Xerophilia 2016.10 18

ISSN 2285 3987
the passion for cacti and other succulents
18
October
2016
summary
3 Editorial 18 | Eduart
6 Xerophilia 17's Favorite Quote | Xerophilia
7 Sacred Sites of the Wixaritari Community | Pedro Njera Quezada & Fernando Augusto Olvera Galarza
39 A new old plant: Turbinicarpus nikolae nicer, Myk, Zachar & Jirue | Xerophililia
41 Cacti Hybrids of Orogrande | Harald Grieb
67 Rebutia sensu Buining et Donald | Aymeric de Barmon & Daniel Schweich
79 Notes on Mammillaria boelderliana Wohlschl. Rep 2207 | Elton Roberts
89 Spring in Mexico - part 1 | Aldo Delladdio
99 Growing Lithops N.E.Br. in Mexico | Francisco Moreno
111 Ant-plants of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea part 2 The Islands | Derrick Rowe
125 Vertical Garden Aeoniums | Attila Capitany
137 In Memoriam Heidrun Hartmann | Xerophilia
138 Online journals | Xerophilia
137 Romanian abstract | Xerophilia
142 Interesting offer of cacti seeds from South America | Xerophilia
Founders: Eduart Zimer Dag Panco Valentin Posea
Nordic representative Erik Holm

Supporter Mihai Crisbanu
Editorial team's e-Mail: xerophilia@xerophilia.ro.
Graphic layout based on Andrea Cattabriga's pattern.
All rights reserved no part of this publication may be reproduced in any forms
or by any means, without written permission of the Editor. All copyrighted
photographs have been used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International license.
Editor: Eduart Zimer

EN edition Eduart Zimer
SP edition & Field researches Pedro Njera Quezada
Photo edition Valentin Posea
PR & Graphic Dag Panco
Front cover
Back cover
Anthorrhiza recurvispina, helded by

the landowner of the Pwamba Village,
Rossel Island.
Wixaritaris handcraft as offering

to their gods.
Photo by
Derrick Rowe.
Photo by
Fernando Augusto Olvera Galarza.
Summary
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editorial 18
ew weeks ago one of the

worlds well-known supplier
of Aztekium valdezii, Mammillaria bertholdii and Agave albopilosa for the international
cactophile community (please
set the apostrophes wherever you feel appropriate)
I am pretty sure you know him, he is
humbly exposing every year at ELK and
La Festa del Cactus was stating very
arrogantly on a FB page that he visited
46 (forty-six!) times several remote and
pretty much dangerous Mexican habitats
and, of course, nothing bad happened to
him. He probably is well guarded by well
positioned friends, comrades or narco
members (kokain, tequila, cerveza and
guns.... good kombination for your safety) so you dont have to worry too much
about him. The raider is safe for now.
However, the sad thing is that people
who are committed to study and protect
the wealth of Mexican nature, habitats,
plants, and further more economy and
ethnic groups, can get a stab in the back
from those who - in principle - should apply the law, that same law for all! In other
words - the innocent can easily get a slap
out of the blue!
You all know our Senior Editor Pedro
Njera Quezada. It is not the intention of
this editorial to mention the dozens of profound and heartfelt articles he published
Editorial
Editorial
in Xerophilia over the last four years, just

browse our issues to have a look and
read. And convince yourselves about his
exquisite qualities and love for Mexican
nature. However, in a very twisted way,
Pedro Njera was put with his back to the
wall by the Mexican police. One day, in
late August, Pedro Njera purchased several cacti from a local nursery in the state
of San Luis Potos (SLP). Unfortunately,
due to an admin flop, it was impossible
to get any receipt from the nursery that
day, so he left being promised to receive
it mailed in a couple of days. After few
miles drive here is a federal checkpoint
placed on a non-federal road, stopping
cars to check them out. And plants without papers this is a problem, especially
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Xerophilia 18's Editorial
for an honest man. The police didnt want to hear that the nursery is five
miles back and everything can be explained there. They wouldnt even
drive with Pedro Njera back there, no way! The only reasonable outcome he was allowed to drive to the SLP capital city, for two hours, with
a federal agent sitting next to him, on the passengers seat. However, instead of leading Pedro Njera to the central department which was next
to PROFEPA (La Procuradura Federal de Proteccin al Ambiente) in fact
sharing the SAME BUILDING -, the organization in charge with this kind of
issues, police took him out to a random station, far away from the central
offices (add another extra hour drive time). It took police three hours to
finally read him the rights. In the end Pedro Njera was kept five more
hours in transit before being transferred to PGR (Procuradura General de
la Repblica).
Now, lets stop a minute. Why would go Pedro Njera through all of this,
when only a small tip could set him free? Well, he knew he was completely
innocent and did not want to smear himself by giving a tip. He knew his
plants were purchased legally, he did not accept to give them a bribe, he
simply let the problem go all the way to the application of the law.
However, the local law had its own and very personal way. It turns out
local police live in their own phantasy world. Recorded was Pedro Njera
has been stopped on a different road this time a federal road and has
committed some offences: he was speeding and not wearing the safety
belt! He was simply chased by police and stopped. Pedro Njera was detained for 48 hours in order to corroborate he was telling the truth, so
they say.
In fact, it seems that Pedro Njera was stopped at a false checkpoint, assembled only to extort people, he was arrested for 48 hours only because
they could do this without any problems, and that the noise and claims
made publicly for his release was just a strategy from the ones that did
so to call some attention on them and wanted to use his name as a political flag or as a smoke curtain. But there was someone deeply concerned
about these events and willing to make a bit of noised; unfortunately, full
of pretty little lies: Pedro Njera was not held in the place he said he was;
neither the confiscated plants were mentioned and this should have
been a very serious offence; more, Pedro Njera is not a professor or investigator of the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi (UASLP); he
also does not work for UASLP-IIZD (Instituto de Investigacin de Zonas
Desrticas) since 2014. Where did he get the information from?? [For your
info: Pedro Njera does independent research for CIQA (Centro de Investigacin en Quimica Aplicada) and CONABIO (Comisin Nacional
para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad) in a project named
NaturaLista)]
Why all this noise?
A Central European habitat looter travels 46 times to Mexico and mix
with all sorts of delinquents, without too many headaches. A Mexican
naturalist can get easily into trouble - I still dont understand, in this case,
why: simply because of the greedy and corrupt local police, or because he
is irritating a 7-billion-dollar business?
Eduart
en or
Editorial
Editorial
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In the end a picture received from Pedro Njera, which helps us forget all this drivel:
Immensity fills me with light.
en or
Editorial
Editorial
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James Gustave (Gus) Speth (born

March 4, 1942) is a United States environmental lawyer and advocate, professor at Vermont Law School and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos, a
nonpartisan public policy research and
advocacy organization. A former dean
of the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, he also co-founded
the Natural Resources Defence Council, was founder and president of the
World Resources Institute, and served
as administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. He
is the author of six books, including
the award-winning The Bridge at the
Edge of the World: Capitalism, the Environment, and Crossing from Crisis
to Sustainability (2008) and Red Sky at
Morning: America and the Crisis of the
Global Environment (2004)..
Xerophilia 18's
Favorite Quote
The top environmental problems are

selfishness, greed and apathy and to
deal with these we need a spiritual
and cultural transformation.
Gus Speth
Editorial
Quote
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Sacred Sites
of the
Wixaritari
Community
Pedro Njera Quezada &

Fernando Augusto Olvera Galarza
his work is only a fraction, but

of great importance, of an attempt to share well-timed and
in an independent manner first
of all, the great cacti biodiversity known in the region, and
emphasize the known and serious risk existing because of the
change of land use, looting and overexploitation, but above all, by the ignorance which
dominates the existence of the inhabitants.
Secondly, it serves as justification for the revaluation of Protected Natural area along
with the route, and establishing the range of
needed state and federal protection, in order
Sacred Sites
to take better care and improve conservation

since the ANP (Protected Natural Areas) character requires federal control which is regulated by an exclusive commission created for
this purpose, the CONANP (National Commission of Natural Protected Areas). Unlike federal organisms, the lower rank structures are
regulated by the state entities - in case these
exist and are perceived of course in a lower
hierarchy but still are covering the protection
of the ANPs. However, these are threatened
by activities considered federal priority, contributing supposedly to the countrys development, such as mining, oil, energy, telecommunications, etc.
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Map with the actual delimitation of Wirikuta

Map with the proposed delimitation of Wirikuta
Lophophora williamsii - hikuri.
Natural sacred sites of the

Wixarika people in Wirikuta
Berberis trifoliolata - uxa - one of Wixaricaris sacred

plants, Tui Mayeu.
Wirikuta is the eastern point of the sacred

geography of the Wixarika people, it consists
of several Sacred Natural Sites visited year
after year by the indigenous Wixaritari people
(plural of Wixarika). This is the place where the
kakayarite (their deified ancestors) reside.
The pilgrimage to Wirikuta is a cyclical
religious complex ritual, that begins in October
and ends before Easter; during this time a group
of native Wixaritari, also known as rukurikates,
leave from their ceremonial centers and start
a ride that is lasting more than 15 days, until
they reach xeunar (the El Quemado hill and the
Cerrro Grande Hill, one of the highest peaks of
San Luis Potosi and the Chihuahuan desert).
The main purpose of this pilgrimage is to
leave offerings to feed the kakayarite and by
doing so to ensure the continuity of the world,
abundant rain, and prosperity of the crops and
livestock. Another purpose of the pilgrimage
is to collect different natural element, such as
ha (holy water), uxa (Berberis trifoliolata the
yellow flowering agarita bush), kupuri, hikuri
(Lophophora williamsii), among many others.
en or
Sacred Sites
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1-2 - Anemopsis californica - Tatei Matiniere, a sacred

plant known as Kupuri. 3 - Berberis trifoliolata - uxa.
4 - Zephyranthes sp.. 5 - Phemeranthus napiformis,
Ekateiwari.
3
4
For the Wixaritari people, to accomplish

the pilgrimage and to collect sacred natural
elements, is a fundamental part of being
Wixarika, since the pilgrimage recreates the
mythical story of the creation of the world,
giving continuity to the world as we know it
today. At the same time the collected natural
elements allow the people to perform all the
ceremonies and also can be used as relicts, and
distribute them in their communities.
en or
Sacred Sites
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The sacred places are indivisible and

continuous natural areas, where each of
the landscape elements, such as water, soil,
vegetation, rocks, mountains, air, etc., have
a symbolic-religious value. These sites are
scattered along the pilgrimage route and
represent the places remaining from each of
the mythical ancestors of the Wixaritari, who
took the form of landscape elements such as:
springs (Tatei Matinieri in the town of Yoliat,
Villa de Ramos, SLP and Tui mayeu in San Juan
del Tuzal in Charcas, San Luis Potosi), cairns
(Kauyumarie in the town of Las Margaritas,
Catorce, SLP), caves or mountains. Some of
these sites are inhabited or are located close to
populated areas such as the case of Kauyumarie
and Tatei Matinieri, while others have been
woefully interfered by mining and installation
of telecommunication antennas as in the case
of Tsinamekuta (or Cerro del Fraile) in Villa de
la Paz, SLP.
Offering to the gods at Tatei Matiniere.
en or
Sacred Sites
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1-4 - Pilgrims
summary
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Currently there have been recorded 58

sacred sites in San Luis Potos and their names
can vary, according to the ceremony center
who is visiting. There are also several sacred
places having the same name, as in the case
of Kauyumari, which is used by the ejido
(community) of Yoliat (Villa de Ramos), ejido of
San Juan del Tuzal, (Charcas), and foremost in
the ejido of Las Margarita (Catorce).
en or
Sacred Sites
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Offerings to the gods at Tatei Matiniere.

Above: Pilgrims at Tatei Matiniere.
Below: Panoramic view of Tatei Matiniere.
summary
summary
For this study we used part of the

classification that jikareros (elders council) and
maraakate (singer shamans) have called sacred
sites, grouping them into:
Doors or Steps of purification: these are
the places where pilgrims perform rituals
of initiation and purification by finding,
giving and consuming hikuri (Lophophora
williamsii).
Ceremonial (or camping) areas: in these
diverse places Wixaritari perform various
rituals around the fire.
Hunting Grounds: in these places the
Wixaritari are gathering hikuri and perform
different rituals.
en or
Sacred Sites
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1 - Hay kitenie. 2 - Maxakwaxi. 3 - Hay kitenie.

4 - Uxa Mayeu.
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Some of these places are water sources

or springs, and are typically associated with a
female deity; while in the case of sacred places,
such as hills, mountains, escarpments and
boulders, are associated with a male deity.
en or
Sacred Sites
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We should also mention that there are sacred
places where the kakayarite are represented
by Joshuas tree (Yucca sp.), Barrel Cactus
(Echinocactus sp./Ferocactus sp.) or an animal
such as eagles and lizards, as is the case of
mukuyuawi in Villa de Ramos, SLP.
A night at Wakrikitenie.
Below: 1 - Old building in the canyon at Real de
Catorce. 2 - Real de Catorce Town. 3 - Wakrikitenie
in daylight.
summary
en or
Sacred Sites
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Wixarika handcraft.
There are some sacred places that Wixaritari

stopped visiting because they simply have
forgotten where the place is, or, as the case of
tsinamekua (Cerro del Fraile), where according
to marakame (shaman) Chon Carrillos words
The deity who was here left and mining has
drilled the site weak.
This leads to the conclusion that if the
en or
Sacred Sites
justification to protect both these sacred sites

such as the historic cultural route of the town
Wixarika and the whole region Wirikuta is not
pursued, this will put at risk the culture and
tradition of the indigenous people that has
survived to this day and also a lot of biotic
and abiotic elements of the ecosystem which
wonderfully represents Wirikuta.
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All the sacred sites within the historicalcultural route are currently not under
government protection, many of them are
in discord either by the dispute over water
access or the mineral resources that on their
sites lie, also the sacred elements within the
Wixaritari worldview are seeing decimated
either by excessive magical-religious tourism
or by changes in land use as the case of highly
technical agricultural expansion (greenhouses),
highways and wind farms that together have
fractionated furthermore the continuity of
landscape that makes up the sacred path;
we seek to propose this work as sufficient
justification to be enacted and integrated, with
a highest category of protection, all the holy
sites within the state of San Luis Potos.
en or
Sacred Sites
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The species with the highest degree of importance for conservation are listed according
to what is provided in the NOM_059_SEMARNAT_2010 and are:
Endangered (P): Mammillaria crinita ssp.
leucantha.
Threatened (A): Coryphantha glanduligera,
C. poselgeriana, Echinomatus unguispinus
ssp. laui, Leuchtenbergia principis, Sclerocactus uncinatus, Mammillaria coahuilensis,
Mammilloydia candida, Pelecyphora stro-
en or
Sacred Sites
biliformis.
Subject to special protection (Pr): Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus, A. retusus, Coryphantha delicata, Echinocactus platyacanthus,
Ferocactus histrix, F. pilosus, Lophophora
williamsii, Mammillaria crinita, M. pilispina,
Turbinicarpus valdezianus.
Some of the species listed above and some
other species frequently find on the Sacred
Sites are presented and mapped in the following pages.
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Pr
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Pr
Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus, Aixuret Watiwe.
Ariocarpus retusus, Hauriyapa.
Ariocarpus retusus, Muta Werika.
Ariocarpus retusus, Tui Mayeu.
Pr
Pr
Ariocarpus
summary
Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus
Ariocarpus retusus
Pr
en or
Sacred Sites
Subject to Special Protection/ Sujetas a

Proteccin Especial
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Pr
Coryphantha delicata, Harakuna Mutima.
Coryphantha glanduligera, Kiere manukawe.
Coryphantha poselgeriana, Aixuret Watiwe.
Coryphantha poselgeriana, Muta Werika.
Coryphantha
Coryphantha delicata
Coryphantha glanduligera
summary
Coryphantha poselgeriana
en or
Sacred Sites
Threatened/Amenazadas
Pr

Proteccin Especial
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Cylindropuntia leptocaulis, Mayemekiya.
Cylindropuntia imbricata, Muta Werika.
Cylindropuntia tunicata, Ta Tewari Makainiere.
Cylindropuntia tunicata, Hay Mutiu.
Cylindropuntia
summary
Coryphantha delicata
Coryphantha glanduligera
Coryphantha poselgeriana
en or
Sacred Sites
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summary
Pr
Echinocactus horizonthalonius, Xit Pa.
Echinocactus horizonthalonius.
Echinocactus platyacanthus, Muta Werika.
Echinocactus platyacanthus, Tsinamekuta Werika.
Echinocactus
summary
Echinocactus horizonthalonius
Echinocactus platyacanthus
Pr
en or
Sacred Sites

