Henry Shaw
Cactus and
Succulent Society
A CSSA Chapter
St. Louis, Missouri
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Along with other articles, columns and club updates, each monthly issue of the Henry Shaw Cactus Digest includes an article or two on members' favorite cactus and succulent species. The articles typically include photos and facts on the plants' natural origins and distribution, growing conditions, common and scientific names, care and cultivation tips, and helpful hints for encouraging flower production. Follow the links below this month's offering(s) to enjoy previous Plants of the Month.

February 2012 -- Pachycereus

By Eric Driskill
 
The name Pachycereus comes from the Greek "pakhus," which means thick, and "cereus," meaning torch. The genus has nine to 12 species, depending on which author you follow.
 
The plants grow in Mexico and north into the southwestern United States. Pachycereus are large columnar cacti that grow as a single stem, or may branch. They are slow-growing and branch only after many years and several feet of growth.
 
Flowers appear only on mature plants 5 to 15 years old. The white or pink flowers are funnel-shaped and nocturnal, appearing at the stem tips in spring to early summer. Fruits are rather large, green, yellow or red, and quite spiny.
 
P. pringlei is one of the more common species in the Pachycereus genus. However, these plants can reach the impressive height of 42 feet, which make them the tallest cactus species in the world.
 
P. marginatus is an attractive species with a very crisp look from clean stems and a neat row of spines along the edge of the ribs. P. schottii "Monstrose" is commonly known as the totem pole cactus. This species is very unique, and a well-grown plant can be a show stopper. The plants resemble a large green candle that is melting. Each plant is a botanical work of art.
 
You may decide to add one of these stately plants to your collection. Likely your plant with take vertical space before it takes up much horizontal space at all. Pachycereus plants grow well in full sun and fast-draining soil.

February 2012 -- Aeonium

By Chris Deem
 
In Morocco, near the port city of Agadir, stands a house of stone and a stone courtyard. From there, you can smell the acrid waters of the North Atlantic. In the courtyard, there is a stone path and an elaborate fountain. All of the plants there are of native origin and all are exquisitely kept. Still, a dark-hued melancholy always permeates the ocean-scented air.
 
This is not a place of frail flowers, but a somber place of pale grey-branched Euphorbia balsamifera shrubs, spine-covered E. officinarums and masses of dark purple Aeonium arboreum plants. Far above this courtyard, never stopping to perch, white sea birds can occasionally be seen as they fly out toward unseen lands.
 
The Canary Islands are the native habitat of most of the known Aeonium species. In researching these plants, however, I found a few species that grow on the Madeira Archipelago that are not found on the Canary Islands. A. arboreum is found in both Morocco and the Canary Islands. It is probable that this species and the Madeira species did originally come from the Canary Islands, but the reverse is also possible.
 
The attractive, winter-growing Aeonium genus is a part of the Crassulaceae family. The fact that these plants are winter growers is important to remember, because in the latter part of spring, many species can begin to look quite sickly. This time marks the beginning of their dormancy. The only other information I learned about aeoniums is that after any rosette flowers, sadly, it will die.

February 2012 -- Boophane disticha

By Peggy Galantowicz
 
I have been privileged to acquire the October show-worthy plant, Boophane disticha. Sometimes spelled Boophone, the name is derived from the Greek "bous," ox, and "phone," death, referring to the poisonous properties of the bulb. The specific name disticha refers to the leaves, which are erect in a fan shape.
 
This large deciduous bulb has a thick covering of dry scales above ground and grey-green leaves. Mature bulbs can grow to about 7 inches in diameter and produce sweetly scented flowers whose color ranges from pink to red and bloom in late winter or into spring.
 
Boophane disticha is found in a wide range of South Africa from Port Elizabeth (with summer rainfall) northwards to East Africa and areas that have regular winter rainfall. In the former, winters are dry, but the occasional light shower can occur in winter.
 
B. disticha thrives in full sun in well-drained, sandy soil and also in rocky areas. It should be planted in a protected area, and although it can stand drought, it does not like frost.
 
The bulb must be planted so that the neck and part of the bulb show above the ground. Some bone meal would be beneficial, seeing that these species need to remain in deep containers for a long time. While the plants seem to grow equally well in well-drained, sandy soil and in hard ground, they take a long time to flower after being moved.
 
