[Sacred Succulents] New Plants, Summer Sale, Ephedra
benkamm at monitor.net
benkamm at monitor.net
Wed Jul 27 20:31:18 PDT 2011
(do not ?reply? to this email, send all correspondence to -
sacredsucculents at hushmail.com )
7/27 /11
Greetings to all,
The first wave of blossoms on our upright Trichocereus cacti have been
serenading the moon the past week, we should have seed of several new
hybrids available by Autumn.
A dozen new rare plants available this email. A few only in very limited
quantities, so order while we have them.
Summer plant sale! We have a large number of plants, especially
xerophytes, available at discounted prices until the Autumn Equinox
arrives September 23. A bit of something for everyone! Check out the list
list deeper in the email.
There is also a list at the end of the email of plants that are nearly out
of stock. this may be your last opportunity to obtain these species.
This email we?re featuring the fascinating Ephedra. Read on to learn more
about these primordial plants. We also have several new species available
and the majority of species we offer currently on sale. We became enamored
with these plants several years ago, and are now propagating about 25
species, one of the larger collections we know of.
Ephedra is a genus of some 40 or 50 species that belong to the family
Ephedraceae, part of the curious order Gnetale (along with Gnetum and the
utterly weird Welwitschia). Bizarre ancient plants with nearly leafless
photosynthetic jointed stems, from small rock hugging high altitude
miniatures to 6'+ shrubs. Small ?flowers? (actually just pollen bearing
cones) and papery or fleshy berry-like seed cones. Long considered
primitive gymnosperms, a link between flowering plants and conifers, but
current genetic and fossil studies have brought up a number of unresolved
questions, deepening the mystery around this once widespread order of
plants. It may be that the Gnetale have long kept their own company and
are not closely related to either gymosperms or angiosperms. Ephedra in
their more current incarnation have been here for a long time, at least
120 million years according to current studies (
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2803531/?tool=pubmed ). They
are now native to arid and high altitude regions across the Americas,
Eurasia, and northern Africa.
These interesting plants have been highly valued by many cultures
as food and for their medicinal and stimulant properties. In Mongolia the
?fruits? and seed of E. sinica are an important food, being rich in
protein, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Stem tea of many species is
an excellent source of minerals, especially calcium. Many of the Old World
species contain ephedrine alkaloids, powerful antihistamines and
psychoactive CNS stimulants. The presence of these alkaloids significant
amounts in the American species is in some doubt (
http://www.amjbot.org/content/88/7/1199.long ) but they do contain
beneficial antioxidant proanthocyanidens, cyclopropyl amino acids and
kynurenates known to be antimicrobial and stimulate neuroactivity, which
may account for the psychoactivity of the New World species rather than
ephedrine alkaloids. Several of the species from southwestern USA have the
distinction of once being a plant ally to the Mormons and these plants are
still referred to a ?Mormon Tea?, though this relationship is becoming
extinct. Here in California the Chumash used E. viridis and other species
to inspire ?sacred dreams?. Ephedrine rich Ma Huang (primarily E.sinica,
but also E. intermedia, E. equisetina, E. minuta and E. minima) has been
widely used in Chinese medicine for 5,000 years to safely treat fever,
nasal congestion and asthma. Because of misuse of purified ephedrine in
diet and stimulant/aphrodisiac products, the FDA has severely restricted
products containing ephedrine. This has unfortunately lead to scarcity of
the whole herb, which, unlike using the isolated ephedrine, rarely gives
rise to side-effects. Fortunately it is still acceptable to grow the
plants and benefit from their medicinal properties from the safety of your
garden. Ephedra has even been suggested as a source of the ancient
primordial drugplant Soma. The discovery of Ephedra pollen at a burial
site in Iraq has led to speculation that medicinal use of this species by
man may date back 60,000 years!