Proteccin Especial
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Echinocereus enneacanthus, Harakuna Mutima.
Echinocereus pentalophus, Tsinamekuta.
Echinocereus parkeri ssp. mazapilensis, Reu Unax .
Echinocereus parkeri aff gonzlezii in Catorce

mountains.
Echinocereus 1
summary
Echinocereus enneacanthus
Echinocereus pentalophus
Echinocereus parkeri ssp. mazapilensis
en or
Sacred Sites
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1-2 - Echinocereus pectinatus.
Echinocereus cinerascens.
1
Echinocereus 2
summary
Echinocereus cinerascens
Echinocereus pectinatus
en or
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Echinomastus laui ssp. unguispinus, Naxitakawa.
Echinomastus laui ssp. unguispinus, Xit Pa.
Echinomastus laui ssp. unguispinus, Parikta.
Echinomastus laui ssp. unguispinus, Xit Pa.
summary
Echinomastus
Echinomastus laui ssp. unguispinus
en or
Sacred Sites
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1 & 2 - Escobaria dasyacantha, Maxau Tekia.
summary
Escobaria
Ecscobaria dasyacantha
en or
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Ferocactus hamatacanthus, Aixuret Watiwe.
Ferocactus hamatacanthus, Kauyumarie Muyewe.
Ferocactus histrix, Tekamutimane.
Ferocactus pilosus, Hikuri Temiyari Mukaka.
Pr
Pr
Ferocactus
Ferocactus hamatacanthus
summary
Ferocactus histrix
Ferocactus pilosus
Pr
en or
Sacred Sites

Proteccin Especial
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Grusonia vilis, Aixuret Watiwe.
Grusonia vilis, Mayemekiya.
summary
Grusonia
Grusonia vilis
en or
Sacred Sites
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Leuchtenbergia principis, Aixuret Watiwe.
Leuchtenbergia principis, Aixuret Watiwe.
Leuchtenbergia principis, Muta Werika.
summary
Leuchtenbergia
Leuchtenbergia principis
en or
Sacred Sites
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Pr
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Pr
Lophophora williamsii, Hikuri Temiyari Mukaka.
Lophophora williamsi, Kauyumarie Muyewe.
Lophophora williamsii, Mayemekiya.
Lophophora williamsii, Tete Xe Rie.
Pr
Pr
summary
Lophophora
Lophophora williamsii
Pr
en or
Sacred Sites
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Mammillaria chionocephala, Muta Werika
Mammillaria chionocephala, Tsinamekuta Werika.
Mammillaria crinita ssp. leucantha.
Mammillaria crinita, Maxa Haata.
Pr
Mammillaria 1
Mammillaria chionocephala
Mammillaria crinita ssp. leucantha
summary
Mammillaria crinita
en or
Sacred Sites
Pr

Proteccin Especial
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Mammillaria formosa, Tsika Manuyeka.
Mammillaria heyderi.
Mammillaria pottsii, Reu Unax.
Mammillaria pottsii, Tinamekuta Werika.
Mammillaria 2
summary
Mammillaria formosa
Mammillaria heyderi
Mammillaria pottsii
en or
Sacred Sites
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Neolloydia conoidea, Aixuret Watiwe.
summary
Neolloydia
Neolloydia conoidea
en or
Sacred Sites
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Opuntia engelmannii, Ta Tewari Makainiere.
Opuntia megahiza, on Sierra de Catorce.
Opuntia microdasys, Hay Kitenie.
Opuntia stenopetala, Pariteka.
Opuntia
summary
Opuntia engelmannii
Opuntia microdasys
Opuntia stenopetala
en or
Sacred Sites
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Pelecyphora strobiliformis, Muta Werika.
summary
Pelecyphora
Pelecyphora strobiliformis
en or
Sacred Sites
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Sclerocactus uncinatus, Kauyumarie Muyewe.
Sclerocactus uncinatus, Aixuret Watiwe.
Sclerocactus uncinatus, Kauyumarie Muyewe.
summary
Sclerocactus
Sclerocactus uncinatus
en or
Sacred Sites
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Stenocactus dichroacanthus, Takutsi Mukaniere.
Stenocactus dichroacanthus, Takutsi Mukaniere.
Stenocactus pentacanthus, Reu Unax.
Stenocactus sp..
Stenocactus
summary
Stenocactus dichroacanthus
Stenocactus pentacanthus
en or
Sacred Sites
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Thelocactus bicolor, Aixuret Watiwe.
Thelocactus hexaedrophorus, Hamuyema.
Thelocactus hexaedrophorus.
Thelocactus
summary
Thelocactus bicolor
Thelocactus hexaedrophorus
en or
Sacred Sites
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Pr
Turbinicarpus macrochele ssp. frailensis, Aixurita.
Turbinicarpus valdezianus, Muta Werika.
Turbinicarpus
summary
Turbinicarpus macrochele ssp. frailensis

Turbinicarpus valdezianus
Pr
en or
Sacred Sites

Proteccin Especial
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summary
A new old plant:
Turbinicarpus
nikolae
nicer, Myk, Zachar & Jirue
erophilia
All photos by a contributor who asked to remain anonymous.
n the last issue of Kakteen und andere

Sukkulenten [67 (10) 2016] a new species
has been officially described: Turbinicarpus nikolae nicer, Myk, Zachar & Jiruse.
The original plant comes from the late Rudolf Grym collection where it was named
Turbinicarpus roseiflorus. However, although it was a vegetative propagation of a
plant coming from Curt Backeberg, it didnt seem
to have too much in common with the original T.
roseiflorus (Backeberg) Frank 1993. In European
collections there are several different plants displaying this name, which created confusion; more,
there was no wild population known in Mexico.
Fortunately, in February 2015, during a common
trip to Mexico of Jaroslav nicer (an impressive 46
exploration trips to several Mexican habitats), Milan Zachar, Vojtch Myk and Zdenk Jirue, were
discovered in the Sierra Gorda, Quertaro, several populations of cacti being very consistent with
Gryms plant.
The plant was described as a new stand-alone
species, however, the authors do not exclude that
after accurate investigations in the future it can be
proved to be a sub-species of Turbinicarpus alonsoi which is undoubtedly the closest relative.
However, Turbinicarpus nikolae is not a real novelty
as it is present in cultivation in Europe, mostly under the false name of T. roseiflorus; both are definitely not identical but probably related. But again,
this is a presumption that has to be clarified. And,
as a first step, wild populations of T. roseiflorus
have to be discovered first.
Turbinicarpus nikolae
Here and above: The habitat of Turbinicarpus nikolae.
summary
summary
The authors are, obviously, concerned about the

protection of the newly wild discovered species.
However, as plants are easy to propagate in cultivation and due to the rough terrain only 5% of the
plants are in reach, there are extensive numbers
(estimated 30,000 100,000) of individuals growing wild. Mining and climate change are the only
real threats for this species at this stage. However,
as the authors underline, although not threatened
Turbinicarpus nikolae is strictly protected by Mexican and international legislation.
Unfortunately, an e-bay seller from Krnsko
(Czech Republic) uses the momentum and already sells Turbinicarpus sp. (Nikolae) GCG 10892
San Luis Potos. More unfortunate, the plant is
sold under its new name even from the middle of
20141 for what it still remains quite a considerable
amount and this seems a too good business for
such an old plant!
Reference
nicer J. & Libor K. Turbinicarpus nikolae
eine neue Art aus dem Staat San Luis Potos,
Mexiko. In Kakteen un andere Sukkulenten Vol.
67 (10) 2016, pp. 267-271.
Note
1 - Xerophilia No 11, December 2014, page
37, and following are to be seen.
en or
Turbinicarpus nikolae
summary
summary
Hybrid Cacti
of
Orogrande
, NM
Harald Grieb
pproximately 50 miles northeast from my home in El Paso,

Texas one hour away by car
there is a small town named
Orogrande, New Mexico. It is
located on U.S. highway 54 in
Otero County, New Mexico,
and according to the 2010 census, it has 52 inhabitants.
This town was once booming, having had a
population of 2,000 people. However, that was
during the time, when gold was discovered in
the nearby Jarilla Mountains.
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
Unfortunately for the miners, the deposits

were not very large. However, the town was given the name Orogrande, because of the gold
discovered there.
Now it is practically a ghost town, although
it still does have a working post office, a small
convenience store with a gasoline station, and
perhaps a bar.
In addition to still present deposits of copper,
lead, iron, and turquoise, the small mountain
range does hold a unique treasure for cactus
lovers: The naturally occurring Echinocereus hybrid cacti in their entire splendor.
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The Jarilla Mountains are not actually very

high and imposing. Even here in El Paso, our
highest peak is taller than the highest one over
there.
They also do not seem that tall, because the
Tularosa Basin, on which they are situated,
has an altitude of 4,260 feet above sea level.
The elevation of the highest summit of the Jarilla Mountains is 5,301 feet. According to two
sources googled, the mountain range measures
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
only four to six miles in width and 10 miles in

length and is located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land.
The roads are unpaved (dirt roads) and especially after heavy rains and subsequent wash
outs, driving on them is a little treacherous. For
that reason it is best to use four-wheel-drive
vehicles or automobiles with a high clearance,
whenever a trip into this cactus wonderland is
contemplated.
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What makes this place so

unique is the presence of a
variety of Echinocereus species in close proximity. One of
its members specifically the
Echinocereus coccineus (common name claret cup) is
the reason for the abundance
of natural hybrid Echinocereus
plants, because it is dioecious,
i.e. there are male and female
plants. This prevents self pollination. The flowers formed are
therefore imperfect and the female plant requires the pollen
from another Echinocereus sp.
plant or male of the same species to be pollinated and set fruit. As a result, bees have to
carry pollen from another plant to the stigma of
the female E. coccineus.
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Because other species of

Echinocereus cacti are flowering at around the same time,
e.g. E. dasyacanthus, E. viridiflorus ssp. chloranthus, and perhaps E. fendleri or E. stramineus,
the pollen deposited on the
female E. co-ccineus can come
from any of these plants.
The two latter species, E. fendleri and E. stramineus, are most
likely not often part of the hybridization process, the first
one, because it is rare, and the
second, because it flowers later
than E. coccineus. This leaves the
genes of E. coccineus, E. dasyacanthus, and to a lesser extent
E. viridiflorus ssp. chloranthus
as the most likely parents of any
of these hybrids.
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
However, the microclimate

does also have an impact
on when a plant will flower,
i.e. those more exposed to
the sun will bloom earlier,
while those in the shade will
have delayed flowering. This
makes it possible, that all the
Echinocereus species mentioned above could theoretically exchange genetic material and form hybrids.
I did take digital images of
the two main parents, E. coccineus var. rosei and E. dasyacanthus on May 10th and May
11th, when they were in flower, growing in a slightly shady
location. Then I went ahead
and took images of the fruits
of the same plants, that had
formed on the cacti growing
in full sun. Those had flowered on April 9th of this year.
I just wanted to show, that
flowering can be delayed by
a full month, depending on
where the cacti are growing.
This delayed flowering could
possibly contribute for the
presence of genes of E. fendleri and E. stramineus, which
do flower later in the season, if the primary parent E.
coccineus var. rosei has a delayed flowering period, due
to its growing in a shady spot.
All cacti photographed
around May 11th at the authors home address, with the
flowering plants being grown
in a shady location and those
bearing fruits being located
in a brighter environment.
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
E. coccineus & E. dasyacanthus parents
The majority by far of the hybrids exhibit the features of E. coccineus and are given the scientific name Echinocereus x roetteri.
The interesting thing about plants that exhibit the characteristics of the claret cup, be they hybrids or pure strains, is the longevity of the flower, which stays open day and night for about a
week, while those again including hybrids with the phenotype
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
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Orogrande
of E. dasyacanthus, remain
on the plant only for a day
or two, before closing every
evening.
I have visited the Orogrande location yearly since
2006 (except in 2008) and
taken many digital images
during those excursions.
The first trip was the most
memorable though.
The reason for this was
not only, that I did see these
splendid cacti for the first
time, but also, because I am
convinced, that the variety of
color was more pronounced,
i.e. the first trip I encountered blossoms from pure
white to deep red, and my
avatar photo, which I use on
the CactiGuide blog was also
taken then.
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
E. coccineus & E. viridiflorus ssp. chloranthus parents
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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Echinocereus
roetteri
Bicolor hybrids
summary
I have never again experienced this diversity

of flower color. One reason for this could be,
that subsequent visits did not take us to the
very same locations, another one perhaps, that
plants have been removed by collectors or even
people, trying to make money by selling them.
Unfortunately, anyone who drives a suitable
vehicle, has access to the cactus growing spots,
and there is normally nobody, who shows up
to make sure, that cactus rustling is not happening. The BLM personnel is just too thinly
staffed.
At my last trip on March 26th of this year, our
group got out of our vehicles and started to
look for flowering E. x roetteri plants. Our leader
also noticed, that there were none near the dirt
road. Only the area was pockmarked by small
holes. I believe that there had been cacti where
the holes were then, and someone had hauled
a good number of plants off the property. Leaving the area adjacent to the road, however,
did result in locating plenty of flowering hybrid
cacti.
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Bicolor hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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Echinocereus
roetteri
Pink hybrids
summary
The most common blossom color is pink. This can

range from a very light, almost white, to a deep pink,
followed by orange and ending in red.
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
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Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Pink hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Pink hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Pink hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Pink hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Orange hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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Echinocereus
roetteri
Red hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Red hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Red hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
White hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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Echinocereus
roetteri
Multicolored hybrids
summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Pink-white hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Salmon hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Other rare color hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Other rare color hybrids
Our group usually drives to this

location only during the flowering period of the hybrids that show the characteristics of E. coccineus. Not only
are those by far the most common
numerically, but also flower for up
to two weeks, because older, multistemmed plants produce a multitude
of blossoms, which will open over
time and extend the flowering period
of the plant to two weeks or more.
As a bonus, there usually are a few
plants around, that exhibit spine arrangement and body shape, that is
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
more similar to the other possible

parents, mainly E. dasyacanthus, (images) but also E. viridiflorus ssp.
chloranthus.
Despite having visited this area ten
times by now, I am still fascinated by
these tough succulents and shall continue to go there, as long as my health
will permit it.
It is always beautiful, to experience
spring time in the desert and realize, that a place, that usually looks so
drab and lifeless, is alive and produces such colorful plants.
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Echinocereus
roetteri
Hybrids with different shapes of the flower
summary
Also, there is a difference

in the shape and structure of
the flower.
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Male hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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summary
Echinocereus
roetteri
Female hybrids
en or
Hybrid
HybridCacti
Cacti of
of Orogrande
Orogrande
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Rebutia
sensu
Buining et Donald
Aymeric de Barmon & Daniel Schweich
summary
ehind the name Rebutia hides a turbulent history that we will detail before briefly reviewing some species
and presenting illustrations. The genera Sulcorebutia and Weingartia are
not considered here.
In 1982 Walter Haage published
a letter sent by Frdric Weber to
Friedrich Adolph Haage Junior [1]. Weber tells that
the story began in 1887 when he received from Argentina probably sent by Schickendantz [2]
the plant that will be later named Rebutia. Weber
sent the plant to Frdric Schlumberger in Rouen
(France), where it flowered and fruited in 1889 or
1890; Pierre Rebut, a wine- and cactus-grower in
Chazay dAzergues (France) received seeds from
Schlumberger and he first proposed the plant in
the supplement to his catalogue in 1893 under the
name Echinopsis minuscula Weber [3].
A German enthusiast, Mr. Fiedler, bought one of
these plants and showed it to Karl Schumann during a meeting of German amateurs of cacti and succulents held in Berlin on April 8, 1895. A short description of the plant was given in the minutes of the
meeting that have been published in Monatsschrift
fr Kakteenkunde (MfK) [4].
Rebutia sensu Buining et Donald
Photo: collection Fabin Font.
This article is an extended version of an article by the same authors, entitled Quelques considrations sur le genre Rebutia K.
Sch. published in Plantes et Botanique, Bulletin Obregonia, SNHF
Ed., p. 4-14, 2016; ISSN 2256-7089.
Rebutia minuscula. Original picture of Spegazzini [30]

used by Britton & Rose (The Cactaceae, III, p. 46). The
handwritten legend of Spegazzini states that the photo
or the plant is dated October 6, 1898. Initially, the name
given by Weber was only present. Later Spegazzini
added Rebutia and Br. & R.. The plant would come
from Pampa Grande, Salta province, close to the north
border of Tucuman province. Actually, Spegazzini had
made a trip going through Pampa Grande from December 1896 to March 1897.
among other people, to Backeberg. Fri proposed his own classification, which deviates from
that of Britton and Rose, in articles published in
Kaktus, a barely distributed Czech journal. In
1932 he published Rebutie z vysokch hor (Rebutia of high mountains) [10] where probably appeared the first pictures of Rebutia haagei, R. einsteinii, R. peterseimii (= nigricans) and R. salmonea (=
xanthocarpa?).
It seems that Backeberg got largely inspired by
Fris work. He paid indirectly tribute to Fri when
using several of his pictures in Kakteenjagd
pu-blished in 1930 [11]. In 1934, he proposed in
Bltter fr Kakteenforschung [12] his new genus
Mediolobivia, a genus that was including intermediate plants, that are halfway between Rebutia
and Lobivia. The diagnose is two and a half lines
long and depicts the genus as having a bristly and
woolly perianth, brown-black seeds, and yellow
self-sterile flowers. The latter very restrictive character concerned only Mediolobivia aureiflora, probably the only plant known to Backeberg to typify
his genus. Nevertheless, Rebutia einsteinii, Rebutia
pygmaea, Rebutia steinmannii, already available at
that time, fitted well in that genus, at the exclusion of the flower color for the latter two. In 1936,
Backeberg added the red and orange colors to his
description [13].
The stubbornness of Fri who ignored nomenclature rules, his frequent changes in genus names,
the increasing pressure of the Nazi regime in the
30s followed by the outbreak of the Second World
War, and finally Fris death on December 4, 1944,
allowed Backeberg to impose his classification and
his names. In Die Cactaceae [14] he proposed
the following classification:
Genus: Mediolobivia
Sub-genus 1: Mediolobivia. (Mediolobivia aureiflora and its variants)

