[Sacred Succulents] Travelogue and Baja possibilities

[benkamm at monitor.net]

(do not ?reply? to this email, send all correspondence to - 
sacredsucculents at hushmail.com )

8/10/10

Greetings to all,
Fog remains the summer trend here. The columnar Trichocereus are blooming 
and diverse seed harvests are coming in. 

The Baja trip that was postponed last year is rescheduled for this 
November. I am not the one coordinating the trip, so if you have any 
questions, direct them to Gabriela. See below-

BAJA BOTANICAL JOURNEY, NOVEMBER 5?10, 2010
Come discover the Cape region of Baja California! Enjoy traveling with 
experienced plant experts, from the Sarcocaule desert, sacred Cardon 
cactus forests and tropical coasts to the oak pine mountains of the 
Southeastern region of the Baja Peninsula. Amazing diverse ecosystems home 
to many rare medicinal and edible plants and cacti, as many as 88 endemic 
species. Enjoy waterfall pools & hot springs on the way, deserted beaches, 
wildflower displays, exotic fruits and star full nights. Learn about local 
plant uses and contribute to conservation efforts. 
http://www.ecobaja.com/47962/74821.html

$645 dollars per person. Space is limited, so register now! 
Price includes all in country transportation, lodging, food, guides and 
nature reserve fees. It does not include airfare or travel insurance.
For registration, itinerary, and other inquiries contact Gabriela at - 
Gabriela at ecobaja.com 
With:
Dennis Sharmahd  - Edible Landscaper, Herbalist, Mycologist  Has been 
camping & exploring Baja since he was a child. Grows rare and edible 
cactus fruits on his farm in Escondido, CA. He has been teaching about 
wild edible & medicinal plants for almost 30 years. 
Ben Kamm ? Director of Botanical Preservation Corps and Sacred Succulents 
nursery and seed bank. Ethnobotanical researcher and student of the 
herbalist traditions of the world. A conservation horticulturalist working 
with ecologically innovative methods of propagation and seed germination 
of rare beneficial plants. Ben is dedicated to the preservation and 
dissemination of traditional and contemporary plant knowledge as well as 
the plants themselves. Ben is new to the Baja region, but will be 
contributing his diverse plant knowledge and enthusiasm for exploration.
Gabriela Flores ? Conservationist, Baja guide and trip coordinator.
_________________

What follows is a final report on our recent Andean expedition. We will 
follow up with our further thoughts on Andean forests and conservation 
issues as time allows. If you missed the previous installments you can 
read them at- 
http://lists.sonic.net/pipermail/sacredsucculents/2010-June.txt
& http://lists.sonic.net/pipermail/sacredsucculents/2010-June/000022.html 
& http://lists.sonic.net/pipermail/sacredsucculents/2010-August.txt