We?ve had many opportunities to admire some of the poorly defined
(both taxonomically and chemically) Andean species in Peru and Bolivia the
last few years. E. americana is common in the interAndean valleys, between
about 8,000?12,500', growing on steep slopes, rocky areas and relictual
dry forest. These plants are often found growing with Trichocereus cacti
and make excellent companion plants in cultivation. There seems to be
broad variety of form, from upright bushy plants to more scraggly almost
decumbent ones. The sweet red ?berries? vary from small to nearly grape
size, and are always a welcome snack when encountered. Above 13,000'
occurs the diminutive and adorable E. rupestris, usually found growing in
the cracks of rocks and often reaching no more than 1/2" tall. In the
Cordillera Negra of Peru there is a dense clumping form of this species
(possibly even a distinct species) that forms low tight mounds to several
feet across. Both Andean species are highly regarded in ethnomedicine for
the kidneys and liver, as a blood cleanser and urinary tonic, digestive
aid, antiseptic, for bruises and fractures, fever and arthritis. There are
several additional species that occur in Chile and Argentina. Anecdotal
reports suggest that E. breana from the Atacama Desert may be very rich in
ephedrine alkaloids or other neuroactive secondary compounds, but to our
knowledge no analysis has been done. The South American species are the
least understood of the genus and in need of further study.
Ephedra are easy to grow, usually very cold hardy, sun and drought
tolerant. Unlike true succulents, they cannot survive long periods without
water if confined to a small pot, they are most drought hardy when planted
in the earth so they can send down their long roots. Most are also
tolerant of fairly high rainfall as long as they have a gritty well
draining soil, we recommend at least 30?50% pumice, perlite, gravel or
sand in the soil mix.
We encourage you to try growing one or several species and rekindle a
relationship with one of humanity?s ancient plant allies. There is still
much to learn about and from our planet?s ancient life forms.
Baja Botanical Journey - You will have a chance again this November 2?6 to
join us in exploring the wonders of the mountains of southern Baja...
email us for the full itinerary or contact Gabriela - gabriela at ecobaja.com
for questions and registration.
RARE PLANT & SEED LIST - Issue 32 available. Another very large and
diverse issue, don?t miss it! There?s crested Trichocereus bridgesii and
other Trichocereus specimens, more new Peperomia and Ephedra species, rare
Turkish Salvia. A plethora of new seed/seedlings from our past Andean
expedition to Peru and Bolivia, new seed/plants from South Africa, Chile (
Gomortega keule trees), 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
limited rarities and specimens.
CA residents note: Sales tax has gone back down to 7.25% (8.25% Sonoma Co)
New Plant Offerings
You can print out an order form-
http://www.sacredsucculents.com/orderform.pdf
Bursera hindsiana ?Copalquin? ?Torote Prieto? ?Xoop Inl?
Burseraceae. Shrub to small multi-trunked tree. Fat trunks with beautiful
smooth red to grayish bark, velvety trifoliate leaves. Native to the rocky
hills and slopes of Sonora and much of Baja. Sacred to the Seri who
believe it to be the first plant created. The bark is used medicinally for
congestion and as an antiseptic. The sap has a wonderful sweet balsam
scent, one of the best copals of Baja. Seri shamans utilized the wood for
carving special fetishes (?santos?) used in vision quests and for curing
and protective purposes. Edible seeds and fruit. Grow as other Bursera.
Z9b/10a 1 year old plant $12.50
Echeveria chiclensis BK08612.6
Crassulaceae. Large rosettes to 10" or more. Slender leaves are
blue-green, blushed an amorous purple or red. Deep yellow flowers with
orange hues. Crassulaceae expert Guillermo Pino took us to see this lovely
species growing amongst scrub next to the embankment on the side of the
road near Chicla, Lima, Peru, 12,000'. Z8b?9a 1.5?2" plant 2?3 years
old $8.50
Echeveria sp. nova? BK09514.1
Forms 6"+ rosettes of slender dark purple-green leaves, peach colored
flowers. Growing on steep rock cliffs with Tillandsia species and an
impressive population of serpent-like Trichocereus peruvianus, Fortaleza
Canyon, on the descent from Conacocha and well before Cajacay, Ancash
Dept, about 10,000'. This plant shows some affinity with E. chiclensis,
but G. Pino thinks it may be a new species or subspecies. Z9a or b? 1.5?2"
plant 2?3 years old $9.50
Ephedraaff. pulvinaris JJH0709113
Ephedraceae. Small creeping cushions, orange-red fruit. Seed collected by
Halda, 15,500', alpine moraines, east Pamir, Kirghizia, Tadjikistan. Very
rare. Z5a 3 year old plant $12.50 (limited)
Ephedra torreyana (=E. trifurca) ?Popotillo?