Sub-genus 2: Pygmeaolobivia.
Series 1: Conoideae (M. conoidea, M. schmiedcheniana = R. einsteinii)
Series 2: Pygmaea
Sub-series Pectinatae (M. pectinata = R.
pygmaea)
Sub-series Euanthemae (heterogeneous
group, poorly coherent)
Sub-series Brachyanthae (heterogeneous group, poorly coherent)
Genus: Aylostera
A. fiebrigii, A. deminuta, A. kupperiana, A. spegazziniana, A. spinosissima
Genus: Rebutia
Rebutia minuscula RH 1192, taken at Hualinchay,

Trancas departement, province of Tucuman, Argentina.
Photo: Ralf Hillmann.
summary
summary
Schumann studied the plant and decided to create the type of a new monospecific genus dedicated to Pierre Rebut. He published Rebutia minuscula in July 1895 in MfK [5] together with the first
illustration.
He justified the new genus with the following
words Sie wurde als Echinopsis eingefhrt, von
der sie aber sogleich durch das Merkmal zu unterscheiden ist, da sie nicht aus den Areolen
blht [5; p. 105], which means It was introduced
as Echinopsis, from which it differs immediately by
the flower that does not comes from the areoles.
This feature had been already addressed by Mr.
Fiedler during the April 1895 meeting. Schumann
even told that the plant was close to Mammillaria.
The vicinity with the Echinopsis genus was thus not
a consensus at that time.
According to Britton and Rose [8], in 1896 Frdric Weber described the plant as Echinopsis minuscula in the Dictionnaire dhorticulture of D. Bois
[6]; he mentioned that the flowers arise from the
areoles, and that the naked flower tube makes it
to be close to Echinocactus.
When Schumann recognized his error concerning the flower insertion between the areoles, he
replaced his Rebutia back into Echinocactus in 1898
in Gesambeschreibung der Kakteen [7].
It was not until 1922 when Britton and Rose
[8] resurrected the genus Rebutia in which they
brought together Rebutia minuscula Schumann,
Echinocactus fiebrigii Grke, Echinopsis pseudominuscula Spegazzini, Echinopsis pygmaea Fries,
and Echinocactus steinmannii Solms-Laubach. On
January 22, 1923, Spegazzini described the genus
Aylostera [9] for plants that have a style connate
with the flower tube. He placed there a single species: Aylostera pseudominuscula.
Between 1926 and the early 30s, Fri explored
some areas in north Argentina and he described
new plants of the family without complying with
the nomenclature code. He was partly funded by
reputed cactus retailers (de Laet, Haage, Hahn)
and he sent them plants that they distributed,
Sub-genus 1: Rebutia
Series Minusculae (R. minuscula)
Series Seniles (R. senilis poorly coherent
group including two Sulcorebutia)
Series Marsoneriae (R. marsoneri, R. violaciflora poorly coherent group)
Sub-genus 2: Neorebutia (R. hyalacantha, R.
calliantha)
summary
summary
This allocation is relevant of the term Auberge

espagnole (French idiom meaning potluck)
where one finds placed together plants without
any clear relationships (Mediolobivia euanthema
and M. costata) or where closely related, if not
identical, plants are separated from each other (M.
costata and M. brachyantha).
As early as 1940, Buining [15] had attempted
to resurrect the names created by Fri in the 30s,
and later on by Brederoo [16], Donald [17], Buining
and Donald [18], and finally Donald in a series of
articles published in volume 1 and 2 of Ashingtonia [19]. We discover that Backebergs sub-genera
and series are variants of genera that were proposed by Fri earlier in his catalogues; or that new
names by Fri (after 1934) are variants of those of
Backeberg:
Backeberg
Fri
Mediolobivia (1934) S.G.

Pym(a)eolobivia (1935/44) Ser.
Conoidea (1959)
Cylindrorebutia (1936)
[Lobirebutia 1932]

Pym(a)eolobivia (1935/44) Ser.
Pygmaea (1959)
Digitorebutia (1936)
[Lobirebutia 1932,
Rebulobivia 1934]

Mediolobivia (1959)
Setirebutia (1934)
Rebutia (1895) S.G. Rebutia

[Eurebutia 1934; borrowed from
Fri without telling it]
Rebutia
Aylostera (1923)
Echinorebutia (1931)
NB: the years indicated are those of the first publication of the names; Pygm(a)eolobivia Backbg. was
a sub-genus of Lobivia in 1935 [13], and it became a
sub-genus of Mediolobivia in 1944 [20]. Mollilobivia
(Molli-Lobivia) is another sub-genus name given by
Wessner in 1940 [21].
Let us remark that sub-genera, series, sections,

etc. are no more than practical classifying tools.
Only binomials genus-species validly published
are of official taxonomic value. In this context,
Backebergs names have priority over Fris names.
The continuation of the story is no more peaceful. There are people who explore and find new
plants (Marsoner, Blossfeld, Walterspiel, Vatter, Ritter, Rausch, Hillmann, Winberg, Jucker, de
Vries); some of them study the plants and sometimes they describe them officially. And there are
other people who change the classification again
and again. Since the solitary species of Schumann,
the genus has undergone a variable-geometry
development:
5 Rebutia species in Britton and Rose.
In the 1979 edition of the Kakteenlexikon
there were 14 Aylostera (20 in the 1977 English
edition), 17 Mediolobivia (22 in the 1977 English edition), 19 Rebutia (29 in the 1977 English
edition). Varieties are ignored in these counts.
In 1980, Ritter [22] recognized 94 Rebutia

(varieties excluded), and no Mediolobivia or
Aylostera. He was in agreement with the lumping already made by Marshall and Bock in
1941 [23].
In 1986, Rausch [24] included Mediolobivia into
Lobivia and retained only 6 species among the
Mediolobivia (In recent years, he recognizes a
single species only: Lobivia pygmaea).
In 1997, Pilbeam [25] accepted 71 Rebutia species plus 7 varieties and 51 forms. Mediolobivia (14) and Aylostera (47) are considered only
sub-genera.
In 1999, Hunt accepted 29 Rebutia species
(Sulcorebutia and Weingartia excluded) in his
Cactaceae checklist [26]. In the first edition
of 1992, there were 18 only.
In 2006, in the New Cactus Lexicon [27], Hunt
recognized 13 Rebutia species only (varieties
and Weingartia and Sulcorebutia excluded).
We were then at the paroxysm of the lumping
process.
In 2015, Lod [28] accepted 30 Aylostera into
which Medolobivia were merged, and 6 Rebutia species sensu stricto.
Nowadays, molecular genetics are developing together with computer cladistics and one
can observe the resurrection of old genera. The
plants used for this genetic approach come only
exceptionally from nature, but mainly from collections. The analysis is focused on chloroplast DNA
and not on nucleus DNA. Plants that result from
hybridization (more or less ancient) are therefore
considered to be identical with the mother plants
that transmit alone chloroplast DNA whereas the
father plants do not. By comparison, studying human filiation using mitochondrial DNA (equivalent
to chloroplast DNA) at the exclusion of nucleus
DNA would be very inaccurate, from a forensic
or paternity search point of view. Then, using the
computer together with the notions of distance,
parsimony, Bayesian approach, maximum
likelihood and other related statistical concepts,
yields an objective and quantitative analysis; however, the results depend on the choice of some
tuning parameters of the methods that are rarely
dealt with or justified. The result is probabilistic,
which means that it can be wrong to a certain degree. The computer exempts from critical thinking
because it is supposed to validate (the computer
claims that) instead of suggesting. This excludes
ipso facto the hobbyist vulgum pecus who does
not have the computer tools. We bet that future
will bring us many other changes on that subject
Which name should we then use for our plants?
Should we give in to the labels waltz on our
plants? The answer is simple: keep your labels (the
plants remain always the same!), and simply use
the name that you prefer. But, be open-minded,
accept new names and be able to dialogue with
others. A name is always satisfactory as long as it
nus.
R. fiebrigii [Aylostera]
Large distribution area (Argentina, Bolivia) and
thus very variable plant. Longest flowering period
among the genus.
R. heliosa [Aylostera]
Very variable in spite of a small distribution area.
Slightly more sensitive than other Rebutia; appreciate copious watering in the flowering season.
R. pulvinosa [Aylostera]
Includes R. albiflora. Untypical small plant that
grows in a quasi-tropical climate; requires moist
heat and suffers from full sun.
R. tarijensis [Aylostera]
Rare in collections. The body reminds one of R.
padcayensis. R. sumayana is related to this plant.
They are rather variable and most often self-sterile.
R. einsteinii [Mediolobivia]
Very variable; it seems that the red flowered
form of R. einsteinii ssp. aureiflora has never been
recollected in nature. Plants of high altitude that
requires full sun, but are sensitive to overheating.
R. pygmaea [Mediolobivia]
Very large distribution area (Bolivia, Argentina);
the individual population are homogeneous but
differ from each other. Old plants (20 years old)
become week, and often yield offsets from the
base.
R. ritteri [Mediolobivia]
It is roughly distributed over the same area as R.
pygmaea, but they do not interbreed probably because of their respective self-fertility. It would be
meaningful to compare their caryotypes.
R. steinmannii [Mediolobivia]
Bolivian plants close to R. ritteri. Rather variable;
some populations are self-sterile.
R. fabrisii [Rebutia s. str.]
Rather small distribution area, although homo-
Both photos: collection Roberto Kiesling.
summary
summary
is valid, that is to say, it Is recognized by the community and it allows one to communicate. If one
wants to distinguish plants accurately from each
other, Backebergs names, or even better, names
of Buining and Donald are recommended. If one
wants simple names for a set of related plants,
the names of the New Cactus Lexicon are recommended, but one loses almost all of the resolving
power, as if any dahlias or tomatoes were mixed
up whatever they are delicious (black Crimea tomatoes) or awful (hybrids of supermarkets). In
the latter case, one may interbreed plants that
have been erroneously lumped together, and this
would eventually lead to totally biased subsequent
genetic studies. Maybe it has already happened
when plants of collections have been used for the
study.
In fact, genetic studies should never involve
plants that are only identified by a name The
absolute key is the plant, not the name! The best
would be a collection number, data about the geographic origin of the plant, and a perfect traceability (seeding or root cutting? In case of seeding,
which are the parent plants? Does the plant come
from a reliable friend or from a retailer? Who are
they? Plant from culture or from nature? Plants
coming from nature with official authorization, or
grown from seed harvested in nature with picture
of the mother plant?). Traceability is henceforth
required and possible in our modern society.
Some notes about taxons that are recognized in
the New Cactus Lexicon:
R. albopectinata (R. albipectinata) [Aylostera]
Includes R. schatzliana and R. supthutiana; uncommon plants, probably because of their selfsterility.
R. deminuta [Aylostera]
Small and floriferous plants. R. deminuta ssp.
kupperiana has the longest spines among the ge-
1 - Rebutia haagei. 2 - Rebutia einsteinii (NCL: R. pygmaea). Both are original Fris photographies [10] [29]
forwarded to E. Vatter.
Photo: Leonard Busch.
These plants appreciate a shady place and suffer

from hot temperature.
R. padcayensis [Rebutia s. str.]
These self-sterile plants can be rather large. The
inclusion in Rebutia s. str. is essentially based on
the structure of the seeds and of the flowers.
Photo: Aymeric de Barmon.

1
2
3
Photo: Daniel Schweich.
summary
summary
geneous populations with red, orange, yellow and

exceptionally violet flowers can be found. There is
a white flowered cultivar.
R. minuscula [Rebutia s. str.]
The original population that gave Webers plant,
later distributed by Rebut, is probably extinct.
1 - Rebutia pulvinosa FR 766. 2 - Rebutia colorea FR

1106 (NCL: R. pygmaea). 3 - Mediolobivia pectinata var.
neosteinmannii (NCL: R. pygmaea). Original plant of
Backeberg preserved in the garden Les cdres, SaintJean-Cap-Ferrat.
en or
Rebutia
Rebutiasensu
sensuBuining
Buining et
et Donald
Donald
71
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1
2
summary
Some Rebutia illustrations:

About the history of Rebutia and their
classification it is so much to talk about.
Much better is to see them! The names in the
legends are those used by the authors of the
pictures. The name of New Cactus Lexicon is
possibly indicated in parentheses (NCL ...).
1 - Aylostera azurduyensis VZ 267 (NCL: not listed).

Plants from seeds collected from the site. 2 - Rebutia
wessneriana (NCL: R. minuscula). Self-sterile plant.
en or
Rebutia
Rebutiasensu
sensuBuining
Buining et
et Donald
Donald
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summary
Above left: Rebutia (Aylostera) fiebrigii RH 1626, Photo taken at Mundo Nuevo departement, province of Belisario Boeto,
Chuquisaca, Bolivia.
Above right: Rebutia einsteinii RH 1299. Golgota, province of Salta, Argentine.
Below: Rebutia fabrisii. Plants of Rausch, Winberg and Joschko showing the variability of flowers.
en or
Rebutia
Rebutiasensu
sensuBuining
Buining et
et Donald
Donald
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1 - Rebutia espinosae KK 1518 (NCL: not listed). Like

many of Karel Knizes plants, this Rebutia was often distributed under different other numbers, particularly KK
1923 and KK1564. The plant is related or identical to R.
narvaecensis (NCL: R. fiebrigii). A form of KK 1517 also
produces pink flowers. 2 - Rebutia (Aylostera) Sp. HJ 001.
Among some Aylostera and Rebutia pygmaea (haagei)
quite often are observed flamed flowers (pink to red),
that is to say having alternating light and dark stripes
(see photo 3 on page 71). Fri had already reported this
feature with its varieties haagei var. quadricolor, tricolor, and chameleon.
en or
Rebutia
Rebutiasensu
sensuBuining
Buining et
et Donald
Donald
summary
74
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Photo: collection Fabin Font.
summary
en or
summary
Above left: Rebutia tarijensis RH 226. San Lorenzo,

province of Mendez, Tarija departement.
Above right: Stereayla (Aylostera) pseudominuscula (NCL: R. deminuta ssp. deminuta). Personal
collection and handwritten text of Spegazzini.
The picture dates from before 1923: Spegazzini
had not yet decided the name of his new genus in
Aylostera.
Here: Rrebutia euanthema (NCL: R. einsteinii ssp.
aureiflora). The photo represents Mediolobivia
neopygmaea Backbg. commercially available from
Schleipfer. Backeberg attributed this name to
this plant because it has long been confused with
Rebutia pygmaea.
Below left: Rebutia (Aylostera) kupperiana WR 88
(NCL: R. deminuta ssp. kupperiana).
Below right: Rebutia padcayensis RH 1051. Caas,
province of Arce, Tarija department, Bolivie. This
name is synonymous but has precedence on R.
margarethae and R. singularis.
Rebutia
Rebutiasensu
sensuBuining
Buining et
et Donald
Donald
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summary
1 - Rebutia schatzliana WR 640 (NCL: R. albipectinata).

