a relative term,

CC

but my Conograph, though published in 1993, was largely sketched in 1985-1986 during a South African sabbatical which now seems as remote and unrepeatable as childhood. Even before its publication, the work had achieved some mustiness, and while I cannot accuse myself of planned obsolescence, there is hardly a species which has not had its description altered or enriched in some manner during the last nine years. Meanwhile, unknown species have appeared at an alarming rate; today's mail brought news of yet another novelty. As every reporter knows, information arrives just after one needs it. I like to think that my own explorations of the genus have stimulated other growers and field-workers. Further explorations will yield new species just as surely as further lab work will suggest connections as yet unsuspected. If such progress renders current ideas obsolete or quaint-and it will-so be it. Sequels have a sad reputation. Does anyone really prefer Bride of Frankenstein to the galvanic original? The desire to avoid self-repetition can be a stultifying or stimulating force (or both, as in the present case), but plant prose is necessarily compounded of second thoughts and tertiary glosses, and it inspires further revisions. From the strictly literary point of view, repetition-avoidance is difficult. One can only say "red-lined" or "contorted" or "star-like" in so many ways. As for why I worry about literary qualities in a medium as formulaic as botanical descriptionwell, I dislike prose-dots, and ifI weren't writing about plants in my high-low style, I would probably write musical analyis or, even worse, romance novels. I could certainly write a succulent roman a clef. Already, Her Majesty's Customs seem to think I am writing something salacious. The huge box of slides I sent for Nick Lear's scanning was impounded so that it could be inspected for lascivious content! Someone has exquisitely refined taste. I was as delighted by this sentiment as by the spellcheck program which turned Conophytum into Concubine. This book does not require reference to its predecessor (I myselflack a copy), though long-term conophiles will, I trust, note the discrepancies between them and appreciate the corrections and updatings. Certain points which now seem obvious-e.g., the proper placement of C. orbicum N.E.Br. ex Tischer-escaped me completely in 1993. Though it has brought to light many new taxa and a few lost ones, recent field-work has still left nagging mysteries: those surrounding C. boreale, C. fibuliforme, C. rubroniveum, and C. semivestitum. The last-named haunts me more than ever, now that I know it actually reached England in 1933, properly dressed or not. A skein of sympathy for these small plants, so tough and yet so fragile, connects many people around the world. Most Conophytum lovers are intensely visual, colour-sensitive people, and it is a delight to be able to share Chris Barnhill's excellent photographs, and those of John Trager and others, with them. Words may accompany the images, but they shine on their own. Beauty, more than bitterness Makes the heart break.

-Sara T eadale 15

ACKNOWLEDGE M E NTS

A N D

AS I DES

C. bi/obum subsp. bilobum var . bi/obum-Eenr iet

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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ASIDES

Acknowledgements and Asides s there a symphony written by two people? Proper collaborations are almost as rare in classical music as they are in botany, generally a field for solipsists. For two people to write a joint love letter, which amounts to the same thing, is also rare. Nonetheless, all my publications have involved collaboration, and not only because of my reluctance to wield a camera. I am dependent on many other field-workers, growers, and observers. Since the final impact of style is mine, I tend to get the credit, but many ideas have a collective gestation. The question of who knew what first is often murky and, in the long run, irrelevant. I might credit myself with one original observation, involving hybridization and speciation, but its full explication eludes me. Since 1993 I've managed to do more field-work than in the period 1980-1993. It may seem perverse that I should have published a book and then continued the research (as if finality were possible anyway), but publication gave me access, notoriety, the temporary luxury of a loud frog in a small pond. Blessedly temporary, because many other people have begun to look and croak as well. What used to seem like a lonely pursuit has become, especially by the standards usual for Kleinbotanik, a congenially social one . . The diverse searchers have included Tania Anderson, Peter Arthurs, Etwin Aslander, Chris Barnhill, Bruce Bayer, Steven G. Brack, Jossie Brandt, Paul Brink, Peter Bruyns, Irma Burger, Priscilla Burgoyne, ,Derek Clarke, Michael Dehn, Phil Desmet, Nunzio Di Nunno, Johan DuToit, Allan Ellis, Jane Forrester, Robin Frandsen, Harry Hall, Heidi Hartmann, Adam Hawser, Emile Heunis, Hans-Dieter Ihlenfeldt, Eric Jacobs, Tom Jacobs, Norbert Jurgens, Mias Kennedy, Cornelia Klak, John Lavranos, Annelise le Roux, Sigrid Liede, Gerhard Marx, Ulrich Meve, Matt Opel, Giacomo Paonessa, Petr Pavelka, Rolf Rawe, Kotie Retief, Chris Rodgerson, Ute Schmiedel, Hans Schollenburger, Terry and Jennifer Smale, John Trager, Derek Tribble, Ernst van Jaarsveld, Kobus Venter, Jan and Anne Lise Vlok, Gerhard Wagner, Buys Wiese, Graham and Frarn;oise Williamson, Norbert Zimmermann, and the biggest, most Delphic of batrachians, Anthony Mitchell, who was active in Namaqualand long before I first set foot there. The people who have helped me with hospitality, transport, xeroxes, translations, technical advice, finance, maps, and/or kind attentiveness include virtually all of those mentioned above, along with Ian andJane Banks, Daphne Bayer, Bernie Burger, Naureen and Desmond Cole, Karen Dehn, Frank DiStefano, Janebel Evans, Hilje and Eli Fallaux, Lisabel Hall, Michael Hall, Eleanor, David, and F. David Hammer, Nan-Sybil Hatfield, Judith Heunis, Leslie Hill, Gene Joseph, David Kay, Myron Kimnach, Nancy Lawrence, Patricia Lorber, Suzanne and Tony Mace, Ingeborg Niesler, Arda Retief, Wendy Rodgerson, John Rourke, Gordon & Gordon Rowley, Dierdre Snijman, Ronnie Uijs, Mirna Venter, Piet Vorster, Don Russell Wagner, Margareth Wiese, and Carol Vludjik. My gratitude to them all! The look of this book is due to the excellently inventive Nick Lear. He dislikes routine as much a I do; I am not even sure he is capable of it. He intuited what I hoped to see, suggesting better ideas or views when mine backfired. The project entailed a certain amount of sheer labour-I am no typist, owers are fickle, salt is forever, Chris Barnhill lives 100 kilometres away, and Nick 100 times thatut it provided the opportunity for many stimulating discussions and observations. Peter Prager, my amazingly patient electronic amanuensis, smoothed out many a vexation.

I

17

CONOPHYTUM

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Habitat of C. pellucidum subsp. pellucidum var. pellucidum 2 km W of Spektakel Pass

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Conophytum as a Construct T

he concept of "Conophytum'', and the language used to describe it, derived from Brown, Bolus, Schwantes, and Tischer in the 1920's, but the first observations and, inescapably, the freshest metaphors, go much further back. In 1803 Haworth used the term "dumpling" to describe the fattened leaves of Mesembryanthemum obcordellum (his "wife" was a smaller relative). Thunberg had already described the first Conophytum as Mesembryanthemum truncatum in 1791. That description is worth quotation, especially as the original publication, Nova Acta Physico-Medica Academie Caesarae Leipoldtinae-Carolinae Naturae Curiosum, is a great rarity. "MESEMBRYANTHEMI NOVAE SPECIES Corollas white: 1. M. [Aloinopsis] Spatulatum: stemless, leaves ovate, etc ....

2. M. Truncatum: stemless, leaves conical, truncate. Grows in rocks in the Camenasie, in the Karoo behind Bockland, m hills of the mountains near Hexrivier, and in further places. Flowers in January, February [how did he know?]. Roots fibrous, perennial. Stem often null; rarely with the articulated dead leaves of the previous year. Leaves externally finger-shaped, subtruncate, divided by a fi ssure, withering, including one or two [newJ leaves, fat, fleshy. Flowers terminal, solitary, pedunculate. Peduncle compressed, membranous, exiting through the gap between the leaves, longitudinal, leaf-like. Perianth 4-nate. The way the one leaf [pair] encloses the other is singular." 3. M. [Argyroderma] Testiculare: stemless, leaves deltoid .... How modern this seems! Already everything is there: the singular growth-form, the stemlessness, the way the leaves envelop their successors, the spots, the fleshiness; we lack only the fruit. There is even the glint of ecology and, as witness the wide territory attributed to M. truncatum, a remarkably broad pecies concept. Thunberg gives us the core of section Conophytum-C. truncatum, C. obcordellum, and C. ficiforme- rolled into one. Haworth's descriptions, issued between 1795 and 1821, seem to be less detailed than Thunberg's and are certainly shorter, but they generally involve chains of comparisons which, if followed through, an ield a detailed picture. Take, for example, M. truncatellum Haworth (1803): "Bigger than M. obconellum [which was the same size as M. obcordellum], but more depressed and truncate, subglaucous, with small, point-forming, distinct, seldom flowing together flecks. Calyx sessile, 5-part, with reddish tips. Petals numerous, linear, straw19

CO N OPHYT UM

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-coloured. Ovary never entirely exserted. Flowers in November in the morning. [Haworth saw the species on a visit to Kew, and probably had no idea that the flowers had opened the night before.] Cape of Good Hope." Haworth and Thunberg had actually described the same species, M. truncatum, based on material collected by Thunberg and Masson in 1773-1774. Thunberg's name has priority over M. truncatellum and is in any case grounded in a more cogent description. The two descriptions, along with those of Haworth's other species (M. ficiforme, M. minutum, M. obcordellum, M. obconellum, M. minimum, M. perpusillum and M. fibuliforme), plus Salm-Dyck's glosses (1836, 1854) , the treatment in Flora Capensis (1865), and a few isolated collections, were the sum total of Conophytum knowledge for the 19'h century. At the time, of course, Conophytum had yet to be published. The hyper-genus Mesembryanthemum still held sway, though Haworth had already suggested that "Conophyton" might be a goo d genus. What we now know as Conophytum was generally known as section Sphaeroidea (see SalmDyck, 1836 and Brown, 1920); and what we now know as L ithops-section Fi ssurata sensu Brown-suffered a similarly prolonged obscurity. For both groups, specimens were scarce and most of them were literally fruitless, though not entirely so: M. locale ( = L. localis) had capsules, as did a contemporaneous specimen of M. truncatum, also collected by Burke near Gamka in 1842. Both are housed at Kew and were well-known to Brown; indeed, the Lithops specimen, which is very badly shrumpled, was provisionally referred to both Sphaeroidea and Fissurata.

In 1906 Marloth added one species, M. bilobum, to the assemblage that later became Conophytum, and in 1908 Berger added another, M. wettsteinii. But it was 20

rviESEMTlR Y ANTHEMUM OBCORDELLUl\• H EAR 1'· '" s.aAPF.D FIG -MAR IGOLD; or GLAUcous CHECQUERI.n DuMPLIN.

Clafi and Order.

l cosANDIUA

PrNT AGYNI A.

Generic Cbaraller. Cal. 5-fidus. Peta/a numerofa, linearia, bafl coha::rentia. Cap): carnofa, infera, polyfperma.

Specific Charaflrr and S)'llOll)'JJJS.

MES EM RR YA NTHEMU\1 obrordel/11111; (ac:aulis) glaucefcens, coroll:> albicant e maculis confluentihus ramo{is germine inclaro . Haworth M ifc. Nat. 21. Eju/dem .S)'n. Pl. Succt1/c11!. p. 203. Hort. Kew. ed. alt. 3 p. 213.

This curious little MrsEMBRYANTI·lEMUM was communicated by the Comtefle DE VAN n.Es, ~_' from her collc&ion at • · .. Bayes-Water, in 1 811. We believe it has never .~een l?efore · figured, nor was it noticed by any botanical audiqt(till Mr: HAw"t>RTH defcribed it in his Mifcellanea Naturalia: · ~ ·:. · Native of the Cape of Goo_d Hop~;, · Jhrroduced about the year 1794, by Mr. F11.ANcrs Mls so·N. Should be kept near the floping lights of a good greenhoufe, and watered very fparingly, and in the winter very feldom. Propagated by offfcts,

C. obcordellum subsp. obcordellum var. obcordellum- the "Glaucous Checque red Du mplin" [sic] fro m Curt. Bot. Mag. t. 1647 [vol. 40, 181 4) (Photos: He idi Hartmann)

CO N OPHYT U M

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CONSTRUCT

Harold Pearson's discoveries in 1909-1910 which gave the nascent genus enough yeast to rise to prominence. Pearson collected, inter alia, the first specimens of M. gracilistylum, M. quasitum, M . jucundum, M. pearsonii and M. calculus. He also furnished fruiting material to Kew, the first adequate samples Brown had seen.

[ 1:376 ) MESEMBRYANTHEMUM MINUTUM.

TINY

FIG-MARIGOLD.

***-***~-*"--~'"**""*-'*** Clajs 011d Order. IcosANORIA PENTACYNIA. Gc11eric CharaEJ.er. Cal. 5 - ~dus. Peta/a numerofa, linearia, bafi coha:rentia. Cup/. turbinata, carnofa, infera, polyfpcrma.

Specific Cbora f1e r a11d Sy11011yms. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM mi'.111t11m; a·caule, fubglobofum. ap1 ce concavo fl oriferum, corolla in fu nd ibul iformi. MESEMBRY ANTHEMUM mi1111t11111; (acaule, obconicum. ~or i bu s feffilibu s) la:vc glaucum 1mmaculatum, petal is la:te rubicundis. Ht1worth M ifemb. p. i2 6 . Mijc. Nc11. p. 1. The pet~ls in this genus for the mofi part Oightly cohere at the bafe.: 1~ fome they form a lhort tube ; but in this fpeeics they unne into a tube above a quarter of an inch in length, narrowing downwards fo as to give the corolla fomewhat the form of a funnel. The plant con fill s of a congeries of llelhy knobs, roundilh, hollowed at the apex. From the centre of this depreffion the flower is produced. H AWOR Tll confiders thefe button-like fubflances as the leaves, \V 1LLOENo w, in a nearly-related fpe cies ( 111ini11111111) a the !lems. The form er of courfe chara8erizes it as aum!e or fl eml efs, the latter would call it aph)'ll11m or leaflefs. What renders thi elegant little v e ~et a ble the more acceptable is, that it produces its lively fl owers fro m the middle of :-.: ovember to near Chriflma • . Our fpecimen wa~ kindly communicated by Mr. H ,,w oRTn , from his verv ext en!i vc coll eClion at Liu lc Che lfea . T hi s add~ to the v~lu e of our ficrure, from the ce rt aint of irs repre lenting the plant intended by the intelligent a ~tho r of the monograph on thi s genu . . 'ativ e of the ape of Good Hope. Require to be defen ded from froll, and, after it has done !lowering, to be kept without water during the re!l of the winter.

In his 1920 paper, the proceedings of a lecture read to the Linnean Society in 1919, Brown offered a substantial treatment of the "sphaeroids". The treatment had 31 new species: 28 in Sphaeroidea (10 beginning with the letter p!), two in section Biloba (M. apiatum and M. quaesitum), and one in Turrita (M. turrigerum). The descriptions were given only in Latin and without illustrations because the author hoped to issue a longer monograph in English, illustrated with his excellent drawings. As of 1920, Brown still regarded Sphaeroidea as a "very remarkable" section of Mesembryanthemum. He tempered this view with some hedging; the Linnean lecture anticipates a shift soon made explicit: "I know of no other genus [Mesembryanthemum] in which a fairly complete series of adult forms can be found in it ranging from those which, except in size, scarcely m form from their differ cotyledonary stage, into other vegetative types, such as bushes and plants with long trailing stems that are utterly different from the cotyledonary or embryonic form. And even if it were claimed that some of the groups into which this genus is at present divided really represent distinct genera, it would not affect the obvious chain of evolution in any way." C. minutum var . minutum- the "Tiny Fig-Marigold" from Curt. Bot. Mag. t.1376 [vol. 34, 181 1]

(Photos: Heidi Hartmann)

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A

CO N STR U CT

Brown finally staked th e claim when he described the genus Conophytum in 1922, with C. truncatum (Thu nberg) N .E.Br. as its type and fundamental dumpling. The account was printed in the Gardeners' Chronicle, which not only offered an enviably quick turn-around time, it paid by th e line! Dinter and Schwantes, the German mesembologists, resisted th e new genus, but within a few years they too used th e name Conophytum, first seen in the curious (and invalid) piggy- backing formula, Mesembryanthemum ( Conophytum) angelicae of 1925. Tischer, always an ally of Brown's, opted for Conophyt um from 1928 onwards. If we as k what distinguishes Conophytum sensu 1922 (or sensu 1934, the year of Brown's death), from Conophytum sensu 2002 we find surprisingly little change. Brown already had an inclusionary view of the genus: Sphaeroidea, Biloba, Turrita, he swallowed them whole . He rej ected Ophthalmophyllum Dinter & Schwantes as a separate entity, likewise dismissing D erenbergia Schwantes, with its generous panoply of bilobes. Conversely, he quickly recognised that some of his own proposals needed crabwise adj ustment, removing C. nanum (Schlechter) N.E.Br. and C. pilosulum (N .E.Br.) N.E.Br. to Oophytum and Gibbaeum, respectively. He never did issue the monograph, by the way. Mesembryanthema, a trilingual compromise written by Brown, Karsten, and Tischer and issued in 1931, came closest. Though it is only a partial treatment, it is critical for Conophytum. The illustrations-Brown's drawings, and numerous photographs-are fascinating in themselves, and they provide relevant grist for taxonomists (see C. roodiae, p .234). Since 1934 we have had a steady accretion. Anything with more or less fused leaves, bracts, and simple fruits was assigned either to Conophytum or Ophthalmophyllum Dinter & Schwantes, Bolus favouring Conophytum sensu lato, Tischer and Schwantes, a stricter division. Whether or not Conophytu m is too diverse is an open question. Certainly it has less homogeneity than any other genus in Mesembryanthemaceae (see pp.332-340) . It is not at all clear which groups within the genus derive from which others; perhaps the "genus" represents a set of parallel lineages. The present sectional arrangement of the genus is in some disarray and will probably remain so for several years. First propounded by Schwantes, it was later nuanced by Tischer, Rawe, Hammer, and, most recently and cogently by Opel; it is about to receive further scrutiny from several parties. Most of the sections will probably stand, but some of their constituent species will surely be shifted and I suspect that smaller, more homogeneous units will be proposed as well. I therefore simply list the sections as they are currently understood, with some comments on their status. (See Opel's epidermal paper 300-321 for detailed argumentation re micro-morphology, not paraphrased here .)

Section Biloba N amaqualand-Bushmanland

P

lants robust, stems obvious in maturity. Bodies (fused leafpairs) variably lobed (i.e., leaves only partially fused), usually red-keeled, with translucent patches astride the fissure. Flowers diurnal, showy. Petals (petaloid staminodes) yellow, magenta, pink, rarely white, filaments pale green or yellow, rarely red. Nectarium a ring of fused glands, as in all members of Conophytum; deep green, rarely red. Fruits usually large, longstalked. Adult shape achieved in 4-5 years. C. bilobum s.l.

C. meyeri

C. chauviniae

C. velutinum s.l.

C. frutescens 22

Biloba -

C. bilobum subsp. bilobum

CO N OPHYT U M

AS

A

CO N STR U CT

Section Herreanthus Bushmanland-N amaqualand

motley group. C. hen-eanthus itself is easily defined by its non-fused, non-sheathing, pustulate, sharp-pointed leaves, often red-keeled, huge, sessile, diurnal flowers, white or pink petals, and large, pale, spongy fruits. C. blandum may be the nearest species to C. hen-eanthus (similar leaf-tips, similar, though smaller, flowers, greater leaf-fusion), while C. regale is a soft and troglodytic C. blandum. Both species have normal sheaths, as does C. marginatum, which forms a complex unto itself and seems to link up with both C. violacijlorum (Minuscula) and the C. taylorianum complex (Wettsteinia). Yellow petals absent throughout. Fruits visible or concealed. Adult shape achieved in 2-4 years.

A

Herreanthus - C. herreanthus subsp. rex

C. blandum C. herreanthus s.l. C. jarmilae ? C. marginatum s.l. (---+ Wettsteinia?)

C. regale C. semivestitum

Section W ettsteinia N amaqualand-Bushmanland-Knersvlakte-S Namibia

F

lat-topped, these are proper button plants, though one species (C. taylorianum s.l.) has a keel-like central elevation and certain others ( C. ernstii, C. schlechteri) tend that way. The epidermis can be papillate, beset with trichomes, or glabrous (see Notes on Descriptions, below). It is never striate but is often spotted; spots are only slightly prominent. The fissure is surrounded by a windowed ring, the analog of C. bilobum's patches. Flowers are showy, diurnal, magenta, pink, white, yellow, one species ( C. minutum s.l.) having filamentaceous staminodes. Filaments red in many species. Adult shape achieved within one year. C. bachelorum C. bolusiae s.l. C. chrisocruxum C. chrisolum C. ernstii s.l. C.jlavum C. francoiseae C. Jraternum C.globosum C. jucundum s.l.

Wettsteinia - C. bachelorum

C. kubusanum C. minutum s.l. (may need its own section; aberrant flowers and pollen) C. obscurum s.l. (---+ Minuscula?) C. ricardianum s.l C. schlechteri C. taylorianum s.l. C. wettsteinii s.l. 23

C ON OPHYT UM

AS

A

CONSTRUCT

Section Minuscula Bushmanland-Namaqualand- Knersvlakte-Southern Cape

V

ery small mat-forming plants looking like miniature bilobes, these irregularly chiselled or faceted; or cylindric or flattopped and sometimes square in section. Leaves fused or not. Epidermis usually ornately marked and textured, often shiny, markings often sometimes extending down the sides. Flowers diurnal, magenta, pink, white, yellow, very large compared to the body size. The southern species ( C. minusculum sensu latissimo and C. luckhoffii) have filamentaceous staminodes and recessed anthers; these features are mostly absent in the northerners. Adult shape achieved within one year. Minuscula -

C. minusculum subsp. minusculum

C. albiflorum C. aurijlorum s.l. C. bicarinatum C. brunneum C. bruynsii C. cubicum C. ectypum s.l. C.fulleri C. irmae C. longibracteatum (~ tantillum ?)

C. C. C. C. C. C. C. C.

luckhoffii minusculum s.l. mirabile swanepoelianum s.l. tantillum s.l. tomasi? turrigerum violacijlorum (~ Biloba ?)

Section V errucosa Bushmanland

lants mat-forming or single-bodied and ± sunken. Leaves fused into a cigar. Epidermis invariably green, bedecked with bladder cells (see p.303) and warts, the palpable bumps for which the section was named; windows nascent. Flowers invariably magenta or purplish, anthers recessed. Adult shape achieved within one year.

P

C. hermarium C. smorenskaduense C. vanheerdei

24

Verrucosa -

C. smorenskaduense

CONOPHYTUM

AS

A

CONSTRUCT

Section Cylindrata Bushmanland-N amaqualand-Knersvlakte

lan ts often half-sunken, clusters separating, rooting or rotting independently. Bodies soft-skinned, leaves often only partially fused. Epidermis green to brown, unmarked or faintly spotted, uncomplicated or remarkably wart-ridden, sometimes windowed. Flowers white or pink, with tendencies toward depauperate petals and self-fertility. Fruits soft, sometimes with axile placentation. Adult shape achieved within one year, often far less.

P

Cylindrata -

C. roodiae s.l.

C. khamiesbergense C. reconditum s.1.

C. reconditum subsp. reconditum

C. rugosum

Section Pellucida N amaqualand-Bushmanland

P

lants sometimes sunken, usually forming mats. Leaves incompletely or completely fused. Epidermis brown to purple or green, striped, ringed, or splotched, often bubbled or pitted, apex always windowed, sides usually unmarked but sometimes textured. Flowers white, pink, or purple, rarely apricot orange, very rarely yellow; always with filamentaceous staminodes and recessed anthers, stigmas short. Adult shape achieved within one year.

C. arthurolfago C. lithopsoides s.1.-arguably conspecific with:

C. pellucidum s.1. Pellucida -

C. lithopsoides subsp. lithopsoides

Section Ophthalmophyllum Bushmanland-N amaqualand

lants soft, sunken, branching highly restricted. Leaves not wholly fused, windowed on the top and often on the sides. Epidermis greenish to brown to purple, unmarked though sometimes warted. Flowers diurnal, showy, scented, sometimes paired, steep-sided hypanthium present, petals pink, white, rarely salmon, stigmas always long, usually 6. Adult shape achieved within one year.

P

Ophthalmophyllum -

C. lydiae

C. caroli C. concordans C. devium s.1. C. friedrichiae C. limpidum

C. longum C. lydiae C. praesectum C. pubescens C. verrucosum 25

Co

OPHYT UM

AS

A

CONSTRUCT

Section Subfenestrata Knersvlakte-N amaqualand

P

lant sunken, bodies ± globose. Epidermis covered with trichomes, murkily windowed. Flowers diurnal and scentless or late-diurnal and sharply scented, hypanthium absent, petals pink, white, or cream, stigmas long, usually 4-5. Adult shape achieved within one year.

C. concavum (~ Wettsteinia ?) C. subfenestratum

Subfenestrata - C. subfenestratum Strangers in the

ight:

Section Cheshire-F eles Bushmanland-

am aqualand-Knersvlakte

- plant sunken, branching reduced or eliminated (!), bodies with a fat base. Leaves wholly fused or rarely lobed ( C. maughanii). Epidermis glabrous, papillate or covered with trichomes ( C. phoeniceum), bladder cells present. Flowers diurnal, late diurnal, or nocturnal. Petals magenta, pink, white, pale yellow, rarely fiery orange or dull red; stigmas short or long, 4-6. Fruits soft, two species (Cc. achabense and acutum) with a:xile placentation. Adult shape achieved within one year, or much more slowly in the a:xiles. Cheshire-Feles - C. ratum

C. C. C. C.

achabense acutum burgeri hammeri (nocturnal)

C. maughanii s.l. (nocturnal) C. phoeniceum (nocturnal) C. ratum C. subterraneum

Section Cataphracta Bushmanland-Namaqualand-Knersvlakte, S

amibia

P

lants boldly unsunken, well- or sparsely branched. Leaves wholly fused; fissure sometimes dimpled and/or rouged. Epidermis always chalky, usually blank, well-spotted in one species ( C. stevens-jonesianum); papillae so short and stumpy as to seem absent. Flowers nocturnal but showy, strongly scented. Petals usually yellow, sometimes rust, copper, wine-red, rarely white or pink. Stigmas short, 4-8. Fruits firm, heavily tanninized. dult shape achieved right away.

C. breve C. calculus s.l. 26

C.pageae C. stevens-jonesianum

Cataphracta - C. pageae

CONOPHYTUM

AS

A

CONSTRUCT

Section Saxetana amaqualand-S Namibia

lants unsunken, heavily branched. Leaves incompletely fused, usually keeled, keels sometime sharp, often red. Epidermis spotted or lined, covered with papillae or trichomes. Flower nocturnal, usually modest. Petals mostly white to cream or pale pink, rarely carmine. Stigmas short or long, mostly 4-5, to 6 in the C. quaesitum complex. Fruits soft. Adult shape achieved within one or two years.

P

C. C. C. C.

Saxetana - C. carpianum

C. loeschianum C. quaesitum s.l. C. saxetanum

carpianum halenbergense hians klinghardtense s.l.

Section Costata S Namibia-Bushmanland-Namaqualand

P

lants well-branched, filling crevices, or in flats, sparsely branched. Bodies depressed globose, never keeled. Leaves wholly fused. Epidermis hairless, covered with pale ridges and wrinkles. Flower nocturnal, small, copper to deep maroon. Stigmas short. Fruits fragile, 6-locular. Adult shape achieved within one year, adult texture within two. C. angelicae s.l.

Costata - C. angelicae subsp. tetragonum

Section Barbata Bushmanland-Namaqualand

lants sunken to prominent (filling crevices). Bodies globose to lentil-shaped, never keeled. Leaves wholly fused. Epidermis always covered in trichomes. Flower nocturnal, small, white, pale yellow, pink, copper, or vivid maroon. Stigmas short. Fruits fragile, fuzzy. Adult shape achieved within one year.

P

C. depressum C. pubicalyx C. stephanii s.l.

Barbata - C. depressum subsp. perdurans

27

CONOPHYTUM

AS

A

CO N STRUCT

Section Conophytum Little Karoo-Great Karoo-Bushmanland- amaqualand-Knersvlakte

lants not sunken, often plastered to rocks. Leaves fused. Epidermis spotted or lined, markings sometimes prominent, pigmented. Sides often reddened. Flowers nocturnal, heavily scented, sometimes paired. Petals white, beige, rich pink, rarely magenta (!), coppery, blackish-red, or tawny yellow. Stigmas 4-6. Adult shape achieved within one year.

