[Sacred Succulents] Winter wonders

[benkamm at monitor.net]

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

12/8/10

Greetings to all,

I had a splendid time exploring the mountains of southern Baja in 
November. I?ll share more about my experiences in this land of rare beauty 
in one of our future emails.

I was hoping to have a new catalog supplement and rare plant list to mail 
out at this time, but with my 36th birthday pouncing upon me tomorrow, the 
number of hours I can sit in front of a monitor feeling my spine compress, 
my vision fade and my mind compartmentalize is limited! The good news is 
we have laid our old computer (a 2001 Dell) to rest and the new operating 
system here should help to maximize my time at the screen. Expect the new 
lists to be ready around new years.

A few superb new plants and seeds this email that are well worth a place 
in your life. 
All our Californian offerings remain on sale through the end of the month. 

We have just begun our harvest of Andean tubers, so we are offering a 
diverse selection of them on sale right now. These have become a favorite 
of ours and the Winter harvest is now eagerly anticipated. There are few 
joys more sublime than unearthing their radiant colors. We have found that 
just a single tuber can produce up to several more pounds of delicious 
tubers in a single growing season. These are highly versatile in the 
kitchen falling somewhere in between potatoes, carrots and winter squash. 
These staple foods of the high Andes deserve wider attention. We really 
encourage everyone to grow a few. Any of the oca are easiest for starters, 
they even do well in large pots. Look for additional new tuber offerings 
in January!

Even as the Solstice draws us inward and the cold lays frosty blankets 
upon the land, remember to step outside each day and be present to what?s 
there. Watch how the rain and water moves across the landscape, how the 
leaves rot for next year?s fertility, how the blossoms of many plants 
really begin during this time of dream and slumber. There is so much life 
and potential to celebrate all around us! 

GIFT CERTIFICATES - are always available and make great gifts.

RARE PLANT & SEED LIST - Issue 30 is available. Another very large and 
diverse issue, don?t miss it! There?s new Trichocereus specimens and 
rarities including crested T. bridgesii, first chance at a plethora of new 
seed from our recent Andean expedition to Peru and Bolivia, new 
seed/plants from South Africa, Chile (Gomortega keule plants), 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. 

New Offerings

Cyclanthera explodens BK09506.2 ?Achukcha? ?Wild caigua?
Cucurbitaceae. Clambering tendrilled vine with 3-lobed leaves, small 
yellow/white flowers and 1?2" inflated fruit covered in small prickles. 
When the fruit is fully ripe it ?explodes?, launching the seed up to 
several meters. This wild caigua is often seen for sale in the local 
markets, being used for food and medicine the same way the cultivated 
species is. Ecellent in soups and veggie dishes. From seed collected in 
Huaraz, Ancash Dept., Peru. Will perennialize in mild climates, otherwise 
grow like an annual cucumber, giving the vine plenty of room. Z9b     6 
seed $3.50

Passiflora sp. BK09426.2  
Passifloraceae. Miniature passionflower vine with tendrilled stems to 3?5' 
and 3 part leaves. Small pink flowers to 1" across hang downward. Green to 
orange oblong fruit 1/2?1" long, filled with a sweet tangy pulp and edible 
seeds. We are excited to introduce this delightful floriferous dwarf 
species from seed collected at Pisac, Cusco, Peru, near 10,500'. 2?8 weeks 
to germinate warm. Z9a?b?      Seed packet $4

Pelargonium sidioides ?Umckaloaba?
Geranaceae. Perennial to 6" with round, silky, downy, silver leaves and 
small purple black flowers. Tuberous roots. Native to South Africa. The 
root is a powerful antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulator. It is 
used to treat acute and chronic sinusitis, bronchitis, ear infections and 
tuberculosis. Commercially cultivated in South Africa and quickly gaining 
merit in Europe and the USA as a potent, effective medicinal. Easy to grow 
and highly ornamental. Tolerant of drought. Z8b         Plant $7.50

