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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 5, 2014 12:09:42 GMT
This is a group of succulent plants from Africa with a few species in the Canary Islands. They are not the easiest to grow with some being virtually impossible in our climate but it still doesn't put me off.
I have been working with Kew for some years now helping them to grow Stapeliads and supplying them with plants as they really struggle. It was only last year that they put some on public display for the first time after I donated some of the tougher ones on the understanding that they would go out.
This is Huernia guttata -
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 5, 2014 12:13:33 GMT
Huernia keniensis -  Tridentea longii-  |
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 7, 2014 15:33:30 GMT
No interest?
Such a shame.
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 7, 2014 17:38:20 GMT
No interest? Such a shame. Difficult one Mick mickthecactus - we haven't had "exotics" as such for a long time - well, since you left basically...no-one was interested enough to show them to us... I have to say that I don't like them, possibly because I don't know anything about them - they look old and gnarled to me and then suddenly a fantastic flower...are these the flowers that pong btw?? RF |
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 8, 2014 7:25:41 GMT
A few of them do but most don't.
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 8, 2014 7:48:27 GMT
Let's try another one then - Orbea hardyi  |
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 8, 2014 8:12:21 GMT
Oh yes - that is rather nice isn't it...the flowers are somewhat exquisite even, a sort of sexagon - love the white undersides...and the knobbly bits are smoother somehow...you do realise the proper terms are being used !!!!
A "plantsman" that I know said to me recently that when you call a plant "sexy" you know that you have been taken into their world. Well, it may take a while for me to call these plants sexy but I do have a faint idea why you love them so much..
RF
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 8, 2014 12:24:35 GMT
Their difficulty of cultivation also appealed to me. This has a bit of a whiff - Stapelia kwebensis-  Duvalia sulcata  |
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Post by andy on Aug 8, 2014 18:53:33 GMT
Love Stepelia, used to grow loads at the nursery i used to work at
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Post by Chuckles on Aug 9, 2014 16:14:15 GMT
 mickthecactus they are absolutely amazing flowers, it must be such a thrill when they grow buds and then you wait for them to open. |
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 11, 2014 12:37:31 GMT
Huernia brevirostris-   |
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 11, 2014 16:09:45 GMT
The flowers are a lovely cream...the shades of the leaves/bracts are lovely - what are they called?? Just how quickly/slowly do these grow??
RF
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 12, 2014 15:58:04 GMT
Do you mean stems RF?
This one is reasonably quick. Others are totally pedestrian and you can't hurry them up.
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 14, 2014 11:27:26 GMT
Do you mean stems RF? This one is reasonably quick. Others are totally pedestrian and you can't hurry them up. Hahaha - bit like asking how long is a piece of string...go on then, tell me - what is reasonably quick and what is pedestrian?? Talking about hurrying them up - what do you feed them on?? RF |
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 14, 2014 12:12:58 GMT
I can repot some in spring and 2 months later they need potting again. Others might just grow less than an inch of stem in a season. They won't be hurried. They get fed with quarter strength Phostrogen and 2 teaspoons of Ammonium Sulphate with a capful of clear vinegar to 2 gallons of water to acidify it. They get this every watering. Very little in winter though.
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 14, 2014 12:13:41 GMT
Despite what the label says this is Huernia barbata -  |
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 14, 2014 12:15:18 GMT
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 14, 2014 13:04:02 GMT
Love the flowers on these - the middle one is really something...the first one reminds me of something - can't remember what now. Oh yes I can - do you remember these standards lamps that were all the rage in the late 60's/70's that had the same form and sort of slits in them...absolutely awful things but the flowers look marvellous...
I can't weight up whether I like the third plant or not...weird flower and yet it's interesting isn't it...
RF
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 14, 2014 13:19:48 GMT
Am I converting you then?
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 14, 2014 14:02:36 GMT
Am I converting you then? Hahahaha - mmmh - good question Mick...let's say that I am not as averse to them as I once was...there is an incredible diversity, I must say.. RF |
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 19, 2014 12:22:57 GMT
Stapelia divaricata-   Orbea wissmannii v eremastrum IAS 1155 -  |
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 22, 2014 8:02:41 GMT
Why do a lot of the plants have flowers that flower at the bottom of the plants - usually a plant grows and flowers at the top, doesn't it mickthecactus?? RF |
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Post by owdboggy on Aug 22, 2014 9:15:37 GMT
Why do a lot of the plants have flowers that flower at the bottom of the plants - usually a plant grows and flowers at the top, doesn't it mickthecactus?? RF I can answer that one. It all depends on by what they are pollinated. Plants which are bee pollinated have flowers which open from the top downwards. Ones which are pollinated by ground living insects ie beetles open from the ground upwards. |
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 22, 2014 11:30:29 GMT
Why do a lot of the plants have flowers that flower at the bottom of the plants - usually a plant grows and flowers at the top, doesn't it mickthecactus?? RF I can answer that one. It all depends on by what they are pollinated. Plants which are bee pollinated have flowers which open from the top downwards. Ones which are pollinated by ground living insects ie beetles open from the ground upwards. Thanks OB - when you think it's logical isn't it... I suppose inside it is the old trusty paintbrush?? What kind of fruit do these plants have then...some must be sterile as well I suppose?? RF |
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 22, 2014 15:18:29 GMT
They are mostly pollinated by flies hence the occasional pong. Buds always form on the new growth which is why it is low. They never flower from old growth.
When fertilized they produce 2 seed horns inside which are seeds on "feathers" not unlike a dandelion. Eventually the horn splits and they float away. The seeds don't remain viable for long, maybe 2 or 3 months, longer perhaps if stored in the fridge, but germinate quickly in 24-48 hours. If not up after a week, forget it.
I'll see if I can find a picture of the seed "horns". |
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 22, 2014 15:26:59 GMT
There you go-  |
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 22, 2014 18:15:33 GMT
These "horns" mickthecactus - same/similar as the Asclepias family isn't it...I have Asclepias tuberosa in the garden and the seeds are very like Dandelions of course... lovely to see... RF |
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 26, 2014 14:18:43 GMT
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 28, 2014 17:24:10 GMT
I didn't realised that the family was so large Mick - interesting!! RF |
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Post by mickthecactus on Sept 2, 2014 12:10:06 GMT
Huernia pillansii-   Ceropegia africana ssp africana-  Orbea semitubiflora -   Richtersveldia columnaris -  Huernia whitesloaneana  |
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