Upright gray-green angled stems to 2'. Branches 3 ways at each stem node.
Papery tan fruit. Bradshaw collection from Emery Co., Utah, at 4300'. Used
for cough, fevers, kidney and bladder problems. There?s claims it contains
caffeine and ephedrine, but we find this doubtful. Very drought hardy. Z5a
6"+ Plant $7.50
Ephedra minuta? ?Jurasek, Qinghai? ?Ai Ma Huang?
Minute creeping species to 1" tall with bluish stems and red fruit, much
smaller than E. minima. Jurasek seed collection from 14,200', Huashixia,
Qinghai, China. Contains ephedrine alkaloids. Stays very small in
cultivation. Z4 or 5?
1+ year old plant $8.50
Erythrina flabelliformis ?Chilicote? Colorin?
Fabaceae. Pachycaul tree 10?30'+. Smooth grey bark with striations of
white and green. Deciduous trifoliate leaves and spined stems. Many
flowered racemes of brilliant bright red flowers in the Spring. Red to
orange or yellow seeds. Restricted areas of southern Arizona, new Mexico
and remnant dry forest throughout northern Mexico and Baja. The seeds are
often used in jewelry, though they are quite toxic. Small amounts are used
medicinally. There is speculation that the seeds may have once been used
as a psychoactive additive to maize beers by the Chiricahua Apache.
Z9b/10a 1 year old plant $8.50
Ficus sp. CC6807
Moraceae. Rare fig species, large upright shrub. Ovate leaves with serrate
margins. Collected by Chadwell, 6,900', Uttaranachal, Kumaon, Central
Himalaya. We don?t know much more about this plant, such as fig edibility,
etc, so we?ll have to grow these on to find out! Z7 or 8? 1 year old
plant $6.75
Ilex paraguariensis ?Paraguay? ?Yerba Mate?
Mate tree, seed collected from plantations in Paraguay. Young treelets of
this popular tea. See catalog for full info on the species. 1 year old
plant $12.50
Peperomia aff. galioides BK09425.1 ?Congona?
Piperaceae. The mother plants looked to be P. galioides, yet these
seedlings seem distinct. Possibly a natural hybrid with P. lanuginosa? Red
or green stems, alternate succulent leaves, yellow flower spikes.
Important Andean medicinal. Great aroma and flavor when crushed. Seed
collected from rock outcrops on the steep slopes above the acequia just
north of the town Pisac, Cusco Dept., Peru, near 10,000'. Growing with
Echeveria sp., Pilea sp., Oxalis sp., Tillandsia sp. Give it a bright warm
spot, but dislikes extreme heat. Good houseplant. Z9b 2+ year old
plant $9.50
Salvia scutellaroides BK10426.2
Labiatae. 12?18" aromatic plant with dark green leaves and deep iridescent
blue flowers with a flared lower lip. Growing around the ruins of
Pumamarca, about 12,000', Cusco Dept., Peru. Made into a tea for coughs.
This beautiful sage is new to cultivation. Z9a/b? 1 year old plant
$9.50 (limited)
Siphocampylus sp. BK10509.11 ?K?au Sillu?
Campanulaceae. Herbaceous Lobelia-like plant to 2?3' with blue-green
leaves. Extremely showy heads of orange and yellow tubular flowers,
undoubtedly to seduce hummingbirds. Rocky areas above ruins of Inkallajta,
Cochabamba Dept., Bolivia, 10,000'. In parts of Bolivia and southern Peru
the latex of S. tupaeformis is reported to be chewed like gum. In northern
Peru it is considered a companion to the San Pedro cactus and is planted
around homes for protection, acting as a ?guardian?. Z8a to 9a? 1
year old plant $12.50 (limited)
Summer Plant Sale 2011
The following discount prices are good until the Autumnal Equinox,
September 23, or while supplies last.
