Welcome to the July meeting. We thank Dave Sherwood for hosting this month’s meeting.

Next month we will be at Faust Park in the Historic Village, 15185 Olive Boulevard, discussing Historical Gardens and how related to our heirloom plants.

How many of you here today were here last year to learn about Cactus? How many still have Cacti growing? What was an interesting tidbit, fact or something you remember about cacti from last year?

I would like to introduce to all of you, Mrs. Pat Thomann, President of the Henry Shaw Cactus Society. The Henry Shaw Cactus Society invites you to their 61st Annual Plant Show and Sale, July 19th at noon to 5:00 pm and July 20-27 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at Missouri Botanical Garden in the Orthwein Hall. If you are interested they meet the 2nd Sunday of the month at Missouri Botanical Gardens in the Missouri Room at 3:00 p.m.

Today we will discuss and show you the other side of the Cacti – the Succulents.

In the horticultural sense of the word, succulents are xerophytic plants and have fleshy leaves or stems or both. Through evolution these plants have adapted to dry habitats reducing their body surfaces to lower loss of water through transpiration. Their fleshiness gives them a natural capacity for water storage which enables them to survive periods of drought. Many have unusual or bizarre shapes. Their root systems are often shallow to take advantage of any short-lives surface moisture. These characteristics make them excellent plants for a garden, house and greenhouses.

An advantage of succulents is that you do not have to worry about them if you go on summer vacation or holidays. They are quite able to maintain themselves for two or three weeks until you get back.

It can be confusing the term “Cacti and Succulents” are two distinct groups, but a simple rule can be used to clarify this, however: All Cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.

Plants adapted to dry or desert conditions are collectively known as Xerophytes. Xerophytic plant species number in the tens of thousands and are members of many different plant families. Succulents are Xerophytes that have developed storage structures, in which they hoard water, enabling them to survive periods of drought. The degree of succulence varies considerably, as do the organs used to store the tissue, namely the leaves, stems and roots.

Roughly 10,000 species of succulents worldwide most are members of six families. The Asclepiadaceae, Asphodeliceae, Cactaceae, Crassulaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Mesembryanthemaceae.

Other vast range of different succulent plants include the unusual stone plants (Lithops and Conophytum), the Crassula Family, Haya, Ajave, Aloe, Eryshorbia/Spurges and Yucca.

Succulents are grown in almost all parts of the world, apart from the Artic and Antarctic. However, some of the best areas for succulents are South Africa and Madagascar, as well as North and South America.

Because of their popularity and availability, cacti tend to be the first stem succulents with which people come in contact. This association is so strong (and the general knowledge about succulents is so lacking) that, when presented with any succulent, stem succulents in particular, such as a stapeliad or Euphorbia, they assume it is a cactus. However, two other families of plants have evolved succulent stems reminiscent of those of cacti. The Asclepiadaceae and Euphorbiaceae both contain some species which superficially resemble cacti; they have thickened stems with reduced or absent leaves and, in the Euphorbiaceae, many have developed spines.

Within the group of stem succulents are species popularly referred to as caudiciforms. These plants form fleshy, thick stems and/or roots. The caudex, or storage organ, does not develop many, if any, woody fibers and can be easily cut. These storage structures thicken each season and, in some species, may ultimately reach several meters/yards in diameter. Most or all of this is shed at the end of the growing period. The caudex can be entirely subterranean, varying from a single bulb, corm or tuber to a cluster of thickened, dahlia-like roots. Some subterranean caudices (or caudexes) can grow to 2m/6 ½ feet long or almost 1m/1yd across, weighing many kilograms. Often these species die back to the ground when dormant, leaving little above ground to indicate their presence. Other caudiciforms have trunks that are partially buried while still others form shrubs and trees with greatly thickened trunks. The major families of succulents with numerous caudiciform species are the Asclepiadaceae and Euphorbiaceae. Caudices can be raised by the grower for an interesting effect.

As species evolved succulence, some depended on the stems or roots as the major storage organ, while others developed fleshy leaves. The extreme examples of the latter group are species which consist of stemless pairs of leaves. Most of the leaf succulents, however, consist of fleshy leaves borne on thin, somewhat fleshy stems. The most common growth habit in this group of succulents is a rosette of fleshy leaves. However, many extremely succulent species are composed of pairs of leaves which form small clusters, as is found in the Mesembryanthemaceae. Of the six major families of succulents, those that are predominately leaf succulents are the Asphodeliceae, Crassulaceae and Mesembryanthemaceae.

While many species of succulents have poisonous or irritating sap for protection, others bear armaments. There is some confusion regarding the various sharp projections on succulents.

Spines are modified leaves and are the most recognizable feature on cacti. The armaments borne by most Euphorbia and Pachypodium are stipular spines, formed from the projections at the base of the leaves. Species in the Didieriaceae and Fouquieriaceae bear spines formed from leaf bases. Uniquely in the genus Avonia, the stipules form a papers sheath that covers most or all of the leaf.

Thorns are formed from modified branches; these are less common among succulents. Many species of Commiphora bear thorns, however.