Bolivian Travelogue part 4 - 
        The previous day?s delay meant it was not feasible to make the 
long trip to Torotoro, so we elected to backtrack partway along the route 
we had come in the dark. From the sleepy town of Arani (famous for its 
flat bread and corn) in the Cochabamba basin we made the dramatic ascent 
into the Cordillera de Vacas. We passed through rolling mountains, and as 
one would expect from the name, heavily overgrazed, with only a few small 
contorted Polylepis tomentella trees here and there. We learned much later 
that they are in fact an endemic dwarf subspecies; P. tomentella ssp. nana
. We stopped briefly to examine a patch of  Trichocereus vollianus, a 
cactus with upright heavily clustering columns to 7?8' tall, densely 
spined with 1/2" yellow/orange to white spines. It was growing near an 
abandoned homestead along with the lovely red blossomed Salvia haenkei, 
whose flowers are brewed as a sweet reddish tea regionally. Our first 
destination was a section of Bolivia?s largest reported population of 
?Machukawara?; Puya raimondii, near the town of Rodeo, with numbers 
exceeding 10,000 plants scattered over the Cordillera de Vacas above 
12,000'. We drove to about 13,000' then hiked a bit further through open 
rocky ground to the denser stands of this tree size pineapple relative. 
Upon flowering these amazing beings have been known to reach nearly 40' 
tall. These plants take 30 to 80 years to blossom, then die. Once 
widespread, now only small populations remain, scattered throughout high 
elevations of Peru and Bolivia. Growing amongst these giants was the 
smaller but impressive Puya herzogii with its club-like inflorescence. 
Here we also observed some unusual low-growing clumping cactus species, a 
Maiheuniopsis and what was possibly Weingartia or Eriosyce species, none 
were in flower for clear identification. There were also bizarre Cajophora 
with inflated pumpkin-like blossoms, Berberis, Ribes, a lovely orange 
flowered primrose, and a Phacelia species that looked nearly identical to 
our native P. californica!
        From here we were determined to find intact Kewina (Polylepis) 
forest, so we drove on to the small town of Kewina Casa which was 
completely devoid of the trees, but had plenty of introduced Eucalyptus! A 
bit further we entered dense plantations of Mexican pine and spotted what 
looked like Polylepis forest further up a ravine. A short hike and we were 
delighted to find that it was not Polylepis, but the so called Andean 
pine, Podocarpus. There were a few dozen individuals ranging from about 
15?40' tall and we found a good number of small seedlings, a sign that 
regeneration is possible if kept from the axe and livestock. Podocarpus 
forests use to cover vast portions of the Andes up to 13,000', but other 
than a reserve in Ecuador and central Peru, these forests are no more. 
This was the first time we?d actually seen this tree in all of our Andean 
travels. Needless to say, propagation is vital. It?s mindboggling that 
Mexican pine is planted all over these mountains (with international 
support, no less) while this amazing native species is slipping away... 
        The sun was getting low, so we moved on to another site. This did 
turn out to be the upper edge of a relic forest of the enchanting fuzzy 
leaved endemic Kewina, Polylepis lanata. These were all smaller trees 
10?15' tall, yet we could see far below us large mature trees that looked 
to be at least 30'+. But dusk was fast approaching so we had no time to 
further explore such alluring woods. As we began our return to Arani, I 
spotted a vine with bright purple flowers; Passiflora umbilicata. With 
flowers to 6" across, lavender bracts highlighting its deep blue-purple 
petals, this was the most seductive passionflower I?d yet to meet!