P

C. comptonii

C. obcordellum s.l.

C. ficifarme

C. piluliforme

C. joubertii

C. truncatum s.l.

C. minimum

C. uvifarme s.l.

Conophytum -

C. comptonii

Section Batrachia amaqualand

T

he single species is characterized by epidermal warts and sunken stomatas. Bodies minute, flat-topped, round in section. Petals faded copper, stigmas 4, fruits soft. Adult shape achieved within one year. C. armianum

Batrachia - C. armianum

Ties That Bind

A

s for what binds all these diverse sections into one genus (apart, that is, from tradition, inertia, and courtesy): all seedlings are sphaeroid, i.e., their cotyledons are globosely fused (though one finds similar seedlings in Vanheerdea, Gibbaeum, Tanquana, and, famously, in L ithops); all flowers have bracts and some degree of "petal" fusion (hence, tubular corollas); and all fruits share structural simplicity, lacking the baffles, battlements, inverse machicolations, and German-speaking membranes found in most "high mesembs." These characters, in combination, occur nowhere else. How many of these points would hold up to a rigorous morphological analysis is a good question. Already it is clear that the seedlings achieve their early fusion in different ways and to different degrees (slits~ dimple s ; blob s~co nes~ cylinders ~raspberries) . Many cotyledon types are identifiable early on (for example, Cylindratas have a high gloss), and some species (Cc. minimum and obcordellum) jump the decorative gun via their rosy fissure-rings, pigmented at two months. The "bracts" vary widely, from fat, protruding, virtual leaves (Ophthalmophyllum) to tiny wisps of tissue hidden at the base of the pedicel (in C. reconditum ubsp. buysianum I could hardly find them) , and it is doubtful that all these structures are homologous. Nor it is likely that the fruits are of a single "simple" type; many may represent reversals. The fruits with axile placentation are particularly troubling, unless this is purely a loculicidal adaption for easy egress. It is 28

CO N OP H YT UM

AS

A

CO N STR U CT

Lithops optica 'Rubra' seedlings- left, sphaeroid at c. 3 months old and right, with well developed fissures at c. I0 months old .

possible that fruit simplicity in Conophytum is connected with the fact that the fruits hide under the sheath, which provides membrane enough: when the newly moistened leaves pop out, so do the fruits, and at a good time for germination. What need for self-restraint? However, the same unbaffled simplicity is seen in those long-pedicellate species-C. bilobum and C. herreanthus--which do not contain fruits within the resting sheaths. This could be further evidence of the primitive status of these "bilobes". Most Conophytum fruits do seem to have a common function: local dispersal, i.e., the domination and retention of a toehold. Qyestions of relatedness and floral-timing in Conophytum are complicated by two factors, one involving macro-scheduling (i.e., April vs. September), the other, micro-scheduling (noon vs . dusk) . Conophytums can flower from long-stored resources, which has given them the freedom to move across the calendar. They are not dependent on rain to initiate flowering, and indeed their strategy seems rather to escap e it when in flower. Any subsequent rains initiate or propel vegetative growth. Conophytum occurs mostly in areas where winter rainfall is prevalent. Thus the general pattern-a few species flowering in spring or summer, a large majority favouring early to late autumn, and a very few braving mid-winter, which is likely to be rainless-keeps their powder dry, as it were. In fact, I have hardly ever seen conophytum flowers being wetted by non-vaporous precipitation. It is common to see them covered with

Lithops werneri- note the thick petal-supporting sepals, free petals and numerous exserted anthers

Tanquana hilmarii

29

CO N OPHYTUM

AS

A

CONSTRUCT

dewfall, but such flowers are rarely open for business. There are cases of single taxa which have both early and lateflowering populations, for example, C. jucundum subsp. jucundum at Numees (summer) vs. the same at Arrisdrif (autumn). I have no idea why some Numees populations flower in summer, a season which seems so unfavourable for floral longevity. After all, other species in the same area ( C. bilobum, C pageae, C. loeschianum) flower "normally", in autumn. One could posit that the famo us summer-flowering species of Augrabies ( C. bolusiae Oophytum nordenstamii- not a conophytum; dimor phic leaves and spongy fruit subsp. bolusiae and C. francoiseae, place it in the Mitrophyllinae both endemic to the area) attempt to beat the autumn rush, or to avoid contamination from other species' pollen (Augrabies is rotten with sphaeroids), but that is probably nai:Ve; both form large seraglios which would keep any pollinator locally entranced, reducing cross-species visitations to a minimum. No other mesemb genus, large or small, shows such a range of floral timings and syndromes as does Conophytum. Argyroderma N.E.Br. exhibits macroscheduling; for this highly concentrated genus it is probably an isolating mechanism-many of the taxa co-occur-though it is incompletely effective, as witness the very large number of hybrids. Gibbaeum N .E.Br. has similar patterns, but with less hybridity. G. nebrownii Tischer and G. johnstonii van Jaarsveld & S.A.Hammer, two morphologically similar "species" which flower at different seasons and with different rates of success, might be a parallel to C. minusculum subsp. minusculum and C. minusculum subsp. aestijlorens. Conophytum is a very much larger conclave than either Gibbaeum or Argyroderma and, unlike those parochial genera, it occupies a wide range of habitats and a large territory. Few mesemb genera exhibit day-flowering and night-flowering syndromes. Deilanthe, Hereroa and Bergeranthus give us isolated examples, while Conophytum has a clock's worth. In all of these genera, the daynight trigger may have much more to do with the tastes of pollinators than with phylogeny. It has always bothered me that C. calculus has a large and showy flower which "looks" like a diurnal flower. Indeed, toward the end of its term it functions as one as well. I have the same puzzlement with, for example, Dracophilus delaetianus, which opens its showy, broad-petalled, pink flowers at twilight. That example suggests further parallels: Dracophilus Dinter & Schwantes is very close to ]uttadinteria Schwantes (strictly diurnal flowers) and to Namibia Dinter & Schwantes ("diurnal" flowers which, in the case of one species, stay fully open once expanded) . Some of these species have evidently switched pollinators and floral-timing while retaining as much as possible of their floral morphology. As yet, little is known about the needs of the nocturnal pollinators. Night and Day, the grand central division of Conophytum proposed by Hammer and Porter in 1993, is weak, as has already been pointed out by both Opel and Hartmann (pers. comms. 1999-2000). One seemingly natural section, Cheshire-Feles sensu Opel, partakes of both timings, and it even shows a transitional species, C. burgeri, the flowers of which open shortly before dusk and close soon thereafter. Another trouble: most flowers which open by night can still function, even if at a disadvantage, by day, as with C. calculus and C. truncatum. This has caused some ambiguity ever since Haworth's time; Bolus, Tischer,

30

CONOPHYTUM

AS

A

CONSTRUCT

and Brown were also misled by this phenomenon. In any case the grand division is not particularly illuminating since it is not clear how sections within the "subgenera" relate either to each other or to their cognates across the divide. It is at least clear that the later in the day a flower opens, the richer its scent. For this reason, }Urgens and Witt's work deals almost exclusively with the proper nocturnals (see pp. 322-331). It is wonderful that we finally have a means of recording and comparing floral perfumes, those evanscent emanations which fascinated Bolus as much as they fascinate me. (My eager nose twitches like a rabbit's.) I have rarely had as much fun in the greenhouse as when Andreas's tiny whirring pumps began to extract non-Chanel no. 5 from C. obcordellum. The correlation between perfume-types and the sections of Conophytum, and the relevance of this to the appetites and anatomies of pollinators, remains to be elucidated, but here we have a first step: solid (or gaseous) data. Now that Conophytum has attracted attention on several fronts, molecular work on the genus has also begun. Kirstenbosch proposes DNA sequencing, and Opel has planned further work, as do JUrgens, Schmiedel, and Thiede. Micro-anatomy is destiny! My own role in all of this will probably be limited to the provision of material. I am most involved in finding and growing the plants, and in the understandings gleaned from that basis. The material for Opel's chromosome studies (pp. 332-340) mostly came from my collections, but he did all the real work!

31

NOTES

ON

DISTRIBUTION

e

Berseba

/

NAMIBIA

I

Sevem

e

Aroab •

Vryburg

e

•

Ku ruman Olifantshoek

_j

•

Grondneus

•

I Lutzputs • Kakamas

Postmasburg

Upington

•

Keimoes

Kenhardt

Warrenton

•

Danielskuil

• Griekwastad Niekerkshoop

• •

•

Boshof

• Kimberley

• Groblershoop

----~ •

•

e

• Douglas

e

Koffiefontein

• Hopetown •

Prieska

Luckhoff

-·-

Petrusville

Brandvlei

e

e

11·

e

--33-. 0

32

Brakfontein

•

•

Vosburg •

Brits town •

Loeriesfontein

Nieuwoudtville

Vanrhynsdorp

e

Calvinia

SOUTH AFRICA

NOTES

ON

OtSTRIBUTION

-

ROCKS

AND

ROLES

Notes on Distribution have a recurring fantasy," a kind of waking dream, in which all plants and all populations of C. acutum light up their little windows and glow in the dark; suddenly we see how pathetically partial and skewed our maps actually are! I would love to know if there are just a few populations of this species, as present records suggest, or if there are in fact scores (or hundreds?) of them, as I suspect and hope. Biologic might suggest a midway figure, but we can only extrapolate from what we know. Dreaming aside, what we know in 2002 vs. what we knew in 1993 (or even 1934) amounts mostly to a filling-in of gaps. The incontrovertible point is the genus's preference for winter rains. Its constituent species have settled most of the winter rainfall area and are unlikely to be found much beyond it. There are, indeed, some significant range extensions, recently noted: C. minimum at the foot of the Ouberg Pass below Sutherland, C. pellucidum var. terricolor all the way up to Steinkopf and west to Spektakel Pass, C. angelicae subsp. angelicae on many of the tafelbergs between Pofadder and Umdaus, C. taylorianum subsp. rosynense on peaks other than Rosyntjieberg. But all post-1993 taxa have been found within areas already associated with the genus, and the total range of Conophytum remains just as it was; we have nothing so startling as the recent report of a Lithops (apparently not L. ruschiorum) in southern, non-coastal Angola. Brief remarks on the distribution of each taxon are found under each species. Each species complex is treated as a geographically linked unit; the perceived linkage is one reason I recognize a subspecies in the first place, and an apparent non-linkage led me to separate one taxon, C. arthuro!fago, from the C. lithopsoides complex. The link between C. lithopsoides subsp. lithopsoides and subsp. koubergense is easy to see on a geological map, Kouberg being the quartz niche nearest the loci classici of subsp. lithopsoides, Smorenskadu and Kangas. Beyond Kouberg, i.e., to the southeast, the hills diminish in stature and frequency. It is a very long way to Brakfontein, C. arthuro!fago's homeland, a very different sort of habitat, with nothing in between. Nothing known, that is! Such schemes are of course vulnerable to the vagaries of under- and over-collection. I tend increasingly to see species as forming suites, e.g., C. ectypum + C. bilobum + C. jlavum + C. pageae. If one finds three of these one expects to see the fourth, or a substitute for any one of them. These exemplary species belong to four distinct sections of the genus. Four is usually the maximum suite-size but it is greatly exceeded at ome favourable habitats. If one finds six together, one begins to believe in a seventh! Another way to look at -pecies-movement is to see, for example, C. tantillum s.l. as a total unit, with the different subspecies representing local adaptions, all having a common source but retaining no intra-specific communication. It is possible that such movement leaves behind an isolated core which then vanishes. (What, indeed, is the lost C. tantillum subsp. :antillum? I'd considered it to be a ghost surrounded by five subspecies until it turned up at a locality far to the :outheast of any of them.) The precision of exact mileages is generally avoided here. But this practice has its dangers as well, and · titude has to be recorded somewhere. People who really want to find a plant-whether for personal fiscal gain :- -o atisfy a fascinated craving-will usually do so.

I

Rocks and Roles T.

e movement or settlement of plants is undoubtedly linked to rock types. The influence of quartz is -; 'cal (see Ute Schmiedel's paper, especially pp.350-352); but other rock types are also associated with _-:=: o adaptations and transformations. Consider, for example, the variants of C. uviforme as they switch 33

ROCK

AND

ROLE

Conophytum hammeri Left: hammeri under the Hammer eye. Above: close-up of popu lation.

Below: the habitat (d istant quartz fie lds) Little Hellskloof.

(Photos: John Trager)

34

ROCK

AND

ROL E

Conophytum swanepoelianum subsp. swanepoelianum Above: the habitat, Melkraal. Below: close-up of popu lation. Right: the substrate, brown pebbled sand. (Photos: John Trager)

35

ROCK

36

AND

ROLE

ROCK

AND

ROLE

37

C. pellucidum subsp. pellucidum var. neohallii, in habitat at

C. praesectum, in habitat at Samoep

Silverfontein (Photo: Terry Smale)

(Photo: Steven Brack)

C. t ay/orianum subsp. tay/orianum , in habitat near Sargdeckel

C. turrigerum , in habitat at Lemoenkloof

- an unusual sandstone setting

(Photo: Chris Rodgerson)

38

ROCK

AND

ROLE

C. calculus subsp. calculus in habitat at Vinkelskolk

from granite to limestone to quartzite, or C. obcordellum as it moves from southern sandstone to northern granite. Why the lithology should so radically affect the colouration and morphology of the plants is a big question and one I cannot answer. Did 10,000 years of deep rich soil enable C. longum to have its genetically programmed amplitude at Breekpoort? Did the harsher niche a few kilometres further northwest induce prehrunken heads? Am I a neo-Neo-Lamarckist? What I do know is that these features of amplitude or gmyhood come true from seed, so they must be genetically fixed. Some taxa, C. tantillum subsp. inexpectatum for example, are notable for their wide tolerance, while others are finicky; this too seems to be -et in stone. Certain rock types are generally shunned. I was fascinated to learn that Peter Bruyns had found C. ricardianum subsp. rubrijlorum on dolomite. This is an uncommon rock for Conophytum, though C. saxetanum sometimes finds it palatable. Does dolomite account for subsp. rubriflorum's touchiness in -ultivation? Or is that more a question of our failure to realize that rubriflorum wants to grow in summer? The aptability of a species is tested not only in the rocky fields but in pots as well, and strength on the one front _enerally implies it on the other.

39

THE

DESCRIBERS

Piet van Heerde (left) with Pachypodium namaquanum Uranoep I 0'h June 1956

40

THE

DESCRIBERS

Have Pen, Will (Not) Travel: Notes on the Describers F

ield-work has become such an integral part of a describer's modus vivendi that it seems a stretch to reflect that this wasn't always the case. Haworth's descriptions are the work of an observant and poetic gentleman-gardener who never went to South Africa. Likewise, while the early 20'h century describers also loved and cultivated these plants (even Mrs. Bolus had her porch garden, well-separated from her needy press), most never saw them in nature, though Bolus in her youth frequently did so. This naturally affected their taxonomic pratice. For example, would Brown have described so many minivariants of C. minimum if he had had the chance to hike around Matjiesfontein, its locus classicus? The same reducing lens would have blossomed for Tischer. What a pity this keen observer never saw his beloved plants in habitat! The modern tradition of mesemb collector-describer began with Dinter (1868-1945) and continued with Herre (1895-1979), who described several mesembs. (Conophytums were not amongst these but he did find and midwife many.) Bolus's output would have been radically diminished had Herre been less forthcoming with material. His generosity was also extended to Europeans, resulting in various redescriptions. Roy Littlewood (1924-1967), who oiled at the Karoo Botanic Garden for ten years, recorded a great deal of data, and discovered several elightful taxa. His premature death was a great loss. He was followed by Rawe, Mitchell, Hammer and Pavelka. Rawe, a Hamburger gone south, ?ublished several engaging accounts of his travels, :nostly in the American journal. He also published a ozen new taxa and insightful reviews of most ~e tions of the genus, of which he had an eminently ractical grasp. He has since gone on to viniculture ~•d glass-engraving; Bacchus's gain was our loss. In - ntrast, Mitchell has yet to publish more than a -:-a tion of his vast knowledge, a silence made all the "ore regrettable when one considers his uniquely .e iculous style. His field-work (1973, 1978-1983) ~- admirably thorough. Even his handwriting is nderfully neat; I could wish to see it more often. :.e trip we took together in 1982 continues to - ~: nate in collections. In one super-concentrated . h Mitchell revealed the highlights of five years' ~h of exploration. ~1itchell's marvellous collection was housed at He ter Malan (now Goegap) Nature Reserve near Louisa Bolus ( 1877- 1970) o-bok. Its rough-hewn outward aspect was no 41

T H E

DESCRIBERS

more prepossessing than the entrance to Ali Baba's cave, but inside ... ! I saw it in 1982, and was astonished to encounter, inter alia, C. angelicae subsp. tetragonum, C. taylorianum subsp. rosynense, C. roodiae, and many other species, all being raised in a style which combined the "natural look" with sound growth. Mitchell soon left for England, and the collection was transferred to the Karoo Garden, where it was under my care for a year. Small portions had already gone to the botanic gardens at Stellenbosch (SUG) and Pretoria (BRI). Incidentally, these did not duplicate the KG material; for example, it was at SUG that I first saw the C. pellucidum-C. lithopsoides collisions from Khurisberg. Pavelka's energetic output has only been published in Czech, but that will surely change now that more vowels are available. He has found several bizarre species in Conophytum, and also in other less popular genera of Mesembryanthemaceae. He has travelled with many people including Josef Halda (hence Halda's two species, based on Pavelka's finds), Gerhard Wagner, a German conophile with a special interest in C. pellucidum, and Tom Jacobs, a young Belgian who discovered the newest species (see p.262). As for me: for the past decade I have publicized myself, and Conophytum, as much as I decently could, appearing at most American conventions, giving something like 150 talks, usually on the subject or its sphaeroid relatives. Loathe to bore audiences and naturally awkward on stage, I invented a repartee of tricks and little jokes, not to everyone's taste perhaps, but effective in preventing the soporific effects of a murmurous stream of rhyming epithets - tum drum mum - and demonstrating that plants and plant lore can rouse people to a pitch of enthusiasm. A taste for (low) comedy undoubtedly entered my prose, but I do not regret it. A field as uncertain as alpha taxonomy can hardly afford solemn airs. And whatever taxonomy might aspire to be, horticulture and plant discovery have many aspects of sport and art. Otherwise prolix, I have published only scattered accounts of my field trips. Their dramas were quiet and mostly internal, and any interest would inhere in the style of the tale and not in the botanical content (that may be true for all of my writing, but that is something I refuse to face) . My most unusual trip, certainly, was the one in August 1997. It ended abruptly when I nearly popped from an acute appendicitus which had ripened between Vanrhynsdorp and Paarl. Had I met Ute Schmiedel in the Richtersveld as planned (we missed each other via my chronically poor directions), I would have met my quietus too. In the event I recovered quickly but the experience taught me that C. rugosum and I have a lot in common, not merely asymmetry. From left to right; Chris Barnhill , Derek T ribble, Steven Hammer and Chris Rodgerson in March 1996 south of Steinkopf-the occassion of t he discovery of C. tantillum subsp. amicorum. (Photo: Derek T ribble)

42

THE

SPECIES

Collecting Politics T

here are two species of collecting, primary and secondary. Most growers engage in secondary collecting and, until quite recently, envied those who could manage the other. These days, any envy would be tinctured with relief at escape from the ethical and legal questions faced by those who do collect! Permits are not easy to obtain, foreignness is impossible to erase, suspicion is pervasive. I have been fortunate, personally; my alliance with Bolus Herbarium and my long association with the NBI (National Botanical Institute) has given me an equally long series of permits from Cape Nature Conservation. It is important to note, however, that such permits are not valid without the permission of the landowner. I have usually obtained permission-and indeed, assistance, advice, and even petrified biltong-quite readily. But I've visited several places which lacked farmers and landowners in the usual sense (Umdaus, the cono-mecca north of Steinkopf, comes to mind), and at least once I thought I had permission where I did not, having misread a boundary fence. Moreover, the permits are generally restrictive: three specimens per species. Every clone counts. It is undeniable that many of the most interesting collections of the last fifty years have been made, and continue to be made, without the blessing, benefit, or visibility of permits. Indeed, some of them have gone completely unrecorded, publicly ... not a trend that should be encouraged. The question is how to put amateur zeal (which often beats professional practice) to effective use? On the other hand, "to observe" is not an absolute synonym of "to dig." The necessary work on pollinators and plant behaviour will require endless patience, but very little invasiveness. New ideas about the national ownership of biological resources (as opposed to a naively laissez faire ideal of cross-global sharing) will also impact permits and collections. I do not think that plant movement will freeze in its tracks-most horticulturalists are simply too eager to share and too manic to bend far-but the legal adjustments and euphemisms will be interesting to witness. Vis-a-vis the wellknown species, the needs of cultivation have already been amply satisfied. A single introduction brought C. burgeri to prominence; subsequent collections (including my seed collection, SH 409/87) were redundant and essentially selfindulgent. The permission of the landowner, such as this farmer from west of Garies, should alway be sought. (Photo: Adriaan Oosthuizen)

43

PROPER

I NT RODUCTIONS

Top left: C. rugosum-SH 1257, ex self-fertile Mom/Dad. Top right: C. jucundum subsp. fragile-Lav. 25489, Jenkin's Kop. All from one mother (Photo: John Trager). Bottom left: C. ectypum x C. bilobum F3 (Photo: John Trager). Bottom right: C. ernstii subsp. emstii-side-by-side hort. comparisons, "Who's got ze bigger head?"

44

PROPER

INTRODUCTIONS

Proper Introductions olf Rawe deserves the credit for making most of the genus available via seed. Alas, he was twenty years ahead of his time! During his heyday (ca. 1968-1978) he sent out a tremendous amount of seed, much of which was never even sown. The African Succulent Plant Society, which distributed Rawe's largesse, promoted all non-cactaceous fat plants, from othonnas to sansevierias, but even had its interests been less diffuse, the mesemb wing of the membership was too small for conophytums to catch on properly. Still, some growers succeeded brilliantly and they hung on to their seedlings, which are now solidly middle-aged. In 1978 I began an attempt to collate as many Rawe clones as possible, marrying, for example, Myron Kimnach's C. herreanthus subsp. rex to one obtained from Ivan Le Page of Guernsey. Other people-Jan Closer, Michael Wirth, Peter Bent, and Steven Brack amongst them-were engaged in the same work of reconstitution, which meant that by 1988 the genus (as known to Rawe) was again widely accessible. ppendix X shows the documentation for a much earlier distribution, namely, Triebner's post-war offerings. I have little evidence that the material spread very far or survived very long, and I do wonder ifTriebner's list wasn't partly for show, like the sand-filled granary bins in Animal Farm, with their upper crusts of grain to reassure skeptics. Still-where did Triebner's plants go? He definitely sent C. angelicae to England in 1950; he must have sent other treasures. Post-Triebner and post-Rawe, I have been privileged to have (re-)introduced many taxa to cultivation. Most have thrived while a few have languished. C. angelicae subsp. angelicae, exceedingly rare in 1980, has become as common as nerds. It even self-sows! C. ernstii subsp. ernstii, first dispersed in 1987, is now wellentrenched and I imagine that it will be the C. saxetanum of the future: ubiquitous in collections and taken for granted. Conversely, C. reconditum subsp. buysianum will never be common. It is terminally touchy and hallenges anyone's complacency. Terry Smale's essay on pp.341-347 gives further details on the horticultural history of Conophytum in UK. Elsewhere, and particularly in South Africa, much of the historical record needs to be followed up. For example, how extensive were the connections or collabourations between Triebner, Schlechter, and Herre? The answers might tell us more about the commercial movement of plants than about the identity of lost pecies, yet it would still be good to know ifTriebner really had C. semivestitum, as his list would lead one to believe. And if we knew more about O.B. Chisholm, we might get closer to C. rubroniveum; similarly with C. L. Leipoldt and his C. boreale. The witnesses are all but gone and the written records were never ample. ome clues are still recoverable. Kew has an interesting series of letters from Herre to Brown, mostly lists of :hipments, Hamburg has a cache of Schwantesian documents, Tischer's letters are scattered amongst several archives, and some Triebneriana persists in Portugal.

R

45

The search for conophytums continues at the Sphaeroid Institute ...

46

NOTES

ON

CULTIVATION

Notes on Cultivation Phylogeny and the Watering Can id Conophytum come from summer-responsive stock? If we attempt to gauge this from the cultivated behaviour of present-day species, we find that some species are summer-active, while others are adamantly not. There is no doubt that not all species have the same water needs. The big "primitives"-the bilobes, and especially, C. hen-eanthus--can handle a lot of water throughout the year; they can also do without it. For C. herreanthus, there is no morphologically inculcated season for growth, no sheath to slough, the same being true, by the way, for its most probable relative, H artmanthus (see Opel, p.305) . The small "advanced" species are the ones most closely bound to seasonal rhythms, though in many cases this can be adjusted or overrun. T he most sluggard species are those in Minuscula.

D

C. auriflorum subsp. auriflorum , lifting its lid- TS s.n.

C. minimum "wittebergense ", in active growth (left) and dormant (right)- RR 714

47

NOTES

ON

CULTIVATION

I have experimented a great deal with early watering, i.e., watering which commences as soon as the ummer solstice has passed. By then the previous year's leaves will have dried off. It is usually possible to revive sheathed plants within a few weeks-after that, the root system seems to undergo a change to a deeper stasis. (One can compare this with, for example, L achenalia, in which the roots vanish as soon as long days arrive, to be replaced only in autumn.) Summer-grown conophytums behave like lithops, which always summer-active. There is little difference between these groups, apart from the fact that that conos cannot handle quite as much summer sun, imposing a sumptuary tax on luxuriance. Nonetheless, most growers prefer the "natural" rhythm method, in which the plants awaken in early autumn.

In August 1999-high summer here-my plants were moved from a large plastic-coated house to a smaller shade-clothed structure, devoid of plastic, open to breezes and closed to insects. Matt Opel was tending the plants (I was away in South Africa). Andreas ]ilrgens and Taina Witt were due to arrive on the lO'h of September, and we all hoped that Matt could tease out as many flowers as possible lest the perfumesampling efforts be in vain. H e attempted to awaken as many plants as possible and succeeded beautifully, aided, doubtless, by a spate of cool nights. The plants went dormant early too.

C. chauviniae at 2 months

(Photo: John Trager)

C. minimum at 4 months- RR 714

(Photo: John Trager)

48

Mabel's Handarbeit- delicately watering C. burgeri (Photo: John Trager)

NOTES

A depotted C. pellucidum- all meat and no potatoes!

ON

CULTIVATION

A freshly cut C. chrisocruxum

Procrustinations

I

have kept-one might say, imprisoned-many conophytums in the same pots for ten to fifteen years. This can actually work well unless the plants are fed too much. Such feedings, though effective at first, especially for pots which harbour multiple clones, will gradually increase the total vegetative mass to such a degree that plants will eliminate their competition. They do this by the squeezing out or strangulation not only of isolated, weakling heads, but also of whole sheaves of them! In some cases the squeezed heads stay alive, trying to root in their self-made own humus. Before risking this depressing and unnecessary spectacle, one should repot. On average, once in five years is effective.

Aging Phenomena

S

ince many of us cultivate a large number of h eirlooms, I often think about the aging question. Is there any necessary senescence at all? Too often, what looks like a plant's slow breakdown is simply malnourishment and general neglect. O nly C. depressum subsp. depressum and C. rugosum have short lifecycles, but even these taxa can survive for a decade or more. For most other species, I have plants that are at least fifty years old. Sometimes their age is known quite closely. I grow,

C. obcordellum var. ceresianum-3 rooting stages (Photo: John Trager) C. burgeri with newly forming root-tips (Photo: John Trager)

49

NOTES

ON

CULTIVAT I O N

C. pellucidum subsp. pellucidum var. pe//ucidum- lightly fried

C. ectypum subsp. brownii- deep fried!

C. ectypum subsp. brownii-coming back from the dead

C. pellucidum subsp. pellucidum var. pellucidum "Help! I'm melting!!!"-The early stages of rot

for example, C. herreanthus, sown by Ron Evans in 1950, C. jucundum, collected in 1910, C. minusculum "herrei", purchased by Myron Kimnach in 1950 when it was already at least three years old, probably closer to twenty, and C. ficiforme, collected by Thomas Cooper in 1860! This marvellous longevity has meant that many species are still known from their clonotypes. As we age, they seem ageless. This trick of timing inheres in the genus and accounts for part of its allure. Perfection reliably repeated is hard to resist and allows us to retain little shocks of wonder for a lifetime. Ours, not theirs; they live longer.

Growing Conditions o single ambience is ideal for all species at all times, and it is unrealistic to hope that it would be. The strong light which will give C. bilobum a "healthy tan" (what an archaic expression!) will dry-roast C. rugosum. Root- and leaf-mass is one factor; C. rugosum simply hasn't got the deep resources and thick skin of its relative. Another factor is habitat-legacy: C. rugosum grows only where it can receive seepage or runoff, while C. bilobum laughs at such a narrow dependency. But neither species can exactly run for cover.

