Propagule dissemination
Michael (IFMJC@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU)
Wed, 03 Nov 1993 18:03:07 -0700 (MST)
The world of succulent growers seems a bit more organized as far as
propagule dissemination goes. There are a few commercial growers who
are world-renowned for their expertise at growing and propagating
particular succulents: ie., Chuck Hanson for Euphorbiaceae and
Asclepiadaceae, Steve Brack for North American cacti, and Steve Hammer
for Aizoaceae. When _Whitesloanea crassa_ (a squat relative of _Stapelia_
presumed extinct in its native habitat (Somalia)) was rediscovered, Hanson
was sent some material. He was successfully able to grow the plant and
self pollinate it. Because he is a commercial grower, it was in his best
interest to mass-propagate the plant and make it available; not to squander
it. You may now buy a _Whitesloanea_ seedling for around $100.00.
These growers routinely publish articles in the hobbiest journals. They keep
locality data with their specimens, and offer that data with the description
of the plant in their catalogs (at least the ones I've seen). They also
have "connections", and take part in a good number of the plant discovery
expeditions themselves.
Recently a new genus of cactus, _Geohintonia_ was discovered in Mexico.
This is one of those small and strange new cacti which is in immediate
demand as soon as word (and photos!) of it get out. Conservation measures
were taken on the spot after discovery. The exact habitat has not been
published. No live plants have been allowed to leave Mexico. It is, in
fact illegal for anyone to have this plant outsede of Mexico. Nevertheless
a shipment of around 100 or so plants turned up in Europe recently, so
the collectors are already pillaging. Efforts are being made to mass-propagate
the plant in Mexican nurseries (via tissue culture). The object is to
suddenly flood the market with little, identical _Geohintonia_ plants at low
price. Anyone with a big one will STILL be known to have a collected plant!
It is a shame things are the way they are with CP, since CP are generally
MUCH more easily mass-propagated than suculents are. What the CP world
really lacks are growers like Steve Brack or Chuck Hanson, that is, "good
guys" who don't collect, and are expert growers/propagators with the space
and talent to take a little material and grow it and make it available.
-Michael