Our final day in the region. After failing to find Trichocereus 
riomizquensis growing wild anywhere, we decided to return to the only 
place we had seen the plant, the town of Totora, and make tissue samples 
for Dr. Martin Terry?s genetic studies. We inquired with the locals, and 
were told it is called ?achuma? (as is T. bridgesii of La Paz) and used to 
treat fever, yet no one knew where it grew wild. Several large stands had 
been planted around town and we took samples from tall spiny plants 
growing with Buddleja tucumanensis, stout Carica quercifolia, and Cleome 
boliviana whose wispy lilac flowers hovered above the plant like some 
bizarre neon insect. Near the town school there were a row of large 
Erythrina falcata dropping seed on the cobblestone road. Known locally as 
?Chilijki?, this is a tree with a distinct and wonderful presence. It is 
thought that this was once a dominant tree in the Cochabamba basin, but no 
wild stands remain, just planted individuals at towns and homesteads. The 
flowers are eaten in salads in the region and the bark is used for 
digestive problems. As a nitrogen fixer, this is another prime species for 
reforestation in the Andes and use in agroforestry systems worldwide. To 
the Incas it was the sacred world tree, and they brought it from the mid 
elevations to the higher altitudes.
        We chose to spend our final hours looking for more intact 
Polylepis forests during our return to Cochabamba city. Most of what we 
had seen in the region up until now was widespread but scattered forest 
remnants and regrowth of young trees in fallow fields. We wanted to pay 
our respects to at least one old growth forest and experience the 
associated flora and fauna. The few larger thickets we could see from the 
road were on the upper reaches of the mountains and too far away for our 
limited time. Finally near El Puente we spotted a dense green forest just 
above the Lope Mendoza river. Over an hour hike from the road, through 
potato fields and windswept grasslands, past moss covered rocks hiding 
small Rebutia cacti, we could see that the upper region of the forest was 
in fact planted Mexican pine, yet the lower regions were clearly native 
woods with large trees. We descended to the river and navigated a boulder 
crossing, scrambled up the bank and to our utter surprise the first forest 
we approached was not Polylepis but another rose family member; 
Hesperomeles. We had only previously seen this plant as a large shrub. 
Here they were forming dense woods, with a thick oak-like bark and ovate 
leaves they reminded me of some hybrid lovespawn, borne from a hawthorn?s 
erotic dream of a California live oak and tan oak coupling. We marvelled 
at Berberis species to 20' tall, Vallea stipularis even taller with a 12" 
diameter barked trunk, a few specimens of another rare Andean ?pine?- 
Prumnopitys, and myriad odd ferns, Ericaceae, Gunnera, and Rubus. We hiked 
further up the slope passing through a boggy meadow and arrived in awe at 
a grove of large Polylepis lanata trees with their twisted dancing trunks 
growing amongst large boulders. The Andean forest primeval. Here large 
Tillandsia clung to their branches, red Fuchsia bloomed from the 
pink-bronze flaking bark of their trunks, and numerous strange birds sang 
from their canopies. We luxuriated in the beauty. Such places murmer a 
sweet communion with a primordial aspect of the human soul. And yet, it 
seems we must continually cast ourselves from Eden. Our time was too 
short, we had to find a course back over the river, to our vehicle and 
back to civilization. Looking wistfully further down the river towards the 
edge of Carrasco National Park we could see dense canopy of unknown native 
forest carousing untethered up the slopes, calling us to share in its 
fertile wonder. 
It still calls.
We dream of return.
        During our long drive back to Cochabamba, Neil spotted an unusual 
stand of Trichocereus in front of a home near Cuchucunata. We pulled over 
to examine the plant which was T. pachanoi-like, but distinct from other 
clones we?ve seen, with a darker glossy-green epidermis and large white 
areoles. The Quechua owners of the home called it ?k?ulala? and claimed it 
was only 4 years old, which we found unusual considering its many branches 
and 10' height. Nearby our Quechua friends Felix and his father Ernesto 
showed us the cactus they call ?Sitikira?, Cleistocactus buchtienii, which 
they burn the stems of to make ?llujta?, the favored regional alkaline 
additive to coca leaves. Naturally dead and dried stems are collected, 
ones with white rather than orangish spines are said to be superior. These 
are then burned and the resulting ash mixed with a little cooked potato 
starch and formed into cylinders to dry. A small amount of this is chewed 
with coca leaves to facilitate their beneficial stimulating properties.
        We made the rest of the journey to Cochabamba and the evening 
passed in a blur. We caught an early flight to La Paz and checked into our 
hotel. I hoped to finish my seed cleaning and have a little time to visit 
the intriguing stalls at the Witches Market down the street before 
beginning my long trip back to California in the afternoon. As usual, the 
seed cleaning took much more time than planned. After 4 hours of work I 
only had a half hour before I needed to transfer to the airport. Neil had 
gotten word that they were selling the still elusive Coca Colla at the La 
Paz bus station, so we hopped a cab in a last ditch effort to find the 
fabled drink. With no time to spare we visited every stall in the station, 
the last vendor we visited shocked us by replying ?yes? to our inquiry. He 
had only 2 bottles which we eagerly purchased. We dashed back to the hotel 
to sample the beverage in peace. It was godawful! A sugary carbonated 
nightmare of Coca Cola blended with the bubble-gum flavor of Peru?s Inca 
Cola. As for the efficacy of the whole coca leaf extract it contained, it 
was hard to say considering we had been chewing the whole leaves the 
entire trip. 
On this note I left Neil and Sophia to their further adventures and 
departed for home....