N 50

NOTES

ON

C ULTIVATION

By a beautiful fluke, it happens that Conophytum is well-suited to the English clime-indeed I cannot match the quality of certain English-grown species (nor can I match English Lathyrus). The humidity and diffuse light foster a type ofluxuriant, stress-free growth. True enough, the dampness has it dangers, and by spring English conophytums look like dough left too long to rise. But when their leaves first emerge in autumn they are magnificently coloured, having been bronzed under their veils, and they will usually have proliferated amply, one dumpling begetting a baker's dozen in less time than seems credible. Against those advantages, the benefits of full Mediterranean sun seem mixed. After all, Conophytum is a genus which seeks shade in one way or another, be it self-created or site-induced. The conditions I deal with here in California are brighter, warmer, and drier than those in northern Europe, but I hope that the following notes will have some general relevance. UK growers may find plaints about "too much light" to be as hollow as those concerning "too much money", especially when they consider the poor light of their midwinter doldrums, but there is a solution to that: keeping the plants quite dry during the worst period. Here in California, watering is a poor substitute for shading. If a plant really needs shade-if it needs the kind of filtered light it experiences in a crevice or under a scree of pebbles-extra water won't work, or if it does work, it will alter the character of the plant via gross ballooning. I should have learned this much

C roodiae subsp. roodiae ARM 1236- a premature debut

C. pageae-suffering from overindulgence

51

NOTES

ON

CULTIVAT I O N

earlier. It is not as if I'd lacked the evidence! In 1985, when I first visited the Karoo Garden collection at Worcester, I saw that certain species were growing unnaturally well in an old greenhouse, a structure with open sides and a jaundiced fiberglass roof. Transmission was severely reduced; the plants received perhaps 20% of the light they would have received outdoors. The house was rather warm, especially in summer. Similar conditions prevailed in Mias Kennedy's yellow-roofed greenhouse in nearby Paarl, and in both spaces many species were spectacular: C. albiflorum, C. ectypum subsp. cruciatum, and C. minusculum s.l. were in matchless condition. Scorching simply didn't happen. The only problem at KG was that some plants were rot-prone, but the Garden was using a hearty soil-mix, heavy on the loam, and the plants had recently been moved from the coarse-textured Mitchell mix which Bayer likened to dog kibble. Kennedy used a sandier mix, and had no such troubles. Horticulturalists tend to have a controlling fear. For some, it is death by drowning, for others, fear of frying or chaos. One should monitor one's aversions and their attendant distortions. I like to control growth by the depth of watering and am well aware that I tend to underwater; what seems like excess to me seems like modesty to most growers. A normal watering causes me to anorexicize because I fear-this is not quite irrational-that such cascades will produce rotten heads and ruptures, along with the aimed-for flourish. And

C. angelicae subsp. tetragonum F3- breeding wit h intent,

C. minusculum subsp. leipoldtii- hav ing difficulties wit h floral

hexagonally! (Photo: John Trager)

egress

52

NOTES

C. jucundum subsp. jucundum-Desperately Seeking Someone

ON

CULTIVATION

If they're not eating you , they stand on you ... (Photo: Adriaan Oosthuizen)

I never know where the roulette will strike. Thus I tend to give light splashes frequently, avoiding inundations J..ltogether. Many plants enjoy this regime, and all can adapt to it, but it is time-consuming and if one has a :arge collection, watering may be one's daily activity through the autumn. Shallow-rooted species are well'Uited to this method-their roots tend anyway toward the lateral-but deep-rooted ones like C. bilobum may -uffer tip-burn and worse. I also fear overfeeding and the slack-jawed look often associated with it. However, though ~onophytums are not "naturally" heavy feeders, they are by no means averse to repletion. This was first ?Ointed out to me by Chris Barnhill, who came to the genus from a background in tropical horticulture. His , 'ictoria amazonica had required 20-ounce blocks of fertilizer; its voracious consumption was such a contrast ·o my niggardly teaspooning habits that C hris couldn't help but point out the discrepancy. I countered that 53

NOTES

ON

CULTIVATION

-

SEED

AND

PLANT

SOURCES

conophytums were slow-moving, economical hoarders. But growth qua growth was what fascinated Chris, owe tried Victoria's secret and found that feeding not only increased division, it also strengthened the roots and fruits. As with any form of gambling, the trick is to stop before one's luck turns sour. Past that point, the plants will begin to "stack" (i.e., they will fail to absorb their old leaves). Once the mechanism of excess is in place, the plant's internal economy is weighted in that direction and each year it will repeat the previous year's imbalance. This isn't necessarily unhealthy, but it is displeasing to the eye: it lacks neatness, and it suggests a clumsy miscalculation, like cracking a theoretically hard-boiled egg and finding a yolky ooze or a scalded chick. It can be maddening to find that one head of a cluster of fifty will crack, all the others being "perfect." This occurs even to growers who are habitually chary with watering. It is of course a silly thing to worry about cracking in a world as sore as this one, but there are worse forms of pride. If there were a miraculous soil mix which required water only once a year, dispersing moisture to rotfree roots at the perfect rate, would I employ it? No! Half the spice of horticulture is seeing the effect of one's last watering and of knowing just what set it in motion. To look at someone else's plants is never the same; it is too passive, however lovely the sights. Indigestion, half an hour too long in the full sun, a heavy watering on a day which turns black-these factors can be fatal, and bad timing's potential for horticultural violence should never be underestimated. But on the whole, conophytums are marvelously easy to grow, very willing to make more of themselves. Exceptions, and any special problems I've encountered, are noted under each species in the main descriptive text.

Seed and Plant Sources T

he Mesemb Study Group ([email protected]), essentially English, but with an international membership, has always offered a choice selection of Conophytum seeds. I hope it will continue to do so for many years. The seeds come from various sources; Smale, Rodgerson, Hammer, DiStefano, and Fallaux among them. I have been amazed by the beauty of seedlings produced on cultivated plants; who would have guessed what those recombined genes would yield? My alma mater, Mesa Garden, has been the principal seed source for mesembs for many years now and will probably retain this position. Producing seeds of the rarer Conophytum species in sufficient quantity has always been difficult for a nursery so diverse and wellknown. It is easy enough to harvest ten seeds of C. reconditum, but to supply the world demand-even if that amounts to only ca. 150 packets per annum-is another matter. As for plants: Chris Rodgerson (Sheffield: [email protected]) and Terry Smale (Epsom Downs: [email protected]) are easily the best UK sources. I run a small nursery as well ([email protected]), but ironically enough, I sell very few conophytums; I butter my bread with monocots. The American conophytum market comprises perhaps fifteen (!) people; the UK and European markets, 500. Then again, we Yanks have so many more guns. Sociologists might be able to account for this, I cannot. South African sources are also sparse though Euclea Plants offers excellent material ([email protected]). Japanese nurseries have beautiful material. It mostly circulates internally and in any case the Japanese Cono boom fizzled long ago. Perhaps it will return, fueled by an advanced taste for cultivars.

54

NOTES

ON

THE

DESCRIPTIONS

Notes on the Descriptions T

he descriptions in this book essentially follow those in the Conograph, with some changes of detail and format. In the present book I mention fissure characters after the general shape but before the epidermis, as it seems more logical to proceed from the larger shapes to the finer details. Speaking of which, I have tried to standardize the fuzzy distinction between papillae and trichomes; see Opel, pp.301-303. Opel introduces another distinction: "truly glabrous." Many species commonly described as "glabrous" are in fact papillate; it is simply that they look smooth to the naked eye, generally the one doing the looking. Characters are given in order of their frequency, impressionistically-i.e., I have the (strong!) impression that C. ectypum s.l. is predominately pink- or purple-flowered, rarely white. This is based on repeated field observations (mine and Hall's), and on many hundreds of seedlings-but as a statistical sample it would be unacceptable. Not incidentally, it completely fails to account for the yellow-flowered forms reliably reported by Rawe and Littlewood, and unseen by me except when potted. Conversely, I have somehow seen many more white-flowered plants of C. pageae than Rawe ever did, even though his knowledge of this species otherwise far exceeded mine. Happenstance is an undeniable factor in all of this, but in most cases the colour- and shape-range of taxa is well understood and non-controversial. I have eliminated some small redundancies. For example, it is silly to give the locule number for the fruit (i.e., "5-6 locular") when I have already given the stigma number; the numbers match and always will. And the notion of a "persistent sheath"-which sheath does not persist around the base? It would take a tornado to remove all of C. jucundum's sheath rings. There are, indeed, differences in texture and in intrinsic durability of sheaths, but their colour and thickness vary far more radically than I believed in 1993 . Indeed, having placed my conos under shade-cloth (not whitewashed plastic), I've lately noticed that the sheaths are different yet again. Now they are greyish and thin, not crisp and white as they were under plastic. Exposure to UV (and wind?) has worn them away to a frazzle. "Exact" measurements have been pruned from most of this book. I no longer trust them, especially as several of my plants have trebled in size in the last two years! Some are even more dwarf, and yet many have remained just as they were. Apart from this, the shrinkage and augmentation that occur within one -eason are so considerable that my former "15-25 mm in diametre" should really have read "5-40 mm." I have also noted startling fluctuations in N amaqualand from one year to the next. This renders "20 mm" quite unhelpful. Nonetheless, I try to show the size-range of each species in the approximately · nterchangeable contexts known to me (i.e. after a good rainy season in habitat, or after a decade in the -are of a kind but cautious waterer) . Internode length, so prone to the influence of exposition and soil-depth, also varies greatly, affecting ot only the measurements of a plant, but also, and more critically, its overall growth-form. However, my ention of a "compact cushion" or a "dome" implies that even in dimness a species manages to keep its ' ernodes minimal (see C. fulleri, a species which is "never" laxly branched). A "mat" implies a flatter cture; "caespitose" simply implies some degree of branching, the normal condition for the genus. Hidden behind a L ampranthus, I once overheard two starchy pompanists earnestly debating the -:erence between a Subcompact Spreading Cushion and a Compact Subspreading Cushion. Their .: -ificatory zeal was so riveting that I dared not announce my presence. Had I spoken, I might have ~ rved that the difference is known as rainfall. But to be fair, water-availability will not explain why one ~ of C. jlavum subsp. jlavum will branch messily while its neighbours stay neatly and tightly compact - . ·ears. I would like to regard this species as a cushion-former with some laxer interpolations. But how 55

NOTE S

O N

THE

DESCRIPTIONS

hould it be classed vis-a-vis C. jlavum subsp. novicium, which may seem messier merely because the ratio o

em-diametre to body-diametre is slighter?

Petal"(*) counts are difficult too. Relatively speaking, C. achabense is sparsely petalled while C. ernstii is densely so; but a wizened C. ernstii might produce an 18-petalled, single-seriate corolla from a side-head, and a pampered C. achabense a 25-petalled, two-seriate miracle, reversing the expected ratio. Hence my admittedly casual terms, sparse, abundant, and multiseriate. Petal length is also awkwardly variable and, as Rawe pointed out long ago (197 4 ), heavily influenced by light. Conophytum seeds develop in a double nest and are free from many of the environmental pressures which impinge on the bodies; their size range is far less dramatic than one notes in other areas. (As an aside, the biggest bodies do not produce the largest seeds, the reverse being true.) Seed counts, however, vary enormously with body size, water uptake and, perhaps more critically, with the amount of pollen received by the stigmas. I have noted some exceptional cases (see C. depressum, a short-lived species for which maximum production is obviously critical) but otherwise I leave this variable feature unmentioned. That is not to say that seed measurements, counts, and coats would not yield more information, only that to do it properly would require statistically apt samples from the whole range of the genus. To my knowledge no-one has managed this; it would and should fuel yet another graduate project.

Notes on the Photographs

T

he economics of the computerized printing process now permit far more colour than was feasible even a few years ago, a great boon for a genus as rich in aesthetically pleasing micro-variants as Conophytum. This gave us the opportunity to show something of the genus's range. I say "something" because to adequately represent the forms currently in cultivation would take thousands of photographs, and we were limited to ca. 600.

Most of the slides of cultivated plants were taken by Chris Barnhill between September 1999 and April 2001 at the Sphaeroid Institute, in Vista, California. This time-frame enabled us to show different stages of the same plants. Nick Lear even suggested that we show some plants in imperfect condition, i.e., under attack, rotting, sloughing-getting away, in other words, from the exclusive glamour parade of our Lithograph. Chris and I agreed, in a triumph of didactic value over vanity. Chris prefers the plants when they show their late-ripening tints (i.e., those of late winter), while I prefer the freshly emergent look of autumn, and so we show both states. Summer's drab is also an intrinsic part of the genus and one must accept it, like hair-loss. No-one objects to the annual tulip abduction, but then no-one photographs dead tulips either. Nonetheless, we have a few pages showing only dormant plants. This reveals characteristic aspects of certain species, and shows neophytes that there is nothing alarming about it.

In general the plants in the photographs are at least doubly magnified, conveniently bringing out features which are visible to the unaided eye once it has been conditioned to hunt for them. For example, the trichomes on C. pellucidum subsp. cupreatum var. terrestre, or the more subtle ones on C. obscurum subsp. barbatum; these can be discerned when the plant is held at a certain light-catching angle. Habitat slides were taken by several accomplished photographers: Chris Barnhill, during our 1996 trip; John Trager, during the winter of 1997, in company with Matt Opel and me; Chris Rodgerson and D erek Tribble, 1994-1996; Peter Bruyns, during our 1999 trip to Nuwerus; Terry Smale, 1993-2000; and T om Jacobs and Petr Pavelka, 2000. My thanks to them all. (* We are not supposed to call them petals, rather, petaloid staminodes. If it walks like a duck .... ) 56

NOTES

ON

THE

DESCRIPTIONS

Abbreviations AO ARM ASPS B&H BOL

c CM CR DH DT EH EA EVJ GM GW H&B H&D H&K H&M H&W HBG HCK HH ISI

Adriaan Oosthuizen Anthony R. Mitchell African Succulent Plant Society [Distributor of Rawe's seeds] Barnhill & Hammer Bolus Herbarium Bates [Conophytum No.] Cole [Cole Mesemb No .] Chris Rodgerson David Hardy Derek Tribble Emile Heunis E twin Aslander Ernst van Jaarsveld Gerhard Marx Graham Williamson Hammer & Brack Hartmann & Dehn Hammer & Kennedy Hammer & Mitchell Hammer & Williamson Hamburg Botanic Gardens Hermias C. Kennedy Harry Hall International Succulent Introductions

lnstituut voor de Veredeling van Tuinbouwgewassen [Dutch Plant Breeding institute] Karoo Botanic Gardens KBG KG Karoo Gardens Lavranos Lav. Mitchell & Hammer M&H M. Bruce Bayer MBB Mesemb Study Group MSG National Botanic Gardens NBG New Mexico Cactus Research NMCR Niko Sauer NS Norbert Zimmermann NZ Pauline L. Perry PLP pp Petr Pavelka Peter V. Bruyns PVB Roy C. Littlewood RCL Ralf Rawe RR Steven Brack SB Steven Hammer SH Stellenbosch University Gardens SUG TS Terry Smale UC (UCB) University of California at Berkeley Wilhelm Triebner WT IVT

57

ACHABENSE

Conophytum achabense S.A.Hammer

Figs.1-5, p.65

(1988) Cact. Succ. J. (US) 60: 217-218 Named for its sole habitat, Achab farm southwest of Pofadder.

Distinguishing Features The smallest of all mesembs, this is easily identified by its match-headed top and pear-shaped base.

and I succeeded on both counts, and from the initial seeds raised enough plants to introduce this implausible pygmy to the world.

Cultivated Needs and Cultivars Distribution and Rarity C. achabense is known only from the western end of the

Though this species is more curious than beautiful, its tiny dimensions give it a certain appeal. It is slow from seed: its true stature, if one can put it that wayrather, its true and hidden girth-is only achieved after four or five years though it can flower within three. My thirteen-year-old pinheads have yet to divide. However, this intrinsic slowness, and the size question, are not perfectly parallel. I have hybridized C. achabense with C. limpidum, which merely dwarfs the latter.

Namiesberg, some 40 kilometres southwest of Pofadder in Bushmanland. It is locally abundant and is probably free of danger unless Achab itself is subjected to mining pressure, which is a distinct possibility (parts of nearby Gamsberg might soon be reamed for nickel). The plants occur on top of a broad quartzite plateau, under conditions so severe-hard soil, dazzling exposure, little rain-that all plants, even Avonia quinaria and Adromischus nanus, are (further) dwarfed. The spill fruits of C. achabense guarantee a dense but highly localised distribution. One can see a throng of twenty plants in an area which would fit only a single Dinteranthus. C. calculus subsp. vanzylii, C. marginatum subsp. haramoepense, and C. maughanii subsp. maughanii are directly sympatric with C. achabense, as are Dinteranthus microspermus subsp . puberulus, Lithops olivacea, and Anacampseros bayeriana. C. fulleri and C. limpidum are also found on Achab but they generally favour the shadier cliffs and krantzes. I had hoped to see C. achabense on Tafelberg and Gamsberg to the west of Achab, but have so far seen only C. limpidum .

The most likely derivation is from C. limpidum, a nonsinking, crevice-filling species of which C. achabense is perhaps the ultimate reduction both in body size and in branching. The window structures are very similar. Possibly there is a connection as well with C. ratum, which occurs to the east and west of Achab. On the Gamsberg plateau C. ratum occupies a lofty niche exactly like that of C. achabense and sinks its much greater mass in the same manner. I would not expect the two to co-occur.

Discovery and Introduction

Variant Opinions

I found this species in April 1986 while Steven Brack and I were searching for C. limpidum, then known as C. subfenestratum sensu Tischer. We were lucky to have visited Achab after good rains-lucky, as well, that the farmer, Hugo van den Heever, had caught us camping near his road. Friendly and curious, he invited us to spend a comfortable night on his porch and then to explore Achab's hills. In the morning, focusing on greenness, I spotted some specks far too small to be C. limpidum, and collected a few plants for the Karoo Botanic Garden. The plants were in flower, so I knew they were mature, but they were seedless. In January 1987, accompanied by Peter Bruyns, I returned to a searingly hot Achab to collect fruits. We couldn't find a single plant, let alone a fruit. A month later Bruce Bayer

Bruyns initially regarded this as a stunted C. limpidum, but he formed that assessment in January 1987, after we had sizzled in vain. Prof. Ihlenfeldt examined the fruits a few months later and discovered that their placentation was "wrong" for the genus; he even wondered if the specie s belonged in Conophytum. Florally it certainly does-it is a more "typical" Conophytum than C. limpidum, which has modified Ophthalmophyllum flowers.

58

Putative Relations

Description Plant super-dwarf, nearly subterranean, single or very rarely paired, to 10 mm thick at the base, often less than 3 mm. Sheath papery, light brown, half-buried and often

ACHABENSE

retaining fruits (the pedicel dries along with the sheath, ensuring a mutual entanglement). Body like a longnecked Bose pear, flaring at the base, convex on top, fissure glabrous, slightly impressed, short or long but never producing lobes. Epidermis glabrous, slightly shining, light yellowish-green, never reddening, pustulate on the sides, especially when stressed, windowed at the dark green apex.

Conophytum acutum L.Bolus

-

ACUTUM

Flower diurnal, autumnal, faintly scented of almonds, fleeting, to 15 mm wide. Calyx-tube herbaceous, with four green sepals. Corolla-tube white, petals sparse in 1-2 series, light pink or rose pink, never white, stamens few, anthers slightly protruding above the petals; stigmas 4, reaching the petal tips. Capsule tiny, cylindric, very fragile, placentation axile (!); seeds ca. 15 per locule (more numerous in cultivated plants), 0.5 mm long.

Figs.6-8, p.66

(1950) Notes on Mesemb. 3: 234 amed for its acute petal tips .

Distinguishing Features The small, fat-bottomed bodies with their entirely clear tops are already distinctive enough, but the flowerscomposed of petals united almost all the way up, looking like an exploding firecracker and drying to a mere thread-can be confused with nothing else. The extraordinary length of C. acutum's corolla-tube is a handy feature for a flower which must travel through powdery hale (or at least be noticed in its midst)-also, its bulletlike shape before anthesis gives it a surprising resilience (cf. C. smorenskaduense) .

Distribution and Rarity C. acutum is known from a few colonies to the northeast and southeast of Bitterfontein. One of these gives the impression of extreme rarity, another, of abundance, but the subterranean habit of the species-the bodies shrink o below soil level, exposing only a periscope-makes opulation size quite difficult to assess. How thorough an annual retreat can be! The plants occur with C. uvi-·orme subsp. uvifarme and C. minutum var. pearsonii but not, oddly enough, with C. subfenestratum, though that . curs in the vicinity. Lithops divergens var. divergens ccurs with C. acutum at two spots, on flat or sloping quartzites over a salty shale, generally in unshaded niche . I wonder if C. acutum occurs with Lithops divergens ··ar. amethystina, which grows a few kilometres east of its -. -pe locality.

Discovery and Introduction

-:-hi

was found in September 1936 by R. Primos (was it e that year?) at "Bokkraal, Bushmanland,'' thus near -··prand and further east than the spots currently own. Plants were grown at Kirstenbosch. Triebner the species on his "special list"-he offered it in lots

of ten; perhaps he'd obtained seed or data from Primos, though fourteen years had elapsed between discovery and description. At any rate, the species was rediscovered by Buys Wiese's son ca. 1975 southeast of Bitterfontein. In 1986 Wiese pere gave me two clones from which I raised hatchlings, and in 1988 I collected a pregnant quartet at the same habitat. At that point the species really began to take off in horticulture.

Cultivated Needs and Cultivars This beautiful dwarf is florally so curious that it would be worth growing for that fact alone. As the plants do not branch readily (though Mias Kennedy has raised an amazing specimen with two dozen heads), propagation is mostly by seed. The very narrowly cylindric seedling shape thickens to maturity in three years. It is easy to lose track of the fragile young plants, so they should be carefully mulched and monitored. Pollination requires a long and slender proboscis. Lacking that, one can employ a fine nylon filament. Most cultivated material derives from the Wiese population; northern material, which was only recently introduced via two Karoo Garden clones, is slightly larger-bodied and more attractive. C. acutum will accept pollen from C. obcorde//um subsp. obcorde//um. This is not an easy pairing, but the attempt is worthwhile.

Putative Relations An odd man out. In 1993 I put it with Cheshire Feles, mostly because of the shared growth habit. C. acutum may be close to C. achabens~the two share a very rare feature, axile placentation-though from the floral point of view, its extravagant tube simply exaggerates that of C. obcorde//um and it would be amusing to learn that the two species were related (a parallel to the doubtful notion that C. hammeri is C. angelicae gone underground). 59

-

c-

ORUM

.-.- . . . . ._r - a:: -!erred C. acutum to Ophthalmol Ul7;;;~.~ :~--; ..."',7

, ·"

green, blue-green, buff, or pale bluish-tan, reddened at the base or not, usually spotless. Flowers autumnal, nocturnal, scented. Calyx-tube 4-6 mm long, green, sepals 6, greenish; corolla-tube 4-8 mm long, petals 30-40 in 4-5 series, to 10 mm long but sometimes very short, ca. 0.5 mm wide, yellowish-white to salmon, pale pink, or pure white, stamens ca. 35-45 in 1- 2 series; style very short, stigmas 5-7, 2-3 mm long. Capsule pale brown, 2 x 4 mm; seeds 0.55 mm long, coarsely tuberculate, tubercles very dark and irregular.

':·-. ·:; ,,~/. ·

- . .:;:·-_;_«

· ... ·

·

.:·-.

~> ~::fa.i,,,·..... -~~J~;;c ·

•••

,.,., •

Conophytum chrisolum S.A.Hammer

.:,,~.~-/,'.:.

-::, .. ~...(;(,,>,~:?,~.:~"~ ;-

, ,,,:J'DoUmo,µm· have ever seen and is almost impo ih natural habitat without going on one' (Littlewood, as quoted in the original ......,,....... ..,u• One of his original plants was till .u.aJu.::;•.....;;. Garden when I got there in 19 -. ed never to grow up! Eventuall I oo, linated it with Mitchell's material m Today, most cultivated plant dem'e Hammer & Brack collection at an n e pe locality (Hammer & Brack 1141). ub . s. "riiferum was collected in 1987 by Bayer & H ammer ammer 437) and I saw it twice more (latterly \.vith Rodgerson, Barnhill and Tribble) before I believed that i \ di tinct enough to be name-worthy.

Cultivated Needs and Cultivars Only in deserts is it easy to keep C. ck-,'

-·.•:>;'~""f',.,,-_,,:.jl::.

-

Conophytumfrancoiseae (S.A.Hammer) S.A.Hammer stat. nov. (1993) Conograph: 268

Figs.165-166, p.109

Tamed fo r Frarn;oise Williamson, explorer, sterling chef, and amanuensis_

Distinguishing Features This species has flat- topped, fin ely spotted, greyish green fuzzless bodies and bears its shortish magenta flowers in late spring.

Distribution and Rarity C. francoiseae is co nfined to the northern portions of Augrabies. It seems to replace C. bolusiae subsp. bolusiae on east-facing slabs of quartzite. A part from the "main" populatio n, the one from which I extracted the type, there are some minor satellites further north. The plants occur near or with C. stephanii subsp. stephanii and C. jucundum sub sp. marlothii.

Discovery and Introduction C. francoiseae was collected by Lavranos and Mitchell, independently. I first saw Mitchell's 914 in 1985, at Karoo Garden; the off-season flowers struck me immediately as their opening coincided with my arrival. I pollinated the plants and later distributed seeds to several growers . Frans:oise and Graham Williamso n collected it in 1990, also independently, and in 1993 they showed me the population they'd discovered, their 4465. M eanwhile Rodgerso n distrib uted seeds and cuttings of Lavranos 25430, now quite common in cultivation.

Cultivated Needs and Cultivars I often h ave trouble persuading C. francoiseae to go properly dormant, it seems to hover with insomnia. When it doe s go under, it can look terribly bedraggled and then, out pops a brilliant bud. Soon the plant is as elegant as a robin's egg.

Putative Relations C. francoiseae h as aspects of several other taxa, all occurring to the east or northeast. C. bachelorum is more polished, but it has similar flowers, also produced in spring-summer. C. wettsteinii has a similar body shape; my original placement of C. francoiseae as a subspecies of C. wettsteinii was based on that, and on the theory that if C. wettsteinii travelled westwards

from its presumed origins on the Steinkopf plateau, A ugrabies would be its last pre-coastal chance, and C. Jrancoiseae, its logical transformation. Epidermally, however, C. francoiseae shares features of the C. jucundum complex. In some ways it seems like a giant C. jucundum subsp. marlothii and may represent the latter's old embranglement with C. bolusiae. In any case C. francoiseae is discrete and stable; it is immediately recognisable.

Other Opinions and Synonyms The Williamsons initially regarded this as C. bolusiae subsp. bolusiae (which they had not yet see n) and it is curious that the species so nearly dovetail in flowering time . I co nsidered placing C. francoiseae with C. bolusiae s.1. or with C. jucundum s.1. , but it lacks the dense trichom es of the first and flowering syndrome of the seco nd . Further work may suggest a better placement. In Mitchell's list it was given simply as "sp. Wettsteinia."

Description Plant forming a flat cluster. Sheath pale tan to very dark brown, whitish when very old, densely spotted, papery, persistent, often transparent. Bodies obconical, 8-15 x 9-15 x 8-13 mm, nearly circular seen from above, truncate on top to slightly convex or concave, sharp-edged dots; fissure to 2 mm long, finely papillate, bordered with a sometimes swollen translucent band. Epidermis smooth, matte, pale greyish-green to bluish-green, sometimes flu shed with rose and always speckled with nu merous evenly scattered green fle cks. Flowers vernal- aestival, diurnal, scentless. Calyx-tube to 8 mm long, whitish with 4-6 spotted green sepals 3 mm long; corolla-tub e to 35(!) mm long, tawny pink on the exterior, petals numerous in 1-2 series, to 15 mm long by 1.5 mm broad, spreading widely or recurved, magenta, sometimes rosier (ARM 914), stamens few or numerous, filaments pale yellow or sometimes maroon, anthers pale yellow, the upp ermost series well-exserted; style to 20 mm long with 5-6, 4-5 mm long stigmas. Capsule 3 x 4 mm, disciform, dark brown, often spotted, with 60-80 seeds per locule; seeds to 0.60 mm long, pustulate, pustules low, irregularly shaped . 133

FRATER NUM

Conophytum fraternum (N .E.Br.) N .E.Br.

Figs.158-160, p.108

(1913) Kew Bull. 1913: 118 - (1922) Gard. Chron. 71: 261 Of Brown's "relationship trio"-C. fraternum , C. sororiil1n , C. germanum-this is the only one to survive taxonomic

triage. He allied it to its "brother", Mesembryanthemum minutum.

Distinguishing Features

Putative Relations

Gangly internodes, a lopsided, milky-green, irregularly red-spotted apex, and very long-tubed white flowers make the clonotype easy to recognise; variable modern material tends to leak into C. jucundum subsp. fragile (which usually lacks red markings) or C. obscurum (which is smaller and shinier).

Structurally, C. jucundum subsp. fragile is close. There are indeed places-as on the high pass to Qyachous (SH 2119)- where it is not at all clear what name one should apply. The similarity extends to the long-tubed flowers and the red filaments. In my first notes on Mitchell's plants I referred to his Great Hellskloof plants (ARM 298) as C. fraternum, influenced in part by their early flowering. The closest apparent relative, the "stemless" and obese C. schlechteri, occurs some 40 kilometres to the west of C. fraternum . Both species are polyploid, and both have the same horseshoe-shaped markings, outlined in red. I wonder what physiological/ornamental purpose they serve? Curiously, the same sort of markings occur in C. jiciforme, which can hardly be close, given its Worcester Karoo habitat some 800 kilometres away, and its large nocturnal flowers!

Distribution and Rarity C. fr atern um is best known from Skimmelberg (the "grey'' or "mildewed" mountain) off the Grasberg road north of Anenous. It occurs on pale weathered gneiss festooned with lichens. It is locally abundant but transmutes into forms of C. obscurum to the immediate south. To the west, it fattens into C. "orbicum" (see Opinions below) .

Discovery and Introduction This was one of Pearson's early finds, reported from the hills southwest of Chubissies, Christmas 1910. On the northern flanks of these hills (Skimmelberg), near the road that Pearson would have taken, C.fraternum is conspicuous. Brown de.scribed Mesemb. fraternum in 1913 and gave cuttings to other collectors. Some of these antiques are so leggy they have virtually walked out of their pots. Brown also distributed another clone (Pearson 5783 "from another locality"-! think it was Kabies); this too survives, as C. praecox. Modern collections include ARM 813 and H ammer & Williamson 1657, both from Skimmelberg. The latter was collected on a day which shimmered with a berg wind's heat. I could barely breathe, but the plants were unfazed.

