[Sacred Succulents] March updates

benkamm at monitor.net benkamm at monitor.net
Fri Mar 13 13:34:51 PDT 2015


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

3/13/15

Greetings, 

A series of computer mishaps the past few months means that once again 
more time has lapsed between emails than intended. 
The weather here in northern California continues to defies convention. 
Our first frost was 6 weeks later than usual this winter and only lasted 
for a couple weeks. Our typical rainy period has been mostly dry and warm 
spring-like weather arrived 6 weeks early...

The late frost means that our Andean tuber harvest was very good this 
year, though the voles took advantage of our late harvest time to raid a 
few of our Oca beds, depleting our stock of a couple varieties. Bare root 
tubers are still available through the end of the month, order now to save 
on shipping- 
http://sacredsucculents.com/andean-tuber-crops/

We have decided against taking a group to the Andes this year so we can 
focus on projects closer to home. There is an outside chance we will make 
a brief solo excursion in May to southern Bolivia and adjacent Argentina 
to follow up on some research. 
This May our compadre Matt Magee is leading a trip to southern Peru  along 
with anthropologist Bonnie Glass-Coffin to learn more from the healers and 
curanderos of the region. Registration is nearly full for this unique 
venture but a few spaces are still available, register now-
 http://www.matthewjmagee.com/2015-peru-retreat-itinerary/

Our friend Kat Harrison is offering a few Ethnobotany courses in Sonoma 
County this spring - see attached flyer 
You can also support her projects through 
http://www.botanicaldimensions.org

See below for a diversity of our new botanical offerings.
~   Ben 
http://sacredsucculents.com

RARE PLANT & SEED LIST - Issue 43 should be mailed by the month’s end. 
Yes, another very large and diverse issue, don’t miss it! All manner of 
Trichocereus and Burseraceae specimens, seed/plants from last year’s trip 
to the Apurimac, Peru and much more.  If you are not subscribed or have 
let your subscription lapse, we encourage you to sign up now. 4 issues for 
$5 ($10 outside USA) or 8 issues for $8 ($16 outside USA). This is where 
we list our offerings of limited rarities and specimens. 

Bulk/Wholesale Seed List March 2015. Email us - 
sacredsucculents at hushmail.com for a PDF copy. Anyone is welcome to order 
from this list as long as the order minimums are met.

New Offerings March 2015
You can print out an order form- http://sacredsucculents.com/order-form/ 
and mail it with payment to our Po Box

Abies spectabilis CC7601  “Bunga Salla” “Himalayan Silver Fir”
Pinaceae. Large upright tree to 100'+. Gray deeply grooved bark. Flattened 
needles with pale green undersides. Upright cylindrical cones that turn 
dark puprle. Manaslu Himal, Nepal, 9200'.  The oil rich needles are used 
as an expectorant and carminative and made into an incense. The wood is 
utilized for construction. Cold stratify seed. Z5?   
10 seed $3

Acer caudatum CC7600  “Kanchiro” “Himalayan Maple”
Aceraceae. Deciduous tree to 40'+. Five-lobed leaves with finely serrate 
margins. Manaslu Himal, Nepal, 9200'. The leaves are used for fodder and 
the wood for making tools. Cold stratify seed. Z6a   
10 seed $3

Ariocarpus retusus ‘Aguja’ 
Cactaceae. A strain with triangular tubercles that are fat and somewhat 
rounded at the base but quickly narrow to a very slender, pointy tip with 
a tiny fuzzy areole. Wooly center, large white flowers thatfade pink. 
We’ve had several plants of this unique form in our collection for nearly 
20 years. 
20 seed $3.50

Ariocarpus retusus ssp. confusus
Claw-like, blue-green tuberlces that curve upwards at the tip, similar to 
A. trigonus. Large flowers, usually a bright magenta or occasionally 
pink-white. This decidedly unique subspecies is only known to occur around 
Aramberri, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. 
10 seed $3

Ariocarpus retusus cv. Frumdosus 
A cultivar with chunky triangular tubercles often wider than long, flat, 
smooth surfaced and lacking an areole at the tip. Wooly center and white 
flowers.
20 seed $3.50