RARE PLANT & SEED LIST - Issue 30 is in the works and should be ready in 
the next 2 weeks. Another very large and diverse issue, don?t miss it! 
There?ll be new Trichocereus specimens and rarities, first chance at a 
plethora of new seed from our recent Andean expedition to Peru and 
Bolivia, new seed from South Africa, Chile, and the Himalayas! If you are 
not subscribed or have let your subscription lapse, we encourage you to 
sign up now. 4 issues for $5 or 8 issues for $8. This is where we list our 
offerings of rarities and specimens. 

GIFT CERTIFICATES - are always available!

Andean Collections and Photos 2010- CD/DVD with 400+ photos from our 
Spring travels in Cusco, Peru including photos of the seldom visited lush 
Lares Valley, and Cochabamba, Bolivia where we examined the dryland cactus 
filled forests of the valleys, the endangered Polylepis forests of the 
higher mountains and the remote Incan archaeological site Inkallajta. 
Comes with a complete list of our seed collections with ethnobotanical 
notes and cultivation suggestions. Now available!!  $10 postage paid, 
foreign orders add $2

Fresh Seed Harvest!!
Fockea edulis ?Bergkambroo?
Asclepiadaceae. Develops a large warty caudex/tuber up to a foot in 
diameter and several feet long. A mass of twining stems arise from the top 
of the caudex. Small unusual star like flowers. This odd plant has a long 
history as an important food and water source for the tribal people of 
South Africa and has without a doubt contributed over the ages to human 
survival in the Kalahari desert. The caudex is eaten fresh, baked like 
sweet potato and made into a chunky jam. The plant is quite easily grown 
and a favorite among caudiciphiles. Sow seeds just under the surface of a 
regular succulent soil mix. As the caudex grows, more of it can be exposed 
every couple years when repotted. When growing this plant for food, 
transplanting to 5 or 10 gallon pots after the first year and harvesting 
the root in the 2nd or 3rd year is suggested. Tolerant of mild frost if 
well mulched.          15+ seed $2.50

Sale Summer 2010
The following are on sale until the end of August or while supplies last!

Seed Sale!
All Chilean seed and California Native seed 20% off!
All seed from our 2008 & 09 Ethnobotanical Collections 20% off - this is 
the last chance to get seed of many of our collections from Peru and 
Bolivia, some of which will never be retocked again!

PLANTS
Cactaceae
Ariocarpus trigonus Green claw-like tubercles, yellow flowers. 2"+ plant 
8+ years old $14/  Sale Price $11
Ariocarpus retusus v. furfuraceus  Blue rounded tubercles, white flowers. 
2"+ plant 8+ years old $14/ Sale Price $11
Pachycereus pringlei The sacred Cardon cactus. 3?4" diameter 12"+ tall 
plant $25*/  Sale Price $20* or 2 for $36* (*heavy shipping applies)
Trichocereus sp. Luther Burbank Heirloom peruvianoid from the celebrated 
plant mystic. 6"+ long cutting $15/ Sale Price $12
Trichocereus sp. Torres & Torres Upright pachanoi-like plant from norhtern 
Chile. 6"+ cutting $14/ Sale Price $10 or 2 for $18
Trichocereus andalgalensis X Trichocereus grandiflorus v. crassicaulis 
Beautiful hybrid. 3"+ plant $6.50/ Sale Price $5.50