Cultivated Needs and Cultivars Very easily grown, and one of the first species to flower each season. It flowered for Brown in July-August 1912 and has continued this precocity ever since. In New Mexico I often lamented the epidermal distortionsstrange puffy spots and an unnatural erythema-seen on some plants, but in California these have vanished. I had blamed a virus; should I rather have been blaming an excess of ultraviolet or salt? It is a good idea to trim old plants, they will otherwise become impossibly shaggy. 134

Other Opinions and Synonyms C. orbicum N.E.Br ex Tischer was described in 1955 from a single clone, 25 years after Brown had sent a cutting of it to Tischer. Tischer described it without data but soon learned that it was collected by Nel ([SUG] 9330 from "Kubus" (see CS](GB) 1956: 57, information via Bates; the same data appears in Brown's album). I had long wondered about the provenance and placement of C. orbicum and only recently realized that plants collected on Kabies near Skimmelberg (Hammer & Williamson 2009) matched SUG 9330. Now that my plants have settled into Californian luxury, the match is very close, this being especially true for one beautifully marked clone (see fig. 158) . Nothing like C. orbicum is presently known from Kubus, but Kabies is absolutely plastered with it and would, moreover, have tempted Nel, so striking is this quartzite hill from a distance. The names Kabies and Kubus might easily have been conflated, particularly in Herre's crabbed hand. In any case, Kabies plants can be regarded as an outlying form of C. fraternum; they differ mostly by their greater rotundity (they can even be very shortly bilobed), palpable sub-fuzz, and darker flowers.

FRA TERNUM

Description Plant forming loose clusters, stems bowed with age. Sheath whitish, turning brownish, dotted with dark brown. Bodies to 15 x 10 x 9 mm, obconical, apex truncate or slightly depressed, rarely convex, circular as seen from above; fissure small, not deeply sunken. Epidermis glabrous, rarely subtly roughened with papillae (" orbicum" ), pale whitish-green, greyish- or yellowish-green, slightly shining or dull, with numerous large, slightly raised dark green spots, often with red or green stripes or streaks, these sometimes

-

FRIEDRICHIAE

bowed, rarely suffusing the apex. Flowers appearing in summer or early autumn, diurnal, scentless, foun tain- shaped. Calyx-tube wellexserted, to 10 mm long, greenish , with 4 sepals. Corolla-tube remarkably extended, to 30 mm long, white, yellowish or brownish pink, petals in 1-3 series, narrow, white to pale pink, rarely darker, stamens slightly exserted, filaments yellow or reddish, anthers yellow; style to 25 mm long with 4 minute stigmas. Capsule squarish, brown and spotted; seeds ca. 0.60 mm long, densely pustulate, pustules large, pale.

Conophytum friedrichiae (Dinter) Schwantes

Figs.161-164, p.108

(1914) Neue und Wenig Bekannte Pflanzen Deutsche Sudwest-Afrikas: 41 - (1925) Zeitschr. Sukk.-Kunde 2: 138 Named for Fraulein .Margarete Friederich, a plant-lover and teacher, presumably at a school in Warmbad , South West Africa.

Distinguishing Features

Discovery and Introduction

This species has soft, "finger-thick" bodies, which are usually solitary and brownish to greyish-red. The convex top is evenly and often deeply cleft, but the lobes don't gape, and their windows are extensive but not quite glassy unless the plant is extremely turgid. The flowers are large, broad-petalled, and white to carmine; their bracts are so fat and obvious that they look like new bodies though their season lasts just a few months. The nectarium is perched on an elevated hypanthium, producing a conspicuous bulge where it meets the fused bases of petals and filaments.

Miss Friedrich made at least two major mesemb discoveries: C. Jriedrichiae and Lapidaria margaretae (1927). I wonder if they were simultaneous? The plants grow together at Warmbad and other places; to find one is to touch or trample the other. Dinter became aware of Friedrich's Conophytum just before the Great War, and sent some seed to Germany. Schwantes succeeded with it; so did Marie Chauvin and]. Purpus. Soon Tischer had a plant too, and he maintained it in single-bodied splendour for the next forty years (see CS](GB) 15: 33. 1953). Triebner exported many locality forms in the late 1930s; I doubt that anything survived the greater carnage of WWII. Rawe's collections from Witsand south of Warmbad became the basis of C.friedrichiae in modern horticulture. E.E. Fritz's seeds followed Rawe's, and the Coles contributed the beautiful CM 10. My own Warmbad material (S H 473 ) has been well dispersed, likewise a Sauer & Hammer collection from Eendoorn (SH 476) .

Distribution and Rarity C. friedrichiae is best known from the Warmbad area in southern amibia. This area has suffered from many years of gross over-collecting (lithops have been truffled to death) but these plants are well-hidden in their niches. Often they occur where a low quartz ridge meets stony level ground and in many places they are still abundant, though that is obvious only during the brief and synchronous flowering season. o respecter of political boundaries, C. friedrichiae also occurs south of the Orange River in the vicinity of Pofadder, extending to Kakamas and even Kenhardt (see C. verrucosum). A northwestern extension brings the species close to Karasberg in amibia. It roughly parallels the distribution of Lithopsjulii s.l. A report from Swakopmund (!)in amibia is an old fairy tale.

.

Cultivated Needs and Cultivars The old ideas about Ophthalmophyllum cultivationthat there is some virtue in turtle-slowness-now seem quaint unless, of course, you are a turtle. In fact C. friedrichiae can flower at one year from sowing; it grows beautifully if sown in summer and needs very little rest for the first year or two. It is quite possible, and 135

e. o grow it in haste as a juvenile and then - e i off once the desired size has been gained. e a ult it has great powers of resistance; if things oo hot it simply retreats. In dank conditions the plant grow flabby, wicking up moisture like a moldy vall. Little or no watering is necessary or advisable during the coldest months. Like all ophthalmophyllums it is completely promiscuous within and even beyo nd its ilk (see figure of C.friedrichiae x C.ficiforme (!)in the hybrid section). Apart from the fact that the hybrids confuse already hopeless questions of identity they are, by most reckonings, horticulturally unattractive. However, lonely plants will accept pollen from T anquana hilmari without any hybridity and they will sometimes self-pollinate if tickled long enough. The plants need good light to flower well and at all times they deserve a bright position.

Putative Relations Schwantes put his genus Ophthalmophyllum-of which 0. friedrichiae was of course the first and quintessential symbol-at the very end of the mesemb line. An Ophthalmophyllum precis closes his generic accounts in Flo wering Stones. The ("self-willed") development of windowed structures strongly appealed to his teleological sense (how did any eye evolve?). Whether or not one recognises the genus, or teleology for that matter, there is no doubt that Ophthalmophyllum occupies a special position, only paralleled or exceeded by the Cheshire-Feles species, Cc. maughanii, hammeri, and burgeri. The last-named may provide the best connecting link, since it has a showy (very late- )day flower which resembles that of "Ophthalmophyllum" . But it is all-window and all-girl; no hypantheistic bulges here. In Schwantes's initial concept, Ophthalmophyllum had another member: C. pellucidum (als-lange Geschichte- 0. marlothii (N.E.Br.) Schwantes; M oellers D eutsche Gaertner-Zeitung 42: 64. 1927; also in Z eit.Sukk. 3: 22. 1927) . In other words, the miraculous window was everything at first; but floral evidence soon brought further surprises and new divisions, and within a decade Schwantes found that he was dealing with a complex of half a dozen species. The first three species to be described, C. friedrichiae, C. longum, and C. praesectum, fit together well. The one described most recently, C. limpidum, is an extreme-it conquers by division, lacks pigmentation, and cannot retract-while C. friedrichiae, solitary and colourful, is its opposite, a vegetable elevator.

Other Opinions and Synonyms Brown steadfastly rejected the ge nus Ophthalm ophyllum; he might have viewed it more sympathetically if Maas, his translator, had not poiso ned his ear 136

against poor Schwantes. Had Brown been able to examine its flower, he would certainly have rebelled against the idea that C. maughanii belongs with C. friedrichiae, as it lacks all the classic Ophthalmophyllum traits. I suspect that Tischer would have agreed with this had his floral sample been any richer. Modern growers are profoundly fortunate to have so much material! 0. vanheerdei L.Bolus (1962, described from 10 miles east of Pofadder) is a "straight", i.e. a purely redundant synonym of C. friedrichiae. 0. triebneri Schwantes (1934), on the other lobe, has its points, as does 0. dinteri Schwantes (1933). Schwantes and Dinter debated the latter many times. Its only obvious distinction was its "red" flowers (Tischer rendered red as "a magnificent lilac-purple") though the populations around Eendoorn show every shade. Schwantes finally decided "after fre sh investigation" that 0. dinteri was " .. . only a form of 0. friedrichiae: 0 . friedrichia e fo rma rubra Schwant." (Flowering Stones: 330. 1957). Curiously, in the same work he omits any mention of 0. triebneri, which was tenuously distinguished by its flatter lobes and broader petals (and its eastern provenance). Its current image in horticulture derives from some material distributed by E.E. Fritz which has a silken, greyish-pink aspect and huge pure white flowers.

Description Plant usually solitary or slowly forming small clusters of 2-3(-6) bodies . Sheath pale brown, thin, usually retracting when the body is still at rest (the whole body may play ostrich). Body soft, to 30 mm long, cylindric to "skittle or urn -sh aped" (Schwantes), bilobed at the apex, lobes rounded, rarely keeled but so metimes oddly bevelled, not divergent unless grossly force-fed, fissure tissue matching the sides, finely papillate. Epidermis glabrous or rarely visibly papillate, pale brown, greyish -brown, ochre, or purplish, never bright green, sides so metimes burnished red, windowed at the apex, with scattered windows extending down the uppermost sides. Flowers autumnal, diurnal, scented (on a warm afternoon!), single. Bracts exserted, huge, entirely leaf-like (one might call them body extensions); calyx-tube herbaceous, sepals 4-7 (usually 6), 3-5 mm long; corolla-tube adnate to the calyx-tube, 6-10 mm long, petals 25-55 in 2-5 series, 10- 15 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, white, pale to deep pink, to carmine, inner petals short, ± erect, and filamentaceous , numerous, stamens ca. 80, 3-4-seriate: stigmas 5-6, 10-20 mm long, yellow to gree n. Capsule depressed- globose, soft, pale brownish to grey, wings very broad and overlapping, the better to catch the numerous 0.60 mm long seeds, those densely tuberculate, tubercles fine and pale.

FRUTESCENS ."

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(1927) Moll. Deutsche Gart.-Zeit. 42 : 123 Named for its peculiar shrubb iness.

Distinguishing Features This is the only bilobe with reddish flowers, one of the few which bloom in spring, and the only large-bodied species which totters on stilts. It would have fit El G reco's notion of symmetry.

Distribution and Rarity

once collected fruits from a wild plant with wide, rich red keel lines (SH 679A, fig.168) and some of the progeny have an outrageous abundance of stage make-up, pervading even the sides . C. frutescens should be watered as soon as the buds begin to show; otherwise one risks desiccated, non-emergent, petals. Well-watered specimens often produce a second and even a third flower fro m each body during the course of the summer.

This is abundant on the quartzite hills around Komaggas, growing in shade or sun amongst rocks. To the south, on Kourkammaberg, where the plants tend to be leaner and leggier, the species has a very obvious preference for shade, as do its companions, Mitrophyllum roseum and Adromischus marianiae "herrei". Some 20 kilometres northwest of Komaggas, on T'Nouroegas, a stocky form (Hammer & Schollenberger 2465) is found in deep shade under bushes, along with Tylecodon similis. This slight disjunction gains interest when one realizes that the plants lack two of the signal traits of C. frutescens: their flowers are neither red nor early! However, their coke-bottle curves and splendidly coloured, well-moulded keels are typical for the species.

An intriguing point: if C. frutescens originated with the T'Nouroegas form, which is a "normal" bilobe in floral colour and timing, but typical of C. frutescens in its widekeeled and distorted bodies (and melting, orange-leaved dormancy) what made it switch time and colour at Komaggas? Interaction with or aversion to C. velutinum? There are other bilobes, especially those found around Karrachab Poort, which are similar in shape. On a flowerless, body-for-body basis, one could readily confuse these with C. frutescens, and worse, some of them flower in summer. I don't know how to explain this kaleidescoped recombination.

Discovery and Introduction

Other Opinions and Synonyms

This is another of Meyer's discoveries from "Kommaggas." Meyer sent plants to Schwantes along with a photograph, reproduced in Flowering Stones (pl.70 fig.C). Herre also introduced it to Europe in the late 1920s and the species has been in continuous cultivation ever since. Most modern material derives from Rawe's Kourkammaberg seed or from my 679 (see below), and from pollinations of ancient mixed-data stock. Some of Herre's material is still extant, pathetically brittle and bent with age, and Brown's C. "notabile" is still found in UK collections.

This species was also named by Brown ( C. notabile, described out of flower), Bolus ( C. salmonicolor, selfexplanatory), Tischer ( C. tegulijlorum, a fine name: tile colour). Brown at first regarded C. frutescens as a synonym of his C. cauliferum but soon recognised its distinctions. There is still a question in my mind as to the utility, if I can put it that way, of C. cauliferum-see the aspiring bilobes in figures 46 and 47.

Cultivated Needs and Cultivars Very easy and sturdy. Within two decades from sowing (who's in a hurry?), plants begin to accumulate a set of long internodes. One can either turn such plants into cuttings, or accept the natural course of stately things and place them behind shorter plants. The apparent secondary growth via extension of internodes is quite puzzling; why would they increase their own brittleness? I

Putative Relations

Description Plant forming a shrub to 50 (!) cm high, stems with extended internodes (to 3 cm long, though this feature is ± lacking in some northern populations). Sheath brownish, spotted, persistent, usually partially ruptured by early summer. Bodies 25-50 x 20-30 x 10-15 mm, longcordiform, often bowed in the middle, often asymmetric, lobster-clawed lobes accounting for up to half the length of the body or rarely almost absent; fissure zone hardly papillate, surrounded by a small or large translucent chevroned patch ("inner surface of lobes without mam137

FRUTESCENS

-

FULLER/

millae-like projections"-Schwantes) . Epidermis glabrous, appearing waxen, rich green, becoming translucent orange as dormancy approaches, initially unspotted but becoming spotted, keels usually thickly and distinctively painted in purple, red, or dull green but sometimes unmarked. Flowers vernal or aes tival, rarely autumnal (S H 2465), diurnal, scentless. Calyx-tube 10 mm long, greenish, sepals 4-5, reddish; corolla-tube to 10 mm long,

Conophytum fulleri L.Bolus

salmon-pink, petals ca. 50-60 in 2-3 series, to 15 x 2 mm, often blood red in bud, when unfurled usually orange, salmon, or terra-cotta, rarely pure pink, often streaked with contrasting pigments, always yellow in one population (SH 2465), stamens 40-55 , anthers reaching the tube mouth; style 6-8 mm long, with 4-6 stigmas, these 6-8 mm long or much shorter. Capsule reddish-brown, persistent; seeds 0.60 mm long, wrinkled and papillate, papillae low.

Figs.169-172, p.109

(1929) Notes on Mesemb. 2: 62 Named for E.R. Fuller, a roaming postmaster in the northern Cape who frequently sent specimens to the Bolus Ilerbarium and Kew.

Distinguishing Features

Cultivated Needs and Cultivars

The compact clumps of pea-like, green-warted bodies are unique and easily recognised.

Very easy to grow, a frequent self-sower, compact and rot-free under all conditions, with reliably produced and deliciously sce nted flowers, this is an ideal Conophytum. By wrapping itself up tightly it can handle full sun; it is also neat in lesser light, turning a luminous bright green colour. C. fulleri tends to go dormant very early, along with C. angelicae--this may have something to do with an eastern provenance. Because plants form elevated domes in age, older specimens experience strong contrasts between their shaded and sunny sides, and one must monitor them carefully for burning. Apart from the P ella giant, variation is minimal. One individual from a N amies collection (Lavranos 23863) has very pale flowers with a hint of orange, and I have been crossing it with magenta-flowered plants. No floral results are in yet. The mutual flakine ss of C. burgeri and C. fulleri inspired me to attempt a cross; mutual reluctance followed. I have not tried the obvious crosses with C. ectypum subsp. sulcatum and subsp. brownii, though success might yield very attractive plants.

Distribution and Rarity Though C. fulleri was first collected near Kakamas, the northeastern border for the genus (and for this species), all recent finds involve the Pofadder area and points further west. Around Pofadder and N amies, the species is abundant on quartzite bluffs and in protected troughs. An abnormally large and strongly depressed form occurs on the Pellaberg west of Pofadder and is unknown elsewhere. C. Jriedrichiae, C. limpidum, C. praesectum, C. calculus subsp. vanzylii, D interanthus vanzylii, Tylecodon sulphureus, and B ulbine striata occur with or near C. fulleri, which is adapted to half-shade though it can tolerate full exposure as well. It receives mixed rainfall-summer thunderstorms, winter drizzles-but I have seen it dormant in mid-winter.

Discovery and Introduction Fuller collected his namesake in 1928. Plants flowered at Kirstenbosch in March-April 1929, and as the species was published on the 12'h of April, one gets a picture of the rapid turn-around time possible for Bolus's early work! I do not know how long the Kakamas plants persisted in cultivation or even how widely they circulated, but by 1930 Pofadder material was in English greenhouses via Maughan-Brown's collections, and C. julleri has been in circulation ever since. The very attractive large-bodied Pella form was collected by van Jaarsveld & Mitchell ca. 1980 and is having a good run as well. 138

Putative Relations I had thought that the most plausible connection is with the C. vanheerdei-C. smorenskaduense complex; they all have green warts, but C. fu lleri has no bladder cells. One can follow these winter lemmings eastwards as they diminish toward the hot summer sands of Bushmanland, related or not. Further west, C. ectypum provides the bes t plausible relationship option. The species differ in sheath construction, C. fu lleri's being the type that slough s off in white tatters, while C. ecty-

FULLER/

-

GLOBOSUM

pum has a more persistent ribbing (see figs .133 and 135). C. marginatum subsp . haramoepense (the eastern-

Description

most member of its little complex), is another possible relative. It even seems to interact with C. Julleri at Pella, while at Pofadder the two occur at close quarters, occupying the same sort of niche but not blending. I wonder if all of these are relict species, refugees from another rainfall regime?

Plant forming a dense, well-mounded cushion, often bedecked in white (rarely yellow-sheathed, as if lightly deep-fried). Sheath quick to form and slow to slough. Bodies always round in ection, mildly convex, cabochonish to broadly flattened on top, ometirnes concave, never keeled, fissure surrounded b a tran lucent ring. Epidermis light or dark green or ellowi h-green, reddening toward spring, warted, warts prominent but flattened, dark green, and shiny, further ornamented with wartlettes. Flowers autumnal, honey-scented, short-tubed. Petals delicate, rose, magenta, or rarely peach-coloured, curling when young, broadly spathulate. Stamens ca. 25, all visible; stigmas 4, ca. 10 mm long. Capsules soft, quickly shed; seeds 0.60 mm long, (to 25% smaller or larger in some forms), slightly wrinkled, papillate.

Other Opinions and Synonyms C. wiesemannianum Schwantes (1938; described from Namies material) is C. Jul/eri pure and simple, perhaps a bit small, as is typical of amies plants; otherwise Bolus's species has been untouched by taxonomic accretion or overburden. I do not think the Pella form needs any formal status though it is certainly large, and its baklava-coloured sheath gives it a mild distinction. /

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(1913) Kew Bull. 1913: 119 - (1922) Gard. Chron. 71: 231 amed for its globose bodies , certain clones being especially striking in this respect.

Distinguishing Features A polished and nearly perfect rotundity makes many plants easy to identify, though some flat-bodied populations, discussed below, confuse the issue. C. calculus s.l. is also rotund, but it has a chalky look, not the reflective billiard look of C. globosum, and is usually larger-bodied. Both species are spotless; their flowers are as far apart as night and day.

Distribution and Rarity C. globosum is known from a rather small area around Garies, extending southwards to Kotzesrus and Perdekraal. Within this area it is locally common but as far as I have seen it never makes the sort of extensive cover one notes with C. minutum, rather it grows sporadically in patches. Mixed quartz/gneiss formations suit C. globosum, though I have also seen it on gneiss without any quartzite, and vice-versa. It occurs on slopes or plains, sometimes between rocks ( C. v anbredai L.Bolus) and thus half-shaded. It is sympatric with C. p el/ucidum s.l. and C. pageae.

Discovery and Introduction This was discovered by Harold Pearson (5582), three miles west of Garies. The early material did well in

England and has never gone out of cultivation. We may have Brown's original plant-it survived him- though I know of no documented plants. Ernest Hepworth used to offer a clone which suggested Brown's; de Boer had another such. Rawe and Littlewood introduced C. globosum in the late 1960s, from the same time and place as C. pellucidum var. lilianum, (q.v.), and this material has achieved wide circulation. Mitchell's several collections enriched and complicated the picture (ARM 1155, 1157, 1200). Prof. Ihlenfeldt found the Kotzesrus form ca. 1969. He gave material to Rawe, who sent it to Australia, from whence it boomeranged back home.

Cultivated Needs and Cultivars Extremely easy to grow, resistant to cracking, long-lasting, highly decorative when richly in bloom, this has every merit save rarity. The floral tube has a lovely tawny quality and if C. globosum were a new introduction, everyone would be exclaiming over its simple beauties. Some of the newer forms (those from Dikdoring and Kotzesrus) have excited interest. So far I've tried to breed larger bodies-a race of giants is in the making-and to stabilise the salmon petals occasionally seen in some Loerkop ("vanbredai") material. Crossing the various local forms (the "deflated" ARM 1155 x green-bodied ARM 1157, etc.) has yield139

~ OBOSUM

-

HALENBERGENSE

ed some muddles along with the enlightening but unsurprising news that pink is dominant over white.

though Loerkop plants are somewhat larger, flatter, and more heavily dotted than those found to the west. If they need a name, what of the Kotzesrus giants?

Putative Relations From the floral point of view, C. globosum is surely connected with the C. minutum complex, particularly with C. minutum var. pearsonii, which can be confused with it. It is typical of Conophytum that even an easily identified species like C. globosum would contain its own contradiction.

Other Opinions and Synonyms C. obovatum Lavis is an obvious synonym and would never have been described had relations with Kew been less obstipated. C. vanbredai L.Bolus (1963), described fro m Loerkop just east of Garies, was a more plausible taxon-Rawe even retained it as var. vanbredai-but in the context of the total shape-range, it seems pleonastic,

Description Plant producing a dome or mat of many bodies; internodes usually short, seemingly non-existent. Sheah white, crisp, eggshell-like. Bodies globose to inverse-conical, firm, fissure zone dimple-like, surrounded by a clear ring. Epidermis pale green to bluish-green, glabrous, usually spotless, flat forms often with green spots on the perimeter. Flowers autumnal, diurnal, showy, prolific, produced en masse. Corolla-tube to 25 mm long, white, pale pink, often tawny. Petals white to pink, rarely dark pink or salmon. Anthers visible but often not protrusive. Stigmas 4-5, short, on a long style. Capsules flat, sharply angled; seeds 0.65 mm long, variably tuberculate.

Conophytum halenbergense (Dinter & Schwantes) N.E.Br.

Fig.179, p.111

(1925) Zeitschr. Sukk.-Kunde 2: 1718 - (1926) Gard. Chron. 79: 30 Na:med for its occurrence perrgebiet.

DJJ

tbe Halenberg JHaalenberg on modern maps ], east of Li.ideritz in the Namibian

Distinguishing Features The classic C. halenbergense has an olive-green epidermis and often a peculiarly lumpy or irregular faceting, outlined by omnipresent fat green dots. The nocturnal flowers are usually on the dark side, rusty orange to an unusual wine red, though Schwantes mentioned a straw colour.

Distribution and Rarity Known only from Haalenberg and, deeper south into the perrgebiet, T schaukaib, this is locally common on a few gnei or quartzite cliffs. Its frequent companion, Lithops francisci al o occur on both formations, so I had hoped to ee it north of H aalenberg at Koichab, where the nonhemmo L francisci grow . Though I was unable to find ir there the area invi and et forbids a more thorough look. ong v ·th C. saxetanum, C. ha/enbergense is the northernmo t member of the genu .

Discovery and Introduction Thi ' a (fir t?) collected by D inter (his 3746); Lithopsfrancisci was Dimer's 3743. H e ent plants to 0

Schwantes, who was amazed by their plasticity of shape. Since Eberlanz also supplied it, Europe was soon well-stocked, especially as the species is a tough one. Later collections from Haalenberg (e.g. SH 725, Fanroth 29507) have added little to a basically monochromatic picture; the pale-petalled Bruyns Tschaukaib collection has been more instructive.

Cultivated Needs and Cultivars Easy and so persistent that some very old materialprobably from Dinter and Eberlanz-is still seen in collections. C. ha/enbergense is one of the plainer conos and is probably the favourite of no-one, but like all plants it is beautiful when treated seriously. In any case it is worth growing for its flowers. Some clones are prone to depressed brown lesions, perhaps bacterial in origin; they appear within a few weeks of the emergence of new growth and in timing and texture closely match the lesions found on another Namibian, L ithops optica. I have tried to select C. halenbergense for better habits (no lesions, no stacking) and darker flowers. Fig.179 shows a wellbehaved clone.

HALENBERGENSE

Putative Relations This species has a strong resemblance to C. klinghardtense subsp. klinghardtense, which occurs 50 kilometres to the south of Haalenberg. The taxa are rather tenuously distinguished by shape ( C. klinghardtense is much more compact) and fine-scale epidermal matters (see Appendix 3). C. halenbergense h as an amazing vegetative resemblance to the keeled and large-dotted forms of C. taylorianum from Schlafkuppe and Paradise Valley. Again I wonder if floral differences represent late adaptations amongst cohorts or are indeed the proof of different lineages. C. saxetanum, which occurs near Haalenberg, on Kovisberg, is the closest to C. halenbergense in crow-flying distance, but the two species are certainly distinct.

Other Opinions and Synonyms Always accepted. De Boer mentioned a resemblance to his C. anjametae ( = C. violacijlorum); this was merely a question of body shape-even at that, the plants in

-

HAMMER/

question must have been uncharacteristically bloated via lowland humidity. De Boer's subtext was the mysterious question of kinship amongst those "bilobes" which are not yellow-flowered, one he might well have explored had he lived longer. He was cut down in his prime, aged 85.

Description Plant forming a jagged mass like an irregularly formed set of crystals. Sheath persistent, pale brownish becoming white, heavily spotted. Bodies elongate, wedgeshaped, bilobed, fissure depressed. Epidermis olive green, fuzzy, well-spotted, spots various in size, keels often multiple, outlined with green and producing a faceted appearance on non-fat plants. Flowers late-autumnal, nocturnal, highly scented, short-tubed. Sepals 4-5, papillate, olive green. Petals "straw-coloured" to ochre or dusky reddish or rose, in 1-3 series, initially erect. Stigmas 4-6, short. Capsules shallow, well-spotted; seeds 0. 75 mm long, irregularly tuberculate.

Conophytum hammeri G. Williamson & H.C.Kennedy

Figs.180-184, p.111

(1997) Cact. Succ. J. (US) 69: 205-208 Na med after its first known (human) admirer.

Distinguishing Features The small, clustering, mammiform, lace-veiled bodies are easily recognised.

C. maughanii subsp. latum. Emile Heunis recently found a population high on the Klipbokberge. Fruits can hardly roll upwards, so one has to wonder if the chicken laid her eggs in the flats or flew to the mountain top.

Distribution and Rarity This occurs in the drier eastern stretches of the Richtersveld between the Little Hellskloof, Klipbok, and the N ababiepberge. Though it had initially seemed to be highly restricted, C. hammeri turned up at many places two years after its discovery, partly because we knew what to look for: "spongy" quartzcovered deflations with a slight slope. The fruits are of the rolling type, favouring an intense and localised dispersal. At one population near Klipbok, the closely spaced plants are sympatric with C. maughanii subsp . latum, Cheiridopsis cf. herrei (Ch. ha/Iii?), and Lithops geyeri; at the type locality they are essentially alone. C. hammeri's sheaths blend in superbly well with white quartz, and when not blending, the plants are busily retreating into the soil for protection, so population size is difficult to assess-but the species is probably far rarer th an the ecologically similar

Discovery and Introduction I found this in August 1995. Drawn by a mirage of the hardly-known Kristalberge, we reached the area after a long 4-wheeled struggle. A white-pebbled drift intrigued me from a distance and, accompanied by Franc;:oise and Graham Williamson, I went straight to the plants. There were hundreds of them hiding between the pebbles; the habitat was otherwise barren apart from a stray Cephalophyllum and some Mesemb1yanthemum bones. I was able to collect a few fruits, and once home, set to work producing a gaggle of seedlings. Meanwhile Graham Williamson gave a fruit to Terry Smale, so the introduction was bi-continental. The late discovery must be a consequence not only of C. hammeri's remoteness, but also of its recondite and humble habits. 141

.

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-

HERMAR I UM

Cultivated Needs and Cultivars

Other Opinions and Synonyms

Bizarre and charming, this easily grown species may in time achieve the popularity of C. burgeri, though its puny flowers cannot vie with those of its wo nderfully endowed big sister-brother. It tends to shrink severely when dormant and can seem a bit unresponsive, but by late summer it is usually ready to pop. One could attempt to select for the red petal shades occasionally seen in this species.

I'd wanted to name this C. hadesicum ("coming from Hell"), but cooler heads prevailed.