Ariocarpus retusus ‘San Rafael’   Relatively small form with long and 
slender gray-green tubercles. White flowers. 
20 seed $3

Ariocarpus retusus ssp. confusus  X Ariocarpus fissuratus v. lloydii F2  
Second generation hybrid, often produces variegated/mutant plants. 
10 seed $3

Ariocarpus trigonus X Ariocarpus fissuratus v. lloydii
A beauty that gives rise to olive-green plants with fat chunky tubercles 
that curve up at the tips, wooly central furrows and pink flowers. 
20 Seed $4

Betula ashburneri CC7602  “Himalayan Alpine Birch”
Betulaceae. Small tree 10–25'+. Typically multi-trunked, attractive 
gray-brown to bronze peeling bark. Deciduous leaves. Chadwell collection 
Khumbu Himal, Nepal, 12,500'. This is the first recorded occurence of this 
rare birch in Nepal. Known only from a few other localities in Bhutan and 
Tibet. Z5?
Seed packet $4
Betula ashburneri CC7610  Another accession from 11,900', Khumbu Himal, 
Nepal. Seed packet $4

Codonopsis sp. CC7650
Campanulaceae. Vine with lanceolate leaves, flowers not seen. Annapurna 
Himal, Nepal, 8250'. Tuberous edible/medicinal roots like other species. 
Z6?
Seed packet $3

Commiphora angolensis  “Sand Myrrh” “Munyera”
Burseraceae. Heavily branched multistemmed shrub to small trees. 
Blue-green to golden peeling bark. Deciduous leaves with 3–5 leaflets. 
Small green flowers, red berries. Native to sandy bushveld of Southern 
Africa. Contains aromatic sap like other Myrrh species. The roots are host 
of a grub species made into a potent arrow poison by the San. Young roots 
are chewed for their sweetness. Containers and utensils are carve from the 
bark. Sap and ground bark used for disinfecting wounds. One of the better 
species for bonsai. Z10a  
5 seed $4

Cupressus torulosa CC7605  “Dhupi” “Himalayan Cypress”
Cupressaceae. Large pyramidal evergreen tree, whorled and hanging 
branches. Bark peels in long strips. Scale like leaves. Rounded bluish 
cones. Manaslu Himal, Nepal, 9200'. Leaves are burned as ceremonial 
incense. The wood is used for framing constructions. Cold stratify seed. 
Z5? 
10 seed $3

Echeveria eurychlamys 
Crassulaceae. Single dense rosettes to 3–6". Wide leaves, light green-blue 
with a white to pinkish blush. Inflorescence initially nodding then erect, 
covered in rounded bracts, yellow to salmon colored flowers. Rocky areas 
of Cajamarca Dept., Peru between 6,000–11,500'+. One of the most 
attractive Andean Echeveria. Prefers strong, bright light and avery porous 
soil. Surface sow seed. Z9a–b  
Seed packet $4

Elaphoglossum cuspidatum? BK14514.12 
Dryopteridaceae. A gorgeous fern with 2" wide by 12"+ long linear leaves, 
green to glossy silver-green with beige undersides, black when 
sporulating. Some leaves have wavy margins and twist and curl as they age. 
Growing amongst Hesperomeles, Distergima, and Baccharis species, 
cloudforest above Choquequirao, Peru, 10,500. Z8/9?    
Spore packet $4

Elaphoglossum aff. piloselloides BK14512.1 
Small fern that forms flattened colonies of 1" spathulate green leaves 
with red-brown to black hairs. Unusual beige sporophyllic leaves are held 
just above the plant and look surprisingly like a toothless venus-flytrap, 
the inner surface contains the sporangia that turn black when ripe. We 
first saw this plant in a cliff crevice near Machu Picchu and mistook it 
for a carnivorous plant! The current accession is from a few kilometers 
outside Cachora, 9,300,' where we were able to recognize it as a fern. 
Part of our confusion was due to the fact that in both locations the plant 
was growing with subsurface water seeping–a habitat that many carnivorous 
species prefer. The current location was beginning to dry up, suggesting 
the plant tolerates seasonal dryness. Z9/10?
Spore packet $5 (limited)