Polylepis tomentella ssp. incanoides BK10509.20 ?Kewina?
Upright multi-branching trees 15?30'+. Contorted trunks with dark-red 
peeling bark, deep green leaves, dangling clusters of yellow-green 
flowers. This beautiful subspecies is endemic to central and southern 
Bolivia, it seems to favor a slightly warmer/dryer climate than other 
species. Growing with Berberis sp., Baccharis sp., bunchgrasses and the 
occasional Trichocereus totorensis and Cleistocactus sp. Restricted to 
arroyos primarily due to agricultural activity and overgrazing. Though 
there were a good number of large individuals and the bird diversity was 
quite high, these forests felt in transition and had the heavy mark of man 
and his beasts. Between Monte Puncu and Totora, Cochabamba Dept., Bolivia, 
9,500'. An Andean genus of 26 species in the rose family, Polylepis 
forests once covered over 20% of the Andes up to 17,000'+ in elevation. 
These forest were slowly cleared over millennia and massacred over the 
last 500 years and reduced to almost nothing. Polylepis are amongst the 
most enchanting trees we have ever encountered, with their contorted 
trunks and peeling bark, not to mention their rebellious nature; this is a 
tree that actually dares to grow above the treeline. Extremely hard wood 
excellent for construction and firewood, used medicinally for lung issues, 
bark chewed for oral health. Beige, pale pink and green dyes are obtained 
from the tree. Polylepis were considered sacred during Incan times and 
associated with the ancestors, forests were venerated and protected. 
Propagation and reforestation is essential for sustainable development in 
the Andes. Polylepis forests are known to harbor the highest diversity of 
plants, birds and other fauna of any ecosystem in the high Andes.Z7?8?  
6?10" seedling $16.50

Lepechinia meyenii BK08524.17 ?Salvinol?
Labiatae. Salvia like groundcover to 3" tall and spreading to 12" or more. 
Aromatic lime-green leaves and clusters of small white flowers. Collected 
above Lares, Cusco, Peru. Made into tea for stomach pains, colds & flu, 
coughs, rheumatism, headaches, nervousness and menopause. Makes an 
excellent medicinal groundcover, hardy and fairly drought tolerant. Z8? 
Seed packet $4

Trichocereus bridgesii f. monstrosus Clone B ?Achuma?
2?5 ribs initially bearing 3" yellow spines then becoming smooth and 
spineless. The stems reach 4"?6" in length then stop growing and begin to 
offset. Eventually forms dense stands to 6' tall made up of hundreds of 
small multi-branched stems. A limited # of larger cuts are available!!  
10?12" cluster, overall twice as large as our regular cuttings $26* (heavy 
shipping may apply)

CA PLANT SALE!
Many of the California seeds listed in the catalog/website have been 
freshly restocked this season. From now until the end of the year we are 
offering 15% off all our California offerings in the main paper catalog or 
see http://www.sacredsucculents.com/natives.html

Andean Tuber Crops - Jewels of the Earth SALE! (ends 1/1/11)
(From December through March, every 3 bareroot tubers count as 1 plant for 
shipping, USA only)