Putative Relations The obvious candidate is C. burgeri, which is anatomically correct, but the species are distinct in flower, fruit, and sheath-type (the lacy bra-sheath of C. hammeri does not split into two layers). I've twice tried to hybridize C. hammeri with C. burgeri. Seeds form, and they even germinate, but seedlings lack all chlorophyll and wither quickly. In some of these respects, one could posit a closer kinship with C. angelicae subsp. tetragonum, which occurs in the same area as C. hammeri, but that has a wildly different, more heavily armoured epidermis. C. maughanii subsp. latum is probably close as well, but its co-occurrence with C. hammeri violates the usual rule of sectionmate allopatry. I have not tried to hybridize these two.

Description Plant stemless, ± sunken, forming a small cluster of 4-6 bodies or remaining solitary. Sheath thin, white, netted, shredding, and speckled with a few small blackish tannins. Leaves wholly fused into a perfect co ne (± pyramidal when detumescent), to 15 mm diameter, fissure small, slightly depressed. Epidermis translucent above, pale whitish-green below (blushing red in late winter), unspotted, cells bulging, easily visible, gleaming, usually half-veiled. Flowers early autumnal, nocturnal, highly scented, short-tubed, visible in advance, to 12 mm wide. Petals short, sparse, pale yellow, ivory, reddish to orange, pure pink (!) in the berg plants. Stigmas short, always 4 [I just harvested three 5-locular fruits, twelve others being 4-locular!]. Capsules pale tan, rolling away like tiny tumbleweeds, sharply pointed above, locule-rooftips strongly recurved, seeds 0.40 mm long. Cotyledons globose but not glittering a la c. burgeri.

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Conophytum pellucidum Schwantes subsp. pellucidum var. pellucidum (1927) Moll. Deutsche Gart.-Zeit. 42: 316

Figs.326-329, p.199

amed for its pellucid apex.

C. pellucidum subsp. pellucidum var. lilianum (Littlewood) S.A.Hamme (1966) J. S. Afr. Bot. 32: 235 - (1993) Conograph: 247

Figs.330-331, p.199

Named in honour of Lilian Littlewood , wife of Roy Littlewood.

C. pellucidum subsp. pellucidum var. neohallii S.A.Hammer (1993) Cact. Succ. J. (US) 65: 114

Figs.332-337, p.200

Having sunk C. hallii L.Bolus , I promptly named the plant Hall found along with it.

C. pellucidum subsp. pellucidum var. terricolor (Tischer) Littlewood ex S.A.Hammer comb. & stat. nov. Figs.338-343, p.201 (1934) Succulenta 16: 54-55 - (2002) amed fo r its earth-coloured bodies.

C. pellucidum subsp. cupreatum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer var. cupreatum (1936) ucculenta 18: 33-34 - (1993) Conograph: 237

Figs.344-347, p.202

Copper-bearin . earth in thi ca e.

C. pellucidum subsp. cupreatum var. terrestre (Tischer) S.A.Hammer (1960) Kakt. and. Sukk. 11: 68-69 - (1993) Conograph: 265

Figs.348-349, p.202

"Of the earth "-alluding to colour , not to mode of growth .

C. pellucidum subsp. saueri S.A.Hammer & T.C.Smale subsp. nov. (2002)

Figs.350-351, p.202

Named for Niko Sauer, distinguished mathematician and much-needed botanical thinker.

C. pellicidum Schwantes subsp. saueri

S.A.Hammer et T.C.Smale subsp. nov. C. pelluciclo subsp. cupreaw (Tischer) S.A. Hammer ajJ~nis sed cli.f]ertfloribus petalis armeniacis et stam.inoicliis filamentosis rubris dense positis gynoecium occultantibus. Holotypus: South Africa, Northern Cape Province (-3018AD), grit pans west qf Platbakkies, N. Sauer 8910401 (BOL).

,

Distinguishing Features

The most lithops-like of species, C. p ellucidum is brownskinned, windowed, and ornately marked. As presented here, its several nested variants constitute a super-species, 216

viz., subsp. pellucidum: a long-fissured, flat to convex window, usually ornamented with bubbles and lacking conspicuous papillae, flowers white to pink; subsp. pellucidum var. lilianum: dwarf, with flaring, finely speckled lobes and brilliant flowers, often tricoloured (rose and white with a deep orange throat); subsp. pellucidum var. neohallii: truncate, more checkerboard than window, bubbles absent, flowers white; subsp. pellucidum var. terricolor. a dark and depressed window, sometimes with bubbles at the edge of its bathtub, flowers white; subsp. cupreatum: short-fissured, smooth non-bubbled leaves, "dusted" with papillae, white to pink flowers; subsp. cupreatum var. terrestre: longer papillae (trichomes), irregularly "eroded" or grooved sides, white flowers; subsp. saueri: tiny, convex, smooth, bronze tops, a discreet fissure, and pale

PELLUCID UM

orange flowers with uniquely occluded reddish centres. From the C. lithopsoides complex this can usually and rather weakly be distinguished by combinations of characters: white petals, smaller size, bubbles, pronounced lobes, gneissophily, but the overlap is heavy and one usually resorts to Gestalt phrenology for identification.

Distribution and Rarity Namaqualand is saturated with C. pellucidum. It can be seen on numberless "klipkoppies" between Caries (south), Platbakkies (east), Soebatsfontein (west) and Steinkopf (north). Gneiss is its principal vehicle. This rock is accessible in many forms: shivered into grit, split into crevices, mixed with quartz. Where the rock has been pre-digested by lichens and mosses, the plants can gain a purchase even at quite steep angles. The narrow crevice-niche afforded by broken-off rock plates seems to fit C. pellucidum perfectly. Its growth-form allows it to expand horizontally and indefinitely, and the malleable nature of the bodies allows for the inevitable squeezing. The windowed leaf-tips of C. pellucidum are held at a favourable angle for light absorption. Even if the tips are seared (which can happen if heat buildup outpaces retraction) the meristem is safely tucked under half an inch of rock, and still the extended corolla-tubes are long enough for the petals to shine in the sun. Even better, crevice-dwellers can elude most animals, while competition-short-stemmed species of Adromischus and Crassula-is at a minimum, and sufficient water collects along the network of crevices to ensure long-term population stability. Most of the variants described here are adapted to several niche types . Gritty outcrops are favoured by some, lichenous nests by others, but attempts to identify taxa via this or that niche-syndrome will fail. Var. lilianum, strictly defined, only occurs a few kilometres south of Caries, in mixed gneiss-quartz detritus. According to Rawe, it grew in pans of fine grit; I have only seen it on exposed slopes near a ravine- washed down, perhaps, from Rawe's pans (Littlewood reported pans as well). In any case it has a small range at the very southern edge of the pellucidumcomplex. Closer to the heart of things, var. neohallii is known from southeast of Springbok, between Deurdrif, Mesklip, and Silverfontein/ Rietfontein, near or with C. roodiae. It can function in grit or on lichens. Populations between Deurdrif and the main Springbok road meld into other forms of C. pellucidum. Var. terricolor has a split and troubling distribution. For many kilometres west of Springbok the plants are uniformly etched; this form also occurs north and northwest of Springbok, up to Steinkopf. North of Concordia the classic form alternates with its opposite, the normal bubbled form of C. pellucidum, on

separate domes. On a side-road southwest of Springbok, the plants have narrow faces with bat-winged patterns (first recorded by Doreen Court); further on, a local form has green and bronze bodies which shrivel radically. East of Caries, up Studer's Pass and on to Saalberg, var. terricolor occurs in a softened version, having the requisite blackened pattern but not quite the expected depth of intaglio. Between Paulshoek and Kliprand there is a shift into the following three taxa. Subsp. cupreatum is scattered around Kliprand and the hills further south, on quartz or granite. It occurs with both subspecies of C. reconditum. Around Rooifontein, plants can be interpreted as a fat cupreatum, a rounded neohallii, or a white-flowered lithopsoides! North of Kliprand, at Boonstevlei, plants (Bolus's C. meridianum var. pulverulentum) have obvious papillae. Further north, between Alwynsfontein and Burdensputs, subsp. cupreatum var. terrestre hides between low outcrops . Its longer trichomes, shingled sides, and slow growth argue, perhaps, for some special edaphic trauma, but I cannot detect it. Subsp. saueri is found just west of Platbakkies, on bare granite or in fine grit, near C. pubescens and C. pageae. It has a tiny range and is probably rare, though it is so very small and can shrink so much that only a thorough winter's search would settle this point. Subsp. pellucidum occurs everywhere else! While knowledge of its range has expanded considerably in the last decade, knowledge of its density has exploded. I have no idea how many populations there are; as for the number of individuals, it might be in the scores of millons. Ironically enough, the densely bullate form associated with O' okiep, the type locality, is not common. That there is some authenticity (or usefulness, anyway) to the various taxa is suggested by a situation north of Ratelpoort. Here one finds a huge population of the typical, convex, big, pimply var. pellucidum on mammoth slabs of gneiss and, a kilometre away, a smaller population of the typical var. terricolor, tiny, with pinched-in sides and bronze, concave tops. The niches look the same (apart from slab size), the plants do not, and there is no confusing them. In horticulture they retain their distinctions, so factors x and y have been inculcated genetically. umerous quirks pop up elsewhere: pink flowers on one hill near Soebatsfontein, whites on another; smooth but lobed tops ( C. pardicolor Tischer) on the quartzite-gneiss mergers around Goegap, tiny forms north of Kamieskroon ( C. areolatum Littlewood), single-bodied forms northwest of Platbakkies (habitat or habit?). I have seen and have had many reports of many odd forms and disjunctions. Tom Jacobs recently photographed a single-bodied form of subsp. cupreatum near Sterkstroom. The growth form was remarkable enough, but one flower had exserted anthers! 217

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Discovery and Introduction It was Marloth who found the plant that started all the fuss. His 6903 was collected near Okiep; fortunately this area is still well-known as a breeding ground for the typical C. pellucidum. I do not know how long the early introductions survived; several were on Brown's list (including two Marloth numbers, though not 6903) and it would not surprise me to learn that we still have it, sans data. In any case, this taxon has never suffered from under-representation and all modern collectors have done their bit for clarity. The first collector of var. terricolor is unknown, though Victor Peers was at the right place at the right time. He collected plants in 1928 (NBG 856/28-see Bolus 1950, p.205, for records of this and other gatherings) and, given the back-and-forth exchanges between Bolus and Tischer, it is likely that the latter received some NBG material. I am unable to trace Tischer's early sources; his final manuscript mentions only a Triebner collection dated too late to have been described in 1934. Littlewood's C. areolatum is an exceptionally miniature version, collected in 1959. Alas, it outgrows its modest habits. Karoo Garden 950/61, collected by Littlewood at Steyerkraal, has become the dominant var. terricolor in cultivation, via seeds he sent to the ISI in 1961. Dr. Luckhoff found subsp. cupreatum somewhere in "southern amaqualand"-just where is unknown, but it is possible that he collected it along with Aloinopsis luckhoffii, south or east of Kliprand in 1931. (Both mesembs grow on the same farm, Kamas.) Luckhoffs plant is probably still with us, via de Boer. I cannot otherwise explain the beautifully metallic clone circulated by the IVT; none of the plants sent by Rawe and Kennedy can match its russet glow. Var. neohallii was first spotted by Harry Hall on Mesklip, south of Springbok, in 1953. Rawe and Makin sampled the same population, but the most characteristically opaque form was only discovered in 1980, by Hammer & Brack (our 628). This flat-topped material has been widely distributed. In 1985 Makin & Hammer collected a fantastically varied form on Windhoek farm, just west of Mesklip. Var. terrestre was found by Herre in 1957. Though he gave several clones to Hall and Tischer, only one survives. Mitchell recollected this variant (his 222); Hammer & Brack also found it, independently (our 1493). This material has been well distributed, as its bizarre shaggy sides guarantee attention. A long-bodied Lavranos collection (25793) assigned to var. terrestre falls somewhere between that and var. cupreatum-an instance of material with good data (30 kilometres north of Kliprand) and a nondescript appearance. Var. lilianum was twice collected by Littlewood, in 1959 and 1965. Hall grew it at Kirstenbosch- he even photographed it in a losing contest with a match-head218

but it did not long survive his departure from the garden. Rawe recollected it, sending material to Europe and, via San Marina Nurseries, Japan. Little of this survives in the West; our modern var. lilianum derives rather from Mitchell, Hammer & Brack (SB 1175), and from a seed collection Makin and I made in 1985 (S H 80A). Subsp. saueri is the latest discovery in the complex. iko Sauer found it while searching for C. pubescens and told me about an implausibly tiny plant he'd seen near Platbakkies. I was still working at Karoo Garden at the time, so three plants arrived a few days later and I was immediately captivated by their concentrated colour and polish. The subspecies has not fared well in cultivation; it is hard to pollinate, prone to cracking, and easy to lose. Gerhard Wagner and Tom Jacobs both report recent sightings near Sauer's locality.

Cultivated Needs and Cultivars This complex is so attractive and so well-suited to pot culture that it is the most popular part of the genus. It is also the most accessible. Locality form s are rampant in cultivation, and some are even recognizable without their labels. Many localities are currently "represented" by a large number of clones. These can readily be divided for vegetative propagation, or they can be pollinated. Pure seed is easy to produce-held within the tube, the pollen is unlikely to waft-but as seed is easy to muddle, one should be especially careful when sowing it. A few clones are self-fertile. Cross-colonial pollination (e.g., var. terricolor from south of Kamieskroon x the same from north of Springbok) has in some cases produced outstandingly pretty and unusual plants. Any of the official variants can be crossed with any of the others (e.g., saueri x terricolor) but so far thee quasi-hybrids have yielded no particular beauties. What has been more effective is the refining or reinforcement of patterns and colours within a given population (fig.340). This practice can be applied to all taxa, from var. terrestre to ''pardicolor'', and it has been widely employed to fix desirable shades. The var. neohallii derivatives known as "Makin's Plum" have a fine saturated colour, like a glass of jelly. A yellow-flowered var. neohallii turned up in a batch of seedlings ex seed I collected on Windhoek farm in 1985. I've been trying to stabilize this colour since 1988 and have only achieved some ivory-petalled flowers as unconvincing as the famous "white marigold'', which is patently yellow. The sardined pressure of numerous close bodies can lead to the sudden collapse of a few weaklings. Since rot can spread overnight, it should be faced without delay: unpot the plant, separate it into sound and dubious portions, dry the one, destroy the other, and keep your hands well-bathed in isopropyl alcohol. During humid periods is it advisable to inspect all plants frequently; their beauty makes that no chore.

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Putative Relations The C. lithopsoides complex is the near-twin of C. pellucidum complex (the old white/pink distinction has broken down). Beyond that, C. subfenestratum might be the precursor of both. It has epidermal similarities-a kind of murky fenestration which never quite attains the glassy clarity of C. pellucidum-and its distribution area lies just south of the hilly territory so richly occupied by the two complexes. Part of the difference is edaphic; one species sinks into the soil, the others fill gaps in rocks. The single-bodied C. subfenestratum has a generalist flower, using the largest possible canvas; the others have specialized toward bouquets and tiny bee-flies. Four-locular fruits are found in all three though C. lithopsoides has a greater tendency toward 5- and especially 6-locular fruits. Fruits of C. lithopsoides and C. pellucidum are very similar.

Other Opinions and Synonyms The scheme suggested here gives hierarchical value to var. pellucidum, suggesting a doubtful primacy. Counting the populations known to me, var. terricolor comes out ahead, which may reflect nothing more than an undercounting of bubbles or an excessive faith in the aims of classification. Haworth's "they will not be fettered" applies throughout the family, from genera to "forms"! Still, it might seem logical to allow var. lilianum a wider geo-definition by the inclusion of the pink-flowered populations from Soebatsfontein, but then we would lose the particular leaf shape and cinnnabar floral brilliance of proper var. lilianum. Similarly, one could shift var. lilianum into a broader var. terricolor, since its patterning does tend toward a centralized though unsunken darkness. Another puzzle: the strikingly smooth form known as C. pardicolor seems quite distinctive, especially as it often has large, tawny spots and huge flowers, but it occurs with normal forms in every gradation. Those bubbles, after all, are just vacuoles; sometimes they are close to the surface, sometimes not-the same phenonomenon is familiar from bread dough, Swiss cheese, and Wall Street. Still, there are populations which consist mostly of smooth plants, and one could call these "forma" pardicolor or even-following my treatment of C. terricolorvar. pardicolor, though the latter has a much greater geographical impact. Some of the populations of var. neohallii have a strong admixture of ''pardicolor1' or hints of var. terricolor. What will they look like in 2100? Throughout the complex, many populations consist of a mixture of old and young plants, so there is a constant intermixing and yet, since the larger clusters must be 20 to 30 years old, a slow turnover. One-year-old plants can flower too, so the possibilities for inbreeding are strong. There is another problem lurking in the past, name-

ly, the identity of C. fenestratum Schwantes (1928), of which its author published an excellent photograph (Flowering Stones pl. 73 a) . I have stared at it one hundred times, wondering i it an early image of C. lithopsoides. Apparently it represents one of the smoother forms of C. pellucidum.

Descriptions C. pellucidum subsp. pellucidum Plant sparsely to densely caespitose, partially sunken. Sheath whitish-brown, spotted, thin, imper i tent. Bodies 10-25 x 6 x 12 x 4-6 mm, long-cylindric, convex, flattened, or grooved on the top, usually divided into two short lobes; fissure short or long, slightly sunken, papillate. Epidermis glabrous and glossy, builate, ridged, or rarely smooth, coffee-brown, dull reddish, ochre, or silvery-grey, very rarely grass-green ("albino" forms), windowed in discrete patches or sometimes over the whole apex, spotted with numerous tannins, these sometimes fleetingly blood-red. Flowers appearing in mid- to late-summer or autumn, diurnal, sometimes in delayed cymes, usually scentless, rarely cleistogamous. Calyx-tube membranous, greenish to brown, with 4-5 short sepals; corolla-tube to 25 mm long, narrow, whitish, petals 25-40 in 2-4 series, to 18 x 3 mm, narrow to broadened at the tips, whitish to rosepink, inner staminodes filamentaceous, usually forming a 1-3-seriate, yellow, orange or red ring, rarely pure white, stamens ca. 30, short, confined to the base of the tube, anthers bright yellow; style very short, stigmas 4-6, ca. 2-3 mm long. Capsule 2 x 3 mm, sharply angled, pale brown; seeds very numerous, 0.50 mm long, finely pustulate, pustules pale. C. pellucidum subsp. pellucidum var. lilianum Plant sparsely caespitose, partially sunken, sometimes retreating entirely underground. Sheath whitish-brown, spotted, crinkled, thin, impersistent. Bodies 5-11 x 6-8 x 3-4 mm, cordate, bilobed on the top, lobes unequal, flattened or slightly convex, each lobe irregularly circular or oval seen from above, collectively suggesting a very fat figure-of-eight; fissure short or long, slightly sunken, papillate. Epidermis glabrous, glossy, pitted, datebrown to grey-tan, windowed, window often with the outline of a cross, red to purple-brown, "marked with green points" (tannin spots?), and with numerous micro-windows on the upper sides. Flowers appearing in mid- to late-summer or autumn, diurnal, scentless. Calyx-tube membranous, 6 mm long, greenish to brown, with 4-5 short sepals; corolla-tube to 15 mm long, narrow, whitish to pink or golden, petals 25-40 in 2-4 series, white becoming "saturated" rose above or concolourous pure white or pink, inner staminodes filamentaceous, usually forming a 1-2-seriate golden to red ring, stamens short, confined to the base of the tube, anthers bright yellow, style very short, stigmas 4-6, 219

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16 mS/ cm) whereas quartz fields on upper slopes or hilltops (run-off zone) have a rather low salt content ( « 1 mS/ cm). In the summer rainfall region, where the rain normally falls as strong thunderstorms, this gradient of salinity in soils tends to be less conspicuous. Besides the salinity, soil pH also plays an important role on quartz field s. The range of pH values varies between pH 3.3 and 7.8, whereas extremely acid soils occur quite frequently. Even directly adjacent quartz fields can show strong differences in soil acidity and salinity. Besides soil pH and salinity, also soil structure, stone content, and soil depth can vary considerably within the quartz-field habitats. However, the chemical and physical soil properties obviously have the strongest effect on growing conditions, Figure 7-9. Quartz inselbergs in the western Bushmanland. 355

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7

-

-

Species

C. C. C. C. C. C. C. C. C. C.

calculus subsp. calculus (n=21) concavum (n=3) friedrichiae (n=9) jucundum (n = I) flavum (n = I) maughanii subsp. armeniacum (n= I) maughanii subsp. latum (n= 7) minutum var. minutum (n=20) minutum var. pearsonii (n=8) subfenestratum (n = 14)

Minimum 3.9 5.72 5.68 4.98 7.07 5.7 6.06 3.84 4.75 4.75

Soil pH Maximum 7.01 6.91 7.66 4.98 7.07 5.7 7.89 6.6 7.64 7.23

Median 4.77 5.99 7.45 -

7.2 4.5 5.96 6.39

Electrical conductivity [mS/cm] Minimum Maximum Median 0.09 3.29 0.78 0.61 7.53 5.75 0.02 0. 14 0.03 0.264 0.264 0.067 0.087 7.62 7.62 0.09 0.829 0.25 0.06 2.61 0.75 3.9 1.42 0. 11 0. 14 3.82 1.48

Table 4. Soil pH and electrical conductivity values (minimum, maximum, median) of habitats of some Conophytum species and subspecies that are often found on quartz fields.

and therefore on the species composition of quartz fields. Most of the Conophytum species prefer non-saline quartz fields and they often occur on quite acid soils. This applies also to those Conophy tum taxa that are restricted to quartz fields and those that are often found on quartz fields without being restricted to that type of habitat (e.g., C. jucundum, C. minutum var. minut um, C. minutum var. p earsonii, Table 7-4). These edaphic preferences of the obligate quartz-field conophytums can be easily explained by the habitat ecology of the genus in general: Outcrops and rocks crevices are typically well-drained and therefore have low salinity and often low soil pH. But, despite this obvious adaptation of Conophy tum to non-saline, rocky habitats, three of the obligate quartz-field conophytums ( C. concavum, C. obscurum subsp. vitreop ap illum, C. subfenestratum ), turned out to occur generally on saline quartz fields. For C. maughanii subsp. armeniacum only one single soil sample has been analysed yet, which however showed extremely high salinity (Table 7-4 & Fig. 7-10).

Conophytum in the vegetation of the quartz fields The vegetation of the quartz fields differs from the surrounding matrix vegetation in terms of species and growth form composition (Schmiedel &Jurgens 1999). However, for the quartz-field vegetation itself, numerous plant communities can be distinguished. Qyartz-field vegetation differs from region to region due to the high species turnover between the regions (see above). Moreover, there is also a high variety of communities within each phytochorion. Their number per region depends on the number of habitat varieties which, in return, depends on the general geology and the climate and geographical dimension of the region. The Bushmanland-Warmbad Region, for instance, is the largest phytochorion of the obligate quartz-field flora. Nevertheless it is relatively poor in varieties of quartz-field habitats, quartz-field species, and plant communities. In contrast, the Knersvlakte Region, which merely covers about half the size as the Bushmanland-Warmbad Region, is edaphically very heterogeneous and therefore houses a much higher number of plant species and communities than the first. A brief overview of the communities of the quartz-field, which are most relevant for Conophytum species will be given in the following: On quartz fields, the majority of Conophytum taxa occurs in rather low abundance, providing only a few individuals Figure 7-10. Conophytum maughanii subsp. armeniacum on a saline quartz or less than one percent of the vegetation fie lds. cover. The only exception is C. minutum var. 356

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minutum (Fig. 7-11) on the quartz fields in the Knersvlakte. H ere it occurs in very high densities (covering more than 40 percent of the soil surface; Fig. 7-12) dominating a community of its own. The sites where this plant community occurs are mainly located on mid- or upper slopes and are often exposed to the fog that moves inland from the coast and promotes the occurrence of crustose and foliose lichens on the quartz. The stony soils of these sites are shallow (less than 20 cm depth), rich in silt, non-saline ( < 1 mS/cm) and very acid (pH 4-5.5). Conophytum minutum var. minutum also occurs regularly in the monodominant Monilaria pisiformis-commu nity of the Knersvlakte. Mon ilaria pisiformis (mesemb) is restricted to quartz fields and endemic to the region. Similar to C. minutum var. Figure 7-1 I . Conophytum minutum var. minutum on quartz fields of the minutum, M. pisiformis dominates some Knersvlakte during summer. The sheaths are as white as the surrounding (small) quartz-field patches, where other quartz stones. species occur with very low abundance and vegetation cover. Besides C. minutum var. minutum also Argyroderma delaetii (mesemb), Tylecodon pygmaeus (Crassulaceae) and a low growing Sa/sofa species (Chenopodiaceae) occur there. All these species are restricted to quartz fields and are endemic to the Knersvlakte. This community is found on similar soils as the previous one but with higher salinity in soil (up to 4 mS/cm) .

Another variety of C. minutum, namely C. minutum var. p earsonii (Fig. 7-13) occurs in the northern part of the Knersvlakte. It is often found in similar quartz-field habitats as C. m. var. minutum, but it can obviously cope with a broader variety of habitat conditions. Conophytum calculus subsp. calculus (see page 348) is also an important member of the quartz field vegetation in the Knersvlakte. It is found frequently but in low densities only. Like C. minutum it prefers soils with low soil pH. C. calculus subsp. calculus is a characteristic element of the following plant communities: R uschia burtoniae-, Monilaria chrysoleuca-, and the D icrocaulon longifolium-com m unity.

The R uschia burtoniae-community (Fig. 7-14) is dominated by R uschia burtoniae, a shrubby, leaf-succulent mesemb with dark, semi-succulent axis, which occurs frequently but not exclusively on the quartz field s of the Knersvlakte. Besides C. calculus subsp. calculus this community typically comprises Antimima watermeyeri (mesemb), Tetragonia verrucosa (Aizoaceae), Tripteris sinuatum (formerly Osteospermum sinuatum, Asteraceae), and Lampranthus watermeyeri (mesemb) . This community occurs on shallow, stony sites at upper slopes or hill tops. The soils consist of fine sand or sandy silt, low soil pH (4-5) and low salinity ( < 2 mS/ cm). The Monilaria chrysoleuca community occurs in the north-western part of the Knersvlakte only. It is dominated by Monilaria chrysoleuca (mesemb), which is endemic to this part of the region. Besides Conophytum calculus subsp. calculus, Tripteris sinuatum (Asteraceae), Tetragonia verrucosa (Aizoaceae), and Crassula deceptor (Crassul-

Figure 7-12. Conophytum minutum var. minutum-vegetation unit in the Knersvlakte.

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Figure 7-13. Conophytum minutum var. pearsonii among quartz stones covered with lichens (Knersvlakte).

aceae) are associated with this community. Among these species only M . chrysoleuca and C. calculus subsp. calculus are restricted to quartz fields and endemic to the region. But all of them form typical elements of that kind of quartz-field habitat. The soil conditions do not vary considerably from those of the previous community. The Dicrocaulon longifolium-community (Fig. 15) is restricted to the acid, stony, non-saline quartz fields in the north-eastern part of the Knersvlakte on gentle slopes. D. longifolium Ihlenfeldt ined. is endemic to the Knersvlakte and restricted to quartz fields. It is found there on the acid, non-saline, rocky quartz-field habitats. C. calculus subsp. calculus is a ch aracteristic element of the community but also Tetragonia verrucosa (Aizoaceae), Gaz ania krebsiana (Asteraceae), Hirpicium alienatum (Asteraceae) , and Argyroderma crateriforme (mesemb) occur here. T verrucosa, G. krebsiana and H alienatum are typically found on acid, non-saline quartz fields but they are not restricted to them, they are often found on other rocky habitats as well. In contrast to all the other Conophytum mentioned above, C. subfenestratum (Fig. 7-16) regularly occurs on moderately saline quartz field s of the Knersvlakte. It is often associated with Argyroderma delaetii, Argyroderma congregatum (mesemb) and Sarcocornia xerophila (Chenopod-

Figure 7-14. Ruschia burtoniae (tall shrub with bluish leaves) and Antimima watermeyeri (small brownish shrub) on quartz fields in the Knersvlakte.

Figure 7-1 S. Dicrocaulon Jongifolium vegetation unit from the northwestern Knersvlakte.

