februari 2013 nummer 1

Summary
Rob Bregman
Ben Zonneveld opens this issue with stating that the climate of our country isn’t
as rainy as many people think.
In his series on the old ‘Verkade’ books from the 1930’s, Theo Heijnsdijk deals
with Crassula columnaris. In its natural South African habitat the plant is not columnar
but globose. Apparently, the species was described after a specimen grown under
shady (European) conditions.
Bertus Spee puts 4 Mexican cacti in the spotlight, viz. Ferocactus cylindraceus,
Gymnocactus horripilus, Mammillaria schiedeana and Turbinicarpus alonsoi.
Tephrocactus alexanderi is the subject of a contribution by the late Ton Pullen.
This plant was formerly also known as Tephrocactus bruchii.
Louis Van de Meutter presents Tridentea gemmiflora, a stapeliad from the Little
Karoo, South Africa. The roots of this species are very sensitive to rotting, so grafting
is recommended.
Isabel Larridon and Chantal Dugardin take us to the botanic garden of the Gent
University, Belgium. Over 10.000 different plant species can be seen there.
Henk Ruinaard reports about Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona, USA, a.o.
known for its ‘hoodoos’ (columnar rock formations). Several Echinocereus species
can be found, such as E. santaritensis and E. arizonicus ssp. nigrihorridispinus.
By crossing and selecting, Ben Zonneveld created a red mini form of Jovibarba
heuffelii.
Johan Pot studied the seeds of Sulcorebutia, Weingartia and Rebutia by means of
a camera placed on a microscope. Those of Sulcorebutia and Weingartia are similar,
Rebutia seeds are different by having papillate apical testa cells and a strophiole
at the base.
Jan Jaap de Morree visited the botanic garden of the Free University of
Amsterdam, where the plant collection of our former president Herman Rubingh is
stored.
While on vacation in Thailand, Peter Melis bought some Uncarina plants on a
market. It turned out to be U. roeoesliana, a stem succulent with attractive yellow
flowers and fruits provided with long hooks. Some experience is needed to pollinate
the flowers by hand.
The final pages are dedicated to Wolter ten Hoeve’s review of the contents of
other journals on succulent plants.
Hector Petersenstraat 7
1112 LJ Diemen
R.Bregman@contact.uva.nl
©Succulenta jaargang 92 (5) 2013 247