Senecio- is this usual

[Ernie]

Today while dispatching mealy bugs I noticed the tell tale signs of root mealies around the base of the pot of this Senecio.Whilst giving a good dose of Vine weevil killer (it works for me) I noticed that one of the stems has decided to become three in a strange way. Only one stem has done this.Is this usual with this species.

[Ernie]

BTW This plant is now known as Curio talinoides but I have kept the name Senecio as it was before the change

[Tony R]

Looks like it is becoming monstrose - I'm sure Colin W or John F will know all about this.

[Diane]

Fasciation!

[Tony R]

Fasciation!

That's the word I was looking for, Diane.

[Ernie]

That word is a new one to me, just looked it up. Interesting thanks Diane. The first picture reminds me of the film 'Day of the Triffids' Cannot think why!

[Stuart]

No reason to call it a Curio for the same reason that Mamm Goldii doesn't have to be called Cochemiea Goldii. Any name that has been validly described is OK. If you're happy with one botanist proposing a new name then go with it, if not then the previously described name is quite OK. (Sorry Mr.ex-Prexident, I don't think you'll agree with me)
I've a crested Senecio Talinoides that sends out quite a few normal offsets. These often produce a crested section as in the photo. It's possible that this one shown here has been grown from an offset originally from a crested plant or maybe it is just prone to cresting. Either way it makes an attractive plant when grown to a good size and branching well like the one in the photo. I'd be tempted to cut the crested section, remove the normal shoots growing at each side and try to grow it on as a crest. Succulent Senecios are quite an underrated genus.

Stuart

[John Foster]

My crested talinoides is similar. It produces a nice little cristate section but then throws out normal shoots at either end - and sometimes in the middle as well! I've never managed to keep it purely cristate. In my experience the cristate form of Senecio serpens (Curio repens) has similar tendencies.

[Colin Walker]

Today while dispatching mealy bugs I noticed the tell tale signs of root mealies around the base of the pot of this Senecio.Whilst giving a good dose of Vine weevil killer (it works for me) I noticed that one of the stems has decided to become three in a strange way. Only one stem has done this.Is this usual with this species.DSCN7166.JPG DSCN7165.JPG

Wow Ernie, that's great to see.

Cristate succulent Composites are quite rare. I was so so lucky to find cristate Kleinia anteuphorbium in habitat in Morocco. A single cristate stem amongst hundreds of normal ones. The cutting back in the UK regrettably reverted to type, but the image of the cristate stem is in Gordon's book Succulent Compositae p.79.

BTW the genus Curio is now widely accepted. No succulent spp. will remain in Senecio once splitting up of this vast genus is complete. Right now the largest genus of succulents is the old genus Kleinia dating back to Philip Miller in 1754, with currently at least 70 spp. Othonna like Senecio has also been split.

The Madagascan spp. are a particular issue and there are maybe 3 genera on that island including a couple of kleinias, but spp. such as Senecio crassissimus and S. baronii don't fit in Kleinia.

[Ernie]

Thanks Colin. Its been suggested I cut the head off and remove the normal side shoots. Do you think its best left as it is?