Oxalis tuberosa ?Oca? 
Oxalidaceae. Cylindrical tubers to 6" long. They come in an alluring 
spectrum of colors from yellows to oranges, pinks and reds. Sprawling 
succulent stems to about 1' tall with trifoliate clover like leaves and 
yellow flowers. Native to the Andean region of South America where it is 
second only to the potato as a root crop. Cultivated for thousands of 
years, the tubers have a variety of flavors from crisp and lemony fresh to 
buttery and sweet when cooked. Still unknown as a food outside of South 
America with the exception of Mexico where it has been grown for over 200 
years and New Zealand where it has been farmed for the past 30+ years. 
Grow as you would potatoes, the larger tubers develop late in the season 
after Autumnal Equinox with cool weather and shortened daylight. 
Traditionally the tubers are exposed to sun and cold for several days 
after harvest to break down any oxalic acids and increase sweetness. 
Exposure to light also enriches the vivid colors. The plant is very 
captivating and makes an excellent ornamental. If well mulched the tubers 
are hardy below Z7a
. 
The following 4 Oca varieties are on sale for $11 each for starting tubers 
(normally $14.50)
Oxalis tuberosa BK08516.7  
Relatively large pale yellow flattened cylindrical tubers with slender 
pink eyes. Excellent creamy flavor. 
Oxalis tuberosa BK08516.8  
Medium to large cylindrical tubers, when first unearthed they are 
yellowish with a pinkish blush, after exposure to light they turn a deeper 
pink/maroon. Fantastic non-acidic flavor. Cusco region, Peru.     
Oxalis tuberosa Bauml ?Golden?
Rounded cylindrical tubers, a deep golden yellow, very productive. A 
superb buttery flavor, almost like some winter squash. A La Paz, Bolivia 
selection from ethnobotanist Jim Buaml.
Oxalis tuberosa Bauml ?Crema de Rosa?
Medium size rounded tubers, cream colored with a pink-red blush. 
Non-acidic and tasty. Bauml selection, La Paz, Bolivia. 

The following 2 Oca varieties are $7.50 each for starting tubers (normally 
$10.50)
Oxalis tuberosa OAEC ?Pink?
Small to medium size pink-red tubers. Crisp lemony flavor. A productive 
varietal, widely distributed by the Occidental Arts & Ecology center.
Oxalis tuberosa Kapular ?Orange?
Small to medium size orange to salmon-red tubers, high yielding. A 
delightful acidic taste. An Alan Kapular selection that comes to us via 
Richo Cech.

Smallanthus sonchifolius ?Sweet Crisp? (=Polymnia sonchifolia) ?Yacon?
Asteraceae. Clusters of knobby propagative tubers and large yam-like 
storage tubers. Fuzzy annual leaves and stems to 4'+ topped with yellow 
daisy-like flowers. A multi-use plant traditionally grown throughout the 
Andes, it has been introduced to Central America and is popular in New 
Zealand. The large storage tubers have a delicious juicy-sweet taste, 
somewhat like a cross between jicama and watermelon. In the Andes it is 
thought of more as a fruit than a vegetable. The young vegetative growth 
is cooked similar to celery. The tubers are rich in 
fructooligosaccharides, and are considered a prebiotic; that is they feed 
the healthy bacteria in the gut which improves overall health. The leaves 
are used as a tea for diabetes. A molasses like syrup made form the roots 
is slowly gaining popularity as a beneficial sweetener. Easy to grow, 
prefers sun and a rich soil. This variety has proven itself very 
productive of sweet tubers even in tropical conditions such as Hawaii. 
Hardy to Z7b?8a if well mulched. Propagative tuber $10.50 Sale! $8.50

Ullucus tuberosus ?Papa lisa? ?Ulluco? ?Melloco?
Baseliaceae. 1?3" round to cylindrical tubers, a delightful array of 
bright colors. Grows edible spinach-like heart shaped leaves on short 
sprawling stems to 12". One of the most delectable of all the Andean tuber 
crops, yet practically unknown in the U.S. Crisp and buttery in flavor. 
Grow as you would potatoes, like oca the tubers only develop late in the 
season. Tuber production appears to be best in areas with a slow 
transition from Summer to Autumn. So far, they seem adaptable to northern 
California. Tubers are hardy below Z7a when well mulched.

The following 4 Ulluco varieties are $11 each for starting tubers 
(normally $14.50)
Ullucus tuberosus Bauml ?Pica de Pulga?
Small rounded tubers, delightful colored yellow with neon pink stars. 
Bauml selection, La Paz, Bolivia
Ullucus tuberosus BK08607.1 
1?2" round yellow tubers with fluorescent red and pink blotches. A ?pica 
de pulga? type, Chulumani, Yungas, Bolivia. 
Ullucus tuberosus BK09510.2 
1?3" round or elongated deep-orange tubers, like gold nuggets. Large 
edible leaves. Appears highly productive. Caraz, Ancash Dept., Peru.       