In several species of Euphorbia, persistent peduncles (flower stalks) can be confused with spines. Since succulents occur in many families, the flowers vary widely but often echo those of non-succulent plants. In the succulent genera Adenium and Pachypodium, the flowers are as large and brightly colored as any member of their family, which included the common oleander and periwinkle. In some instances, the flowers are greatly reduced in size, to conserve water and energy. The caudiciform genus Adenia (not related to Adenium) is closely related to the common passionflower vine; however, its flowers are dull and quite small in comparison. In the Cactaceae and Mesembryanthemaceae, the flowers are often relatively large and brightly colored. Producing large flowers requires a great deal of energy and the loss of precious water. To make the most of this expenditure, species have evolved the ability to flower simultaneously. Whole populations of the same species will flower together, often for a very short time. This ensures their mutual pollination and, for the onlooker, can create a magnificent spectacle. Succulent flowers are generally pollinated by insects, although some are visited by birds, and a few are wind pollinated.

The fruits and seeds of succulents vary even more widely than their flowers. The members of the Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae and Asteraceae have inedible fruit, containing seeds which bear many long, often downy, hairs and are borne away on the wind. Fruits in the Cactaceae are often edible and brightly colored when ripe. They are eaten by birds and mammals and the many small seeds they contain are dispersed. The fruits of the Mesembryanthemaceae are generally dry, many-celled capsules. The have hinged lids which, when moistened by a drop of water, open to the sky for the minute seeds to be splashed out by the next drop. Most species in the Euphorbiaceae produce three-celled fruits which explode when ripe, throwing the seeds up to 1m/1yd or more. The ripe fruits of the Crassulaceae and Portulacaceae are dry, open-ended capsules, held upright. As the wind whips the flower stalks about, the small seeds are thrown from the capsule.

A little bit of history – the first Yucca to be described was Yucca alsifolia and Yucca Filamentosa which both were described by Carl Linne in 1753 (or Carloleus Linneaus as he was called at that time). The next was Yucca glauca in 1813. In 1873 George Engelmandie published a lot of new species from the South Western USA. In 1902 William Trilease from Missouri Botanical Garden did review the Geneus Yucca and then the largest work about the Genus Yucca was made in 1937 to 1947. Henry Shaw’s birthday is July 24th and a building there is named after Linneaus a good friend of his.

“Pencil Cactus” or “Milkbush”
Euphorbia Tirucalli
“Indian Medicine aloe”
Aloe vera ehinensis
“Medicine Plant” or “Bitter Aloe”
Live Forever
Sedum Spectabile
Ajave Yucca – the Century Plant
Ice Plant
“Snake Plant” – “Mother-in-Law Plant” – “Lucky Plant”
Sansevieria Trifasciata
Hens & Chicks simper Vivum.
“Pencil Cactus’ or “Milkbush”

Euphorbia Tirucalli native to tropical Eastern Africa: Congo, Uganda, Tansania. A succulent shrub growing into a dense tree up to 10 feet high, the branches slender cylindrical and pencil-thick, glossy green and busting with poisonous milk. Narrow deciduous leaves. As a young plant with willowy stem and branches an excellent house decorative plant.

“Medicine Plant” “First Aid Plant” or “Bitter Aloe” or Indian M.P. Aloe vera/chinensis – Native to Cape Verde, Canary Island, Maderia, Barbados, India, Vietnam, Taiwan. Aloe (Liliaceae) handsome and decorative succulent of the lily family, usually forming rosettes, some small suckering rosettes with fleshy, dagger-shaped, channeled leaves bluish or gray-green. Cylindrical yellow flowers on usually unsearched (?) in florescence. The juicy pulp is used as a poultice to heal sore burns and cuts – sun burns.

Hens and Chicks, Sempervivum, Houseleek Evergreen succulent with a mat forming growth habit, that bears rosettes of pointed, thick leaves, many times with bristly margins, or covered with a web of white hair. Star-shaped, red, or purple flowers held in flat cymes on the terminal ends of up right stems. The rosettes die after flowering but are replaced by new rosettes on lateral runners. An old time favorite used in concrete planters on either side of the front entry. Great in window boxes or niches.

Sedum spectabile (Hylotelophium spectabile) – Showy Stonecrop Showy Stonecrop grows in sun or light shade and blooms in late summer when other perennials have long since finished. The flower color depends on the cultivar grown. The bluish or grayish-green foliage is attractive early in the summer. Plant in well-drained soil.

Ice Plant (Lampranthus spectabilis) – Carpetweed (Aizoaceae) Perennial succulent. Prefers full sun; soil should be dry. Blooms in pink and purple.

“Snake Plant” – “Mother-in-Law Plant” – “Lucky Plant”. Sansevieria trifasciata. Native to Transvaal, Natal, E. Cape. Also member of the lily family (liliaceae) robust succulent rosette with stiff erect linear- lanceolate thick leathery concave leaves. Up to 40 inches with small whitish fragrant flowers. They are almost the most resistant house plant in difficult locations. Tolerate poor light, drafts and dryness.

A New Plant from a Leaf (Sansevieria) Some new plants will grow right from the leaves of plants. One that is fun and easy to try is a snake plant, which has long, snaky leaves that stick straight up. Another name for this plant is sansevieria.

1. Cover the drainage hole in the bottom of a pot with a rock or place of a broken pot. Then fill the pot with potting soil to about an inch from the top. Water the soil so that it is moist.
   
2. Cut one of the long leaves from the snake plant, using scissors (You may need an adult helper.)
   
3. Cut the leaf crosswise into four pieces.
   
4. Stick each piece, bottom edge down, partway into the potting soil.
   
5. Watch for new plants to grow along the bottom edges of the leaf pieces. Water as often as you need to so that the soil stays moist.