2 - Rebutia yuquinensis WR 632 (NCL: R. pygmaea).
en or
Rebutia
Rebutiasensu
sensuBuining
Buining et
et Donald
Donald
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Any pictures of this page: Leonard Busch.
1-3 - Rebutia sensu stricto: Free

style in the tube. From left to
right: Rebutia senilis, Rebutia
einsteinii var. gonjianii WR 578,
Rebutia margarethae WR 521
(NCL: R. padcayensis).
4-6 - Aylostera sensu stricto:
Style adherent to the tube.
From left to right: Rebutia mamillosa WR 302 (NCL: R. deminuta), Rebutia tarijensis RW 248a,
Rebutia wahliana WR 654 (NCL:
7
8
9
R. deminuta).
7-9 - Intermediate Rebutia: In
the floral tube there is always a spot where the style joins the tube: Rebutia at the bottom of the tube, Aylostera at the
top of the tube. Among Digitorebutia (or Mediolobivia Pygmaeolobivia) the spot is somewhere in between. But among
Rebutia sensu stricto one can also find intermediate plants (Neorebutia Bewerung). We leave it to the reader to judge
whether this character is relevant or not. From left to right: Rebutia pygmaea var. setifera WR 333b, Rebutia nigricans
WR 14 (NCL: R. pygmaea), Rebutia padcayensis WR 322.
NB: Rebutia margarethae (Fig. 3) and R. padcayensis ( Fig. 9) are considered a single species.
Meaning of acronyms:
HJ: Hansjrg Jucker; KK: Karel Knize; RH: Ralf Hillmann; RW: Rainer Wahl;
WR: Walter Rausch; VZ: Johan de Vries
Picture credits:
We thank for their photos: Fabin Font, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Leonard Busch, Nordstemmen, Germany; Roberto Kiesling, Mendoza, Argentina;
Ralf Hillmann, Igis, Swiss.
References: links and articles
[1]
Haage W., KuaS, 1982, 8, p. 165.
[2]
Mottram R., personal communication, in http://www.crassulaceae.ch/de/publications-the-cactician.
[3]
https://www.cactuspro.com/biblio/en:rebut. See page 4 of the
pdf.
[4]
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/49871#page/75/
mode/1up. Hirscht-Zeblendorf K., Aus der Gesellschaft der Kakteenfreunde,
Monatsschrift fr Kakteenkunde, p. 63-63, n 4, April 1895.
[5]
mode/1up. Schumann K., Rebutia minuscula K. Sch. Eine neue Gattung der
Kakteen, Monatsschrift fr Kakteenkunde, p. 102-105, n 7, Juli 1895.
[6]
mode/1up. Bois D., Dictionnaire dhorticulture, p. 471, 1893-99.
[7]
mode/1up. Schumann K., Gemsamtbeschreibung der Kakteen, p. 395, 1898.
[8]
mode/1up. Britton N.L., Rose J.N., The Cactaceae, III, p. 45, 1922
[9]
mode/1up. Spegazzini C., Breves Notas Cactolgicas, Anales de la Sociedad
Cientfica Argentina, tomo XCVI, p. 75, 1923.
[10]
Fri A.V., Rebutie z vysokch hor, Kaktus, slo 1, p. 1-6, & 2, p.
13-17, 1932.
[11]
https://www.cactuspro.com/biblio/en:backeberg#kakteenjagd.
Backeberg C., Kakteenjagd, Brehm Verlag, Berlin, 1930.
[12]
https://www.cactuspro.com/lecture/Backeberg-Curt/Blatterfur-Kakteenforschung/page-13.en.html. Backeberg C., Bltter fr Kakteenforschung, 1934-2.
[13]
https://www.cactuspro.com/lecture/Backeberg-Curt/Blatter-furKakteenforschung/page-255.en.html. Backeberg C., Bltter fr Kakteenforschung, 1938-6.
[14]
https://www.cactuspro.com/biblio/en:Backeberg#die_cactaceae.
summary
summary
Antonin Hlineck (left) and John Donald (right). Antonin

has collected very early Ritters Rebutia and allowed the
distribution in Eastern Europe and the return of lost plants
to the west. John is no introduction to Rebutia enthusiasts.
Backeberg C., Die Cactaceae, 1958-62.

[15]
Buining A.F., Studies over Rebutia, Lobivia en Echinopsis, II, Succulenta, II p. 40-43, III p. 51-55, 1940.
[16]
Brederoo A.J., Digitorebutia Fri-Buin. = Mediolobivia Bckbg., Succulenta, p. 53-55, 1957.
[17]
Donald J.D., Guide to the Rebutinae, Nat. Cact. & Succ. Journal,
Part I p. 3-8, Part II p. 9-11, 1957.
[18a] https://www.cactuspro.com/lecture/SukkulentenkundeJSKG/SukkJSKG-1963/page-98.en.html. Buining A.F., Donald J.D., Die Gattung Rebutia
K. Schumann, Sukkulentenkunde J SKG, p. 96-107, 1963.
[18b] https://www.cactuspro.com/lecture/Cactus-and-Succulent-Journal-Great-Britain/Cactus-and-Succulent-Journal-Great-Britain-v27/page-45.
en.html. Buining A.F., Donald J.D., Revision of the genus Rebutia K. Schumann, Cact. and Succ. J. of Great Britain, p. 36-41, 1965.
[19]
https://www.cactuspro.com/biblio/en:ashingtonia. Donald J.D.,
Rebutia, Ashingtonia Vol. 2 n 1-7, 9-10, Vol. 3 n 2-6.
[20]
https://www.cactuspro.com/lecture/Cactaceae-Jahrbuch/Cactaceae-Jahrbuch-1943/page-72.en.html. Backeberg C., Der Verbreitung der
Cactaceae, Cactaceae Jahrbcher der DKG, p. 70, 1944.
[21]
https://www.cactuspro.com/lecture/Cactaceae-Jahrbuch/Cactaceae-Jahrbuch-1940/page-27.en.html. Wessner W., Lobivia subgenus Mollilobivia Wessner subg. nova, Cactaceae Jahrbcher der DKG, Mai 1940, 12
[22]
https://www.cactuspro.com/lecture/Ritter-Friedrich/KakteenSudamerika2/page-222.en.html. Ritter F., Kakteen in Sdamerika, Band 2, p.
590, 1980.
[23]
https://www.cactuspro.com/lecture/Marshall-Bock/Cactaceae/
page-139.en.html. Marshall W.T., Bock T.M., Cactaceae, p. 123, 1941.
[24]
https://www.cactuspro.com/biblio/en:rausch1#lobivia_85.
Rausch W., Lobivia 85, R. Herzig Ed., Wien, 1986.
[25]
Pilbeam J., Rebutia, The cactus file handbook 2, Cirio Ed., 1997.
[26]
Hunt D., Cites Cactaceae checklist, 2nd Ed., Royal Bot. Gard. Kew
& IOS, 1999.
[27]
Hunt D., The New Cactus Lexicon, dh books Pub., 2006.
[28]
Lod J., Taxonomie des Cactaceae, Cactus-aventures Ed., 2015.
[29]
Fri A.V., Kakteenforschungsreise 1928, Gartenzeitung der sterreichischen Gartenbau-Gesellschaft in Wien, p. 45, 1935.
[30]
Other photos of Spegazzini will appear in the Dominguezia magazine (http://www.dominguezia.org/): Fabin Font, Carlos Spegazzini, icons
Cactacearum Material fotogrfico del Dr. Carlos Spegazzini in el Herbario del
Museo de Farmacobotnica Juan. A. Domnguez (BAF), FFyB-UBA, Buenos
Aires, Argentina, forthcoming, 2016.
Mammillaria
boelderliana
Wohlschl.
Rep 2207
Elton Roberts
with habitat photos by Grzegorz Matuszewski
any years ago, the nursery I worked at got in a

shipment of plants. In
the shipment there were
some small Mammillaria
plants that were all of
about 2 cm tall and maybe 2.4 cm in diameter. I
thought the plants were really interesting even
without a real name. They had on the tags for
identification Mammillaria sp. Fresnillo Repp
2207. I would have ignored the plans but they
looked so different from other plants I had seen
up that time. It always irritates me to have a plant
that is not named for it can take years to find
out if it had been given a proper name. Many
times plants are named after the town or vilNotes on Mammillaria
Mammillariaboelderliana
boelderiana Rep 2207
Mammmillaria boelderiana habitat in

Pozo de Gambao.
lage by where they are discovered. That would

make the plant name as Mammillaria fresnillo.
But no this was a species with the name of a
place. Miracle of miracles it was only about two
years till I discovered the plant had the name
of Mammillaria boelderliana. I mentioned it to a
friend in England and he told me all about it he
is the one that gave me the name of M. boelderliana. Apparently Wohlschlager named the plant
in 1988. In1992 four years after Wohlschlager
named the plant Reppenhagen came upon the
plant and called it Mammillaria sp. Fresnillo.
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Photo by Grzegorz Matuszewski.
summary
summary
Notes on
summary
summary
The plants come from the Mexican state of

Zacatecas at an elevation of 2,300 m or just over
7,500 feet. I have found that the plants when
kept dry over the winter have taken temperatures down to 15 0F [about -10 0C]. I give the
plants lots of light but still protect them from
direct sunlight so they do not burn. I am sure
that the plants do not run into temperatures of
125 0F in habitat. So they need protection from
direct sunlight. They do not have many spines
to protect the body so I try to make sure that
they have 40% shade from about noon on for
the rest of the day. I do not water them in the
winter and I give them my regular soil mix.
Back in those days I would buy two or three
plants so I could make seed. If I bought two or
three plants at that time, I do not remember. I
am not sure that I have seen a seed pod on the
plants but there must have been. I discovered
that the plants bloom very early in the year.
Here where I live the plants bloom around the
end of January and on into February; most years
they are through blooming by mid-March. As I
said I do not remember ever seeing a seed pod
but it was not long before seedlings were growing in pots up to 65 cm away from the plants.
en or
Notes on Mammillaria
Photos on this page by Grzegorz Matuszewski.
Description from Andersons

book The Cactus Family: plants solitary. Roots tuberous. Stems flattened globose, blue green, 1-3 cm
high, 2.5 to 5.5 cm in diameter. Roots
long, thick. Tubercles widely separated, conical, axils naked. Spines
4-5, needle like, yellowish brown,
4-7 mm long. Flowers funnel form,
whitish with pinkish midveins, 1820 mm long, 20-24 mm in diameter.
Fruits pear shaped, red, 7-10 mm
long. Seeds dark brown or black.
Mammmillaria boelderiana habitat in
Pozo de Gambao.
Above: M. boelderiana in Pozo de
Gambao. For comparison the coin has a
diameter of almost 2.1 cm.
To this day I do not know if the seedpods snap

open and throw the seed or just how the seed
got so far spread away from the parent plants.
I do not remember ever seeing the seed but I
have never run out of the plants. I just decided
to go out and inspect the plants for I pollenated the flowers like I usually do every
year. While I was out looking at the plants I
took a careful look and sure enough there are
seed pods and they are loaded with seed. They
are really so inconspicuous that it is no wonder
that I have not noticed them before. I am going
to guess that there are maybe 30 to 35 seed in
that small pod.
Another thing I discovered is that the plant
has a good sized tap root and there is about as
much of the plant under the soil level as there
is above. Some of the plants remain single
headed but some also cluster.
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2
3
Photo 1 is a typical looking single stemmed

plant. I have about a dozen of these in the sale
house and they are all 6 to 6.5 cm in diameter.
From the top of the root the plant body is from
5.5 to 6 cm tall. Seen also is the kind of dirty
wool between the tubercles. The wool is sparse
and not between all tubercles. Maybe that is
why it is not mentioned in the descriptions. Pilbeam and Anderson both say that the axils are
naked. In the Pilbeam book his photo shows a
plant that has some wool in the axils. Photo 2
en or
is my largest plant with sixteen stems. Photo 3

is looking down on the top of a plant. It is kind
of interesting for there it shows wool in the
axils and the areoles also start out wooly. The
wool on the areole soon falls off but the wool
in the axils lasts for quite a while. Photos 1 3
were taken when the plants had come out of
dormancy and this is seen by the tubercles and
areoles. The tubercles are turgid and stand out
from each other; that spaces the areoles and
spine clusters away from each other.
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As for Mammillaria boelderliana I do not know

when it goes dormant or for how long the plant
stays dormant. If it waits for the cold to go dormant and then starts to come out of dormancy
when it is starting to make buds then it does not
have a very long dormant time. I usually stop
watering around the middle of November and
the plants are still quite turgid. The photos of
the flowers and the plants in flower were taken
in February.
This means that the plant must have started
growing buds in mid-January to open them in
mid-February.
summary
This photo is looking at a plant from the side

when it is in flower. The tubercles are quite deflated and are tight down on each other. The
plants grow in habitat at about 2,300 m elevation (7,546 feet) and that is fairly high and accounts for the early blooming in cultivation. If
they bloom in habitat early in the year I do not
know. The plant is only about 3.5 cm tall but will
inflate itself back up to about 6 to 6.5 cm tall
after the blooming time.
The elevation where a plant calls home in habitat usually determines the time of year that it
goes dormant and also comes out of dormancy.
en or
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This photo was taken early in the year as

the plant was in bud and just starting to open
the first flower. The tubercles are compressed
down on each other. I have raised the root so
it shows the area where the root turns into the
above ground stem. Close inspection shows
that just above the root there are tubercles that
have kind of been ground down so the spine
clusters and even the tops of the tubercles are
en or
missing. That is because that massive root

pulls the plant stem down into the soil when
it goes dormant. The offset on the right shows
the light color where is was deprived of light
while the stem was pulled down into the soil. It
was pulled down so much that very little of any
light hit that area. As can be seen that root is
not something I would call a finger root I would
have to say that it is a robust tap root.
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In this photo you can see the flowers. They

are described as muddy white by Pilbeam and
as dirty white by the NCL. Anderson leaves out
the muddy of dirty part and just says it is whitish with pink mid-veins. Pilbeam does not give
a size for the flower where the NCL and Anderson says the flowers are to 20 24 mm. That is
2 cm to 2.4 cm; when I measured the flowers on
my plants they were 3 cm in diameter. The difference in size could be which day the flower was
open when measured. In the photo it is easy to
see the pink stripe up the petals. Notice that it
is darker toward the tip of the petals and in the
most part fades toward the base of the petal.
That color instead of spreading out and making
the entire flower pink it stays mainly in that mid
stripe. But the fact that it is there shows that
the petals are not white but a very light pink
color. If the flowers are muddy or dirty white it
en or
is because they are muddy or dirty with pink

coloring. In the top left photo is a view of the
side of the flower. There can be seen the outer
petal midstripe. As the flower has only one layer
of petals then it is that color of the midstripe
up the outside of the petal that fades through
and gives the petal the pink color. The NCL
says that the outer petals are olive-brown with
white margins. I am not sure how olive-brown
becomes pink but on the inside of the flower it
sure is pink.
The description in the NCL says that one or
two flowers open at a time and the flowers are
funnel form. Looking at this photo of the flower
from the side, to me it is bell shaped and not
funnel shaped. Sure the bell is upside down but
it is still bell shaped.
In the above left photo you can see a flowering plants in its habitat in Fresnillo.
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Mammmillaria boelderiana in habitat in
Pozo de Gambao.
summary

Pozo de Gambao.
en or
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Pozo de Gambao.
summary

Pozo de Gambao.
en or
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This photo shows six flowers open at one

time and even though they are not open out
flat like the flower in photo page 84, the flowers still have that bell shape. I was surprised
to read that only one of two flowers open at a
time for my plants have always opened enough
to look like this plant. When the plant first starts
en or
to open flowers, it may have one or two open

but in a day or so it usually has four or more
open at one time. In photo page 83 that plant
has two buds starting to open and there are a
lot of buds waiting their turn and that will be
while the two are open and so the plant top will
be loaded with flower as seen in the photo.
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2
3
We thank Grzegorz Matuszewski for the wonderfull photos from M. boelderiana habitat.
Photos 1 to 3 show the different forms of the

roots. It is important to have a pot deep enough
to accommodate the roots. Photo 1 gives an
indication of what happens when the plant is
potted in too shallow of a pot. There the roots
hit the bottom of the pot and had nowhere to
go but sideways and move along the bottom of
the pot. When the plant is transferred to a larger and deeper pot the roots do not straighten
out. With the plants 6 to 6.5 cm in diameter it
is hard to find pots that are 7.5 cm in diameter
and something like 15 to 18 cm deep. Photo 2
shows plants that have roots that have found
the bottom of the pot; not able to go deeper
they have grown flat like the bottom of the
pot. There are enough roots that the plants
are standing on their own and are not propped
en or
up. Some wayward roots have found the drain

holes and have grown out the holes. It is then
cut the tip of the root off or cut the pot; I cut the
pot. I now keep an eye on the plants in hopes of
repotting the plants before they find the drain
holes. Each plant grows a different looking root
ball. To show this off and also give the plant
room to grow more I will raise the roots as seen
in photo 3. Besides giving the roots more room
it also makes the plant look a lot more interesting.
But even with the roots raised that high they
will pull the plant down to the soil level again.
The plants in page 83 and photo 2 were raised
about 5 to 6 cm above the soil level. They are
now pulled down to within 1 cm of touching the
soil again.
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Spring
in
Mexico
part 1
Aldo Delladdio
his was my 16th trip to Mexico,

and this time I split my holiday
between my wife and Italian
friends, who, although cactus
enthusiasts like myself, and actually fitter than I am, are more
inclined to have a relaxed holiday, and my Mexican friends,
who are more prepared, and actually look forward to, a proper cactus exploring trip. Nothing extreme, but, although we obviously prefer to sleep in a hotel room and have dinner
at restaurants, we also dont mind to sleep in
a tent, or even in the car, and have dinner with
a packet of chips accompanied with a beer or
two, if this means saving a lot of time the following day. In addition, my ancient Jeep Cherokee can only accommodate three passengers,
so we would have had to rent another car,
and 4x4 vehicles are almost impossible to find
these days.
My Italian friends are now at home in Mexico,
so they didnt mind to spend the second week
on their own, visiting some cities by bus, and
my wife preferred to stay in San Miguel for the
Easter celebrations.
Spring
Spring in
in Mexico
Mexico
Cynomys mexicanus (Mexican prairie dog or perrito

de la pradera), San Roberto, NL.
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Outside the Temazcal - El Charco del Ingenio, San

Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato.
The Temazcal is a sort of Turkish bath, but

March 12 From Ciudad de Mxico to San
organized
as a ritual, with chants and prayers,
Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato (288 km)
The famous botanical garden, El Charco del

Ingenio, where the late Charles Glass has worked
for some time, organizes several cultural activities,
and, once a month, during the weekend closer to
full moon, a Temazcal.
Since today was precisely the day of the event,
we opted to make this experience, and recover
from the jet lag.
where hot stones are taken in from outside at

intervals, and aromatic, therapeutic herbs, that
the patrons have previously cleaned, are put on
top of them. All this happens in a low dome with
a small door that is closed during the ceremony.
The patrons enter the dome crawling on their
knees and dispose themselves around the wall,
in complete darkness, except when the small
door is opened and more hot stones are taken in,
while the master of ceremony says Bienvenida
abuelita (meaning welcome grandma). Being
accustomed to the Finnish sauna, I was sceptical
at first, since the temperature was too low for
my liking, but, as more stones were added, the
temperature increased to a satisfactory level. Also,
the ceremony lasted quite some time, so at the
end we were all pretty well cooked.
A truly remarkable experience, ruined only by
an old (American?) lady, who was moaning loudly
like she was having sex.
en or
Our flight from Madrid landed almost on time at

about 18:30 o'clock. The Customs procedure was
quick enough to allow us to catch the 19:00 o'clock
bus to Quertaro. It helped that I had with me
the pesos left from my previous trip, so we didn't
waste time at the ATM or at one of the many Money
Exchange booths outside the exit. We arrived to
Quertaro in time to get the coincidence to San
Miguel de Allende, where we arrived at 23:30
o'clock.
March 13 San Miguel de Allende
Spring in Mexico
summary
summary
Turbinicarpus lausseri, north of Bellavista del Rio,

Quretaro.
Mammillaria herrerae, north of Bellavista del Rio,

Quretaro.
Mountains north of Bellavista del Rio, Quretaro.
14 March from San Miguel de Allende

to Presa de Zimapan, Hidalgo (192 km)
After making some provisions, we left San

Miguel at 9:00 oclock and headed east to the
Highway 57, and then south until we arrived
to the junction to Bernal and Cadereyta de
Montes. We then continued east in direction of
Zimapan. Before arriving to Bellavista del Rio,
we took a detour north, and after a few dead
ends, we managed to get to the other side of
the valley and explore the mountain. The first
ridge we explored, we found little of interest,
Mammillaria perbella and Echeveria sp., but
nearly at the end of the second one, with the sun
already beating us, we found first, Thelocactus
lausseri in flower, then Turbinicarpus lausseri
also in flower. We were about 30 meters from
the end of the ridge, and a big step of about
2 meters was blocking our way. We hesitated
a little before deciding to move forward, but it
was worth it. In fact, near the very tip of the
ridge, we found Mammillaria herrerae in flower.
We retraced our steps, and soon were back
to Bellavista, and then we descended to the
artificial lake of Zimapan, crossing into Hidalgo.
There are a couple of restaurants at the little
fishermen dock, on the eastern side of the
lake, just before the road start to climb again
and eventually gets to the city of Zimapan.
en or
Spring
Spring in
in Mexico
Mexico
We asked the lady until when dinner would

be served and then started to look for an
accommodation, which we found after a few
kilometres at the Cabaas (bungalows) Sha n
Adu, a nice place overlooking the impressive
canyon created by the Rio Moctezuma. After
leaving our belongings at the cabaas we went
back to the restaurant and ate a fantastic fish.
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Habitat of Turbinicarpus heliae .
Barbacoa restaurant in Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo.
Turbinicarpus heliae.
Turbinicarpus pseudomacrochele, El Cardonal,

Hidalgo
March 15 From Presa de Zimapan to

Grutas de Tolaltongo, Hidalgo (195 km)
We started our day rather early, at 7:30

o'clock, since I wanted to check a population of
Turbinicarpus krainzianus before we started our
daily route and at this place breakfast wasn't
served. Unfortunately, we found only one plant
in bud, but the population was looking OK, with
many seedlings. Other species that we found here
were Ferocactus glaucescens, Astrophytum ornatum,
Coryphanta octacantha. We arrived at Zimapan at
9:30 o'clock, filled our tank while drinking freshly
made orange juice at the roadside, then headed
south-east to Ixmiquilpan, continued to Santiago
de Anaya, finally stopping some kilometres north
of this city.
Here we started searching on low, limestone
hills, for our main goal of the day: the recently
described (in this journal, Xerophila Special Issue
No 8.1 October 2015, by L.Garca-Morales, F.DazSalim & M.Gonzlez-Botello) Turbinicarpus heliae.
It didn't take us very long to find it, in part because
the plants were in good number, but also because
many were in flower. I must say that the first few

ones we found weren't in flower, so we aren't that
bad at plant searching.
Since we were back to Ixmiquilpan sooner
than expected, we decided to stop and try the
famous barbacoa (braised lamb) Hidalgo style, at
a roadside restaurant. The way the cook the meat
is, as I have understood it, they dig a 1-meter-deep
hole, put stones on the bottom and prepare the
embers with firewood. They remove part of the
stones and embers, lay agave (maguey) leaves
on the bottom, then the meat, finally they cover
with agave leaves, the hot stones and embers. The
meat is slowly cooked for several hours.
After this delicious lunch, we drove north, to the
Grutas de Tolaltongo, making only two brief stops,
the first near El Cardonal, to check Turbinicarpus
pseudomacrochele, which we found in flower,
and the second at El Cubo, to check Echinocereus
pulchellus, which we didnt find.
We arrived at Grutas de Tolaltongo at 17:30,
paid the entrance fee for the following day, and
found accommodation for the night.
en or
Spring in Mexico
summary
summary
16 March From Grutas de Tolaltongo to Metztitln, Hidalgo (65
Cephalocereus senilis, Grutas de Tolaltongo, Hidalgo.
a track really, going directly

from Tolaltongo to Metzitln,
I wanted to check it out, so at
15:30 oclock, after hours of
relaxing in the warm water,
we left Grutas de Tolaltongo
heading for Metztitln. The
road, just 65 km long, proved
to be not bad, just a mountain road really, with a lot of
bends, but nice. The scenery
was really good. Apart from
the stops to take pictures of
the landscape, we made a significant stop only once, when
from the car we noticed some
clumps of Mammillaria geminispina, growing on pure rock
with Turbinicarpus horripilus,
Ferocactus echidne, Fouquieria
fasciculata, Agave xylonacantha.
We arrived to Metzitln after
just 2 hours and a half, found
a good accomodation near the
main road, and after a shower we walked along the steep
road that takes to the Santos
Reyes convent on the higher
part of the city. Finally, we had
dinner at a good restaurant
on the nearby zcalo (Main
Square).
en or
km)
Grutas de Tolaltongo is a renowned tourist
locality with hot springs gushing out of the
mountain and a river of warm water, really
warm, not lukewarm, flowing on the bottom
of a narrow canyon, surrounded by stands
of Cephalocereus senilis . Its really a beautiful place, but unfortunately more and more
spoilt by hotels, bungalows, restaurants,
pools, etc. The first time I visited it, some
years ago with my wife, was in November,
and there were very few people around, so
we really enjoyed it, but a few years later,
the facilities almost doubled in number, and
so did the people, and now the place can be
as crowded as a Romagna beach. Anyway,
since my friends had never been there, we
went nevertheless, considering it was also a
convenient place to stop for the night. Luckily it was the week before the Holy Week and
the place was crowded, but not extremely
so, and we had a really good time.
Since seeing on the map a little road,
Mammillaria geminispina.
Spring
Spring in
in Mexico
Mexico
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17 March From Metztitln to Jalpan,

Queretaro (331 km)
The reason why we spent the night in

Metztitln, is that I wanted to be ready early
in the morning to explore the canyons near
Gilo and, once again, hoping to find on site the
elusive (for me) Mammillaria humboldtii. We
left the hotel at 7:00 oclock, and after having a
quick breakfast with coffee and tamales at the
roadside, we headed north, to Gilo. We saw a lot
of beautiful plants, Turbinicarpus horripilus ssp.
minimus, Mammillaria geminispina, Fouquieria
fasciculata, etc., etc., but no M. humboldtii, so
after a few hours of walking up and down steep
lateral canyons we gave up and continued on
our route. Just to check a region we had never
visited before, at the crossroad for Metztitln,
rather than continuing south, we headed northeast, to Eloxochitlan first, then through an
unpaved road that crossed a forest, we reached
Molango. While crossing the forest we stopped
only because we saw many Dioon sp. growing
high up on the steep hills along the road. While
looking around, we noticed some epiphytic
cacti, possibly Aporocactus flagelliformis. We
en or
Spring
Spring in
in Mexico
Mexico
Aporocactus flagelliformis.
continued to Coacuilco, then to Tamazunchale,

on the south-eastern tip of San Luis Potos,
turned west to Xilitla, and finally headed to
Jalpan de la Serra in Quertaro. Before arriving
to Jalpan, I noticed some very tall cacti on a hill
on the right. We stopped the car again and got
close enough to the plants, that were poking
out amidst a rather thick thorny vegetation, to
realize that they were Neobuxbamia polylopha.
Despite their notable height, we had never
seen them. We found accommodation for the
night at our favourite hotel, and had a nice
dinner at our preferred restaurant. There was
a sort of festival going on in the square in front
of the hotel, and we walked around for a little
while after dinner, but then went to bed. Either
the music stopped early, or I was just too tired
to hear the noise, because I immediately fell
asleep.
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Strombocactus esperanzae, between Alamos and
Atarjea, Guanajuato.
Strombocactus esperanzae.
River between Xich and Atarjea.
March 18 From Jalpan to Xich,

Guanajuato (177 km)
summary
We left the hotel at 7:00 oclock, and soon

started the ascent into the Sierra Gorda. We
have crossed this sierra many times, but its still
as impressive as the first time. The east facing
side of the sierra is very green, and at high
elevations there is pine forest, but as soon as
you pass the Puerta del Cielo (Heavens Gate)
and start the descent, the pines disappear, and
the barren Semidesierto Quertano begins.
At Camargo we turned north, and began the
100 km or so trek to Xich. Here too they are
starting to pave the road, but the asphalt ends
after a few kilometers. We stopped a couple
of times between Alamos and Atarjea to take
pictures of Strombocactus esperanzae that
grows near river beds at several locations. The
river system between Xich and Atarjea must
be full of them.
en or
Spring
Spring in
in Mexico
Mexico
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Mammillaria marcosii.
Mammillaria marcosii, El Guamuchil GUuanajuato.
Habitat of Mammillaria marcosii .
On the descent to El Guamuchil, we stopped

near a rock face to take pictures of Mammillaria
marcosii growing with Mammillaria hahniana
ssp. woodsii, Mammillaria magnimamma,
Coryphantha glassii, Astrophytum ornatum,
Ferocactus
histrix,
Agave
xylonacantha,
Stenocereus sp.
en or
Spring
Spring in
in Mexico
Mexico
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Echeveria xichuensis, east of Xich, Guanajuato.
Turbinicarpus alonsoi, east of Xich, Guanajuato.
summary
After two hours spent exploring this area

we continued towards Xich, but after about
another hour of driving we stopped again to
check a locality where Strombocactus esperanzae
was growing together with Turbinicarpus
alonsoi, on a very steep hill, close to the river
but not so close as in other localities. We found
several plants, but not as many as they were
in the past, maybe due to erosion or climatic
conditions, or, perhaps more likely, to the
grazing activity of goats and humans. Shortly
before arriving to Xich, we made another
brief stop to see another, healthier, locality
of Turbinicarpus alonsoi, this time growing
with Echeveria xichuensis. Unfortunately, it
was already past 17:00 oclock, so the flowers
were already closed. We finally arrived to town,
found an accommodation, and closed the day
at a restaurant in the main (and only) square.
en or
Spring
Spring in
in Mexico
Mexico
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We left the hotel at 7:30 oclock, and,

since there was no Oxxo and everything
was closed, we had a coffee and a
couple of tamales at the roadside.
Unfortunately, the owner was deafmute, and not very good at maths, so
we spent some time trying to explain
how much we should be paying, finally
giving up and paying the amount the
lady was convinced we should pay. We
stopped shortly before the crossroad
to Victoria, to check two species
belonging to different genera but with
a very similar, very low to the ground,
growing habit: Ferocactus macrodiscus
ssp. septentrionalis and Mammillaria
uncinata, growing amongst grass and
almost invisible, despite their size.
They must have pretty tough bodies,
since I saw, more than once, grazing
From San Miguel de Allende to

Matehuala, San Luis Potos (354 km)
I had agreed with my Mexican friends that they

would join me in San Miguel, but the bus of
one of them was late, or he couldnt leave work
earlier, now I dont remember, so it wasnt until
17:00 oclock when we finally left San Miguel,
heading east on the Mex 57 highway, as usual.
Our plan was to go as much further north as
possible, but before doing that, we left the
Mex 57 and took the road to Santa Catarina,
eventually stopping near a presa (dam) where
one of my friends knew Mammillaria decipiens

ssp. decipiens was growing. It took a while to
find it, since the sun was already low on the
horizon, and its a rather small plant, but we
succeeded at last, and also found a Stenocactus
sp.. We returned to the Mex 57 and began our
transfer journey to the north, checking in at
our usual hotel in Matehuala at 23:00 oclock,
and luckily finding our favourite restaurant still
open at 23:30 oclock.
(To be continued in Xerophilia No 19, December 2016)
Mammillaria uncinata, west of Xich, Guanajuato.

Above: Ferocactus macrodiscus ssp. septentrionalis,
west of Xich, Guanajuato.
summary
summary
horses on that pasture.

After taking our number of pictures we headed to San
Miguel de Allende, where we arrived at 11:00 oclock.
March 19 From Xich

to San Miguel de Allende,
Guanajuato (144 km)
en or
Spring
Spring in
in Mexico
Mexico
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Growing
Lithops
N.E.Br.
in
Mexico
Francisco Moreno
remember purchasing my first Lithops

20 years ago, and this plant caught my
attention it seemed to be a very strange
thing that made me feel very excited,
something like a colourful exotic fungus.
It was a small plant with a single pair of
leaves. I took it home and, unfortunately,
only lasted a week. It simply suddenly
collapsed overnight, forming a soft rotten
dough which was disappearing among the
rocks of the substrate. A week later I bought
another and this time the plant survived for
a month before losing by sunburn. It took
some time for me to understand my growing
mistakes and to achieve a good cultivation
for this interesting genus of beautiful African
plants. Key factors, such as excess moisture,
improper substrate, lack of air circulation or
unsuitable containers, were sparked off by
several attempts to cultivate Lithops, which
ended in failure.
MammillariaGrowing
heidiae Lithops
- a hidden
in Mexico
beauty
Lithops julii, a 12 years old plant after watering.
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Lithops julii, 12 years old plant.
But I did not give up, and bad experiences

have followed; however, in time, reading and
watching pictures on the internet regarding
their habitat I have corrected my mistakes and
gradually I was watching, growing, propagating
and flowering these beauties, being rewarded
with abundant flowers and their beautiful colours. Using a good mineral soil, abundant light
and sporadic irrigation, cultivation was lacking,
in the end, any major complications. However,
I think it is important to consider the type of
container and the amount of substrate used.
Personally, I currently use shallow containers
en or
MammillariaGrowing
heidiae Lithops
- a hidden
in Mexico
beauty
and also observe the amount of leaves and

plant size as those with a greater number of
leaves require less irrigation therefore for
some specimens watering every two months is
just enough, without using a preset schedule irrigation, but rather hydrating by eye as I look
at their individual needs.
One of the first species of Lithops I started to
grow was a L. julii (South Africa. It is a species
with ocre-gray patterns. It should be noted that
in Mexico it is difficult to find the true species
because many who find one available in nurseries, find only randomly produced hybrids.
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The genus Lithops is native to South Africa
and Namibia, these plants grow pairs of succulent leaves fused at the base, which in habitat remain almost entirely buried, only the upper end of the leaves being protruding. These
extremely succulent leaves have special windows through which light penetrates into the
translucent plant, which allows the passage of
large amount of light to the base of the.
summary
Demonstrating the translucent properties of leaves

of the genus Lithops.
Above: Lithops julii, 6 years old, illuminated by a LED
lamp.
Below: The light passes through the tissue without
difficulty and access to the base of the leaves.
en or
MammillariaGrowing
heidiae Lithops
- a hidden
in Mexico
beauty
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In particular I prefer to keep these plants as

compact as possible as this gives a more natural appearance; however, this is more difficult
for some species such as L. julii which tends
to elongate easily after watering. The roots of
these African succulents are fibrous and easily
removed during repotting.
Lithops julii specimens.