358

iaceae) (Fig. 7-17). The soil pH is moderately acid to neutral (pH 4.7-7.2). Corresponding to C. subfenestratum, C. concavum (Fig. 7-18) also occurs on quartz fields with saline (5-7 mS/cm) and almost neutral soils (pH 5.5 -7) with relatively low stone content. But in contrast to the first, C. concavum is not found in the Knersvlakte but is restricted the Riethuis-Wallekraal Region (Fig. 7-3). It is particularly characteristic for the Meyerophytum globosum-community (Fig. 7- 19) which is dominated by Meyerophytum globosum (mesemb, better known as "Michelinia globosa" nom. joc.). The community comprises C. concavum, Tetragonia v errucosa (Aizoaceae) and ] acobsenia vaginata (mesemb). M. globosum and J vaginata are largely endemic to the same area as C. concavum. On soils with even higher salinity, Jacobsenia vaginata dominates (Fig. 7-20) and forms a community of its own which is also, though less frequently, associated with C. concavum. Conophytum maughanii subsp. latum (Fig. 7-21) occurs in various communities of the nonsaline quartz fields in the Richtersveld (Fig. 7-

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22). It is mainly associated with Cephalophyllum regale, Aspazoma amplectens and R uschia leucosperma (all mesembs) . The two latter are fruticose dwarf-shrubs that often (R. leucosperma) or always (A. amplectens) occur on non-saline, stony quartz fields between the Richtersveld and the Riethuis-Wallekraal Region. Cephalophyllum regale is endemic to the non-saline quartz fields of the Northern Richtersveld Region. Conophytum friedrichiae (Fig. 7-23) is a characteristic element of the quartz-field vegetation of the Bushmanland-Warmbad Region. It occurs there on level quartz fields or gentle slopes with shallow soils, with low stone content, very low salinity ( < 0.1 mS/cm) and neutral soils (pH 6.3-7.3) . On those quartz fields (Fig. 7-24) C. friedrichiae is found in association with the tufted grass Oropetium capense (Poaceae), with the flowering stones Lapidaria margaretae and Lithops ju/ii (both mesembs), with the Crassula mesembryanthemopsis submerged (Crassulaceae) as well as Anacampseros papyracea subsp. namaensis (Portulacaceae). In most cases, the grass Oropetium capense dominates the vegetation by providing the highest cover values whereas the other species are far less abundant.

7

Figure 7-16. Flowering Conophytum subfenestratum on a quartz field in the Knersvlakte.

Conophytum and the habitat ecology of the quartz fields What is so special about the quartz fields and why are there so many "flowering stones" restricted to that them? If one compares the soil properties and vegetation structure of the quartz fields with those of the surrounding zonal habitats, some characteristic features of the quartz fields emerge: besides their surface layer of quartz stones, the quartz fields differ from the surrounding soils by having shallower soils, higher stone content or higher salinity (Schmiedel &Jurgens 1999). They have either shallow, rocky soils with low ability to store water, or the soils are not particularly shallow nor rich in stone content but are very saline which causes high osmolarity in soil. Consequently, quartz fields represent unfavourable conditions in terms of water supply. The edaphic aridity increases with increasing salinity as well as decreasing soil depth and increasing stone content. With increasing edaphic aridity the abundance of reduced, dwarf growth forms increases. However, different plant growth forms are associated with different habitat conditions. Dwarf shrubs with spheroid leaves or leaf-pairs (like most of the Conophytum species) tend to be more abundant on quartz fields with shallow soils with either high stone content or

Figure 7-17. Typical vegetation unit comprising Sarcocornia xerophila , Argyroderma delaetii and Conophytum subfenestratum (Knersvlakte).

Figure 7-18. Conophytum concavum is restricted to the quartz fields of the Riethuis-Wallekraal Region.

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7

Figure 7-19. Meyerophytum g/obosum-vegetation unit from the RiethuisWallekraal Region which is often associated with Conophytum concavum.

Figure 7-20. jacobsenia vaginata-vegetation unit occur on saline quartz fields of the Riethuis-Wallekraal Region .

Figure 7-21 . Conophytum maughanii subsp. latum from the quartz fields of the Richtersveld .

36 0

high salinity, whereas dwarf shrubs with submerged leaves (like most of the Lithops species but also some Conophytum, e.g., C. subfenestratum, C. concavum) tend to be more abundant on quartz fields with deeper soils, less high stone content but high salinity. Such soils are also characterised by a softer texture which may enable the plants to withdraw. Obviously, these two kinds of growthform groups represent adaptations to particular habitat conditions. Moreover, similar habitat conditions promote the evolution of similar growth forms. Hence, the similarity in growth forms between C. subfenestratum and C. concavum (soft, semi-submerged bodies) may also be due to convergence as an adaptation to similar habitat conditions and not due to close relation. Future phylogenetic analysis which also includes molecular characters will hopefully solve such questions. Conophytum species are generally adapted to rocky habitats like rock crevices or outcrops. Considering the habitat conditions of rocky, nonsaline quartz fields, it seems to be quite likely that Conophytum species easily colonise the latter since stony, rocky habitats resemble non-saline quartz fields in terms of growing conditions for plants. Like quartz-field habitats, the rock crevices and outcrops provide adverse growing conditions which only specialists can handle. T heir specialisation comprises the ability to store large amounts of water (compared to their total size) and to keep that for long periods against the dry air. For that purpose, spheroid or submerged leaves seem to be perfect: the leaves serve as a water storage and their spheroid shape provides the smallest surface area compared to the volume. The smaller the surface the lower the water loss by evaporation. In submerged plants the surrounding soil seems to provide additional protection against water loss (Eller & Ruess 1982). Due to the reduced axis and the reduced numbers of leaves, these specialists grow slowly and remain small. Consequently, they will never be able to compete with the shrubby vegetation of the zonal habitats of the surrounding areas. Conophytum evolved such growth forms as adaptation to the rocky habitats in general and this enables them to enter quartz fields as well. However, some of the Conophytum species (i.e., C. concavum, C. obscurum subsp. vitreopapillum, C. subfenestratum), succeeded even to colonise saline quartz fields, a rather unusual habitat for Conophytum. Perhaps these Conophytum taxa found on saline soils represent the most derived taxa within the genus. But this has to be proved via phylogenetic analyses.

APPE N D I X

Despite the similarity between some kinds of quartz fields and outcrops or rock crevices there is a most relevant difference between them: quartz fields are open habitats and the plants that inhabit quartz fields are completely exposed to the incoming radiation. D ue to the edaphic aridity of the quartz fields, only highly succulent dwarf plants that grow close to the soil surface occur there. But in warm deserts soil surface temperatures may exceed 70°C which can become critical for plants (Montagne 1938, Nobel 1984, 1989, Nobel et al. 1986, von Willert et al. 1992). Most of the taxa which comprise ground-level or subterranean growth forms like Conophytum inhabit micro-sites like rock crevices which are edaphically arid but are shaded for at least part of the day. But how do the quartz-field inhabitants cope with these conditions? Obviously, the specific properties of quartz influence the soil surface temperature on the quartz fields. Microclimatic measurements on soils with and without quartz cover show that the daily maximum temperatures on quartz fields are up to S°C cooler than those of soils without quartz cover. This milder microclimate has measurable consequences for the plants. The daily maximum temperatures of the leaf surface of Argyroderma pearsonii-plants growing on quartz fields are also up to S°C lower than of individuals of the same species that grow outside the quartz fields (Schmiedel unpublished data). Obviously, quartz fields on the one hand provide adverse growing conditions by being edaphically extremely arid. On the other hand the relatively mild microclimate eases life for the dwarfs. Therefore, the high prevalence of ground-level growth forms on quartz fields seems to be enabled by a decrease of thermal impact, owing to the specific properties of quartz. The microclimatical and edaphic uniqueness of the quartz field s obviously promoted the specialisation of numerous plant taxa to this singular habitat, thus resulting in an unparalleled flora of quartz field specialists.

7

Figure 7-22. Conophytum maughanii subsp. /atum is often occurs on non -saline quartz fields of the Richtersveld together with Cephalophyllum regale (with yellow flowers).

Figure 7-23. Conophytum friedrichiae from the quartz fields of the Bushmanland-Warmbad Region . ~~~~~~~~~~~~-

Acknowledgements T he vegetation surveys and habitat data were collected on numerous field trips which were carried out with the financial support by the Cactus and Succulent Society of America (CSSA), the Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst (DAAD), the Deutsche Kakteen Gesellschaft e.V., the International Organisation for Succulent Plant Study (IOS), the Merensky Stipendien Stiftung and the Stifterverband fur

Figure 7-24. Typical habitat of Conophytum friedrichiae in the BushmanlandWarmbad Region where it occurs together with Oropetium capense , Lapidaria margaretae, Uthops ju/ii and Anacampseros papyracea subsp. namaensis .

36 1

APPENDIX

7

die Deut che Wissenschaft. I would also like to thank Western Cape Nature Conservation, Northern Cape Nature Con ervation (South Africa), and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (Namibia) for their kind co-operation. any thanks to the numerous farmers for their support and hospitality and the permission to carry out research on their farms. Steven Hammer is thanked for the opportunity to contribute a chapter to this book, Norbert Jurgens for the supervision of my PhD thesis.

References BROWN, N.E. (1927). Muiria hortenseae N.E.Br. The Gardeners' Chronicle, 116-117. COWLING, R.M ., ESLER, K.J. & RUNDEL, P.W. (1999). Namaqualand, South Africa-an overview of a unique winter-rainfall desert ecosystem. Plant Ecology 142: 3-21. ELLER, B.M . & RUESS, B. (1982). Water relations of Lithops plants embedded into the soil and exposed to free air. Physiol. Plant. 55: 329-334. H ALL, H . (1956). Muiria hortenseae N.E.Br. and its neighbours. Cactus and Succulent j ournal (GB), 41-42. HAMMER, S. (1993). The genus Conophytum-A conograph. Succulent Plant Publications, Pretoria. HARTMAN , H .E.K. (1977). Monographie der Gattung Argyroderma N.E.Br. (Mesembryanthemaceae Fenzl). Mitteilungen des Institutsf Allgemeine Botanik, H amburg 15: 121-235. HARTMAN , H.E.K. (1992). Ihlenfeldtia, a new genus in Mesembryanthema (Aizoaceae). Botanische ] ahrbiicherfiir Systematik 141: 29-50. HILTON-TAYLOR, C. (1996). Patterns and characteristics of the flora of the Succulent Karoo Biome, southern Africa. In: VAN DER MAESEN, L.J.G. & ET.AL. (EDS.). The B iodiversity ofAfrican Plants. (pp. 58-72). Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Hague. HOFFMAN, M.T. & COWLING, R.M. (1987). Plant physiognomy, phenology and demography. In: COWL! G, R.M. AND Roux, P.W. (EDS.). The Karoo Biome: a preliminary synthesis. Part 2: Vegetation and history. (pp. 1-34). CSIR, Pretoria. IHLENFELDT, H .-D . (1978). Morphologie und Taxonomie der Gattung Oophytum N.E.Br. (Mesembryanthemaceae). Botanische ] ahrbiicher for Systematik 99(2/3): 303-328. IHLENFELDT, H .-D. (1983). Dispersal of Mesembryanthemaceae in Arid H abitats. Sonderbaende des Naturwissenschajtlichen Vereins, H amburg 7: 381-390. IHLENFELDT, H .-D. (1988). Morphologie und Taxonomie der Gattungen Diplosoma Schwantes und Maughaniella L.Bolus (Mesembryanthemaceae). Beitriige z. Biologie d. Pjlanzen 63 : 375-401. IHLE FELDT, H .-D. (1997). The systematic position of the genus Drosanthemopsis Rauschert and a revision of the genus ] acobsenia L.Bolus & Schwantes (Mesembryanthemaceae). Mitteilungen des I nstituts f Allgemeine Botanik, H amburg 27: 109-126. IHLENFELDT, H. -D. &JORGENSEN, S. (1973). Morphologie und Taxonomie der G attung Monilaria (Schwantes) Schwantes s.str. (Mesembryanthemaceae) (Monographie der Mitrophyllinae Schwantes I) . Mitteilungen des Staatsinstitutsf Allgemeine Botanik, .. H amburg 14: 49-94. JORGENS, N . (1986). Untersuchungen zur Okologie sukkulenter Pflanzen des si.idlichen Afrika. Mitt.Inst.Alig.Bot. H amburg 21: 139-365. JORGENS, N. (1991). A new approach to the Namib Region. I: Phytogeographic subdivision. Vegetatio 97: 21-38. MILTO , S.J. , YEATON, R.I., DEAN, W .R.]. & VLOK, J.H.J. (1997). Succulent karoo. In: COWL! G, R.M ., RICHARDSON, D.M. & PIERCE, S.M. (EDS.). Vegetation of Southern Africa. (pp. 131-166). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. MONTAGNE, P. (1938) . Larousse Gastronomique. Auge, Gillon, H ollier-Larousse, Moreau et Cie (Librairie Larousse), Paris. NOBEL, PS. (1984). Extreme temperatures and thermal tolerances for seedlings of desert succulents. Oecologia 62: 310-317. NOBEL, P.S., GELLER, G.N., KEE, S.C. & ZIMMERMA , A. D. (1986). Temperatures and thermal tolerances for cacti exposed to high temperatures near soil surface. Plant, Cell and Environment 9: 279-287. NOBEL, P.S. (1989). Shoot temperatures and thermal tolerances for succulent species of Haworthia and L ithops. Plant, Cell and Environment 12: 643-651. SAUER, N. (1979). Dinteranthu.i--Additional notes . Aloe 17: 95 -102. SCHMIEDEL, U. , &JORGE s, N . (1999). Community structure on unusual habitat island: quartz-fields in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa. Plant Ecology 142: 57-69. SMITH, G.F., CHESSELET, P., VAN JAARSVELD, E.J., H ARTMA ' H .E.K., HAMMER, S., VA WYK, B.-E., BURGOYNE, P., KLAK, C., & KURZWEIL, H . (1998). Mesembs of the world. Briza Publications, Pretoria. Ute Schmiedel, Botanical Institute and Botanic VON WILLERT, D.J. , ELLER, B.M., WERGER, M.J.A., Garden, University of Hamburg, Ohnhorststrasse 18, BRINCKMA N, E., & IHLENFELDT, H .- D . (1992). Life D-22609 Hamburg, Germany. strategies of succulents in deserts with special reference to the Email: [email protected] Namib desert. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

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Appendix 8 Conophytums and Commerce Chris Rodgerson

I

never really planned to sell conophytums-it just happened. After I had published a few conophytum articles in the Mesemb Study Group Bulletin and other journals, collectors began to write me, asking ifI had this or that plant to spare. Never being one to hoard what I have, I was usually only too pleased to oblige, especially if they had material I didn't have and were willing to exchange. In this way, I was able to quickly increase my collection and at the same time distribute mine to others. My first sales list, issued in the autumn of 1987, offered about twenty different species, and few of those had locality data. Helped by the vast amount of field work that has taken place over the intervening years, my list has increased to more than five hundred names and localities today. Early on, I realised that a lot of space-indeed, too much space-was needed to propagate rooted plants of everything I had, so I wondered if collectors would be interested in purchasing unrooted cuttings. They were, as it turned out, and now I find that experienced growers order more unrooted than rooted plants. Cuttings are cheaper (less work for me), and the practise allows me to offer many more clones, virtually my entire collection. Besides, why take up space with pots and pots of rooted cuttings of ten different C. truncatum forms, when only a few people will want to buy them? With a genus so diverse in shape and colouration, there have to be attractive plants and dullish ones, and those which are easier or trickier to grow. The common and less showy mammillarias are usually less expensive than their harder-to-grow, larger-flowered relatives . This can also apply to conophytums. Easy-to-grow species such as C. truncatum, C. uviforme, C. minutum, and C. breve are often left unwanted and unloved by the end of February. These species should be less expensive than, for example, C. achabense and C. chrisolum, which are relatively difficult to grow, slow to mature, and only propagable via seed, since they do not branch. Similarly, C. roodiae and C. turrigerum are uncommon, a bit tricky, and are, moreover, in high demand. So, I try to compromise. There are growers wishing to start with an inexpensive collection, but who have no experience with rooting cuttings and need cheaper plants, already rooted. There are also experienced collectors who want to add rarities to their collections and would prefer a rooted plant in case a cutting failed. Both types will at times want the less "desirable" species, particularly the specialist who wants a comprehensive collection of species and forms. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In the main, though, the most requested species are those newly described and the rare and difficult. Does anyone else want all five hundred offerings? Well, yes, sometimes-but they generally want their acquisitions piecemeal, and I do encourage people to not go crazy all at once. I also try to encourage the novice who orders only rooted plants, by including a few cuttings gratis, with notes on how easy it can be to root them. Being an ardent collector and enthusiast of the plants myself, I'm often a bit sad to part with them. One wellknown nurseryman prices his plants in proportion to the extent that he will miss them. Those he loves the most are the most expensive. Fair enough! If one has to pay what seems like a lot of money for something, it is often cherished all the more. At the very least, the more expensive plants will probably get more careful attention. A lot of work is involved in producing a long list of conos for sale. This is condensed into the period from late summer to mid-winter, and especially into the first half of autumn, when the plants are most active. This is the most successful time not just to root cuttings for inclusion on the following year's list, but also to re-establish older rooted plants. A conophytum is often disturbed, and sometimes lingeringly resentful, when cuttings are taken from it, particularly if unpotting is necessary, so I try to monitor the plant closely to make sure that its post-op transition is smooth. Usually there is no problem, but I do try to check all my pruned plants every day. It is not as if the duty were unpleasant! The plants themselves mostly dictate when, how, and in what quantities they will be offered. Conos are an ea il sustainable commodity when grown well, and they can soon outgrow their allotted space. One does not need hu e clusters to enjoy their beauty. Indeed, they can begin to look untidy when a few years old, so it is better to rejuvenate them by starting again from cuttings. The ease with which conophytums can multiply was a major factor in m earl · 363

APPENDIX

B

success. A two-headed C. swanepoelianum seedling can turn into a 30-headed minimonster within three years! (Of course, the other side of the coin is that the same plant can also be lost to scorch in a matter of minutes.) Loaves and fishes are all very well, but conos are hard to beat for miraculous increase. I also propagate from seed. Though this can be a slow process, it is essential for some species and is also the means by which cultivars are created. I would much prefer to give plants away than to sell them, but I am very busily self-employed, so needs mustand if I offered them for free I would soon be inundated, I'm sure! They say that time is worth its wait in money, and it does take a lot of time to fill an order-choosing the healthiest clones in the right state, not too wet, not too dry, cleaning and labelling, preparing tissue for packing, wrapping, unwrapping to replace a label which has mysteriously levitated, rewrapping, boxing up, unboxing to add the cutting which the customer requested at the last minute .... It is not worth doing unless it is done neatly-the whole data system relies on 100% accuracy. To send out a plant in poor condition would reflect badly on my commitment to this genus. Once in a great while, a plant mummifies or rots in transit. It will have looked fine when I packed it, but two days in a claustrophobic box can have strange effects. Of course I replace any mummies or blobs. I really do love the plants and manage to attract other people who feel the same way. I must be doing it right, as the same people order every year-but as they also say, you can't please all of the people all of the time. I once had a man ask how much root is on my rooted plants-for some reason, when I asked if he'd like me to measure them, he thought my answer sarcastic! What can be a problem for growers is helping plants adjust when transferred from the northern to southern hemisphere, and vice-versa. When I've received plants direct from a South African nursery, whatever the time of year, they are potted and watered immediately. Once established (obvious by the noticeable swelling of the bodies) they can then be rested early or given an extended period of growth-whichever is applicable, according to when in the season the plants arrive. This can be tricky to get exactly right, but the plants are usually quite forgiving, and within a year they will have adjusted to their new growing season. Over the years it has been interesting to see species evolving from total obscurity to an easy availability. Two species described in the 1920's, C. angelicae and C. taylorianum, were hardly known in cultivation just a dozen years ago. Diligent work in the field and under glass has made these species widely available as seed and plants, and deservedly so, for both are superb horticultural subjects . Newly discovered species seem to get into collections much quicker now than was the case a few years ago, again due to the efforts of some dedicated growers. A case in point is C. reconditum, a lovely dwarf species discovered by Anthony Mitchell. This quickly became available due to the willingness of a few growers to cut and cut again their stock. The same growers were careful enough to set and capture seed on their plants, which also helped the process considerably. People often ask about my favorite conophytum. It has long been C. turrigerum, for its steely, blue-grey, knobbly bodies and lovely, large, pink flowers. In addition, to grow it well is a challenge, at least for water-stingy/paranoiac growers. Steven Hammer used to tell me he could not keep it alive. That wasn't quite true, but he still cannot grow the tiny Paarlberg form, which is relatively easy for me under humid UK conditions. Ironically enough, the basis of my Paarlberg pot was the wild-collected seed Steven gave to the MSG in 1986. Hundreds of plants and many more seeds have been produced from that initial offering. Other growers have other favourites. I get orders for all the Pellucida forms I have, or all the Minusculas. It pleases me when people order cuttings and ask for different clones from a given population in order to see the variation and to produce seed when those clones flower together. In this way, the work and the excitement of breeding can be shared. A good example is C. minimum "wittebergense". Steven sent me some seed from selected plants a decade ago. I raised a large brood of seedlings, some of which had such dark, elegant markings that Steven later asked for cuttings of them. It's a constant challenge to be able to offer new forms each year. The list would soon grow stale for regular customers if only the same plants were offered year after year. I'm constantly in contact with other growers, hoping to discover who has what, and if anything new (or very old) is around. As long as there are those few out there who are willing to go where no one has gone before, in the search for new conos in the wild, the hobby will continue to be an evolving source of pleasure and surprise. I'll wager that there are still many new species to be found. However, if theses become inaccessible through import regulations and conservation concerns, we will still have another path to novelty: cultivars and hybrids. Some of my most popular offerings have been the twisty-petalled Chris Rodgerson, 35 Lydgate Hall Crescent, Japanese hybrids. These have their own fascination though Sheffield, SJ 0 SNE, England for me they will never have quite the appeal of the pure Email: [email protected] species, part of nature's endless puzzle.

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Appendix 9 Momento Mori

0

nee time machines are perfected, I'll procure a round-trip ticket to 1927's London-I assume one will need to specify both date and place-to view N.E. Brown's mesemb collection in its heyday. I'd also like to make a minor saltation to the day in 1933 when C. puberulum .E.Br. ms. (the future C. semivestitum L.Bolus) arrived on Brown doorstep. I'd take a cutting and spirit it back to 2002, whereupon it would shed sixty-nine sheaths at once and live happily ever after. In any case it would have been a great privilege to see Brown's collection and to converse with the man himself, for he was part of the grand tradition of keen grower-observers, Adrian Haworth being an earlier exemplar of the same distinctively English line. After Brown's death in November 1934, his plant material was offered for sale. The list of conophytums is reproduced below. It must have been a most collection! Harry Hall was one of the first recipients of the list. He gave me a fifty-year-old copy shortly before his own death, ruefully remarking that he wished he'd had the funds to buy the lot. He would surely have preserved C. semivestitum and several other rarities which are dust now. Nevertheless, many of the plants on this list are still with us, fresh as Lethe's water and having a timeless self-renewal denied to humans. N .B. We have left the list intact, warts, hallucinogens, and all. Conophiles will notice quite a few familiar numbers and it would be interesting to discover exactly how many of these clones still persist in UK collections. Etc.

1934

List of Dr. N.E. Brown's Plants for Disposal. Conophytum minutum. minutiflora 11950 Marloth. minutum 1198 Kirstenbosch. truncatellum 136 placitum 1985 Marloth polulum type 6916 P.Evans. sp. hians 6915 Marloth. truncatellum. sp. Vanzijlii Herre. sp. pusillum N.E.B. 7 Muir. sp. Muir sp. Muir. sp. Muir. sp. sp. Muir. sp. Muir. sp. Muir. sp. Muir. minutum Muir minutum Muir minutum Muir

3d. 6d.

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large pan.

6d 11

bilobum 8821 Herre. ) sp. 9745 Herre )

2/365

A

PPEN DI X

9

" ? bilobum 10216 Herre.) sp. 10153 Herre. ) compressum 8460 Herre. sp. 8753 Herre. sp. 8549 Herre. ficiforme var. viride ) sp. ) familiare. Wiggettae type 4 Wigget

2 /9d 3d

6d 1 /-

Taylorianum) Graessneri ) apiatum ) corcutum ) ? gratum) roseolineatum. globuliferum. brevitulum 424 Muir fraternum type 6177 Pearson flavum type 6319 Marloth Klaverense. ovatum. germanum M.Brown. germanum type. Fulleri 704 M.Brown. ficiforme 1257 Marloth. globosum type 5582 Pearson. Fulleri concinnum. caterovum. luteopurpureum 7 Pole Evans auriflorum. Batesii calculus 1031 M.Brown. altile minutum 12934 Marloth Edithae

3d

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Conophytum uvaeforme. ? lpuncatellum 10328 Herre sp. 10152 Herre) sp. 1O154 Herre) sp. 8845 Nel. ) constratum N.E.B.Herre ) velutinum Herre. longum? 8769 Herre. sp 10236 Herre. spp. sp. 9247 Herre. simile Miss Pode. velutinum Herre. violaceiflorum 1058 M.Brown 3 66

1/ 6 2/ 6 9d 1 /-

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K.

K.

APPENDIX

Stephanii 9728 Herre. ornatum 9267 Herre. ) vallidum 1045 M.Brown) sp. 9335 Herre. sp. 10266 Herre. sp. 8851 Herre. sp. Herre. sp. 8947 Herre. sp. 10186 Herre) sp. 10257 Herre) sp. 9314 Nel. ) sp. 10234 Herre ) sp. 10312 Herre. sp 10115 Herre. ) sp 10258 Herre ) frutescens Herre) sp. Herre ) velutinum 8911 Nel inscriptum Herre) sp. Herre ) mundum 8 Heath sp. 10030 Herre. Victoris type. pumilum N.E.B. 4 Pole Evans ? cylindratum 8365 Nel. Pearsonii type 5469 Pearson minutifl.orum 5182 Pillans ) sp. 7 Pole Evans ) vagum 434/ 1898 Kew. nugalis 388 Muir. sp. 16 Fuller saxetanum 7188 Pole Evans signatum type 25 Elisha sacetanum Marloth uvaeforme M.Brown violaceiflorum type parviflorum N.E.B.type 6019 Pole Evans mundum type 7 Heath sp. 9 ODonoghue Muirii type 3883 Muir obcordellum 15 Taylor parvipetalum 12 Elisha sp. Fulleri 5 Fuller ) sp. 1040 M.Brown) subalbum. viridicatum 25 Heath piluliforme 4029 Muir polulum 2974 Kirst. praeparvum type 12887 Marloth placitum 1986 Marloth pallidum Cooper. sp. 4263 Muir. sp. 1213 M.Brown

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APPENDIX

9

- 3 -

Conophytum sp. 10256 Herre ) 11 sp. 9268 Herre. ) sp. 10263 Herre ) catervum type 4975 Pole Evans. ) sp. 9280 Herre. concinnum 10228 Her re. ) sp. 10245 Herre. ) concinnum 10281 Herre) minutum? 10270 Herre) orbicum 9330 Nel sp. 10268 Herre) sp. 9744 Herre) Wettstenii 9315 Herre) sp. 9319 Nel. ) bifidum N.E .B.10190 Herre ) sp. ) 11 velutinum ? Herre ) 11 Nelianum Nel. ) 11 Meyerae Herre. cauliferum Herre ) mundum 10311 Herre ) sp. 10309 Herre ) frutescens Nel. nelianum Herre ? dostuosum 10172 Herre) sp. 10114 Herre ) Luisa = C. dumale N.E .B. muscosi - papillatum Herre Luisae Herre) sp. Herre ) Nevillei Pillans sp. M.Brown Framesii type Kirst . Fulleri M.Brown gratum 6063 Pearson

1 /1 /-

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2 /-

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1/ 6

2 /-

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1/ 6 longistylum 5184 Pillans concinnum 105la M.Brown minutum Muir 103 M. Brown odoratum type tantillum type 6512 Marloth gracilistylum 5572 Marloth ficiforme truncatellum 981 Kirst Loeschianum Fulleri 713 M.Brown subtilis 1043 M.Brown ? veridicatum O'Donoghue sp. 3811 Muir Purpusii Pearson Pagae type 7776 Kirst. placitum Marloth 368

2 /2 /6d 9d 9d 6d 9d 1 /9d 1 /1 /6d 9d

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APPENDIX 11 11

miserulum 0 'Donoghue incipunctum 6034 Pillans transversum M. Brown sp. Heath uvaeforme Richardiana ) longifissum ) minutum 5470 Pearson Johannis Winkleri leviculum type Heath labyrintheum type 26 Elisha transversum M . Brown minutum var. laxum Compton petraeum type Pole Evans klaverense 3871 Muir

1 /1/ 6 6d 3d 9d

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-4 Conophytum sp.8688 Herre) sp. 8775 Herr e ) globulum N.E .B. 10380 Herre sp. 8845 Nel. sp. 8932 Herre sp. 8283 Herr e sp. 26 Herre sp. 8824 Herr e) sp. 8808 Herre) sp. 8811 Herre as C.Flavum ) sp. 8836 Herre ) Nanum N.E .B. Muir ( 3) sp. Muir sp. Muir biloba ? 36 Herre sp. 8459 Herr e sp. 85L8 Her re ) sp ? C.labyrintheum Herre ) doornense 8 7 78 Nel. laxipetalum N.E.B.8415 Herre) sp. 9896 Herr e ) nanum var. Muir ( 5) sp. sp. Hon.Mrs Ryder as Pillans No.2 sp. 6697 Pillans sp 1 ? minusculum D.Cooke Friedrichiae longum type 6 P. Evans spp. impolitum 8836 Nel ) 11 sp 8836 Her r e ) 11 procerum 10015 Herre ) clarinotatum 10093 Herre ) germinum 8835 Herre 11 sp. 9404 Herre II

1 Pot

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1 /-

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APPENDIX

9 II II

II

II II II II II

Pauxillum 23 Elisha semotum 1037 M.B. sp. pallidum 4 Elisha Nevillei ? 50 De Laet M.B. Poellnitzianum ? truncatellum sp. Marloth Taylorianum O'Donoghue Purpusii sp. 132 v.d.Bijl Wettestenii 2253 Kirst 6934 Marloth ? minutum 14 0 'Donoghue sp. 4207 Muir sp. Piluliforme type 15 Elishae oripictum 13290 Marloth sp. petraeum 12 Heath Purpusii sp. sp. 1076 M.B. distinctum 10267 Herre prasectum type 18 Fuller gaesitum? sp. 4157 Muir angustum N.E .B. type 1047 M.B. vanrhynsdropense recisum N.E.B. type 138 M.B. simplum 1039 M.B. ? tantillum 9280 Herre. sp. 9657 Herre

1/6 1/6 9d 2/6d 3d 1/6 1 /9d 2/1 /1 /1 /1/6 6d 9d 6d 1 /1 /3d 6d 1 /6d 6d 3/4/6d 6d 2/6 2/1/6 4/1 /1/ -

K

G.