See main catalog and supplements for full descriptions.
You can print out an order form-
http://www.sacredsucculents.com/orderform.pdf
Agave difformis Clustering rosettes to 2' with slender straight to
hypnotically wavy leaves. Z8b 3"+ seedling 2 years old
$6.50 Sale! $5.50
Agave cordillerensis NL52409 Versatile Andean species, gray-blue leaves.
N. Logan collection; Luribay, Bolivia. Z7b?8b? Plant $7.50 Sale!
$6.50
Agave gentryi La Escondida Hardy mountain species to 6'+. Impressive dark
green leaves. Z7a 2?3" plant 2?3 years old $6.50 Sale!
$5.50
Agave montana Sculptural beauty to 3'+ tall and 4'+ wide, broad,
gray-green leaves, jagged leaf imprints. Z7a 2?3" plant 3 years old
$6.50 Sale! $5.50
Agave ovatifolia Recently described, highly desirable species, an amazing
glaucus silver-blue color. Z7b 2?3"+ plant 2?3 years old $7.50
Sale! $6.50
Anadenanthera colubrina v. cebil La Paz ?Vilca? Small tree. Once one of
the most important religious plants of the Andes. Z9b Plant $16 Sale!
$12.50
Ariocarpus trigonus Bizzare cactus with dark green claw-like tubercles.
Bright yellow flowers. Z9b 2" plant 7?8 years old
$14 Sale! $11
Bomarea salsilla Twining climber to 8'. Umbels of 20+ rose colored tubular
flowers. Chile. Z9a Plant 2+ years old
$7.50 Sale! $6.25
Bomarea sp. BK08526.8 Twining lily vine. Flowers not seen. Raqchi,
southern Andean Peru. Many species have edible tubers. The young shoots
are eaten,
and the seeds have a sweet coating that is sucked on as a child?s treat.
Showy clusters of multicolored tubular flowers. Z8b. Plant $7.50
Sale! $6.50
Bomarea sp. BK10509.3 Twining vine to 8'+. Large seed pods. Flowers
unseen. Inkallajta, Cochabamba, Bolivia. Z8a/9a? Plant
$8.50 Sale! $7
Boophane disticha Large deciduous bulb. One of the sacred delirient
entheogens of South Africa. Z9b Seedling 2+ years old
$6.50 Sale! $5.50
Canna edulis ?Achira? Perennial monocot to 6'. Edible rhizomes. One of the
?lost? crops of the Incas. Bronze leaf form. Z9a Plant $9.50 Sale!
$7.50
Commiphora africana ?Gum Bdellium? ?Deciduous small tree with gray flaking
bark, similar to Myrrh. Z10a 8?12"+ seedling $9.50 Sale! $8
Commiphora marlothii Aromatic medium size tree with golden peeling bark.
Another Myrrh species. Z10a 10"+ seedling 2+ years old $9.50 Sale! $8
Commiphora mollis Myrrh-like tree to 25'. Grey to dark green bark,
deciduous velvety leaves. Z10a 8?12"+ seedling
$9.50 Sale! $7.50
Commiphora schimperi ?Myrrh?. Deciduous small tree. An official source for
Myrrh resin. Z10a. 6"+ plant 2 years old $14.50 Sale!
$11.50
Dioscorea sylvatica Attractive smooth, lobed, woody caudex. Twining vines,
heart shaped leaves. Good houseplant. Z9a Plant, 2"+ caudex $10 Sale!
$7
Ephedra americana BK10504.1 Shrub 2?4' tall. Small red edible fruit,
Huachjilla, La Paz, Bolivia. Z8 or 9a 6?8"+ plant 1 year old
$12.50 Sale! $9.50
Ephedra aspera ?Mormon Tea? Jointed bush 1?3'. Brown fruits. Southwestern
US and northern Mexico. Z5b Plant 2?3 years old 7.50 Sale!