Other Succulents and Xerophytes
Agave cordillerensis NL52409 Andean species from seed collected in 
Bolivia. 2?3" Plant $7.50/ Sale Price $6 or 2 for $10
Agave gentryi La Escondida A rosette of sculptural wonder. 2?3" plant 
$6.50/ Sale Price $5.50
Agave montana Beauty from the mountains of Mexico. 2?3" plant $6.50/ Sale 
Price $5.50 or 2 for $9
Boophane  disticha Poisonous entheogenic bulb from southern Africa. Plant 
$6.50/ Sale Price $5.50
Commiphora africana Gum bdellium trees. 8?12"+ seedling $9.50/ Sale Price 
$7.50
Commiphora mollis Another aromatic myrrh relative. 8?12"+ seedling $9.50/ 
Sale Price $7.50
Dioscorea sylvatica Lobed caudex, heart shaped leaves. Plant with 1.5?2"+ 
caudex $10/ Sale Price $7.50
Ephedra equisetina Mu Zei Ma Huang. Plant $7.50 or 2 for $12.75/ Sale 
Price $6 or 2 for $10
Ephedra nevadensis Desert joint fir. Plant $7.50/ Sale Price $6
Ephedra viridis Mormon tea. Plant $7.50/ Sale Price $6
Puya berteroniana Pineapple relative with huge showy flowers stalks. 2"+ 
plant $7.50/ Sale Price $6 or 2 for $10
Puya sp. BK08521.5 From our seed collection in Peru, dark-green metallic 
flowers. 2"+ plant $7.50/ Sale Price $6

Edibles, Medicinals, Beneficials
Betula utilis CC5763 Himilayan birch, beautiful gold peeling bark. 18?24" 
plant $7.50 or 2 for $13/ Sale Price $6 or 2 for $11
Bomarea sp. BK08526.8 Vining lily from our seed collection Raqchi, Peru. 
Plant $7.50/ Sale Price $6
Disporum cantoniense ex DJHC 729 Graceful woodland medicinal/edible from 
China. Plant $7.50/ Sale Price $6
Lapageria rosea Vine with large rose bells, national flower of Chile. 
Seedling $12/ Sale price $9.50
Pernettya furens Evergreen blueberry reltive from Chile. Plant $6.50/ Sale 
Price $5.50

Andean Tubers
?Oca?
Oxalis tuberosa BK08516.7 Yellow flattened cylindrical tubers with slender 
pink eyes. Plant $14.50/ Sale Price $11
Oxalis tuberosa BK08516.8 Yellow with a pinkish blush, after exposure to 
light they turn a deeper pink/maroon. Plant $14.50/ Sale Price $11         
 
Oxalis tuberosa Bauml ?Golden? Deep golden yellow tubers. Plant $14.50/ 
Sale Price $11
Oxalis tuberosa Bauml ?Crema de Rosa? Cream colored with a pink-red blush. 
Plant $14.50/ Sale Price $11
Oxalis tuberosa OAEC ?Pink? Rounded pink-red tubers. Plant $10.50/ Sale 
Price $7.50
Oxalis tuberosa Kapular ?Orange? Orange to salmon-red tubers. Plant 
$10.50/ Sale Price $7.50
?Papa Lisa? ?Ulluco?
Ullucus tuberosus BK08607.1 Round yellow tubers with pink speckles. Plant 
$14.50/ Sale Price $11

NEW BOOKS
We?ve added over a dozen new titles. For the complete list see- 
http://www.sacredsucculents.com/books.html

SHIPPING & HANDLING:
Seeds? First class mail USA $2.00; Air mail international $4.00
Plants (USA only)? First class priority mail= $6.00 for the first plant 
$1.50 each additional plant.
Seeds ride free when ordered with plants.
Add $1 per plant if you want them sent potted.

CA RESIDENTS ADD 8.25% SALES TAX
We still only take Cash (USD$ or Euros), Money Orders, or Checks.
You can print out an order form- 
http://www.sacredsucculents.com/orderform.pdf
and mail it with payment to our Po Box

SACRED SUCCULENTS
PO Box 781, Sebastopol, CA 95473 USA

Email: sacredsucculents at hushmail.com
http://www.sacredsucculents.com
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