Close up of the root.
Above: Six years old plants, showing the fibrous roots
and dried leaves of previous years at the base.
en or
MammillariaGrowing
heidiae Lithops
- a hidden
in Mexico
beauty
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Lithops gracilidelineata seeds.

1 - 40x magnification microscope
illuminated field. 2 - 40X increase in
contrast. 3 - Detail of growing 100X
magnification .
1
2
The plants in this genus flower in the

months of August-September, featuring yellow
and white flowers. After the pollination one
polyhedral ripening fruit is appearing until the
next year; when this fruit is dried it generates
a capsule sealed by a kind of compartmented
special gates that open quickly in contact with
water releasing the relatively small seeds.
Lithops gracilidelineata mature capsule.
Lithops gracilidelineata mature capsule completely

open exposing the seeds.
Lithops gracilidelineata mature hydrated capsule

opening process.
en or
MammillariaGrowing
heidiae Lithops
- a hidden
in Mexico
beauty
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Lithops schwantesii starting to flower in 2006.
There are several striking and interesting species within the genus Lithops, one of my favorite
species is L. schwantessii (Namibia, which has red patterns that seem to be engraved on their orange
leaves. This species has a much faster division, I managed to keep this specimen for 15 years, currently featuring 25 pairs of leaves, which is quite spectacular in comparison to other species.
summary
Lithops schwantesii with abundant pairs of leaves, 13

years old plant in 2014.
en or
MammillariaGrowing
heidiae Lithops
- a hidden
in Mexico
beauty
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Lithops gracildelineata, 12 years old plant, during
the growth phase.
. Lithops gracildelineata, 12 years old plant, initiating

new flowers .
It is noteworthy that there are some species, unlike other Lithops, which divide very slowly, as
in the case of L. gracildelineata (Namibia, which is a species which, although it took me 13 years to
grow, has only four pairs of leaves.
Lithops gracildelineata, 13 years old plant (July 2016).
Lithops gracildelineata, 11 years old plant, started

splitting one pair of leaves in 2014.
summary
Lithops gracildelineata, flowering plant, 11 years old.
en or
MammillariaGrowing
heidiae Lithops
- a hidden
in Mexico
beauty
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Lithops dorotheae, 12 years old plant, starting the

phase of leaves renewal.
Another species that is among my favorite for its incredible red patterns on leaves colored peanuts, is L. dorotheae (South Africa, this is a species that also has slow growth. I have grown my plant
for 12 years and to date it has only six pairs of leaves.
summary
. Lithops dorotheae, 12 years old plant, with completely

changed leaves.
en or
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heidiae Lithops
- a hidden
in Mexico
beauty
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Lithops olivacea, six years old plant, incorrectly
cultivated because to much humidity and low light
levels (2006).
It is important to note that for the successful

cultivation of the genus Lithops care should be
taken with excessive lighting as they often tend
to burn in direct sunlight, because when not
being well protected by stones it bruises easily and, plants being typically more hydrated
in culture than in nature, are more sensitive to
sunburn. Another situation that favors burns is
the habit of removing the old dried leaves or
the remains among the leaves; these bring the
plant extra protection, which I discovered when
observing side burns of the leaves where I had
removed the old remains for aesthetics.
I once suffered a broken plastic in the area
where I was keeping my Lithops and especially
a mass of L. olivacea (South Africa) which was
receiving direct sunlight for a couple of days;
thankfully the plant resisted but the error could
cost me dearly, even losing the whole plant.
However, still the colour acquired was to my liking as it was looking much more like the normal hue in habitat.
Lithops olivacea, (the same specimen from above) a

14 years old plant replacing the leaves in 2014.
Lithops olivacea, overexposed to direct sunlight

(2013).
. Lithops olivacea, correct shape and color, current

photo (July 2016).
summary
Lithops olivacea, (the same specimen from above), a

13 years old plant in 2013.
en or
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heidiae Lithops
- a hidden
in Mexico
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Lithops karasmontana, growing the new leaves (July
2016).
Other species I am currently growing which present dark brown patterns are L. karasmontana
(Namibia, above) and L. aucampiae (South Africa, below).
summary
Lithops aucampiae (July 2016).
en or
MammillariaGrowing
heidiae Lithops
- a hidden
in Mexico
beauty
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Lithops otzeniana, three years old seedlings (March

2016).
summary
summary
In addition, I have started to buy recently

Lithops sedes. I bought two interesting species:
L. otzeniana (Namibia) having very attractive
coffee patterns on their leaves and L. verruculosa var. inae (South Africa) having miniature
ruby protrusions striking its leaves surface.
Lithops verruculosa var. inae, , three years old

seedlings
Arriba: Magnification of the reddish bumps present
in this species, 2016.
en or
MammillariaGrowing
heidiae Lithops
- a hidden
in Mexico
beauty
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Lithops are therefore very interesting and

beautiful plants in which the succulent enthusiasts can find an extensive entertainment by
cultivating and watching them grow and multiply, also having the advantage that damage or
The author.
Only careful and constant observation, together
with careful attention to detail allow the grower to
fully understand the needs of each specimen.
en or
MammillariaGrowing
heidiae Lithops
- a hidden
in Mexico
beauty
marks occurring on the leaves by a problem

or accident are simply removed the next year
when leaves are renewed; as a result, you can
easily obtain beautiful and perfect plants, unlike
other succulents such as cacti and euphorbias.
Bibliography
Sprechman, David L., Lithops 1970
Hammer, Steven, Lithops treasures of the
veld, 2nd edition 2010.
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Ant-plants
of Milne Bay Province,
Papua New Guinea

part 2
The Islands
Derrick Rowe
he political division is Papua New

Guineas, Milne Bay Province, which
comprises the tip of the Papuan
(colloquially the Birds Tail) Peninsula and a number of island groups
with coordinates around 10o 15 S
and 150o E, so very equatorial.
Bird lovers are especially interested in the islands Birds of Paradise but there are
many other interesting and/or spectacular birds
including sea birds such as Frigate Birds.
The districts capital and its airport (Gurney) are
at Alotau, which sits at the head of Milne Bay on
the New Guinea mainland. It is serviced by regular
domestic flights from Port Moresby and Lae and
international flights from tropical Cairns, Australia.
Direct flights from Brisbane, Australia are reported
to start about September 2016. This service will be
highly subsidised for two years in a bid to encourage more tourism. I hope it is successful because
I fail to understand why so many Aussies and Kiwis
visit Bali and similar places with all of their social
problems, when this vast and beautiful paradise
sits so much nearer to us. It is surely time we paid
more helpful attentions to our immediate neighbourhoods and their peoples.
Milne Bay Myrmecophytes - Part 2
summary
Principal attractions apart from its unique
peoples and unusual plants and wildlife, are
its vast regions of under visited coral reefs, atolls and cays that provide among the very best
snorkelling, diving and fishing experiences to
be found on our planet. On our longer journeys
to islands in the far flung Louisiade Archipelago.
Our crew caught among other large edible fish,
four Skipjack, two Yellowfin and two Bluefin
Tuna; some being so large they were difficult to
lift into our dinghy by two strong young men.
Dolphins were common sights as were flying
fish and turtles, a Marlin and a couple of Dugongs.
From Alotau there is a still working section
of the Magi Highway southwest and along the
Sagarai River Valley to as far as the Mullins Harbour region. Another road leads eastward along
the northern coast of Milne Bay to East Cape
where 19 ft. motorised dinghies provide freight

and passenger transport to the DEntrecasteaux
Islands to the north. Another unsealed road
branches off the East Cape Road, providing access to a small section of the peninsulas northern coastline.
Currently only the more outlying Trobriand
Islands to the north and Misima Island, in the
Louisiade Archipelago to the east have an air
service; however, there are plans for an airfield
to open on Sudest Island near Tagula Government Station. Sudest Island is also known locally as Tagula or occasionally Vanatinae Island.
summary
The breeze in our fast moving dingy was drying and

cooling but once we landed anywhere, it was sweat,
sweat, and ever more sweat for me.
Above: Our transport and our very capable Captain;
here alongside a tiny coral cay that supported just
one tiny coconut tree and nesting Noddy Terns.
The heat and glare off the white coral sands was
horrendous.
en or
Milne
BayMyrmecophytes
Myrmecophytes -- Part
Part 2
Milne
Bay
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Village homes.
Below: Nepenthes mirabilis, Tagula Government
Station, Sudest Island.
There are no airfields on the DEntrecasteaux Islands except for a disused one on Goodenough,
but there are plans for airfields to be built on both
Fergusson and Normanby Islands. Thus, transport
by small dinghies was necessary to reach these islands, which is rather challenging, especially when
seas are choppy. After experiencing one particularly uncomfortable day, I named them torture
boats; however, plans are underway to provide
tourist launches, which will be enormously more
comfortable. It seems I have a bad habit of visiting myrmecophyte habitats shortly before vast
improvements in local transport and other amenities occur. Bougainville Island being exemplary in
this regard.
In remoter areas, accommodation is often basic,
indeed, a nearby creek was the only bathing option at beautiful Sewa Bay on Sudest Island, but
water tanks and showers are being installed.
I could not fault our guides and our boat crews
showed amazing seamanship and truly spectacular navigational abilities. They not only headed on
direct courses to completely out of sight islands,
yet did so without need of a compass. Indeed, I
found the local peoples to be extremely obliging
and very friendly. My modest photographic successes herein would not exist without my having
their constant support.
Certainly, Milne Bay has little of the reputation
that cities such as Port Moresby and Lae have.
Visiting this region in the heat of high summer
was a big mistake for someone now adjusted to

the cool New Zealand climate; especially during
the current hot El Nino drought. I found mountain
hiking in the heat and humidity was very difficult,
but my advanced years probably did not help. All
too frequently, my clothes were saturated to the
dripping point from my own sweat. Not at all comfortable.
en or
Milne Bay Myrmecophytes - Part 2
summary
summary
Village homes and transport.
Anthorrhiza, C. R. Huxley & Jebb 1991.
My principal intention on this expedition was to find and photograph as many species of the weird and
little known Anthorrhiza species as possible. There were no photos of this genus on the Internet. As
usual, I did much research prior to departure but once there, the possibilities for success in such a vast
region seemed dismal. Ant-plant reports from locals initially proved to be false or too far away for an
old fellow like me to reach in the limited times available. For example, one very confidently proposed
location having ant-plants at Deidei Hot Springs inland from Salamo on Fergusson Island, proved to be
no more than Nepenthes mirabilis a provincially common carnivorous pitcher plant. However, I still managed to photograph Anthorrhiza areolata high in the nearby rainforest. These were spotted by eagleeyed tour operator Des Hume. It is a new record of this species on Fergusson, where only A. bracteosa
is currently recorded in published literature.
Anthorrhiza recurvispina held by landowner, Pwamba Village, Rossel Island.
en or
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BayMyrmecophytes
Part 2
Milne
Bay
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1 - Anthorrhiza recurvispina held by ecoguide Pala

Kaki at Pambwa Village, Rossel Island, Louisiade Archipelago, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
2 - A. recurvispina. Caudex with a draped Dischidia.
Pambwa Village, Rossel Island, Louisiade Archipelago, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. 3 - A.
recurvispina. The tubers underside showing a large
entrance hole. 4 - Anonychomyrma scrutator.
Anthorrhiza recurvispina
C. R. Huxley & Jebb 1991.
My very first Anthorrhiza sighting was on remote

Rossel (also called Yela), the furthest island in
the Louisiades Archipelago. Here the Pambwa
Village Headman advised that he knew where
ant-plants grew very close to his nearby village.
With scepticism but great hope, I followed him
up to some homes on a ridge above the beach
and then down to where a small creek flowed in
a forested gully nearby. Here at last (drumroll
please) perched on the trunk of a mature tree
were two magnificent specimens of Anthorrhiza
recurvispina. They were growing in deep shade
and in a very difficult position to photograph;
however, we persuaded the landowner to let us
remove the lower, much smaller plant, so that I
could take the following photographs.
This species is a true myrmecophyte being
regularly inhabited by Anonychomyrma scrutator ants. It is now reattached on a canopied village tree, where all interested visitors may easily see it.
1
2
summary
en or
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BayMyrmecophytes
Part 2
Milne
Bay
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1-3 - Anthorrhiza areolata. Sibonai Guest House.

Sewa Bay, Normanby Island. DEntrecasteaux
Islands, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
1
2
3
Anthorrhiza areolata
C. R. Huxley & Jebb 1991.
summary
The term ant-plant is not always accurate because nature frequently finds
new directions for its innovations. Indeed, this particular species is seldom
ant-occupied but water, cockroach egg
cases and even geckos have been recorded inside. Thus, entrance holes are
larger and more open to the elements
than those seen in most ant-plants as
can be seen in the following examples.
My specimens were located by ecoguide Pamsie Ignatius just a few meters
above sea level on a flood plain near
Sibonai Guest House, which is situated
on beautiful Sewa Bay, Normanby Island.
This is a popular gateway to the
south coast of Normanby, which is the
nearest island to East Cape Harbour on
the Papua New Guinea mainland.
Numbers of scientists from places
such as the Bishop Museum, Hawaii
and the Christiansen Research Institute,
Lae, Papua New Guinea have passed
through this rustic eco resort during
their island surveys. Consequently, the
local eco guides and especially entrepreneurial host Wylarkey Nemani are
remarkably well informed about the islands wildlife, including its unique herpetofauna. And now the guides are better informed regarding their endemic
anthorrhizas and other ant-plants.
en or
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Part 2
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Bay
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Habitat of Anthorrhiza areolata and A. bracteosa

with orchids and ferns on a Swamp Pandanus,
near Sibonai Guest House, Sewa Bay, Normanby Island.
The specimens in these images were all rescued from a New Guinea Rosewood Tree Pterocarpus indicus that had been felled for a slash
and burn food plot and left to rot. The A. areolata grew intermingled with numbers of A. bracteosa, a few Lecanopteris sinuosa ant-ferns, orchids and some humus impounding and other
epiphytic ferns.
Nearby stood a large swamp Pandanus, that
still supported a substantial guild of both Anthorrhiza species and other epiphytes. One
en or
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BayMyrmecophytes
Part 2
Milne
Bay
hopes that the landowners will follow my plea

to retain this tree because its resident antplant guild should interest future eco tourists,
certainly those with enquiring minds.
All rescued specimens have now been tied to
trees in the guesthouse grounds providing another easily observed feature for future visitors
and perhaps a potential seed source.
A nickel mine is due to open in the near future, which will open up the islands mountainous interior
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1 - Anthorrhiza areolata. & Lecanopteris sinuosa. High

perched in rainforest near Deidei Hot Springs, inland
from Salamo. Fergusson Island. This is a new location
record; only A. bracteosa was previously recorded
on Fergusson Island in the literature. 2 - A. areolata.
Sibonai Guest House, Sewa Bay, Normanby Island,
DEntrecasteaux Islands. 3 - A. areolata. There are also
entrance holes on the tubers base. 4 - Deidei Hot
Springs. Fergusson Island, DEntrecasteaux Islands,
Milne Bay Province, PNG.
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Anthorrhiza bracteosa
C. R. Huxley & Jebb
1991.
Published in Blumea 36 (1) (1991).
Description, tubers horizontal, slightly flattened, rotund to cylindrical to 20x35

cm.
Epidermis
smooth,
adorned with numerous
circular, rimmed entrance
holes, and occasional slits
arranged in arcs. Stems several, sometimes branched,
to 100x1.4 cm, sub-pendant,
sinuous or erect, smooth
near apex, 4 angled and
slightly ridged but becoming
rounder near tuber. Leaves
erect to spreading; lamina 7
x 2- 17 x 7 (24 x 5.5) cm, mid
green above, pale below,
lanceolate to obovate, apex
acute to acuminate, base tapering toward petiole, thin
to leathery, midrib sharply
triangular and whitish; petioles 3- 5 cm. Flowers sessile, quadrangular; corolla
white. Fruit red, seed 4- 6
sometimes 8.
Ecology. Other than occasional ant nests, in faunas
often comprise invertebrates
Habitat of Anthorrhiza bracteosa and