This plant is attractive in all its forms, whether dormant bulb or in full leaf and flowered.

Previous Plants of the Month

Choose from the alphabetized menus below to view past Plants of the Month:

Select Cactus...  Aporocactus flagelliformsi Ariocarpus Ariocarpus    kotschoubeyanus Ariocarpus Astrophytum Astrophytum Astrophytum asterias Aztekium ritteri Blossfeldia Borzicactus Cacti in Bloom Carnegiea gigantea Cephalocereus senilis Cereus peruvianus Cleistocactus Cleistocactus Cochemiea Coleocephalocereus Copiapoa Copiapoa Coryphantha ramillosa Crested Cacti Cristates Desert Christmas Cactus Discocactus horstii Echinocactus Echinocereus Echinocereus Echinofossulocactus Echinopsis Echinopsis Epithelantha Epithelantha Escobaria Escobaria missouriensis Espostoa Facheiroa Ferocactus Ferocactus Frailea Geohintonia mexicana Gymnocalycium pungens Gymnocalycium ragonesei Gymnocalycium Gymnocalycium Gymnocalycium Hatoria Holiday Cacti Leuchtenbergia Leuchtenbergia principis Leuchtenbergia principis Lobivia Maihueniopsis Mammillaria Mammillaria bombycina Mammillaria geminispina Mammillaria geminispina Mammillaria saboae-    haudeana Matucana Melocactus Melocactus Melocactus Monstroses Myrtillocactus Neochilenia napina Neoporteria Notocactus magnificus Notocactus magnificus Notocactus Notocactus Obregonia dengrii Opuntia humifusa Oreocereus Oreocereus Oroya Ortegocactus macdougalli Ortegocactus Opuntieae Tribe Opuntia Parodia Pediocactus Pelecyphora aselliformis Pereskia Pilocereus Pseudopilocereus Pterocactus Rebutia Rhipsalis Schlumbergera Selenicereus Stetsonia coryne Sulcorebutia Sulcorebutia Tephrocactus Thelocactus Turbinicarpus Uebelmannia buiningii Uebelmannia pectinifera Variegates

Select Succulent...  Abromeitiella    (Deuterocohnia) Adenium obesum Adenium obesum Adenia Adenia Adenia epigea Aeonium Agave Albuca spiralis Alluaudia procera Aloe Aloe Aloe dichotoma Aloe marlothii Aloe polyphylla Anacampseros Andromischus Ant Plants Aptenia cordifolia Avonia papyracea Avonia Boswellia Bowiea volubilis Brachychiton rupestris Brighamia insignis Bursera fagaroides Bursera Calibanus hookeri Ceropegia Ceropegia Commiphora Commiphora merkeri Commiphora nova    tolear Madagascara Conophytum Cotyledon Crassula Crassula Crassula Crested Succulents Cussonia paniculata Decaryia    madagascariensis Dendrosicyos socotrana Dendrosicyos socotrana Didiereaceae Dorstenia Drimiopsis saundersiae Dudleya Eulophia Euphorbias of Somalia Euphorbia aureoviridiflora Euphorbia hedyotoides Euphorbia hedyotoides Euphorbia hadramautica Euphorbia kondoi Euphorbia milii nova Euphorbia persistens Euphorbia rossii Euphorbia sakarahaensis Euphorbia spiralis Ficus Fockea Fouquieria Frithia Gasteria Gasteria Haemanthus albiflos Halosarcia bulbosa Haworthia Hoya kerri Hoya Jatropha berlandieri Ibervillea tenuisecta Lithops Madagascar Plants Monadenium montanum Monadenium Monsonia (Sarcocaulon) Operculicaria decaryi Oscularia deltoides Pachypodium Pachypodium Pachypodium brevicale Pachypodium cactipes Pachypodium densiflorum Pelargonium carnosum Pelargonium Pseudolithos Puya Sansevieria Sansevieria Sansevieria Sedum sieboldii Sempervivum Senecio Senecio Senna meridionalis Succulents in Bloom Stapelia Stapeliad Stapeliad Titanopsis Titanopsis Tylecodon Uncarina Uncarina roeoesliana Welwitschia mirabilis Zygosicyos Zygosicyos tripartitus

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