$6.50
Ephedra chilensis Upright jointed shrub to 3'. White edible berries with a
honey flavor. Chile. Z7a Plant 2+ years old
$8.50 Sale! $7
Ephedra equisetina ?Mu Zei Ma Huang? Stems to 3'+. Small red edible fruit.
Asia. Z5b Plant $7.50 or 2 for $12.75 Sale! $6.50 or 2 for
$11.75
Ephedra helvetica Small jointed stems 6?12" high. Red edible fruit.
Europe. Z5b Plant 1?2
years old $7.50 Sale! $6.50
Ephedra intermedia ?Zhong Ma Huang? Erect glaucous stems to 2''+. Red
edible fruit. Eurasia. Z5b Plant 1?2+ years old $7.50
Sale! $6.50
Ephedra monosperma Sajan, Siberia Mat-forming species to 6"+. Sajan
Mountains of Siberia. Endangered. Z3a Plant 1?2 years old $8.50 Sale!
$7
Ephedra nevadensis Subshrub to 1?4'. Yellowish fruit. Southwestern USA.
Z6a Plant 1?2 years old
$7.50 Sale! $6.50
Ephedra viridis ?Mormon Tea? Stems 1?3' tall. Yellow edible fruit. Native
to the southwestern USA. Z5b Plant 2 years old $7.50 Sale!
$6.50
Jovellana violaceae Chilean subshrub 2?4'. Clusters of pink/purple/yellow
flowers. Z8b/9a Plant 2+ years old
$6.50 Sale! $5
Pachycereus pringlei ?Cardon? Gigantic columnar cactus that forms huge
candelabra like stands. Z9b. 3?4" diameter 12"+ tall plant $25* Sale!
$20*
Puya sp. BK08517.6 Lovely small species, grey green rosettes to 10?12".
Chinchero, Cusco, Peru'. Z8a/b 4"+ plant 3 years old $7.50
Sale! $6.25
Sceletium tortuosum ?Kougoed? ?Kanna? Medicinal psychoactive ice-plant.
Unrooted cutting $7.50 or 4 for $25 Sale! $6.25 or 4 for $21
Silene undulata (=Silene capensis) ?Xhosa Dream Herb? Low growing
perennial with white tubular flowers. Z8b Plant $12
Sale! $7.50
Trichocereus bridgesii f. monstrosus Clone A The perennially popular
?penis cactus.? 6?8" cutting $16 Sale! $14
Trichocereus pachanoi f. monstrosus Clone A ?Mutant San Pedro?Molten
columns. 6" cutting $12.50 Sale! $10 , 10?12" cutting $20* Sale
$16*
Trichocereus andalgalensis X Trichocereus grandiflorus v. crassicaulis
Golden yellow spines, orange flowers. 4"+ plant 3 years old $6.50 Sale
$5.25
Trichocereus bridgesii X Tricho. sp. ?Juul?s Giant? Great hybrid
seedlings. 2?3"+ seedling 2+ years old $8.50 Sale! $7
Trichocereus sp. SS02 X Trichocereus sp. ?Kimura?s Spiny Giant?
2?3"+ seedling 2+ years old $7.50 Sale! $6.25
Turbinicarpus alonsoi Remarkable, small endangered cactus. Magenta
flowers. 1/2?3/4"+ plant 2?3 years
old $10 Sale! $7.50
Turbinicarpus panarottoi (=Turbinicarpus andersonii) Rare, flattened
globular cactus, corky spines. 1"+ plant 6?7 years old $8
Sale! $6.25
Turbinicarpus valdezianus (=Pelecyphora valdezianus) Miniature
globose-cylindrical white cactus. 1"+ plant 6?7 years old
$7.50 Sale! $6.25
Nearly Out of Stock!