A. areolata with orchids and ferns
on a Swamp Pandanus, near Sibonai
Guest House, Sewa Bay, Normanby
Island.
such as beetles and cockroaches. (C. R. Huxley & Jebb

1991b.)
Habitats/Range, a highlevel rainforest epiphyte from
sea level to 1600 m. (5249 ft.)
Often abundant with individual trees containing large
numbers, especially at lower
altitudes. (C. R. Huxley & Jebb
1991b.) Johns et al. in their
(2009) report, record altitudinal ranges from lowland 40m
(131 ft.) tropical rainforests to
mid-montane 750 m. (2461
ft.) forests, where it is sym-
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patric with A. areolata and

Hydnophytum spp. PNG, islands of Milne Bay Province,
DEntrecasteaux Archipelago
(Goodenough,
Fergusson,
and Normanby Islands) also
Woodlark (Murua) Island in
the Marshall Bennett Islands
further north.Variable populations especially of more
compact forms are found
on Normanby Island where
they grow on stunted vegetation in nutrient poor soils
capping Mts Bwebwesu and
Pabinama.
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1-2 - Anthorrhiza bracteosa lowland form. Near
Sibonai Guesthouse, Sewa Bay, Normanby Island.
3 - A. bracteosa lowland form. On trees just a meter
or so above sea level on a flood plain near Sibonai
Guest House, Sewa Bay, Normanby Island, Louisiades Archipelago, Papua New Guinea. Note the
square stem and many entrances.
summary
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1-2 - Anthorrhiza bracteosa lowland form. Near
Sibonai Guesthouse, Sewa Bay, Normanby Island.
3 - A. bracteosa lowland form. The ventral side of a
tuber with large entrance holes and two seedlings.
4 - A. bracteosa lowland form. The ventral side of a
tuber with large entrance holes and two seedlings.
5-6 - A. bracteosa lowland form. In habitat on a
Swamp Pandanus near Sibonai Guest House.
2
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1-2 - Anthorrhiza bracteosa lowland form. An easily
observed diagnostic for this species are its bract-filled inflorescences. 3-4 - A. bracteosa lowland form.
Leaf detail. 5-6 - A. bracteosa lowland form. One
ripening fruit, typically closed flowers & surrounding
bracts.
1
3
summary
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1-3 - Anthorrhiza bracteosa lowland form. Detail of

flowers & inflorescence bracts. Near Sibonai Guesthouse, Sewa Bay, Normanby Island..
1
3
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Huxley, C. R. Jebb M. H. P. 1991b. The tuberous epiphytes of the Rubiaceae 2: The new genus Anthorrhiza. Blumea 36, pp21- 41.
Des Hume, Gondwana Connection Wildlife Tours
Enoch Bulunamur is a highly respected eco guide based at Breakthrough Mission, Siasiada Village, southwest of Alotau Town on the mainland. He now adds both mainland and island ant-plants to his extensive local knowledge. The mission grounds have numerous epiphytic ant-plants.
Enoch Bulunamur e-Mail.
Pala Kaki is another highly respected Misima Island eco guide who
now adds ant-plants to his extensive experience. e-Mail.
Waiyaki Nemani owner of Sibonai Guest House on Sewa Bay is another entrepreneurial and very knowledgeable eco guide who has learned
much from the scientists that have worked on these islands.
A PNG visitors guide and some useful maps.
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On the beach near Pambwa Village on Rossel Island

were some enormous trees. They hosted epiphytic
ferns, orchids and this attractively drought stressed
plant, which is probably a local form of Dischidia
ovata.
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Vertical
Garden
Aeoniums
Attila Kapitany
he genus Aeonium has approximately 33 species that mostly originate from the Canary Islands off
the northwest coast of Africa. The
Canary Islands include seven very
high major volcanic islands, some of
which are still active. Most of these
islands are very rocky with steep or
sheer cliffs to be found even along some of their
coastal margins.
Because aeoniums in habitat are among the
most adapted plants for elevated, stony, dry and
wind-swept situations, they are some of the best
and most suitable for vertical gardens, roof gardens or apartment balconies.
Vertical
Verticalgardens:
gardens: Aeoniums
Aeoniums
Aeonium tabuliforme .
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Aeoniums commonly
cultivated in Australia
Aeonium arboreum var. arboreum

Aeonium arboreum var. atropurpureum
Aeonium arboreum var. holochrysum
Aeonium aureum
Aeonium Ballerina
Aeonium (non-variegated form of Aeonium
Ballerina)
Aeonium Bronze Medal
Aeonium castello-paivae
Aeonium cuneatum
Aeonium davidbramwellii
Aeonium haworthii
Aeonium Pancakes
Aeonium Red Edge
Aeonium simsii
Aeonium simsii x sedifolium
Aeonium Starbust
Aeonium Sunburst
Aeonium tabuliforme
Aeonium Tricolor (aka Kiwi, Kiwionium)
Aeonium undulatum
Aeonium Velour
Aeonium urbicum
Aeonium Zwartkin
Aeonium Zwartkop
Most of the above aeoniums are easy to grow

and readily available. Many of these produce
masses of bright yellow flowers; however, a few
have white, cream or pale pink flowers. All are fun
and worth growing. Even though all can be planted and grown in vertical gardens, some are better suited than others. Taller, faster growing ones
tend to need frequent pruning.
Aeonium tabuliforme is likely the first and most
obvious species to come to mind when considering aeoniums to be grown vertically, as its growth
habit is the most ideally suited. Whether in habitat or in cultivation, growing under bright light or
deep shade, this species retains a very short and
much flattened growth habit.
Aeonium tabuliforme mostly grows as a solitary

rosette of green leaves that overlap tightly. The
examples at right show the same pot with several
rosettes; originally it was a single rosette, but a
caterpillar ate out its centre. When grown in pots
the plants usually remain fairly flat, like those in
the two images above right. However, A. tabuliforme
naturally grows both vertically and horizontally as
seen by the several rosettes growing outwards over
the side of the pot in the right images.
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summary
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The bright coloured foliage of most aeoniums

is maintained if grown in bright, very sunny positions, preferably outdoors, however there are numerous exceptions; notably variegated aeoniums
that prefer shade for their brightest colours.
In their natural habitat during drought, summer,
dry conditions or heat stress, Aeonium rosettes
will usually shrink, becoming more compact or
have leaves curl inwards creating ball, urn or cupshaped rosettes. In autumn, after cooler conditions return and with sufficient moisture, rosettes
typically expand or open up, often with a growth
surge of lush, longer leaves.
Often Im asked whether that desirable colour
and shape will return and what can be done. Many
aeoniums can change dramatically in size, colour
and appearance with the seasons. Some are naturally small or slow growers. Most will grow lush
and weaker looking during winter, but will return
to their best shapes and colours by spring. Most
aeoniums have the best foliage colours in spring,
followed by autumn, summer and then winter. All
aeoniums can be highly attractive for a few months
each year, moderately attractive for six months of
the year, and unattractive for the rest. Important
note: Those inexperienced with growing aeoniums
find it disappointing when their plants change or

lose their colour, especially as this feature was often the main reason for the plants selection over
another.
Aeoniums are primarily used for their foliage
(not flowers) in vertical gardens. Foliage features
are year round, but the attractive flowers are usually restricted to a few weeks of late winter and
spring. Flowering can be unreliable and erratic,
with often only a few stems producing heavy loads
of flowers on the tallest or largest rosettes. Therefore Aeonium floral displays should never be relied upon as a primary consideration when planning a planting with this genus. Heavy flowering
makes the plant so top-heavy that this can cause
the plant or main stems to bend, often break and
dislodge from the ground or wall planting. Heavy
flowering also weakens or kills some aeoniums,
notably Aeonium tabuliforme and A. nobile. Experienced growers will cut and remove flowering
stems early to prevent eventual damage, or plant
becoming unsightly. Cutting away or removing
flowering buds and stems early will encourage
bushier growth and new rosettes. If you really
want to see your aeoniums in flower grow some in
pots where heavy inflorescences can remain in an
upright position or can be staked if need be. Only
smaller growing species should ever be allowed to
flower in a vertical wall garden where a relatively
small weight load will be experienced when they
flower, which will not easily break or fall during
windy conditions. These include A. aizoon and A.
simsii.
Some aeoniums are stemless; others are shrubby, while some are taller and single-stemmed or
sparsely branching. The shortest growing types
are obviously the best choice for vertical gardens
with the tallest types being the least suitable. Utilizing all the types that dont grow more than 30
cm is preferable. The types that grow and spread
sideways can fill out bare spaces between plants, a
desirable trait. It is important to be aware that the
more suitable types you can use the better, for variety of colour and drama in your vertical garden.
You dont need to restrict yourself to only a few
very short types. Rather consider them as a framework for your project, the base structural plants.
The next most important part of the selection
process is interpreting which shrubby types can
be easily modified to be less vigorous or shorter
growing in height, that will grow in harmony with
the other species already considered suitable. This
is where several relatively larger growing shrubby
species can be used successfully on a vertical wall
planting.
The best example of this is the common, widespread and very easy to grow A. haworthii which
can grow to a shrub 500 mm in height and width.
While a shrub of this size and height sounds obviously a poor choice, further research reveals the
opposite to be true.
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Two of the most dry and sun-hardy species are

Aeonium valverdense and A. lancerottense as they
are only found in locations of full sun and receive
less than 200 mm of rain per year in habitat. All
other aeoniums are commonly found on sides of
mountains and under or near trees where varying
degrees of shade can be experienced. This means
that the two abovementioned species would be
the most sun and dry tolerant for a roof garden or
upper parts of a vertical garden where it is likely
to be the hottest and driest. Most other aeoniums
can take varying levels of sun and shade, with Aeonium tabuliforme, A. aizoon and A. aureum being the
most in need of some shade especially through
summer in Australia. Therefore, these three aeoniums would best suit an east facing aspect, or possibly south facing. In north or west facing aspects
these three species must have shade during day
temperatures of 25C and above.
Aeonium Ballerina and A. simsii need moderate shade through summer. Aeonium simsii loves
the sun through autumn, winter, and then spring
when it can flower readily, heavily and spectacularly. But during summer when temperatures exceed 30C it can die back severely from the ground
upwards, leaving sparse dry looking heads to be
propagated each autumn. It may be worth noting
that this species naturally dies back during summer, even in habitat; therefore, this natural cycle
should not be interpreted as a sign of poor growing conditions, rather that this can be a good
time to replant any remaining live stems. When
grown in shade during summer it can maintain a
relatively healthy state.
summary
summary
Aeonium haworthii originates from the island of

Tenerife where it naturally grows in rocky coastal
areas and on sea-facing cliffs that are exposed to
extremely windy conditions. The more windy, dry
and exposed the position is the shorter and more
compact this species grows. Aeonium haworthii in
habitat is commonly found growing as wide, short
clumps of attractive rosettes. These plants can
range from green to blue-green with striking reddish leaf margins.
It can be very helpful to understand all this habitat data as it can help evaluate a plants suitability
to your specific project on a vertical context. This
species is variable in habitat and in cultivation,
where many hybrids of this species are circulating
and not all of them will be suitable, but worth trying just the same. This species of Aeonium is possibly the single most hardy and versatile of all aeoniums, hence most hybrids of this species are also
likely to have better than average traits for vertical
garden suitability. A few forms and hybrids of A.
haworthii that I have tried have been successful,
with only one example found so far with negative
traits. It pays to experiment.
Trials of the same plant type grown from cuttings simultaneously in pots, in the garden and in
a wall planting showed obvious and marked differences in growth rates, as well as mature sizes
reached. In shallow soils that were low on water
and nutrient content, plants grew to 10 cm or less
in height. Whereas the equivalent cuttings grown
to maturity in the garden in the same time frame
en or
Aeonium haworthii at top left showing rosettes naturally tilting from a vertical position. Next at top right
is an image of how this species multiplies profusely
from an original single rosette.
reached 50 cm in height. This experiment is easy

to replicate in the home garden and goes a long
way to prove this plants value, with ease of growth
and for possible use in vertical or shallow soils.
In shallow soils, foliage colour is usually enhanced over the equivalent garden growing situation. Aeonium haworthii is a perfect candidate to
add some height/elevation to any vertical garden.
If there is excessive shade and too much fertilizer,
you will find this species grows undesirably tall.
Then it is just as easy to pinch out growing tips
or cut the stems back, which will often reshoot
bushier and shorter than before. If this problem
reoccurs then repeat the cut back process. Eventually the main plants will slow in growth and remain
shorter overall. This process also causes larger rosette sizes to gradually become and remain smaller and more numerous. All cut off shoots or stem
sections can be planted to fill empty spaces where
vegetation is sparse in your design. These can
be held in place using toothpicks or thin wooden
skewers until they have sufficient roots. It is routine practice for nursery professionals to pinch out
new shoots on any plants to force them to regrow
as bushier plants, instead of their being taller and
weaker.
summary
summary
For professionals in larger nurseries where

such labour intensive work is too costly, they
may utilize more scientific methods. A range of
chemicals are available that can reduce or increase flowering cycles as well as chemicals that
can reduce internodal spacing between leaves.
The latter of these chemicals can control or almost stop a plants growth. Other chemicals
can also force profuse lateral branching where
it otherwise may not occur. Further information
about chemicals for growth control, pesticides,
fungicides and fertilizers is readily available
elsewhere.
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Verticalgardens:
gardens: Aeoniums
Aeoniums
These three images show seasonal and stress related colour changes in Aeonium haworthii. The two
images, here and above right, show a variegated
form of A. haworthii that offers perhaps the most
dramatic seasonal colour changes of any Aeonium.
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2
3
1 & 2 - The bright coloured foliage of most aeoniums

is maintained if grown in bright, very sunny positions, preferably outdoors. Here is a range of wellgrown colourful aeoniums outdoors at their seasonal
best. 3 - Aeonium tricolor, also commonly known as
Aeonium Kiwi in New Zealand.
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gardens: Aeoniums
Aeoniums
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Another Aeonium species that deserves a special consideration for use in

vertical wall gardens is A. urbicum. This
common species from the island of Tenerife grows mostly as a solitary rosette
reaching 1.5 m in height and with its inflorescence can reach over 2 m in height,
making it one of the largest and tallest Aeonium. Anyone reading this height measurement could be deterred from considering A. urbicum any further, so one needs
to be careful not to evaluate aeoniums too
superficially. The authoritative monograph
on the subject, Aeonium in Habitat & Cultivation by Rudolf Schulz covers A. urbicum in
some detail.
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Vertical
Verticalgardens:
gardens: Aeoniums
Aeoniums
This solitary lower stem of a mature Aeonium urbicum

was more reminiscent of a tree trunk and hence a species obviously considered unsuitable for small spaces.
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Seedlings grow quickly

but need to be repotted
regularly and well fertilized
to achieve spectacular large
plants. A. urbicum is not well
suited to pots as it stunts
quickly if not regularly repotted.
Considering the quote
above, some obvious advantages for use in a vertical
garden become apparent.
This species is very easy to
grow from seed. It self-sows
readily. It has a high germination rate and is fast growing until room for roots and
food is used up, after which
plants slow down or almost
stop growing in a stunted
habit. On page 79 of Rudolfs
book there is a picture taken in habitat of thousands
brightly coloured A. urbicum
plants which are only a few
centimetres in height, almost carpeting the rocky
ground. Most of these small
plants were not recent seedlings that had germinated
there, but rather old plants
that had become stunted.
All of these plants in the picture looked fantastic, with a
range of orange, red, yellow
and green colours. Can you
just imagine what that might
look like on a vertical wall
garden? Would it grow easily
in cultivation? Will it look like
those in that habitat scene?
The crowd of numerous plants of A. urbicum (above) are not young
plants or fresh seedlings, rather plants that are several years old,
but growing in very poor sandy soil. The image in here shows a five
year old A. urbicum that is only 6 cm high.
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Verticalgardens:
gardens: Aeoniums
Aeoniums
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Aeonium tricolor, is a highly prized, easy to grow

aeonium for collectors. However, keeping the bright
colours or enhancing the colours can be really challenging or even frustrating to the inexperienced.
For forty years I have been growing aeoniums,

thirty of these, selling them wholesale and retail.
Along the way I have had time to gather, collect
and enjoy the types that appealed to me. Over
the years I trialled any aeoniums that I could get
my hands on, in a range of applications from pot
culture to mass planting in garden beds and for
use in vertical gardens. Long before the current
rush of interest (pre 2008) in vertical gardening,
I had seed grown plants of Aeonium urbicum that
flowered and set seed. Thousands of seeds germinated in the near vicinity of the parent plants. I
then transferred hundreds of these seedlings into
trial areas around our one-acre garden. I trialled
them in a range of soil types and conditions, even
vertically; also in pots and shallow containers to
replicate vertical and roof garden situations. The
results were outstanding, so I can confidently recommend A. urbicum as one of the most suitable,
worthwhile and beautiful of all aeoniums (if not of
all succulents) for vertical or roof gardens where
soils are shallow and exposed to harsh sunny or
dry conditions.
Concluding on aeoniums that are suitable for

vertical wall gardens, I have covered and recommended a few here, based upon my personal and
professional experience. There are very few people in the world who really have experience and
expertise with aeoniums. Rudolf Schulzs book,
Aeoniums in Habitat and Cultivation is also based
on his personal, professional and long standing
experience with these aeoniums. Pages 40 and 41
of his book show images of vertical locations that
aeoniums naturally occur in and prefer; these two
pages alone also have a lot of other concise and
clear helpful information including a sun/shade
tolerance list of aeoniums. Much can be learned
from this book, especially if you want a vertical garden using succulents to be successfulrelatively
carefree and above all, beautiful! Newly arrived
Aeonium cuttings can be planted immediately. Cuttings with short stems root more quickly. When
propagating aeoniums, long, old woody stems
have little or no advantage/value and conversely
can bring problems with them. Nursery professionals routinely cut these off.
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summary
summary
Fresh stem cuttings of Aeonium Tricolor grow roots

within a few weeks, any season of the year, however
always faster in the cooler months.
Detail above: Aeonium haworthii cuttings were planted without roots. They were planted as crowded as
possible to have them all grow evenly and to have the
hanging ball appear complete sooner.
Basic cultural advice
(primarily for cuttings sent through the post).

