Some Stapeliads today

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Diane
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Re: Some Stapeliads today

Post by Diane »

I wouldn’t touch botanical-archive with a barge pole. Just take a look at his negative feedback. I did buy a few stapeliad cuttings from him years ago, and they were completely shrivelled, close to death. He uses stock photos - never a photo of the cuttings he sells, always a bad sign.

I did buy from Kohres late last year, but germination was very poor.

I have recently bought from world wonders gardens and have one Edithcolea germinate, plus a couple of other succulent genera.

The fact remains, that for rarer and more unusual stapeliads, we are now stuck, with no chance to acquire these plants, unfortunately.
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Pattock
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Re: Some Stapeliads today

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Diane wrote: Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:32 pm I wouldn’t touch botanical-archive with a barge pole. Just take a look at his negative feedback. I did buy a few stapeliad cuttings from him years ago, and they were completely shrivelled, close to death. He uses stock photos - never a photo of the cuttings he sells, always a bad sign.
The seeds were fine. The two plants were ugly but grew. I would not recommend the plants.
Diane wrote: Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:32 pm I did buy from Kohres late last year, but germination was very poor.
I got 2 of 6 seeds of Baseonema gregorii and 3 of 5 seeds of Caralluma socotrana to germinate. One of the Caralluma socotrana promptly committed hara kiri with a sharp piece of perlite and took some time to die. I have never even seen a sharp piece of perlite before, I think it shows some determination on the part of the seedling.

I just checked and Williams Cactus have 10 (reasonably) unusual species for a lot more than Ralph charges. No pictures.

Abbey Brook have nothing on their published list this year. Toobees are closed. There is a hole in the market. But growing stapeliads is a tricky business.
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Pattock
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Re: Some Stapeliads today

Post by Pattock »

I should have defined what "good" means to me in this context. Good means I end up with at least one healthy plant of the desired species for less money than I would miss. Excellent seed sources - please let me know if you find any.
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Re: Some Stapeliads today

Post by ralphrmartin »

Gosh, a free advert! :grin:

I'd much rather swap than sell - I too am after interesting stapeliads. :grin:
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Ali Baba
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Re: Some Stapeliads today

Post by Ali Baba »

One from today Stapelia flavopurpurea (there will be fresh seed later as you can see 😃) I like the way a thoughtful spider has pitched its web just above the flowers! Who says invertebrates aren’t intelligent…
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Diane
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Re: Some Stapeliads today

Post by Diane »

Very nice! And have you had a sniff? It has quite a pleasant fragrance!
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Re: Some Stapeliads today

Post by Pattock »

Fascinating. That is yet another flower designed by Gaudi or Beardsley.
Diane wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:38 pm Very nice! And have you had a sniff? It has quite a pleasant fragrance!
Can you describe the fragrance at all? I love fragrant plants.
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Diane
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Re: Some Stapeliads today

Post by Diane »

Smells are difficult to describe, but rather honey-like.
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Stuart
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Re: Some Stapeliads today

Post by Stuart »

It's got quite a sweet smell, I'd suggest marzipan. It's as far removed as possible from Brachystelma Barbarae which I once put on the public counter for a few hours when I worked for the DHSS in the distant past when I had a proper job.

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Re: Some Stapeliads today

Post by Pattock »

Diane wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:54 pm Smells are difficult to describe, but rather honey-like.
Thanks. I was sort of expecting it to smell like a boiled sweet, from the colouring. Wikipedia says it smells like beeswax. UBC Photo of the Day says honey or marzipan (perhaps from Bruyns). Llifle says like liquorice or honey.

Apparently Stapelia erectiflora are also sweet-smelling but only smell for the first day they open.

Stapelia flavopurpurea are found with Hoodia gordonii, so I suppose it pays to cater to a different pollinator rather than try to compete with a massive stinker.
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