Our stock on the following plants is very low and we may not be restocking
the species in the future, so this may be your last chance to obtain these
species! See main catalog and supplements for full descriptions.
You can print out an order form-
http://www.sacredsucculents.com/orderform.pdf
Agave toumeyana ssp. bella Clusters of small rosettes of pointed leaves
to 6". Z7b 2?3" seedling 2+ years old $6.50
Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus Dwarf, slow growing cactus species, a mosaic of
small tubercles. 3/4?1" plant 6?7 years old $10
Boquila trifoliata Ornamental edible vine to 15' with white flowers and
clusters of white pea-size sweet fruit.Chile. Z8a Plant 2?3 years old
$9.50
Buddleja coriacea BK08528.1 ?Colle? The queen of the genus. Bush or tree 8
to 30'. Rounded clusters of orange to red flowers. Key species of the
mostly extinct high Andean forests. Z5b?6b if kept relatively dry. 12"+
plant $15
Commiphora guillaumini Attractive small tree with yellow peeling bark.
Myrrh relative, Madagascar. Z10b 8?12" seedling $9.50
Coriaria ruscifolia Chile Small shrub or bush, up to 6' tall. Arching or
pendent fern-like branches lined with oval leaflets. Hanging clusters of
small flowers transform into necklaces of dark purple fruits. Chilean form
with large leaflets. Z9b Plant, 2 years old $14
Coriaria ruscifolia (=Coriaria thymifolia) BK08524.16 Shrub to 6'. Long
arching leaves made up of may small leaflets that turn reddish in bright
sun. Collected just above Lares Hotsprings, Cusco Dept. Peru. Nitrogen
fixing plants, often considered poisonous. Berries of Ecuadorian
populations are used to induce a feeling of flying. Z9a? Plant $16
Coriaria ruscifolia v. microphylla? BK09430.4 Small leafy shrub to 2'.
The plant and seeds are more diminutive than what we collected in 2008 at
Lares, may be closer to the original C. microphylla. Source of a purple
dye, used as a ph indicator. Collected at 8,800', Cusco Dept. Z9a/b
Plant $15
Ephedra ?fedtschenkoana? Dwarf rhizomatic species, high mountains of
Kyrgyzstan. Z5a Plant 2?3 years old $8.50
Ficus sp. CC5692 Rare species of unidentified fig tree from Meghalaya. Z9?
6?8"+ plant, 2 years old $6.50
Gaultheria phillyreifolia Evergreen blueberry relative to 4'. White bell
flowers and red edible berries. Chile. Z7b Plant 2 years old $8.50
Hoodia gordonii Cactus like milkweed, traditional appetite suppressant.
Z10a 3?5"+ plant 2?3 years old $12
Mammillaria craigii Lau 086 Globular pincushion cactus. Z9a 2?3"+
plant $12
Phytolacca insularis ?Korean Poke? An endangered and rare Korean endemic
poke. Part shade and rich soil. Z6? Plant 2?3 years old $7.50
Rhodiola yunnanensis ex EDHCH 97073 ?Hong Jing Tian? Caudex with annual
stems to 18" bearing whorls of succulent leaves. Northern China. Used in
traditional medicine much like R. rosea. Part shade to sun. Easier to grow
and more tolerant of heat than R. rosea. Z7a Plant 3+ years old $9.50
Satureja gilliesii Shrub 3?5' with small and slender minty leaves densely
arranged on the stems. White to lavender colored flowers Chile. Sun, heat
and drought tolerant. Z8a 6" plant 1+ years old $8.50
Satureja multiflora Pink flowered endangered Chilean yerba buena shrub.
Pleasantly aromatic, a nice tea. Z9? 8?12" plant 1+ years old $7.50
Thelocactus hexaedrophorus SB291 Handsome globular cactus to 6" diameter.
Z9a 1.5"+ plant 3 years old $6.50
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 $1 per plant if you want them sent potted.
CA RESIDENTS ADD 7.25% SALES TAX
We still only take Cash (USD$ or Euros), Money Orders, or Checks.
Foreign customers, inquire about Paypal payments
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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