Grow them in an open area with fresh air, where
they can be watered well, almost daily (if there is
no rain) to establish fast and healthy roots. Even
in winter, if the days are dry and the ground dries
out, water them regularly for faster establishment.
Once established and growing vigorously, watering can be substantially reduced. During spring
and autumn, as with winter, it is best not to just
rely on irregular rain events because only constantly damp soils will initiate a fast, wide spreading root systems.
During summer, do not water if temperatures
exceed 30C. In such hot conditions the Aeonium
roots become totally inactive and so are unable to
take up and use any water given to them but are
instead likely to suffer, so let them dry and shrivel
until cooler weather. While aeoniums can survive
dry periods during any season, they have a specific preference for optimum growth and health.
Generally, aeoniums are considered summer dormant and winter growers, but there are many exceptions if your conditions are mild, in which case
you can grow them any time of the year with relative ease.
Fresh plantings of aeoniums like to adjust to
new situations slowly, so for the first few days, be
careful to avoid harsh sunlight, which can burn
them. We routinely drape shade-cloth over new
plantings during the hottest part of the day, especially during summer. Roots can often be initiated
at any time of the year, with summer being the
most challenging. Some nurseries have succeeded
with year round propagation.
Once established they will not need so much
water or attention. Feeding with any good fertilizer
can now begin at half the recommended strength.
Too much fertilizer will make plants etiolate excessively with floppy, lush, greener leaves that
become more highly susceptible to pests and disease.
en or
summary
Vertical garden designed by Tonia Spilios of Luscious
Living Spaces (Fig. 1 & 2), 2016. Our nursery (here and
above) worked closely with Tonia on plant selection,
plant supply and establishment. Aeoniums featured
prominently in this relatively large project. Images
from left to right show the early planting, then establishment, followed by two images of the completed
work on a wall.
summary
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Verticalgardens:
gardens: Aeoniums
Aeoniums
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Both images here show vertical gardens using

aeoniums to good effect, one is a smaller domestic
example that anyone can try at home, while the
other example is obviously a large scale commercial
wall project.
What may not be obvious here, unless you zoom in
for a closer look, is that none of these people were
posing for the photographer. Rather, they were
randomly attracted and motivated to photograph
these gardensperhaps to share with friends or try
at home.
It certainly does demonstrate the popularity and
versatility of some types of succulents.
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Verticalgardens:
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Aeoniums
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No. 33 (18),
(18), October
October 2016
2016 || ISSN
ISSN 2285-3987
2285-3987
In memoriam
Heidrun E. K.
Hartmann
05. 08. 1942 11. 07. 2016
erophilia
Rest in Peace, Heidrun Hartmann!
Photo by Pieter Mier
Hartmanthus pergamentaceus, genus nemed in

HEK Hartmanns honor.
Hartmanthus pergamentaceus.
Photo by Paul Klaassen
Heidrun Hartmann (known H.E.K. Harmann

as author) has sadly passed away in early July this
year. There are many people who travel through life
accompanied by a deep modesty, so as they lived. But
for some of them, their life's work is out here, in the
books and studies and herbariums, and is left for the
fellows and all those who follow.
Heidrun Hartmann studies were essential for
defining the family Aizoaceae as we know it now, and
certainly there will be important changes in the near
future. Unfortunately, her work is not finished yet. She
co-edited the two volumes of Aizoaceae: Illustrated
handbook of succulent plants (in 2001), and the second
edition published in September 2016 including six new
genera published since 2001.
From 1970 to 2007 Hartmann was active at the
University of Hamburg in the Department of Systematic
Botany, and since her 1982 she was a lecturer of the
group of professors. Since 1969, her research focuses
on the plant family of Aizoaceae on all continents. For
almost 40 years she collected plants and carried out
fieldwork across Africa and also in Argentina, Mexico
and USA, and prepared herbarium work in the United
Arab Emirates, England, Sweden, Finland and China.
She published over 120 books and articles on this plant
family.
magazines
Xerophilia
Acc Aztekium Journal (Romanian) We are pleased to announce the new

issue of the Romanian Acc Aztekium
journal. Latest issue: No 44, October
2016.
Sansevieria Online (German) - the
free online journal about the genus
Sansevieria). Latest issue: No 4 (1),
May 2016.
Sukkulenten (German) - Monthly
free online journal of the FGaS Fachgesellschaft andere Sukkulenten
(formerly Avonia-News). Latest issue:
Vol. 9, No 9, September 2016.
The Cactus Explorer (English) - the
first free online C&S journal. Latest
issue: No 16, June 2016.
summary
summary
Online
Magazines
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138 - XEROPHILIA Volume V, No. 3 (18), October 2016 ||ISSN

ISSN2285-3987
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summary
Xerophilia
summary
ABSTRACT - scurt prezentare a articolelor
Pedro Njera Quezada

& Fernando Augusto Olvera Galarza
Locurile sacre ale poporului Wixarika

nc un articol tehnic i la obiect, de ast dat cu conotaii etnografice, realizat de colegul nostru Pedro Njera Quezada, n colaborare cu etnograful Fernando Augusto Olvera Galarza.
Vei putea afla cte ceva despre locurile i drumurile sacre ale poporului Wixarika. Articolul cuprinte un pictorial cu plante din habita i numeroase hri.
Xerophilia n colaborare cu un autor care i-a pstrat anonimatul

V prezint descrierea taxonului Turbinicarpus nikolae nicer, Myk, Zachar & Jirue, publicat n Kakteen un andere Sukkulenten [67 (10) 2016]. Fotografiile fcute n habitat sunt
originale i publicate pentru prima oar.
Harald Grieb
Cactuii hibrizii din Orogrande

Un articol interesant, foarte bine documentat despre un loc in care cateva
specii de echinocerei se hibrideaza si se hibrideaza din nou, dand natere unei populatii cu o variaie floristica fascinant; aceast populaie de hibrizi a primit numele magic de Echinocereus roetteri. Zeci de
fotografii v vor ncnta ochii, prezentndu-v cea mai fantastic varietate de culori i dimensiuni florale pe
care o putei imagina la o singur specie de cactusi fie ea un hibrid natural. Formele corpurilor i spinaiile
variaz i ele n armonie cu jocul nebun al cromozomilor. Pentru cei care vor studia atent materialul, acesta
poate fi un chid deosebit de util n identificarea unor hibrizi accidentali aprui n coleciile lor.
Elton Roberts
Note de cultur despre Mammillaria boelderliana Rep. 2207

Pentru cei care au frecventat site-ul Cactusi.com, cultivatorul, colecionarul i
exploratorul american Elton Roberts este foarte cunoscut, prin articolele sale despre zonele aride ale Statelor
Unite ale Americii. Pe lng jurnalele sale de cltorii prin deerturile nord-americane, autorul prezentului articol despre Mammillaria boelderliana Rep 2207, a mai publicat i alte articole privind cultura cactuilor, att n
Xerophilia ct i n alte publicaii. Astfel, Elton Roberts s-a fcut remarcat, celor interesai despre modul n care
se pot obine plante puternice i sntoase, prin articolul de referin pe care l-a semnat mpreun cu Malcolm
Burleigh, despre efectul solurilor alcaline asupra dezvoltrii rdcinilor i despre necesitatea folosirii, la udare,
a unor ape cu un pH acid. Prezentul material este o continuare a acestei viziuni despre modul su de cultur.
Romanian
abstract
Online magazines

ISSN2285-3987
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summary

Cei doi autori francezi, cunoscui publicului nostru pentru articolele publicate n numere anterioare, fac echip de ast dat, n calitate de coautori ai unei documentaii
excepionale despre haiul taxonomic care nvluie ntr-o cea de mister genul Rebutia. Un articol pentru
pasionaii i cunosctorii genului, care vor putea, n sfrit s vad clar n nebuloasa iscat de botaniti.
Aldo Delladdio
Primvar n Mexic, partea nti

Aldo este un must n paginile noastre, pe care le onoreaz de caiva ani.
Colecionar, cltor i explorator, autorul ne mprtete din minuniile pe care le-a ntlnit cutreiernd prin
cele mai neumblate zone ale Mexicului. Puini sunt aceia care au vzut pe viu, cu acelai interes i cu aceeai
pricepere, ceea ce a vzut el... i ceea ce vei vedea i voi n jurnalul su de cltorie.
Francisco Moreno
Cultivnd Lithops n Mexic
Xerophilia
summary
Aymeric de Barmon &

Daniel Schweich
Francisco Moreno, alpinist pasionat, cunoate bine multe coclauri inaccesibile din Mexic. Totui el nu caut s-i prezinte cunotinele despre cactui ca n precedentul su articol, prefernd s prezinte cultura unor plante africane care l pasioneaz de aproape dou decenii. Bine ilustrat, articolul
este foarte interesant, n msura n care experiena sa i sfaturile sale de cultur au o mare compatibilitate cu
ceea ce putem face i noi, aici n ar. Un articol de citit atent.
Derrick Rowe
Plantele-furnicar din Milne Bay Province,

Papua Noua Guinee; partea a doua: Insulele
Derrik Rowe, cunoscutul specialist n plantele simbionte cu diverse specii de furnici, i continu serialul
descriptiv despre aceste minuni ale naturii, ncheind n acest numr al doilea articol cu speciile din Papua
Noua Guinee, abordnd de ast dat speciile insulare. Pentru un ochi neavizat, aceste plante sunt poate toate
la fel i pot prea neinteresante dup maratonul care le-a scos la iveal ncepnd cu septembrie 2015. Totui,
pasionaii de suculente nu pot s nu remarce paradoxul existenei acestora: ele triesc n mlatini i n zone cu
vegetaie bogat, fiind totui prin regimul lor epifit, plante suculente i, mai mult, xerofite n majoritatea lor.
Cine oare nu ar vrea s le cultive?... Fiindc sunt plante ce pot fi cultivate n captivitate.
Romanian
abstract
Online magazines

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Attila Kapitany
Aeonium - grdini suspendate

Explorator al Australiei i al zonelor nvecinate, Attila Kapitany a vzut multe
coluri de lume fascinante. Pasiunea lui pentru suculente s-a mpletit ns i cu simul practic, astfel aprnd
o nurserie care produce o gam foarte variat de succulente i n special diferite specii i hibrizi aparinnd
genului Aeonium.
Este interesant de vzut cum, mbinnd diversele i decorativele specii aduse n discuie, se pot obine
decoraiuni exterioare i interioare de excepie. De ce nu ar urma i alii exemplul su?
summary
Xerophilia
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Romanian
abstract
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ISSN2285-3987
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Greatest selection from
Volker Schdlich
The Chaco in Paraguay
volker@gymnos.de
Bolivia
Argentina
www.gymnos.de
Brazil
Xerophilia
summary
Cacti seeds from South America
Acanthocalycium, Borzicactus, Cereus, Cleistocactus,

Echinopsis, Frailea, Gymnocalycium, Harrisia, Lobivia,
Opuntia, Oreocereus, Parodia, Soehrensia, Trichocereus,
Weingartia etc.
Advertizing
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142
142 -- XEROPHILIA
XEROPHILIA Volume
Volume V,
V, No.
No. 33 (18),
(18), October
October 2016
2016 || ISSN
ISSN 2285-3987
2285-3987
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summary
Xerophilia
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143 -- XEROPHILIA
XEROPHILIA Volume
Volume V,
V, No.
No. 33 (18),
(18), October
October 2016
2016 || ISSN
ISSN 2285-3987
2285-3987
Xerophilia Volume V, No. 3 (18), October 2016
www.xerophilia.ro
ISSN 2285-3987

Xerophilia 2016.10 18

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ISSN 2285 3987

the passion for cacti and other succulents

the passion for cacti and other succulents

Founders: Eduart Zimer Dag Panco Valentin Posea

Nordic representative Erik Holm

Editor: Eduart Zimer

Anthorrhiza recurvispina, helded by

Wixaritaris handcraft as offering

2 - XEROPHILIA Volume V, No. 3 (18), October 2016 | ISSN 2285-3987

the passion for cacti and other succulents

ew weeks ago one of the

in Xerophilia over the last four years, just

Xerophilia 18's Editorial

Xerophilia 18's Editorial

Immensity fills me with light.

James Gustave (Gus) Speth (born

The top environmental problems are

Pedro Njera Quezada &

his work is only a fraction, but

to take better care and improve conservation

Map with the actual delimitation of Wirikuta

Lophophora williamsii - hikuri.

Natural sacred sites of the

Berberis trifoliolata - uxa - one of Wixaricaris sacred

Wirikuta is the eastern point of the sacred

1-2 - Anemopsis californica - Tatei Matiniere, a sacred

For the Wixaritari people, to accomplish

The sacred places are indivisible and

Offering to the gods at Tatei Matiniere.

Currently there have been recorded 58

Offerings to the gods at Tatei Matiniere.

For this study we used part of the

1 - Hay kitenie. 2 - Maxakwaxi. 3 - Hay kitenie.

Some of these places are water sources

There are some sacred places that Wixaritari

justification to protect both these sacred sites

Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus, Aixuret Watiwe.

Ariocarpus retusus, Hauriyapa.

Ariocarpus retusus, Muta Werika.

Ariocarpus retusus, Tui Mayeu.

Subject to Special Protection/ Sujetas a

Coryphantha delicata, Harakuna Mutima.

Coryphantha glanduligera, Kiere manukawe.

Coryphantha poselgeriana, Aixuret Watiwe.

Coryphantha poselgeriana, Muta Werika.

Subject to Special Protection/ Sujetas a

Cylindropuntia imbricata, Muta Werika.

Cylindropuntia tunicata, Ta Tewari Makainiere.

Cylindropuntia tunicata, Hay Mutiu.

Echinocactus horizonthalonius, Xit Pa.

Echinocactus platyacanthus, Muta Werika.

Echinocactus platyacanthus, Tsinamekuta Werika.

Subject to Special Protection/ Sujetas a

Echinocereus pentalophus, Tsinamekuta.

Echinocereus parkeri ssp. mazapilensis, Reu Unax .

Echinocereus parkeri aff gonzlezii in Catorce

1-2 - Echinocereus pectinatus.

Echinomastus laui ssp. unguispinus, Naxitakawa.

Echinomastus laui ssp. unguispinus, Xit Pa.

Echinomastus laui ssp. unguispinus, Parikta.

Echinomastus laui ssp. unguispinus, Xit Pa.

Echinomastus laui ssp. unguispinus

1 & 2 - Escobaria dasyacantha, Maxau Tekia.