K

K

G. G.

K K

G. G.

K K

K K.

- 5 Conophytum sp. 9312 Herre sp. 29 De Laet sp. 9329 Herre sp. 10381 Herre hybrid 9532 Herre Elishae sp. sp. 13554 Marloth glaucum N.E.B. 9746 Herre) Praecox N.E.B. 9660 Herre) auctum type 1055 M.B. sp. plenum N.E.B. type 1052 M.B. vescum type 5040 Pillans sp. 9269 Herre sp. 13545 Marloth sp. 9284 Herre 370

1 /9d 1 /6d 6d 1 /9d 1/6 2/-

K.

5/1/6 2/2/1/6 1/ 1/6 1 /-

G. K. K

K.

APPENDIX

gracile type 1052 M.B. sp. 9100 Herre) 11 sp. 8933 Herre) 11 Pillansii " sp. 9331 Herre 11 Vanrhynadropense ? 9533 Nel) sp. ) globosum Nevillei 33 De Laet sp. 8365 A .Herre notatum type 11 Taylor spirale 3822 Pillans uvaeforme Pearsonii var. minor 3002 K. pauxillum type 20 Elisha 1813 11 sciterlum 5 Elisha type 11 sp. O'Donoghue 11 Pole Evan sli type Pole Evans 11 tumidum type 11 incurvum type 1046 M.Brown Wllchraal 11 retusum type 6925 Marloth 11 Elishae 11 sp. 1052 M.Brown 11 bilobum 974 4 Herre 11 obtusum type 1056 M.Brown 11 springbok ense N.E .B. type 4163 Muir Meyeri type yellow 6516 Marloth velutinum 13337 Marloth sororium type Pearson guaesitum? pubescens Tischer ) in one miserum 4135 Muir ) pot velutinum Tischer simile N.E .B. type 5688 Pillans cauliforum type 61 76 Pearson apiatum 6058 Pearson frutescens 13336 Marloth ) di varicatu m not published ) 6906 Marloth ) sp. 9749 Herre) prospersum 1051 M Brown ) exiguum type N.E.B. 1054 M.B. ) ramosum 8 910 Herre &: Neal ) sp. ) diversum 6906 Marloth cognatum Muir 8 exsertum type Heath 11

2/ 6

9

K.

11

2

2

1/ 6 1/ 6 6d 2 /1/ 6 1 /2/2/ 6 1/ 6 3/2 /1/ 6 2/5 /5 /5 /4/4 /2/2/2/3/-

G. G.

K.

K. K.

good plants K. II

K. ) 9 K. ) ' same

each K.

3/3/2/3 /1 /-

K. K.

3/-

K

1/ 6 3/5/2 /-

K K K

K K

K

3 /2 /-

k

3 /-

K

3/1/ 6 2 /5 /-

good

K.

- 6 -

Conophytum frutescens 13504 Marloth 11 puberulum N.E.B. 10107 Herre

1/6 2/6 371

APPENDIX

9 II II

albescens 6919 Marloth albescens Parsons hians 1044 M.Brown Meyeri 6908 Marloth cordatum andausanum 6908 Marloth sp. 8911 Herre minutiflorum 8546 Herre hians ? 9752 Herre) ) fusiforms 9739 literatum ? 10094 Herre) brevilobum N.E.B. Herre ) sp. 8490 Herre) 1 /sp. 8771 Herre) ) Loeschianum Braunsii Herre ) Schlechteri Herre) velutinum 8849 Nel) ) sp. 8849 Herre ) sp. 8848 Herre sp. 8847 Herre Marlothii type 6941 Marlothii minutum 1034 M.Brown sp. Heath sp. 9750 Herre concinnum 8737 Herre parile 6021 Pearson ) sp. 10016 bilobum 9284 Herre ) minutum sp. 10178 Herre sp. 9661 Herre sp. M. Brown sp. 0 'Donoghue pellucidum 6827 Marlothii Maughanii 710 M.B. truncatellum 12600 Marloth sp. 15 Heath sp. M.B. sp. 2183 Marloth sp. 8747 Herre ) sp. 8364 Nel ) sp. O'Donaghue flavum 13405 Marloth novicium N.E .B. type 13545 Marloth obcordellum 16 Taylor sp. sp. ? Marlothii 8776 Herre sp. M.B . sp. calculus ? 1033 M.B. sp. 3864 Muir sp. 36. De Laet sp. 1007 M.B. II

I

II II

II

II II

II II II II

372

1/ 6 2 /2 /2 /1/1/ 6 1 /1/ 6

K K

2 /2 /1 /3 /-

K

2 /6d 2 /2/6 6d 1 /9d 2 /-

K

3 /6d 9d 6d 1 /1 /2 /3 /2 /1/6 1 /1/ 6

G G

K.

G.

K

2 /6d 3 /3/1 /1/ 6 6d 1 /1 /1/1/ 6 1 /9d

APPENDIX JI

11

2

JI 1

sp. M.B. sp. 4003 Muir Maughanii 19 Fuller sp. Labarre guaesitum ) ? minutum) sp. 6020 P.E. sp. M.B. separatum N.E.B. 1036 M.B. transversum sp. M.B. sp. 24 Bates misellum type 6933 Marloth sp. 3881 Muir sp. 1200 Marloth

9

6d 6d 3 /6d 9d 6d 9d

2 /-

G

6d 3d 6d

2 /-

G.

K.

6d 3d

-7 Conophytum sp. 10047 Giftberg) ) sp. 10151 Herre ) sp. 10074 Herre sp. 9798 Herre altum 5687 Pillins literatum type M.Brown sp. 10220 Herre. G) sp. 10073 Herre. ) sparsum 1374 Kirstenbosch sp. 4201 Muir notatum 2 Heath type 11 parvum 1012 M .Brown 11 translucens 11 udabibense Tischer 11 tectum type 1057 M.Brown sp. M.Brown 11 novellum 11899 Marloth cripictum 1041 M .B. uvaeforme M .B.) G sp. 24 Elisha ) 11 subriscum 5466 Pearson sp. 6904 Marloth sp. 7 O'Donoghue sp. M.B. sp. Miss Hope sp. sp. O'Donoghue obmetale taype scitulum type Purpusii 4261 Muir G. Elishae type 1030 M.Brown (good) sp. 1054 M.B. sp. 1048 M.B. (good) sp. Corpuscularia Lehmanii Gibbaeum globosum Frith. 4022 Muir 11

11

2 /2 /2 /2 /-

K

2/6 2/2 /3/1/ 6 2 /2 /3/6 6d 6d 3 /-

K.

K

K.

G.

G.

11 11

11

11

11

2/6 2/1/ 6 1 /1 /1 /6d 6d 1/ 6 1/6 2 /3/6 6d 2 /6d 6d

K K K K K

1/6d 373

APPENDIX

9 II

Shand.ii 6921 P.Evans 6921 P.Evans 6921 P.Evans angulipes 3898 Muir geminum 6925 P.Evans II

4

6 3 2 3

album 3623 Muir pilosulum 6297 P.Evans type 6297 P.Evans 6297 P.Evans sp. sp. 6938 Marloth sp. Labarr sp. Muir sp. Muir sp. 3887 Muir pubescens 3662 Muir sp. 3888 Muir sp. Mesembryanthemum selecteum Taylor Mossia Verdvoniae Haworthia truncata Stapelias and Huernias Euphorbia stellespina Pots of Cacti Anhalonium Williamsii XXXXXXXX Anacampseros Urginea sp. Scilla sp. Denteranthus Pole Evansii puberulus inexpectatus

9d 6d 6d 1 /6d 1 /1 /9d 9d 6d 1 /-

9d 9d 9d 9d 6d 1/ 6 6d 9d 1 /6d 1/6 1 /1 /-

3/1 /-

1/6 4/1/6 1 /1 /2/9d 9d 1 /-

Figure 9-1. Nicholas Edward Brown 1849-1934.

374

K

APPENDIX

10

Appendix 10 Innocence Abroad

W

ilhelm Triebner (1883-1957) was a German-South West African who operated a nursery in Windhoek. Established in 1931, it offered a great many succulents, most famously lithops and trichocaulons. The list reproduced here is undated, but from internal evidence (multiplying the Bolus names of 1950 by the length of time required for seedling production divided by the minimal contemporary constraints on collecting) I'd guess ca. 1954. It is an amazing and disturbing list (see speculation on p. 45). One suggestive point: with the exception of C. violaciflorum, all the species offered in lots of 100 were native to South West Africa/Namibia. Triebner knew its terrain very well indeed. We have left all spellings intact. Triebner corrected C. karamoepense long before I did! C. hortum Schwant. is a nice error, C. klipbockbergense has moved to Germany, and C. puperulum Lav. has a butterflied ring.

CONOPHYTUM N.E.Br. advenum N.E.Br. aggregatum (Haw.) N.E.Br. albescens N.E.Br. albifissum Tisch. altile (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. altum L. Bol. " var. plenum L. Bol. amplum L. Bol. andausanum N.E.Br. " var. immaculatum L. Bol. Angelicae (Dtr. et Schwant.) N.E.Br. angustum N.E.Br. apertum Tisch. apiatum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. apiculatum N.E.Br.. aproximatum Lavis . Archeri Lav. assimile (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. auctum N.E.Br. auriflorus Tisch. Batesii N.E.Br. bicarinatum L. Bol. . bilobum (Marl.) N.E.Br. blandum L. Bol. Bolusiae Schwant. breve N.E.Br. brevipetalum Lav. brevitubum Lav. Brownii Tisch. calculus (Bar.) N.E.Br. calitzdorpense L. Bol. catervum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. cauliferum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. ceresianum L. Bol. .

1

316 7/6

plants 10

100

3216

10/-

7/6 7/6 6/10/-

57/6

7/6 7/6 7/6 25/-

7/6 10/-

7/6 7/6 51-

47/6

316 7/6 7/6

32/6

6/-

7/6 316

32/6

5/-

45/-

7/6

7/6 7/6 10/-

5/-

47/6

7/6 7/6 7/6 416 5/7/6 375

APPENDIX

10

7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6

circumpunctatum Schick et Tisch. citrinum L. Bol. clarum N .E.Br. compressum N.E.Br. Comptonii N .E.Br. concavum L. Bol. concinnum Schwant. connatum L. Bol. Conradii L. Bol. convexum L. Bol. corculum Schwant. . cordatum Schick et Tisch. " var. macrostigma L. Bol. comiferum Schick et Tisch. comatum (Schwant.) Schwant. cupreatum Tisch. cylindratum Schwant. declinatum L. Bol. Dennisii N.E.Br. densipunctum (Tisch.) L. Bol. difforme L. Bol. dispar N.E.Br. divaricatum N.E.Br.

5110/-

7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 15/7/6 7/6 316

7/6 51-

47/6

7/6 7/6 10/-

2

divergens L. Bol. diversum N.E.Br. ectypum N.E.Br. Eduardii Schwant. Edwardsiae Lav. eenkokerense L. Bol. Elishae (N.E.Br. ) N.E.Br.. Ernianum Loesch et Tisch. exiquum N.E.Br. exsertum N.E.Br. fenestratum Schwant. fibuliforme (Haw.) N.E.Br. ficiforme (Haw.) N.E.Br. . fimbriatum (Sond.) N.E.Br. flavum N.E.Br. Forresteri L. Bol. fossulatum Tisch. Framesii Lav. fratemum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. frutescens Schwant.. Fulleri L. Bol. germanum N.E.Br. globosum N.E.Br. globuliforme Schick et Tisch. 376

1 416

plants 10 4215

100

7/6 7/6 7/6 51-

47/6

7/6 7/6 51-

47/6

7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 61-

7/6 51-

7/6 7/6 316 316 51-

7/6

47/6 72/6 32/6 32/6 47/6

450/-

APPENDIX

gracile N.E.Br. gracilistylum (L. Bol.) N.E.Br. Graessneri Tisch. grandiflorum L. Bol. gratum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. . haramoepense L. Bol. halenbergense (Dtr. et Schwant.) N.E.Br. Herrei Schwant. hians N.E.Br. hortum Schwant. incurvum N.E.Br. inornatum N.E.Br. Johannis-Winkleri (Dtr. et Schwant.) N.E.Br. Joubertii Lav. jucundum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. Julii Schwant. karamoepense L. Bol. khamiesbergense (L. Bol.) L. Bol. klavarense N.E.Br. . klipbockbergense L. Bol. . kubusanum N.E.Br. . labyrintheum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. . laetum L. Bol. Lambertense Schick et Tisch. latum L. Bol. Lavisianum L. Bol. . laxipetalum N .E.Br. Leipoldtii N.E.Br. Leightoniae L. Bol. . lekkersingense L. Bol. leucanthum Lav. " var. multipetalum L. Bol. leviculum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.

10

7/6 7/6 51-

47/6

7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6

72/6

416

4216

450/-

7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 51316 416

47/6 32/6

450/-

4216

7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 51-

7/6 7/6 7/6 51416

47/6 4216

7/6 61-

7/6 7/6

3

1 limbatum N.E.Br. linearilucidum L. Bol. litaratum N.E.Br. lithopoides L. Bol. Loeschianum Tisch. longibracteatum L. Bol. longifissum Tisch. longipetalum L. Bol. longistylum N.E.Br. longum N .E.Br. lucipunctum N.E.Br. Luckhoffii Lav. Luisae Schwant. luteum N.E.Br.

plants 10

100

7/6 7/6 7/6 416

4216

7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6

72/6

10/-

7/6 51-

7/6 7/6

47/6 72/6

377

A

PP E N DIX

10

7/6 7/6 7/6

marginatum Lav. Markoetterae Schwant. Marlothii N.E.Br. meleagris L. Bol. Meyerae Schwant. Meyeri N.E.Br. minissimum (Haw.) N.E.Br. minusculum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. minutiflorum (Schwant.) N.E.Br. minutum (Haw.) N.E.Br. " var. laxum L. Bol. misellum N.E.Br. miserum N.E.Br. Morganii Lav. Muiri N.E.Br. multicolor Tisch. multipunctatum Tisch. mundum N.E.Br. muscosipapillatum Lav. nanum Tisch. Nelianum Schwant. . Nevillei (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. noisabisense L. Bol. notabile N.E.Br. notatum N.E.Br. novellum N.E.Br. novicum N.E.Br. nutaboiense (L. Bol.) Tisch. obcordellum (Haw.) N.E.Br. obmetale (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. obovatum Lav. " var. obtusum L. Bol. obtusum N.E.Br. occultum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. odoratum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. ovatum Lav. ovigerum Schwant. . Pagae (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. pallidum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. pardivisum Tisch. parviflorum N.E.Br. parvipetalum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. . parvulum L. Bol.

61-

7/6 7/6 7/6 4/6 7/6 5/7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 4/6 7/6 4/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 4/7/6 7/6 7/6 4/6 7/6 7/6 4/6 7/6 5/5/7/6 15/4/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 4/6 7/6 4/6 7/6 7/6

57/6 72/6 42/6 47/6 72/6

42/6 42/6

37/6

42/6 42/6 47/6 47/6 42/6

42/6 42/6

4

1

pauxillum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. Pearsonii (L. Bol.) N.E.Br. " var. minor N.E.Br. Peersii Lav. 378

4/6 5/7/6 3/6

plants 10

42/6 47/6 32/6

100

APPENDIX

pellucidum (N.E.Br.) Schwant. . percrassum Schick et Tisch. permaculatum Tisch. perpusillum (Haw.) N.E.Br. petraeum N.E.Br. obscurum N.E.Br. picturatum N.E.Br. Pillansii Lav. piluliforme (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. piriforme L. Bol. pisinnum N.E.Br. placitum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. plenum N.E.Br. Poellnitzianum Schwant. Pole-Evansii N.E.Br. polulum N.E.Br. polyandrum Lav. praecinctum N.E.Br. praecox N.E.Br. praeparvum N.E.Br. " var. roseum Lav. Primosii Lav. puperulum Lav. pubicalyx Lav. pumilum N.E.Br. Purpusii (Schwant.) N.E.Br. pusillum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. pygmaeum Schick et Tisch. quaesitum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. quarciticum Tisch. radiatum Tisch. ramosum Lav. rarum N.E.Br. recisum N.E.Br. regale Lav. Renniei Lav. reticulatum L. Bol. retusum N.E.Br. Ricardianum Loesch et Tisch. robustum Tisch. Roodiae N.E.Br. rubroniveum L. Bol. Ruschii Schwant. salmonicolor L. Bol. saxetanum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. Schickianum (Bar.) Tisch. Schlechteri Schwant. scitulum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. semivestitum L. Bol. signatum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. simile N.E.Br.

7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6

72/6

51-

47/6

10

7/6 6151-

3/6 7/6 7/6 4/6 40/12/6 7/6 4/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 5151-

7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 3/6 7/6 15/7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 15/7/6 51-

4/6 51-

57/6 47/6 32/6 42/6

42/6

47/6 47/6 72/6 32/6

47/6 42/6 47/6

7/6 61-

7/6 4/6 51-

7/6 7/6 4/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6

72/6 42/6 47/6 42/6

400/-

379

A

PP E

DIX

10

716 716

implum N.E.Br. Sitzlerianum Schwant.

s 1 Smithersii L. Bol. sororium N.E.Br. spectabile Lav. spirale N.E.Br. springbockense N.E.Br. Stephanii Schwant. . strictum L. Bol. " var. inaequale L. Bol. subacutum L. Bol. subfenestratum Schwant. . subglobosum Tisch. subrisum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. subtenue L. Bol. subtilis N.E.Br. tabulare Loesch et Tisch. tantillum N.E.Br. Taylorianum (Dtr. et Schwant.) N.E.Br. tectum N.E.Br. teculiflorum Tisch. terricolor Tisch. tetracarpum Lav. tinctum Lav. Tischeri Schick. Tischleri Schwant. translucens N.E.Br. . Triebneri Schwant. . truncatellum (Haw.) N.E.Br. truncatum (Thunb.) N.E.Br. tubatum Tisch. tumidum N.E.Br. turrigerum N.E.Br. udabibense Loesch et Tisch. Ursprungianum Tisch. uvaeforme (Haw.) N.E.Br. vagum N.E.Br. Vanzijlii Lav. velutinum (Schwant.) Schwant. . vescum N.E.Br. Villettii L. Bol. violaciflorum Schick et Tisch. virens L. Bol. viridicatum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. " var. punctatum N.E.Br.. vlakmyense L. Bol. . Wagneriorum Schwant. 380

plants 10

100

716 716 416 SISI-

4216

4716 4716

716 716 716 716 716 416 SI-

4216

4716

716 716 SI-

4716

4SOI-

4716

4SOI-

716 SI-

716 716 716 716 716 716 716 716 716 416 416

4216 4216

716 716 416 6161416

4216 S716 S716 4216

716 416

4216

716 716 SI101-

4716

716 716 716 716 416

4216

4SOI-

APPENDIX

Wettsteinii (Bar.) N.E.Br.. " var. oculatum L. Bol. Wiesemannianum Schwant. Wiggittae N.E.Br. .

10

7/6 7/6

5151-

47/6 47/6

1

plants 10

7/6

72/6

10/416

42/6

6

ADD IDA CONOPHYTUM N.E.Br. acutum L. Bol. calculus var. protusum L. Bol. Caroli Lav. depressum Lav. doomense N.E.Br. luteolum L. Bol. obscurum N.E.Br. rubrum L. Bol.

100

7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6

10/-

Conophytum Angelicae 10 seeds 1/halenbergense 20 seeeds 1/Seeds of all other species 1/- per capsule.

381

APPENDIX

1 1. 1

Appendix 11.1 Species List istomania seems to affect many collectors. Lists offer a soothing vision of neatness at odds with the luxuriance of a genus full of shifting ambiguities. If we could print the good species in gold, and the devilish amibiguees in red or, better, pulsating ink, the graphic presentation and the presently perceived botanic reality would more nearly harmonize. Two small examples: further study might suggest a radical upgrading for C. pellucidum subsp. cupreatum var. terrestre, thus restoring Tischer's original placement; conversely, C. caroli and C. verrucosum may be rough and smooth aspects of a single species. So this list should be understood as a temporary plateau, not as a summit.

L

C. achabense S.A.Hammer C. acutum L.Bolus C. albiflorum (Rawe) S.A.Hammer C. angelicae (Dinter & Schwantes) N.E.Br. subsp. angelicae subsp. tetragonum Rawe & S.A.Hammer C. armianum S.A.Hammer C. arthurolfago S.A.Hammer C. auriflorum Tischer subsp. auriflorum subsp. turbiniforme (Rawe) S.A.Hammer C. bachelorum S.A.Hammer C. bicarinatum L.Bolus C. bilobum (Marloth) N.E.Br. subsp. bilobum var. bilobum var. elishae (N.E .Br.) S.A.Hammer var. linearilucidum (L.Bolus) S.A.Hammer var. muscosipapillatum (Lavis) S.A.Hammer subsp. altum (L.Bolus) S .A.Hammer subsp. claviferens S.A.Hammer subsp. gracilistylum (L.Bolus) S.A.Hammer C. blandum L.Bolus C. bolusiae Schwantes subsp. bolusiae subsp. primavernum S.A.Harnmer C. breve N.E.Br. C. brunneum S.A.Hammer C. bruynsii S.A.Hammer C. burgeri L.Bolus 382

APPE N D I X

11.1

C. calculus (Berger) N.E.Br. subsp. calculus subsp. vanzylii (Lavis) S.A.Hammer C. caroli Lavis C. carpianum L.Bolus C. chauviniae (Schwantes) S.A.Hammer C. chrisocruxum S.A.Hammer C. chrisolum S.A.Hammer C. comptonii N.E.Br. C. concavum L.Bolus C. concordans Rowley C. cubicum Pavelka C. depressum Lavis subsp. depressum subsp. perdurans S.A.Hammer C. devium GD.Rowley subsp. devium subsp. stiriiferum S.A.Hammer & C.Barnhill C. ectypum N.E.Brown subsp. ectypum subsp. brownii (Tischer) S.A.Hammer subsp. cruciatum S.A.Hammer subsp. ignavum S.A.Hammer subsp. sulcatum (L.Bolus) S.A.Hammer C. ernstii S.A.Hammer subsp. ernstii subsp. cerebellum S.A.Hammer C. ficiform e (Haw.) N.E.Br. C. flavum N.E.Br. subsp. flavum subsp. novicium (N.E.Br.) S.A.Hammer C. francoiseae (S .A.Hammer) S.A.Hammer C. fraternum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. C. friedrichiae (Dinter) Schwantes C. frute scens Schwantes C. fulleri L.Bolus C. globosum (N.E. Br.) N.E.Br. C. halenbergense (Dinter & Schwantes) N.E.Br. C. hammeri G.Williamson & H.C.Kennedy C. hermarium (S.A.Hammer) S.A.Hammer C. herreanthus S.A.Hammer subsp. herreanthus subsp. rex S.A.Hammer 383

APPENDIX

11. 1

C. hians N.E.Br. C. irmae S.A.Hammer & C.Barnhill C. jarmilae J.J.Halda C. joubertii Lavis C. jucundum (N.E.Br.) .E.Br. subsp. jucundum subsp. fragile (Tischer) S.A.Hammer subsp . marlothii (N.E.Br.) S.A.Hammer subsp. ruschii (Schwantes) S.A.Hammer C. khamiesbergense (L.Bolus) Schwantes C. klinghardtense Rawe subsp. klinghardtense subsp. baradii (Rawe) S.A.Hammer C. kubusanum N.E.Br. C. limpidum S.A.Hammer C. lithopsoides L.Bolus subsp. lithopsoides subsp. boreale (L.Bolus) S.A.Hammer subsp. koubergense (L. Bolus) S.A.Hammer C. loeschianum Tischer C. longibracteatum L.Bolus C. longum N.E.Br. C. luckhoffii Lavis C. lydiae (Jacobsen) Rowley C. marginatum Lavis subsp. marginatum subsp. haramoepense (L.Bolus) S.A.Hammer subsp. littlewoodii (L.Bolus) S.A.Hammer C. maughanii N.E.Br. subsp. maughanii subsp. armeniacum S.A.Hammer subsp. latum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer C. meyeri N.E.Br. C. minimum (Haw.) N.E.Br. C. minusculum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. subsp. minusculum subsp. aestiflorens S.A.Hammer & T.C.Smale subsp. leipoldtii (N.E.Br.) S.A.Hammer C. minutum (Haw.) N.E.Brown var. minutum var. nudum (Tischer) Boom var. pearsonii (N.E.Br.) Boom C. mirabile AR.Mitchell & S .A.Hammer 384

APPENDIX

1 1. 1

C. obcordellum (Haw.) N.E.Br. subsp. obcordellum var. obcordellum var. ceresianum (L.Bolus) S.A.Hammer subsp. rolfii (De Boer) S.A.Hammer subsp. stenandrum (L.Bolus) S.A.Hammer C. obscurum N.E.Br. subsp. obscurum subsp. barbatum (L.Bolus) S.A.Hammer subsp. sponsaliorum (S.A.Hammer) S.A.Hammer subsp. vitreopapillum (Rawe) S.A.Hammer C. pageae (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. C. pellucidum Schwantes subsp. pellucidum var. pellucidum var. lilianum (Littlewood) S.A.Hammer var. neohallii S.A.Hammer var. terricolor (Tischer) Littlewood ex S.A.Hammer subsp. cupreatum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer var. cupreatum var. terrestre (Tischer) S.A.Hammer subsp. saueri S.A.Hammer & TC.Smale C. phoeniceum S.A.Hammer C. piluliforme (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. subsp. piluliforme subsp. edwardii (Schwantes) S.A.Hammer C. praesectum N.E.Br. C. pubescens (Tischer) Rowley C. pubicalyx Lavis C. quaesitum (N. E.Br.) .E.Br. subsp. quaesitum var. quaesitum var. rostratum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer subsp. densipunctum (L.Bolus) S.A.Hammer C. ratum S.A.Hammer C. reconditum A R.Mitchell subsp. reconditum subsp. buysianum (A.R.Mitchell & S.A.Hammer) S.A.Hammer C. regale Lavis C. ricardianum Loesch & Tischer subsp. ricardianum subsp. rubriflorum Tischer C. roodiae N.E.Br. subsp. roodiae subsp. co rrugatum TC.Smale subsp. cylindratum (Schwantes) TC.Smale subsp. sanguineum (S.A.Hammer) TC.Smale C. rugosum S.A.Hammer

385

A

P PEN DIX

1 1. 1

C. saxetanum (N.E.Br.)

.E.Br.

C. schlechteri Schwantes C. semivestitum L.Bolu C. smo renskaduense De Boer C. stephanii Schwantes subsp. stephanii subsp. helmutii (Lavis) S.A.Harnrner C. stevens-jonesianum L.Bolus C. subfenestratum Schwantes C. subterraneum T.Smale & T.Jacobs C. swanepoelianum Rawe subsp. swanepoelianum subsp. proliferans S.A.Harnrner subsp. rubrolineatum (Rawe) S.A.Harnrner C. tantillum N.E.Br. subsp. tantillum subsp. amicorum S.A.Harnrner & C.Barnhill subsp. eenkokerense CL. Bolus) S.A.Harnrner subsp. heleniae (Rawe) S.A.Harnrner subsp. inexpectatum S.A.Harnrner subsp. lindenianum (Lavis & S.A.Harnrner) S.A.Hammer C. taylorianum (Dinter & Schwantes) N.E.Br. subsp. taylorianum subsp. ernianum (Loesch & Tischer) De Boer ex S.A.Harnrner subsp. rosynense S.A.Harnrner C. tomasi J.J.Halda [a.k.a. C. hanae]

C. truncatum (Thunberg) N.E.Br. subsp. truncatum var. truncatum var. wiggettiae ( .E.Br.) Rawe subsp. viridicatum (N.E.Br.) S.A.Harnrner C. turrigerum (N.E.Br.)

.E.Br.

C. uviforme (Haw.) N.E.Br. subsp. uviforme subsp. decoratum (N.E. Br.) S.A.Harnrner subsp. rauhii (Tischer) S.A.Harnrner subsp. subincanum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer

C. vanheerdei Tischer C. velutinum Schwantes subsp. velutinum subsp. polyandrum (Lavis) S .A.Hammer

C. verrucosum (Lavis) Rowley C. violaciflorum Schick & Tischer

C. wettsteinii (Berger) N .E.Br.

386

APPENDIX

11.2

Appendix 11.2 Additions, Subtractions and Changes Since The Conograph onophytum has had several eruptions and additions since 1993, gathered together here. The newer species are all surprisingly distinctive (numerous, too) and most of them seem irreducible. C. irmae could probably be annexed into C. ectypum s.l. , likewise, C. chrisocruxum into C. bachelorum, but the rest would be difficult to shift. Some taxa, e.g. C. hermarium, are even showing upward mobility. That particular saltation was based on presumed affinities with both C. smorenskaduense and C. lithopsoides. C. hermarium may be an intersection of the two (or of C. lithopsoides and C. vanheerdei). Placing it as a species on its own is at least less tendentious than a subspecific tagging along. C. arthurolfago also presents ambiguities: it is surely a member of Pellucida, but acts like a melting Minuscula.

