Hi Tina, Lovely Lithops, but I suspect it needs a new label (or filename?). It looks like L. bromfieldii to me, probably var. insularis, which is a good "do-er", often seen on the showbench. I am by no means an expert on these, but do have the Lithops books. What do other growers think? Be...

It appears that a lot of Brits will be at ELK, to judge from the number of people attending the BCSS Judge's Course last weekend who are also going. I know the Maces will be there selling BCSS publications and cars from Harrow & Southend. Since I have never driven there before, I hope that I fin...

HI Fritz,

Your photo does not load on my computer - possibly because of the space in the file name - see the notes at the top of every page.

Best wishes,
Derek Tribble

I have been to quite a few C&S Conventions but this was definitely a good one - very enjoyable! There may not have been as many people as hoped for, but there was still lots. The plants sales may have been from only few nurseries, but offered many of the latest rarities e.g. Astro. caput-medusae...

Fret not, poor little plant! The botanist have noticed that you did not have a valid Latin name and published Astroloba corrugata N.L.Mey. & G.F.Smith for Bill to write on a new label (preferably white) for you. Best wishes, Derek Tribble P.S. The first sign of madness is talking to plants. Talk...

Hi Nick,

I believe the outer layers of a seed are entirely derived from the mother plant, as you suspect. So you can use seed set via hybridisation to determine the ID of the mother plant. At least, I know that is true for cacti as dicotyledons.

Regards,
Derek Tribble,
London, UK

Here I am ... I've made a study of Anacampseros. Different sections have very distinctive seeds. The outer layer of cells (aril) can peel off as a white envelope (for better wind dispersal?) as illustrated. Unfortunately A. comptonii does not have that type of seed. Your seedlings are one of the lar...

Yes, I'll be there for the full Convention. I'll bring the remainder of the "BCSS Forum" badges and leave them at the Registration desk. But I suspect we will not need them, since personal badges will be provided, as usual at a big convention. A highlight should be Ernst van Jaarsveld tell...

There have been at least two previous threads about growing c&s under lights - try searching our older messages with "tribble lights kitchen" for a description of my set up.

Best wishes,
Derek Tribble,
London, UK

Hi Scousetigger, Your Crassula with pink flowers is Crassula schmidtii. It has been likened to the smaller C. exilis ssp. cooperi, but is more likely to be an old hybrid of it. In my experience, plants from the veld have much whiter flowers, while C. picturata has broader leaves, but all these belon...