NEW BOOKS
CREATING A FOREST GARDEN: Working With Nature to Grow Edible Crops  by 
Martin Crawford
A good introduction to creating a food forest. Straightforward advice on 
designing, planting and maintaining a diverse polyculture of edible and 
medicinal plants, from small yard gardens to larger plots. Presents many 
novel approaches to edible horticulture that even the most seasoned 
organic gardener will find refreshing. Profiles many unusual 
edible/medicinal trees, shrubs and groundcovers and how to integrate them 
into a productive agroforestry system. An excellent companion to Dave 
Jacke?s mammoth Edible Forest Gardens, but much more accessible to those 
just starting a food forest. Though the main focus is temperate climates, 
the information is applicable to other regions as well.   
        Hardcover, color photos, 384 pages $49.95 (4 lbs) 
PEOPLE & PLANTS IN ANCIENT NORTH AMERICA, 2 Vol.  edited by Paul E. Minnis 

A fascinating work of prehistoric ethnobotany. A comprehensive overview of 
what is known of the interconnectedness of people and plants over the past 
12+ millennia in North America. The major topics are the uses of native 
plants, the history of crops and their uses, and how humans influenced and 
altered their environment. These fascinating volumes not only contribute 
to our understanding of the lives of ancient Americans and their shaping 
of the environment but also provide essential lessons for how we might 
develop meaningful sustainable relations to the ecosystems of North 
America today and rekindle long forgotten relations with the flora that 
surrounds us. These volumes are required reading for anyone interested in 
the history of the region, ethnobotany, ecological conservation and 
restoration, permaculture, organic agriculture, and sustainable living. 
Excellent companion volumes to Tending the Wild, and Imperfect Balance.
PEOPLE & PLANTS IN ANCIENT EASTERN NORTH AMERICA
Areas covered - the Northeast, Eastern Woodlands, Plains, and the 
Caribbean. Softcover, black & white illustrations, 423 pages $35 (2lbs)
PEOPLE & PLANTS IN ANCIENT WESTERN NORTH AMERICA
Covers the prehistoric ethnobotany of the Southwest, Great Basin, 
California, and Pacific NW. Softcover, black & white illustrations, 440 
pages $35 (2lbs)
SPECIAL! Both volumes of People & Plants in Ancient North America for $62 
(3 lbs)

PLANTS OF THE FOUR WINDS: The Magic and Medicinal Flora of Peru  by Rainer 
W. Bussman and Douglas Sharon
A guide to 510 plants used in the medicine and shamanic practices of 
northern Peru. The herbalism of the region is a rich legacy that dates 
back at least 2000 years. Having survived 500 years of colonial 
persecution it now confronts the threat of losing many important medicines 
due to deforestation and mining in the Andes along with the erosion of 
cultural knowledge that faces many traditions in this age of global 
capitalism. This book is a major conservation effort for preserving 
botanical wisdom. Each plant has an entry with common and scientific 
names, detailed uses, administration and preparations along with a black 
and white photo of the dried or fresh plant as it is commonly found in the 
Peruvian herbal markets. One of the only books in English to thoroughly 
document plants used in Andean herbalism, serving as an important 
repository of unique plant knowledge. Though the focus is northern coastal 
and the adjacent highlands of Peru, many of these plants are utilized 
throughout the Andes. We have found this an invaluable reference for our 
own Andean studies. The entire text is bilingual English/Spanish.  
Softcover, black & white photos, 596 pages $29.95 (3 lbs)

For more titles see- http://www.sacredsucculents.com/books.html
To determine book shipping costs, add up the number of lbs in parentheses 
(  ) that is listed after the price.
Priority Mail- add $6 for the first lb, $2.25 for each additional lb. When 
ordered with plants just add $2.25 for each lb
Books only sent Media Mail - add $4 for the first lb, $0.75 for each 
additional lb
Please email us for international shipping costs; 
sacredsucculents at hushmail.com

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
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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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