C

C. arthurolfago S.A.Hammer stat. nov. C. bilobum (Marloth) N.E. Br. subsp. bilobum var. elishae (N.E.Br.) S.A.Hammer comb. & stat. nov. var. linearilucidum (L. Bolus) S.A.Hammer comb. & stat. nov. var. muscosipapillatum (Lavis) S.A.Hammer comb. & stat. nov. subsp. claviferens S.A.Hammer subsp. nov. C. brunneum S.A.Hammer C. bruynsii S.A.Hammer -

2001 [Full description given here] 1998

C. chrisocruxum S.A.Hammer C. chrisolum S.A.Hammer C. cubicum Pavelka -

1997

1997

1999

C. depressum Lavis subsp. perdurans S.A.Hammer subsp. nov. C. devium GD.Rowley subsp. stiriiferum S.A.Hammer & C.Barnhill -

1997

C. ectypum N.E.Brown subsp. brownii (Tischer) S.A.Hammer stat. nov. subsp. ignavum S.A.Hammer subsp. nov. subsp. sulcatum (L.Bolus) S.A.Hammer - 2001 C. hammeri G.Williamson & H.C.Kennedy -

1997

C. hermarium (S.A.Hammer) S.A.Hammer stat. nov. C. irmae S.A.Hammer & C.Barnhill C. jarmilae J.J.Halda -

1997

1998

C. jucundum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. subsp.fragile (Tischer) S.A.Hammer comb. nov. subsp. marlothii (N.E.Br.) S.A.Hammer - 2001 subsp. ruschii (Schwantes) S.A.Hammer comb. nov. 387

APPE NDIX

11.2

C. marginatum Lavis subsp. haramoepense CL.Bolus) S.A.Hammer stat. nov. subsp. littlewoodii CL.Bolus) S.A.Hammer stat. nov. C. minusculum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br. subsp. aestiflorens S.A.Hammer & TC.Smale subsp. nov. C. mirabile A.R. Mitchell ex S.A.Hammer -

2001 [Full description given here]

C. obscurum .E.Br. subsp. sponsaliorum (S.A.Hammer) S.A.Hammer comb. nov. C. pellucidum Schwantes subsp. pellucidum var. terricolor (Tischer) Littlewood ex S.A.Hammer comb. & stat. nov. subsp. saueri S.A.Hammer & TC.Smale subsp. nov. C. roodiae N.E.Br. subsp. corrugatum TC.Smale - 2000 subsp. cylindratum (Schwantes) TC.Smale - 2000 subsp. sanguineum (S.A.Hammer) TC.Smale - 2000 C. stephanii Schwantes subsp. abductum S.A.Hammer - R.I.P. 2001 subsp. helmutii (Lavis) S.A.Hammer - 2001 C. subterraneum TSmale & T.Jacobs -

2001

C. swanepoelianum Rawe subsp. rubrolineatum (Rawe) S.A.Hammer comb. & stat. nov. C. tantillum N.E.Br. subsp. amicorum S.A.Hammer & C.Barnhill - 1997 subsp. eenkokerense CL.Bolus) S.A.Hammer stat. & comb. nov. C. tomasi -

' 1998 ' [AKA. C. hanae -

1999 -

see pp.298-299]

Synonymy of Comophytum is covered in great detail in the following books and so, is not repeated here. HAMMER, STEVEN ( 1993). The Genus Conophytum- A Conograph . 286 pp. Succulent Plant Publications, Pretoria, South Africa. HARTMANN, H.E.K. (200 I). Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants. Aizoaceae A- E. 348 pp. Springer Verlag, Cologne, Germany.

388

INDEX

Index To Conophytums

P

hotographs are indicated by emboldened page numbers; the main descriptive text is indicated by underlining. Appendices have not been include here.

achabense .... . . . .... 26, 56, 58-59, 65, 221, 229, 262 acutum .... ..... .... .. .... .26, 33, 59-60, 66, 184 albiflorum . . ......... . ... 24, 52, 60, 60-61, 66, 275 angelicae subsp. angelicae .. .... .. ........ . . .22, 27,

33,45,51,59,61-63,67, 138,227, 229,240,266 subsp. tetragonum .. ... . ...... . . . . ... . ..... . .. 42,52, 61-63,67, 120, 121, 142, 144,227,269 armianum ..................28, 62, 63-64, 68, 266 arthurolfago . ... .. ..... .... ..... 25, 33, 64+81, 68 auriflorum subsp. auriflorum .. .... .... . ....... . . . .. 24, 47, 69, 81-83, 126, 127, 131, 177, 185,280 subsp. turbiniforme ... .. ... .. 69, 81-83, 162, 213 bachelorum .23, 70, 83-84, 114, 115, 116, 133,212,213 bicarinatum ... ... .... .. ... 24, 70, 84-85, 163, 272 bilobum subsp. bilobum var. bilobum . . .. ... ...... 16,

20,22,29,30,33,44,50,53, 71-72, 85-89, 91, 94, 95, 118, 126, 131, 132, 144, 166, 184, 185, 186,222,228,232,239,266,267,270 "dolomiticum" .... .... ........... 72, 186 "gracz.,.zramosum" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 , 88 " g1aucum l " ........ . ....... . . . .. . ... . 72 "klipbokbergense" ..... .... . . ..... . . . . . 72 "kubusanum" ..... .. .. ... ... . .. . . . . .72 "lacteum" . .. ... ... ....... ..... ... . .72 "noisabisense" ............. . ...... .. 185 "tumidum" . .... . ... . ... . . .... . .. ... 72 var. elishae . .... . . ... ..... 73, 85-89, 192, 282 "recisum" ....... ... . ...... .. . . ..... 73 var. linearilucidum .. ... .... ....... 73 , 85-89 "christiansenianum" ... . .. . . . . ... ...... 73 var. muscosipapillatum . .. ...... ..... 73, 85-89 subsp. a/tum ... ....... . .......... .. 74, 85-89 subsp. claviferens .... . .... ...... ..... 74, 85-89 subsp. gracilistylum . ... . . .74, 85-89, 114, 2 10, 280 blandum ... . .. ...... .............. ... ...... . . .

. . .23, 75, 89-90, 144, 163, 182, 192,232,256,270 bolusiae subsp. bolusiae .... ..... 23, 30, 76, 83, 90-92, 118, 129, 133, 166,213,214,234,240,258,259 subsp. primavernum ... ... .... .76, 83, 90-92, 213

breve . .... . .. . .... .. .... . . . . . .. ... ........... .

.26,64, 75,92-93,97, 118, 170, 184,215,260,277 "var. pygmaeum ,, .......... .. ..... . ...... .260 brunneum ............. . .......... 24, 77, 93-94 bruynsii . . . .. ....... .24, 78, 86, 93, 94-95, 169, 23 1 burgeri . . . . . . .......... . . . . . . . ... . ....... .26, 30,43, 48, 49, 78, 84,95-96, 119, 124, 136, 138, 142, 184, 192,226,229,257,259,261,262,263 calculus subsp. calculus . .. 21, 26, 30, 39, 79, 96-97+112 subsp. vanzylii . . . . .58, 79, 89, 95, 96-97+112, 138 caroli . ... ... . . . .. ... . . .. .. ... . . . .... .. ... 25,

79, 112-113, 119, 120, 163, 179, 180,225,226,28 1 carpianum . . ...... .... ...... . ... 27, 80, 113- 114 chauviniae ...... 22, 48, 80, 84, 87, 114-115, 272, 280 chrisocruxum . . . . .23, 49, 83, 84, 98, 115-116, 121 , 213 chrisolum ... ......... . .. .... .23, 83, 98, 116- 117 comptonii .............. .. 28, 64, 99, 117-118, 263 concavum ....... . . .26, 90, 91, 99, 11 8-119, 240, 261 concordans .... . .. . . ..... 25, 100, 112, 119- 120, 281 cubicum ... ... . ............ .24, 61, 100, 120-121 depressum subsp. depressum .... .. . . . . ......... . . .

... 27,49,56, 101, 121- 123,221,226,237,259 subsp. perdurans . . . ........ . .. 27, 101, 121- 123 devium subsp. devium ......... 25, 101, 123-124, 225 subsp. stiriiferum . .... ............ 101, 123-124 ectypum subsp. ectypum .. .24, 33, 44, 55, 63, 80, 82, 86,

102, 120, 121, 125- 128, 131, 132, 138-139, 162, 163, 178, 182, 189, 191 ,260,266,267,282,283 "limbatum" . .. . . . . . .... . . ... ... ..... .270 "marnierianum" .. . ....... ....... . .102, 126 subsp. brownii ... . . ... . .. ..... .. ....... .50, 81, 82, 86, 103, 125- 128, 138, 162,232,266,267 'Mabel's Fire' .... .. . ......... ..... ... 103 subsp. cruciatum ........... . ........... . . . . ........ 52,61, 83, 86, 104, 121, 125- 128, 162 subsp. ignavum . ..... .... 104, 125-128, 267, 278 subsp. sulcatum ........ 61, 105, 123, 125-128, 138 389

INDEX

ernstii subsp. ernstii ..... . . ................... .

limpidum . ... . .. ... ..... .. . .. . .. .... . . .25, 58,

........ 23,44,45, 91, 105, 128-129,234,270

95, 124, 136, 138, 151, 171-172, 178, 180,224,229

minor form ... ...... ...... . . . . .... ... 105 subsp. cerebellum ............. . . . .105, 128-129

lithopsoides subsp. lithopsoides ....... . . . ......... .

ficifarme ... . . . . . . .. .. ......... . . ....... 19, 20,

28,50, 106, 130-131 , 134, 136, 164,211,273,274 jlavum subsp.jlavum .......... . .... 23, 33, 55, 86,

107, 131-132, 178,221, 247,266,267,283,284 subsp. novicium .56, 82, 107, 131-132, 162, 266, 283 Jrancoiseae .. . . ... ...... 23, 30, 83, 91, 109, 133, 167 Jraternum ....... 23, 108, 134-135, 166, 167, 171, 212 Jriedrichiae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ .

25, 108, 135- 136, 138, 144, 172, 178, 183,224,281 Jrutescens . . .8, 22, 81, 109, 137- 138, 177, 185, 186, 280 Julleri . ............................. . .. 24, 55,

58, 97, 109, 127, 131, 138-139, 182, 183,257,279 globosum . .............. . . .. 23, 110, 139-140, 234 halenbergense ........ 27, 111, 140-141 , 169, 170, 228 hammeri ...... .. .... . . . ....... . ..... ... . .. . .

. .26,34,59, 111, 136, 141-142, 183, 192,260,262 hermarium . ... . . ....... 24, 110, 142-143, 257, 279 herreanthus subsp. herreanthus .............. . .... .

..... 23,29,47,50,63, 145, 143-144+161,266 subsp. rex . ... . .23, 45, 62, 145, 143-144+161, 183 hians . . . .... 27,91, 113, 118, 145, 161-162, 170,239 irmae . . . ..... .. . .24, 82, 86, 126, 132, 145, 162-163 jarmilae .... .......... .23, 146, 163-164, 256, 271 joubertii ..... . ...... .28, 52, 130, 146, 164-165, 274 jucundum subsp. jucundum .... .. .... .. ......... .

21, 23,30,50,51 ,53,55, 133, 147, 165-168,284 "geyert ........... . .... . . .. ..... 147, 167 "robustum" .... .. ... ....... ... 128, 147, 167 subsp. fragile ..... ........ .. .. . . . .... . . ... .

.. .44, 83, 121, 128, 134, 148, 165-168,283,284 "avenantii" .. . ..... . .... ...... ... 148, 167 subsp. marlothii . . .133, 148, 161, 165-168, 212, 214 subsp. ruschii ....................... .. . ... . . .... 14, 120, 144, 149, 165- 168,260,269,283 "speciosum" ...... . . ... ....... .149, 167, 284 khamiesbergense .. 25, 121, 150, 168-169, 23 1, 237, 238 klinghardtense subsp. klinghardtense . ....... ....... .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27,141,150, 169-170,228 subsp. baradii .. . . . . . . ... . ... . . . .150, 169-170 kubusanum ....... ... . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .23, 151, 171 390

.... . ... .... 25, 33, 42, 81, 97, 143, 151, 163, 173-175, 181, 192,217,219,236,257,278,279 "kennedyt ... .. . ..... . ... .142, 143, 173, 174 subsp. boreale ...... . . ... .. .... .. 152, 173- 175 subsp. koubergense ...... . ... 33, 81, 152, 173-175 loeschianum . ..... .27, 30, 87, 152, 161, 175-176, 239 "rubricarinatum" ........ .. .. . ..... .. .152, 176 longibracteatum . . .24, 82, 152, 176-177, 265, 266, 267 longum ......... ...... ...... .. .25, 39, 123, 124, 131, 136, 153, 172, 177-1 78, 180, 184,225,266 "herrei" ........... . ........ . . . . . ... 124, 178 luckhojjii .. . ...... .. ..... . .... .... .. .24, 60, 61, 84, 113, 153, 179, 189,209,218,226,264,275,276 lydiae . ... .. .. ... ... . . .. 25, 96, 124, 153, 180, 224 marginatum subsp. marginatum ... . .. .. .. .. .23, 90,

97, 124, 154, 163, 181-182,266,267,270,278,282 subsp. haramoepense . .. . .... 58, 139, 154, 181- 182 subsp. littlewoodii .. .. .. .... . .. . .. 154, 181- 182 maughanii subsp. maughanii ... .... 26, 58, 95, 96, 97, 136, 155, 178, 183-184,221,223,226,229,259 subsp. armeniacum ..... .... .38, 86, 155, 183-184 subsp. latum . . ....... 141, 142, 155, 183-184, 221 meyeri . .. . ..... .... . .. ...... .22, 52, 90, 91, 132, 156, 177, 185-186,238,256,266,267,279,280 "ovigerum" ......... . ....... . ... ... .156, 186 "ramosum" ........ ... .... . . . ....... 156, 186 "semilunulum" .... . ............... 87, 156, 186 minimum ... . . ........ ................. 20, 28, 33,48, 157, 164, 186-187,211 ,268,273,274,277 "kv~ufum" .. ........ . . ...... ... . . ... . .. 157 "scitulum" .... ....... ............... 157, 187 "wittebergense" ... ...... . .. .. . ..... . . .... .47 minusculum subsp. minusculum .24, 30, 52, 81, 117, 125, 158, 179, 187-189, 191, 192,262,264,265,268 "herret .. . ... ..... ..... .. . . . ..... .. .. 50 "reticulatum" ........... . . ...... . .179, 189 subsp. aestiflorens ... . .. ....... .30, 159, 187-189 subsp. leipoldtii ...... .... .52, 159, 187-189, 264 minutum var. minutum .... ... .. .... ... . . . . .. .20, 21,23, 86, 93 , 94, 97, 139, 140, 160, 190- 191,268 var. nudum . . . .. . . . . ... ...... . .. 160, 190- 191 var. pearsonii . ...... . . .59, 160, 190-191, 283, 284 mirabile . ... . . ...... 24, 160, 163, 192, 240, 256, 258 obcordellum subsp. obcordellum var. obcordellum ... . ... .

.... ...... .19, 20, 28, 31, 59, 64, 117, 130, 188, 193,209- 212,263,272,273,274,277

INDEX

"giftbergense" .. .. ..... . . .... 210, 273, 274 ''picturatum" .... ....... .... 193, 209, 211 "multicolor' ....... . . . . . ... .... .... 193 "ursprungianum" .117, 193, 209, 210, 211, 263 var. ceresianum ..... ... . ... . . . . . . .. . .. .. .

"albino" .. .. ........ ........ ... ..... 207 subsp. buysianum ... .... ... ....... . ... .... . .

... . . .28,45, 169,208,217,230-23 1,237,238 regale ... 23, 90, 144, 163, 208, 232, 240, 256, 259, 272 ricardianum subsp. ricardianum ... . . . . ... . . .. .... .

. ... 49, 84, 117, 186, 187, 189, 194,209-212

. .23, 129, 166, 176,213,227,233-234,240,241

"spectabile" .. ......... . .187, 194, 209, 210 subsp. roljii ....... .. ....... ..... 195, 209-212 subsp. stenandrum ..... .... 86, 117, 195, 209-212 obscurum subsp. obscurum .... .23, 82, 83, 91, 115, 116,

subsp. rubrijlorum . .. . ..... .... 39, 233-234, 241 roodiae subsp. roodiae ................. . ....... .

117, 123, 126, 134, 166, 171, 196,212-214,234 ''pulchellum" .... . ..... .... . . .. 196, 212, 213 sub sp. barbatum . .. . .. . .... 56, 166, 196, 212-214 subsp. sponsaliorum . . .82, 84, 86, 115, 197, 212-214 subsp. vitreopapillum ..... .... .118, 197, 212-214

.25,42,51, 94, 169, 173,217,234-237,238,241 "hallii" .... . ................ .. . ..... 241 subsp. corrugatum ... .. . . ... . .. .. .234-237, 242 subsp. cylindratum .... 184, 234-237, 238, 242, 277 subsp. sanguineum . . . .... .... .234-237, 238, 242 rugosum ..... ... . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. .25, 42, 44,

49,50, 168, 169,209, 23 1,235,236,237-238,243

pageae . .. . ............. .......... 26, 30, 33, 38,

saxetanum ... .............. .. ........ . .27, 39,

51,55,92, 93,97, 121, 139, 163, 168, 170, 190, 198, 209,214-215,21.7,226,230,23 1,237,259,269 "albijlorum" . . ......... . ............ .... 198 "johannis-winkleri" .... ........... . . . ..... 198 "minutijlorum" . ... . ........... ... 97, 198, 215

45, 140, 141, 170, 175, 176,222,238-239,243,269 schlechteri .... 23, 91, 119, 134, 178, 239-240, 244, 260 semivestitum ............ . .. . . . . . . . ... 15, 23, 45, 89, 90, 144, 163, 172, 184, 192,240+256,258,244 smorenskaduense ... . .......... ...... . ........ .

pellucidum sub sp. pellucidum var. pellucidum .... . .... .

. . . . . .24,59,94, 138, 142, 143, 169,244,257,279

. . .18,25,42,49,50, 81, 121, 136, 139, 163, 173, 174, 191, 199,216-221,235,237,260 ''pardicolor' ..... 173, 174, 199, 217, 218, 219 var. lilianum .... . ... .. 139, 199, 216-221, 23.5 var. neohallii . .. . . . ..... 38, 122, 200, 216-221 "Makin's Plum" ....... .... . . ... 200, 218 var. terricolor .. ...... ... 33, 201, 216-221, 235

stephanii subsp. stephanii . ........... 27, 63, 90, 122,

133, 184, 192,212,221,226,244,256,258-259 subsp. helmutii ...... .125, 178, 213, 244, 258-259 stevens-jonesianum . .26, 93, 97, 120, 215, 239, 244, 260 subfenestratum . . .. . . . . .26, 58, 59, 96, 118, 119, 142, 172, 174, 178, 184, 190, 219,232,246,261-262 subterraneum ...... .. . ... .. . . . . .26, 245, 262-263

subsp. cupreatum var. cupreatum ... .. ... . ...... .

swanepoelianum subsp. swanepoelianum . ... .... . ... .

. ... .. . . . ..... . . .. . .81,202, 216-221,230 var. terrestre .... . . . .... .56, 202, 216-221, 281 subsp. saueri ......... .......202, 216-221, 230 phoeniceum .. ..... ..... .. ... 26, 121, 122, 203, 221

. . . . . . . .24,33,38,60, 117, 189,246, 263-265 subsp. proliferans ..... . . .. .. . . 189, 246, 263-265 subsp. rubrolineatum ........ . .189, 247, 263-265

piluliforme subsp. piluliforme ........ . . . . .. . . . . . . .

tantillum subsp. tantillum .. ................. . .24,

. ..... . ...... 28, 164,203 ,222-223,273,274 "advenum" .. . .. . . .. . . ........ . .. .203, 222 subsp. edwardii ........ ... .. . .... 203, 222-223 praesectum ... 25, 38, 136, 138, 172, 180, 204, 223-224 pubescens . . ..... .. . ... . .... . .. ..... ........ .

25, 112, 119, 120, 163,204, 217,218,225,230,28 1 pubicalyx ........... 27, 122, 204, 225, 226, 258, 259

33,38,60, 92, 126, 163, 185,247,265-268,282 subsp. amicorum . ... . ..... .42, 232, 247, 265-268 subsp. eenkokerense . . . . .. ...... ... 248, 265-268 subsp. heleniae . .... .... ... 86, 125, 248, 265-268 subsp. inexpectatum .. ...... 39, 177, 248, 265-268 subsp. lindenianum ...... .. 177, 248, 265-268, 282 taylorianum subsp. taylorianum .... . . ............ .

.23,62,63, 86, 129, 141,249,269-271,272,280 quaesitum subsp. quaesitum var. quaesitum .......... .

...... .. ... 21,27, 113, 175,205,227-228 var. rostratum ... ... .... ... 128, 205, 227-228 subsp. densipunctum ....... . . .. 113, 205, 227-228 ratum .... ... . . . .26, 58, 96, 184, 206, 221, 229, 262 reconditum subsp. reconditum . .... .. .. ..... . . .... .

. .. .. .. .. .25,54, 168,206-207,217,230-23 1

subsp. ernianum . . . . . .170, 182, 228, 249, 269-271 subsp. rosynense .33, 42, 129, 169, 182, 249, 269-271 tomasi ... ........ . . . .... 24, 84, 163, 250, 271-272 truncatum subsp. truncatum var. truncatum ..... 19, 22,

28,30, 130, 131, 164,210,223,250,272-274 "longitubum" ........ ........ ... .. .131 "quas1-w1ggett1ae . . . " ........... ..... . . .250 var. wiggettiae ... .... . . . . . .... 251, 272-274 391

INDEX

ub p. viridicatum ... . .... 164, 186, 251, 272-274 'novel/um" ........ . .............. . . .251 turrigeru1n .. ... . . .......................... .

21,24,38,60,61, 126, 179, 188,223,252,275-276 uviforme subsp. uviforme .. . . . . . . .. . . .28,

33, 59, 64, 97, 187, 190,210,211,230, 252,271,276-278 "giftbergense" . ........ . ........ . ...... 252 subsp. decoratum .. .. . . .60, 190, 210, 253, 276-278 "clarum" ...................... . ..... 253 "~ . ~ ............. . ......... . . . .253 J' ancisci subsp. rauhii ................ 117, 253, 276-278 subsp. subincanum ...... . ........ .254, 276-278

392

vanheerdei ......................... . ....... .

.... 24, 136, 138, 142, 143, 172,254,257,278-279 subsp. ve/utinum .. ... .... ~ ....... .... . .. ........ 22,81, 137, 185,254,270,279-280 subsp. polyandrum .... . .. . ........ 254, 279-280 verrucosum .. .. ...... . . .25, 112, 135, 255, 281-282 vio/acijlorum .. ... .. ...... 24, 84, 87, 127, 141, 176, 177, 182,239,249,255,265,267,270,282-283 ve/utinum

20, 23, 83, 131, 132, 133, 165, 167, 191,255,283-284

wettsteinii ......... ......... . ...... .. ... 9,

AFTERWORD

Afterword Thanks Again

I

could devote a whole page to people insufficiently acknowledged in this book. A few of them must be mentioned here: Diana Rex, late librarian at the University of Cape Town, was extremely helpful with, and was even pleased by, my many searches for tediously rare publications, Carol Wudjik performed similar services at the Huntington Botanical Library, and Nigel Taylor allowed me free reign at Kew, while Karen and Michael Dehn were stellar at Hamburg. Frederic Chopin, Franz Schubert, and, especially, Charles-Valentin Alkan drowned out my typing. I should also mention the abnormally kind and clever people who, by sharing various practical burdens, or by causing them to fade altogether, have allowed me to spend more time staring at plants: Dorothy and Marshall Byer, Kitty Edelweiss, Tim Jackson, Fred Desears, George L ombard, Bob and Bev Kent, Chuck Everson,Jerry Williams, Betty Athy, Carl Volkers, Jim Kampwirth, David Puffenough, and most critically and tenderly, my parents, Eleanor and David Hammer. Errors and puns in this book are mostly autochthonous. I would welcome any corrections via email ([email protected]).

Mrs. Bolus's Golden Butter 'n Bilobe Dumplings (from Notes on Mesemb. 33)

Ingredients

3 oz. self-raising flour salt and pepper 1 tablesoon chopped fresh or frozen bilobe petals (the more varieties the better) pinch dry mustard powder 1 oz. butter milk Instructions 1. Sift the flour and mix with the salt, pepper and mustard 2.

3. 4.

5.

powder. Cream the butter until soft and mix with the dry ingredients and sufficient milk to make a fairly firm rolling consistency. Divide into 8 pieces and roll into balls using a little flour. Dump dumplings into a pan of boiling water or stock, or into a bubbling casserole. Replace lid. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until tenderly recrudescent. Serves 9 taxonomists.

393

NOTES

394

NOTES

395

NOTES

396

NOTES

397

NOTES

398

T

he publication of The Conograph nearly nine years ago ignited for many a deep curiosity about the genus Conophytum N.E.Br. As a result of this increased interest, knowledge of these plants has also increased. There is hardly a species that has not had its description altered or enriched in the last eight years, and new ones have appeared at an alarming rate.

This new, much-expanded tome fills gaps in our knowledge and presents an affectionate and up-to-date account of the genus. All new discoveries of recent years are described and illustrated together with the description of five new subspecies. Introductory chapters provide a rounded coverage of taxonomy and classification, distribution and ecology, the history of fieldworkers and their introductions, and, of course, cultivation. The main body of the book is taken up with the comprehensive species descriptions. "Everything, you ever wanted to know, but were afraid to ask" is recounted in the author's unique style. Every species and subspecies is illustrated with multiple colour photographs and so too are the majority of varieties, forms, and distinctive clones. Over 500 photographs illustrate the species narratives alone. Chris Barnhill worked with Hammer's collection for a period of three years to capture the plants at different seasons and stages. An Appendix is devoted to hybrids, those natural and artificial gems or clinkers. Excellent habitat photographs taken by John Trager, Derek Tribble, and others give illuminating views of the plants as they cope with, or luxuriate in, their natural conditions. The book concludes with a plethora of information-packed Appendices. Essays have been contributed by diverse authors on previously untouched areas of 'sphaeroidal' study. Matt Opel contributes two essays on chromosome numbers and leaf surfaces, both of which provide new insights into the relationship of the species. Ute Schmeidel writes on the unique ecology of the conophytiferous quartz fields, while other appendices cover floral perfumes (Andreas Jurgens}, history (Terry Smale), commerce (Chris Rodgerson) and the first reproduction of the sales list of N.E. Brown's collection. A sales list from Wilhem Triebner makes a fascinating period piece. No conophile will want to miss this book!

The Appenditricians ... ANDREAS JORGENS was born in

Hamburg, Germany, and remembers himself as a child catching insects, digging for earthworms, and making first experiments on the behaviour of ants. During his studies of biology at Giessen his main interest shifted to animal-plant interaction, perhaps because it made living and working together with his future wife Taina Witt, a pure botanist, much easier. Since their diploma both work together on pollination biology of Caryophyllaceae at the University of Ulm. After finishing his doctoral thesis in Ulm, Jiirgens gained his current position as a scientific assistant at the Department of Plant Systematics at the University of Bayreuth. His investigations now concentrate on the floral scent evolution of nocturnal Co11ophyt11111 species.

MATTHEW OPEL was born in New York City in 197 1, and grew up in Ossining, New York, where he cultivated his first conophytums on windowsills in his parents' home. He was the Sphaeroid lnstitute's youngest customer. As an undergraduate he majored in botany at Cornell University, and is currently a graduate student at the University of Connecticut, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Theology, writing a Ph.D. dissertation on the morphology of Conophytum. He has spent several winters hiking the hills of Namaqualand. When not studying South African plants, Matt enjoys watching Japanese animation. CHRIS RODGERSON,

an English nurseryman and self-employed electrician, has been interested in Co11ophyt11111 since he reached the age of consent in 1975. He has published in many journals, maintains one of the most comprehensive living collections (the Bolus Herbarium has the most comprehensive mortuary), and has visited Namaqualand duce times, finding two new taxa and a passel of puzzles.

UTE SCHMIEDEL (*1965) studied biology, history, and educational science at the Universities of Hamburg and Cologne in Germany. At the University of Hamburg she is now involved in research projects on biodiversity and vegetation ecology in southern Africa. The vegetation ecology and flora of the quartz fields of southern Africa has been the major focus of her studies for several years. TERRY SMALE

recently retired from research chemistry to run a small nursery specialising in South African geophytes and succulents, particularly conophytums. He has been the Research Fund administrator for the Mesemb Study Group since their inception and, together with his wife Jennifer, handles its seed distribution programme. A Research Associate in Botany at the McGregor Museum, Kimberley, South Africa, he hates house decorating but cooks an excellcn t curry.

JOHN TRAGER (' 1957)

is Curator of the Desert Collections at the Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, where he has worked since 1983. Over 1,600 of his images have been published in numerous textbooks and horticultural journals including Aloe, American Horticulture, and Fine Gardening. Book projects include principal photography for the Conograph. and coauthorship and photography for Dry Climate Landscaping with Succulents, produced by the I luntington. John has travelled widely in search of plants (and insects), visiting Mexico, Costa Rica, Venernela, Israel, Thailand, and China. I le lives in Sierra Madre with his wife and three children.

ISBN: 0-953 9326- 1-3