Epithelantha greggii
Cactaceae. Clustering button cactus with individual stems to 1–3" covered 
with tiny white spines often tipped red-brown to blackish. Little pink 
flowers from the furry crown, red-pink edible fruit. This Mexican endemic 
is likely medicinal like the closely related E. micromeris. Z10a  
Seed packet $3.25

Euphorbia sp. BK14516.11 
Euphorbiaceae. Geophytic, rounded, bronze-red caudex to 6"+ across. 
Slender upright stems to 12"+, small oval leaves, terminal clusters of 
tiny green and white flowers. Exposed rocky slopes, dry forest, Apurimac, 
Peru, 7800'. May have medicinal uses like the similar E. huanchahana. 
Succulent care. Z10a?
10 seed $4

Gaultheria trichophylla CC7763  “Bhui Kaphal” “Himalayan Wintergreen”
Ericaceae. Evergreen groundcover with densely arranged small leaves. Red 
to pink-white bell shaped flowers. Striking sky-blue edible berries. 
Khumbu Himal, Nepal, 12,500'. Used as a digestive and analgesic. Cold 
improves germination. Z5? 
Seed packet $3.50

Geissorhiza corrugata
Iridaceae. Dwarf bulb with very cute, blue-green, spirally curled slender 
leaves to 2"+. Bright yellow crocus-like flowers. Shale slopes, Roggeveld 
Center, South Africa. A winter grower, give it gritty soil and a dry 
summer rest. Bright sun for maximum leaf curliness! Z8a 
Plant/bulb 4 years old $9.50

Hechtia isthmusiana?
Bromeliaceae. Relatively small rosettes of stiff,  recurved, green leaves 
that turn a deep rust color in bright light. Slight silver striations on 
the underside of the leaves. Short marginal spines. A new species from 
Nizanda, Oaxaca, Mexico. Should have white flowers if ID is correct, if 
flowers are reddish it may be H. macdougalii. Z10a?    
3–4"+ plant 2 years old $9.50

Hechtia sp. ‘Rio Zapotitlan’
Rosettes of long, recurved, deep green leaves with silver flecking. Large, 
curved, reddish marginal spines. Seed from Puebla, Mexico. An attractive 
unidentified plant–possibly a new species. Z9b/10a?   
3–4"+ plant 2 years old $7.50  or 3 for $19

Lycium barbarum ‘Shanghai Express’  “Gou Qi Zi” Wolfberry” “Gojiberry”
Solanaceae. Deciduous shrub with arching branches and edible berries of 
great nutritional/medicinal value. An improved Chinese selection with deep 
red berries that grows true from seed and can fruit in the first year. Z6a 
 
Seed packet $4.25

Lycium ruthenicum  “Chai-Hu” “Black Goji-Berry”
Thorny deciduous shrub with divaricate sprawling branches 3–5'+. 
Semi-succulent edible leaves. White flowers and shiny black edible 
berries. Native to arid mountainous regions of India, China and Russia. 
Seed from Yunnan, China. This is the much desired rare black goji-berry. 
Has the same adaptogenic and nutritive properties as the more common L. 
barbarum. Sun and drought hardy. Tolerates alkaline and saline conditions. 
Prefers a gritty soil and resents overwatering. Z6a    
6"+ plant 1 year old $14.50

Lycopersicon cheesmanii v. minor (=Solanum galapagense) “Galapagos Tomato”
Solanaceae. Upright plant to 3'. Deeply divided, ruffled, hairy leaves. 
Yellow flowers with recurved corollas. Small orange tomatoes, slightly 
furry. Another endemic Galapagos tomato. Ex Fernandina Island, in the 
crater, Galapagos. A very attractive plant with ornamental appeal. Crosses 
with common tomatoes, keep your plants separated to keep the seed true. 
May have a dormancy–soak overnight in vinegar and rinse before sowing. 
Z10a?
10 seed $3.75

