Journal Vol 76-1

Jan - Feb 2004

An amazing species of Hildewintera (Cactaceae) - characters and systematic position
Roberto Kiesling & Detlev Metzing

Introducing: The 2003 CSSA Fellows
Steven Hammer

Columnar cacti of the Rio Marañon region, northern Peru
David Yetman

Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Asclepiadaceae
Book review by Dylan P. Hannon

Three recently described Conophytum species
Petr Pavelka

Under Discussion: Adromischus
Fred Dortort

The Color Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs
Book review by Jeff Shipley 

Superb Succulents
Duke Benadom 

Succulents on Stamps
Peg Spaete

On the cover: While this specimen of Crassula tomentosa was wonderfully red in habitat, John Trager, who collected and photographed it, reports that shade was required to get it through the summer at the Huntington. Plants this color are virtually unknown in pot culture, which tends to induce a cloying green. In habitat, perhaps by assimilating nocturnal dew, and perhaps via great temperature flux, the plants endure more aridity and sun than they could in a pot. Trager found this specimen while exploring a very arid part of the Little Hellskloof in South Africa's Northern Cape. This locality is also the site ofMitrophyllum clivorum, which sought out the shadier niches. Three Crassulaclones were collected as J. N. Trager 97-161 on August 16, 1997.

Some readers were convinced that the hildewintera photo on the cover of the Nov-Dec 2003 issue was printed upside down. In this issue, Roberto Kiesling and Detlev Metzing revisit the long downward pointing stems and spines and the beautiful spurred flowers of this species to explain more about how these features are adaptations to the plant's home. They also provide a detailed description and explanation of the taxonomy and brief but-sordid history of this new taxon, enhanced by technical and habitat photographs by Eva and Voytek Foik.