Featured image: AI-generated text-to-image of Adansonia fony, (now Adansonia rubrostipa ) known as fony baobabs, Madagascar, in flower.
Photo: Adansonia fony, (now Adansonia rubrostipa) taken 40 km north of Tulear, Madagascar by Robert Stephenson, Australia
We hope you enjoy these photos of plants provided by members of THE AMATEURS’ DIGEST. These photos have either been published in our past issues or will appear in future issues with more detailed information including advice on how to grow them.
Euphorbia gatbergensis
Agapetes serpens
Agapetes serpens
William will tell you more about this plant and its care in our September 2002 issue. Additional photos will also be provided of the caudex and unusual flowers.
Plant & Photo: William Farnam, USA. 22.7.02
Tylecodon reticulatus
From South Africa, Tylecodon reticulatus is said to be poisonous. This species needs a higher degree of warmth in winter than most others. A safe minimum would be around 15C (59F).
The attractive peeling bark should not be removed! Soil must be extra well draining since many species will lose their roots if grown in badly draining soil.
Plant & Photo: Rosi & Jurgun Lenz, Australia. 2.1.02
Euphorbia alfredii
Plant, Photo & Comments: John Moran, USA. This plant blooms for me every spring. This is the first time it has flowered in the fall. 4.11.01
Euphorbia marginata flowers
Euphorbia bergeri
Euphorbia esculenta fruit.
Euphorbia esculenta fruit. This is a succulent plant from the Cape with a caudex which in nature shows only the tip projecting above ground. This plant has been used as cattle fodder. 12.9.01
Rhodohypoxis gaurii ‘Douglas’
Rhodohypoxis gaurii ‘Douglas’ o; Plant & Photo: Anthony Murphy, UK
This is a summer growing South African bulb. See more about this plant in our July, 2001 Digest issue in an article by Anthony Murphy UK on Massonias & Rhodohypoxis. 12.3.01
Othonna
herrei
herrei. Plant & Photo: Rosi & Jurgun Lenz, Australia
Othonna
herrei. Plant & Photo: Rosi & Jurgun Lenz, Australia
Pachypodium lealii ssp. saundersii
Pachypodium lealii ssp. saundersii flower buds.
These should open in a few days. 14.10.01
Euphorbia bupleurifolia
My Euphorbia bupleurifolia is pregnant! Here are pictures of the two proud “parents’. The large bupleurifolia is the momma, and her stem is about 12 inches tall, excluding the leaves and the roots, pot, etc. I’ve had her since 1984, and she’s grown in a greenhouse window in the winter and outside in the sun in the summer.
The picture with the black background has both the mother plant, the big one, and the father plant, the little one. (They always say that size doesn’t count!) The other picture without the black background is a close-up of the swollen seed pods on the larger mother plant.
About 5 or 6 years ago, I started looking for a boy. Tried twice before finding “dad”. Both turned out to be girls, so our club raffle benefited. Even though “dad” is only about 2 1/2 inches tall, they are a good match for each other.
I originally tried the soft lights, candle light and a sable brush routine, but now I just brutally rip off a flower from the boy and rub it all over the girl flowers. It works just fine as you can see from the other picture. The plants bloom all spring and summer giving me ample opportunity to pollinate the flowers. There don’t seem to be any local bugs or flies that do the job so it is up to me.
I’m just about to wrap the plant in fine netting because I don’t want to lose any seeds when the capsule explodes. Last year I was also successful in pollinating them, and have three little plants about one inch tall and wide. Plant & Comments: Jan Stewart, USA. Photo: Mike Stewart, USA. 31.7.02
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