Macleania insignis ‘Veracruz’
Ericaceae. Forms a woody caudex to 2'+. Arching branches, new growth is 
bronze to bright red. Showy clusters of bright red tubular flowers with 
white tips and edible berries. We offer rooted cuts of two clones from the 
cloudforests of Veracruz, Mexico. Z9b  
5–6"+ plant $15.50

Peperomia rotundata BK09428.5  “Congona de Monte”  
Piperaceae. Clambering succulent species 12–20"+ with arching reddish 
stems, dark green furrowed leaves, and red-purple flower spikes. Growing 
amongst boulders and ferns on the descent towards the Patacancha Valley, 
Cusco, Peru, 10,500'. The crushed plant is used for wound healing, the 
leaves are eaten as a vegetable with a pleasing mild peppery taste. An 
unusual edible for the garden or windowsill. First introduction. Z9b? 
Seed packet $4.50

Picea smithiana CC6793  “Junde Salla” “Himalayan Spruce”
Pinaceae. Beautiful tall conical evergreen. Whorled branches with 
pendulous ends. Spirally arranged needles. Uttaranachal, Central Himalaya, 
7600'. Z5? 
8–12"+ plant 4 years old $8.50 (limited)

Prunus serotina  “Capuli”
Rosaceae. Tree to 30' with slender leaves. Large hanging clusters of deep 
red cherries. Introduced from Central America, this graceful tree now 
occurs wild and cultivated throughout the Andes. The sweet fruit are used 
in all manner of preserves and liqueurs. The leaves contain amygdalin and 
are used as a sedative and for treating sprains and arthritis. Seed may 
benefit from cold. Z8a?  
5 seed $3.50 (limited)
 
Romulea rosea  “Frutangs”
Iridaceae. Bulbous plant with stiff, narrow leaves to 6–12" long. 
Relatively large, star shaped,  rose-pink flowers with yellow centers. 
Native to the Cape of South Africa. The unripe green fleshy fruit fruit 
are eaten. A summer dormant winter grower, does well in our garden. Z8a 
10 seed $3  /  Plant/bulb 3–4 years old $8.50 (limited)

Solanum sp. ‘La Paz’ “Bolivian Potato”
Solanaceae. Leafy stems to 12"+. Purple flowers. Rounded to elongated 
grub-like tubers, magenta to dark purple skin, large cream colored eyes. 
White-yellow flesh. Collected by ethnobotanist Jim Bauml, La Paz, Bolivia. 
May be Solanum phureja or S. tuberosum ssp. andigena or one of the many 
ancient hybrids. Does not seem to have a real dormancy except when frost 
comes. Produces tubers throughout the year. Z6–7a? 
Tuber/plant $9.50

Smallanthus sonchifolius ‘NZ’ (=Polymnia sonchifolia)  “Yacon”
Asteraceae. A clone selected for commercial cultivation in New Zealand. A 
bit more compact plant than other varieties. The tubers also tend to 
cluster closer together. The vegetative tubers are white to pale brown 
with pink banding. The edible storage tubers have a beige skin and 
white-yellow to very pale orange flesh. Hardy to Z7b or 8a if well 
mulched.  
Plant $12.50 (Limited)

Strombocactus disciformis ssp. esperanzae
Cactaceae. Small discoid stem to 1–1.5". Spirally arrange ribs and 1–2 
weak spines. Deep magenta flowers. Discovered in the 1990s by S. Arias and 
the late Charles Glass growing on steep canyon walls alongside 
Turbinicarpus alonsoi, Xichu, Guanajuato, Mexico. This diminutive, bright 
flowered subspecies is still very rare in cultivation. Z10a     
Seed packet $3.75

Trichocereus sp. Hutchison et al 3427 X Trichocereus? 
Cactaceae. The mother is an upright, very thick stemmed pachanoi-like “San 
Pedro” with long spines and white flowers collected at 3800', east of 
Olmos, Lambayeque, north Peru. Open pollinated, possibly by T. peruvianus 
by the look of the seedlings. 
3–4"+ seedling 3+ years old $14 (limited)

Trichocereus pseudocandicans v. roseoflorus 
Cactaceae. Short clustering stems 1–3' tall. 11–14 dark green ribs, thick 
felty areoles with stout yellow to reddish spines that fade gray. Large 
funnelform diurnal flowers with fuchsia-pink petals. Egg size fruit with 
sweet white pulp. Seed from Alto Carrizal, Argentina. A lovely species. 
Z9a 
Seed packet $3

Trichocereus ‘Juul’s Giant’/SS01 X Trichocereus pachanoi f. monstrosus  
Another new hybrid with mutant parentage! 
Seed packet $4

Ullucus tuberosus ‘Illimani’  “Papa Lisa” “Ulluco” “Melloco” 
Basellaceae. Rounded chunky tubers, bright yellow with occasional pink 
speckles. Cultivated on the slopes of Apu Illimani, La Paz, Bolivia. Z7
Tubers/plant $14.50

Vigna subterranea  “Jugo Bean” “Bambara Ground Nut” “Izidlubu”
Fabaceae. Annual groundcover with trifoliate leaves to 6" high. Yellow pea 
flowers that push into the ground once fertilized. Abundant subterranean 
pods each containing a single  rounded seed 1/4–1/2+ in diameter. The seed 
color ranges from cream, brown, red-brown or black. An ancient cultivar 
endemic to Africa. Considered amongst the most under estimated, under 
developed of world crops. Immature seeds consumed raw or boiled. Ripe 
seeds are boiled or pounded into a flour and fried, added to soups or made 
into breads or pudding. High in soluble fiber, carbohydrates and up to 19% 
protein with higher levels of amino acids than other legumes. A nitrogen 
fixer, the plant is commonly interplanted with pumpkin and maize. Mounding 
is said to improve yields. 4 months from sowing to harvest. Needs a loose, 
friable, well draining soil, bright light and warmth to thrive. Produces 
well in poor soil, heat and drought. Simple selection of larger seeds is 
reported to increase size up to 300%! Displaced by peanuts (Arachis 
hypogea) thoughout much of its traditional range, Vigna subterranea 
deserves to be widely grown wherever conditions permit. We offer a mix a 
different colored South African landraces or you can request a packet of 
exclusively cream, brown or red-brown seed. Z10a  
5 seed $4.75

Zingiber mioga “Myoga Ginger”
Zingiberaceae. Perennial rhzome with annual leafy stems 2–3' tall. 
Orchid-like pale yellow flowers bloom at soil level. Native to the forests 
of eastern China, Korea and Japan where the fresh shoots are an esteemed 
vegetable and flowers buds a delectable addition to soups and eggplant 
dishes. Contains anticancer constituents. Rich moist soil and part shade. 
The hardiest of the ginger, especially if well mulched. Rhizome divisions. 
Z6a 
Plant/rhizome $14

LIMITED PLANTS FROM OUR ANDEAN ETHNOBOTANICAL COLLECTIONS, PERU 2014
Extremely limited quantities of plants grown from seed we collected on our 
May 2014 venture to the Apurimac, Cusco Dept., Peru. 
Once in a lifetime offerings, when some these are sold out they may never 
be available again.
Calceolaria sp. BK14515.5 
Scrophulariaceae. An adorable low growing plant 3–6" high. Rounded furry 
leaves. Clusters of yellow pouch flowers. Exposed areas near cloudforest, 
south Peru. Should be somewhat tolerant of dry conditions and sun. 
Calceolaria are used in ethnomedicine for genito-urinary health and 
indigestion. Z9b?
4"+ seedling $850

Boehmeria? sp. BK14512.5  
Urticaceae. Attractive low growing plant to 6"+. Rust colored 
semi-succulent stems. Compact, red-brown flower clusters at stem nodes. 
Stingless nettle-like furry leaves. Rocky slopes, near Capuliyoc pass, 
9700'. Cute nettle-kin with edible leeves. Z9a/b? 
3–5" seedling $11.50 

Buddleja sp. BK14516.15
Buddlejaceae. Shrub to 6', large lanceolate leaves with pale undersides. 
Flowers not seen, but like most Andean Buddleja they should be somewhere 
in the yellow to red spectrum. Upper reaches of the dry forest high above 
the Apurimac, Cusco, Peru, 9000'. Z9b?  
4–8"+ seedling $11.50

Oxalis sp. BK14514.9 
Oxalidaceae. Erect, slender, succulent, red stems to 24"+ high. Clover 
like leaves on long petioles. Panicles with dozens of bright yellow 
blossoms, very sweetly scented! Along Incan canal, cloudforest above 
Choquequirao, 10,000'. An attractive fruity-scented species, resembles O. 
tuberosa, a good candidate for breeding. Z9a/b? 
3–5"+ seedling $15.50

Passiflora trisecta? BK14513.9  “Kita Tumbo”
Tendrilled vine to 12' or more. Slightly fuzzy trifoliate leaves. Egg 
shaped green fruit with a sour-sweet edible pulp. Flowers not seen, if 
identification is correct they should be white and nocturnal. Dry forest 
above Caserio Santa Rosa, 6800'. Z9b?  
6–12"+ seedling $18.50

Peperomia microphylla BK14513.22  “Congonita”
Piperaceae. Clusters of slender stems 1–3"+ tall. Densely packed, small, 
deep-green succulent leaves, transparent on the upper surface. Short, 
yellow-green flower spikes. Growing in moss on the trunk of a Cedrela 
angustifolia tree, cloud forest near Choquequirao, Cusco, Peru, 9500'. The 
plant has a delightful mint/ balsam flavor and aroma. This lovely little 
species is completely new to cultivation. Z9b?  
2–3" seedling  $12.50 

Piper elongatum BK14515.1  “Matico” Moco moco”
Piperaceae. Multi-trunked tree to 25'. Lanceolate leaves, dark green and 
roughly textured, pale green undersides. Yellow flower spikes. Leaves have 
a balsam-safrole scent/flavor. Used for wound healing, as a stimulating 
tea and for stomach/kidney problems. Cloudforest, Choquequirao, 9500'. 
Z9b?
4–6"+ seedling $16.50

Solanum ochranthum BK14513.29  (=Lycopersicon ochranthum)
Large woody vine to 20'+. Imparipinnate leaves to 12"+ long. Branched 
inflorescence with up to 30+ golden-yellow flowers. Clusters of round 
green fruit 2"+ diameter with a thick, hard skin. Cloud forest near 
Choquequirao, 9700'. Recorded from Columbia to Cusco, Peru, this wide 
range suggests ancient anthropogenic dispersal. Thought to be of potential 
use in tomato breeding for insect and disease resistance and as a robust 
grafting stock. Z9?
12–18"+ seedling $14

Tecoma arequipensis BK14516.3 
Bignoniaceae. Showy shrub, slender upright or arching branches to 6'+. 
Glossy pinnate leaves. Terminal clusters of bright red to orange tubular 
flowers. Young plants somewhat pachycaul, could make an interesting 
bonsai. Exposed rocky slopes and dry forest above the Apurimac, 5700'. 
Z10a 
6–10"+ seedling $14.50
Sacred Succulents P.O. Box 78, Sebastopol, CA 95473 USA
www.sacredsucculents.com  Email: sacredsucculents at hushmail.com


SHIPPING & HANDLING:
Seeds - 1st Class Mail USA= $2 (Free shipping when ordered with plants, 
USA only)
Air Mail International= $7 (the Americas, outside the USA), Rest of the 
World: 1–12 seed packets $9  / 13 or more seed packets $12 
 
Plants (USA only)– First class priority mail= $6.00 for the first plant $2 
each additional plant.
Add $1 per plant if you want them sent potted.
CA RESIDENTS ADD 7.5% SALES TAX
We still only take Cash (USD$ or Euros), Money Orders, or Checks.
You can print out an order form- http://sacredsucculents.com/order-form/ 
and mail it with payment to our Po Box
SACRED SUCCULENTS
PO Box 781, Sebastopol, CA 95473 USA
Email: sacredsucculents at hushmail.com







 
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