MSG Bulletin 21(3) Review

New issue was delivered when I was in Omsk at “Living Stones” exhibition.

Editorial column (or should I write “editorial page”?) is mostly dedicated to next MSG event(s). And “Dumpling and His Wife”... It is so pity that discounted copies of this book is not sent by mail.

First article is a “what's up report” from Steven Hammer about plants in his greenhouse. Flowering Dactylopsis digitata... Lithops amicorum... Ah! No photo, alas.

Desmond and Naureen Coles describe they recent trip in May 2006. They went by car to Upington via Kimberly and Griquatown and then to Namibia. MSG provided grant for the trip, so everyone can see that membership is not just for bulletin, you also help to study mesembs.

Article is accompanied with two pages of color photos by Naureen Cole (including two photos of Lithops fulviceps var. laevigata).

Next three pages are occupied by “Plant distribution scheme” compiled by Mark Border. I don't quite understand what it is, probably this is a list of plants to be sold at next MSG event.

Fourth part of “Lithoparian recollections” by Desmond and Naureen is published there. It describes trips from 27th of November to 6th of December 1967 and from 2nd of January (do they celebrate New Year???) to 7th of February 1968.

Two short notes are from Johan du Toit about ability of L. localis to survive in areas heavy walked by man and animals (especially ostriches) and from our old friend Alan Opsis. He writes that “Mesemb habbit” is often inspired by our relative which we later forget.

Johan du Toit also wrote an article “Place names of Nama origin”. Locality is always important for serious collection, and interest to toponymy—“name of a place”—is one step away.

MESEMBS list stubscribers might remember that Tim from Mojave desert posted on 31st of May link to website where he describes construction proccess of his new greenhouse. This issue has extended (in time and space) version of this site. Five pages and one color photo page. Pictures with snow are most striking—they gives me hope that I will be able to grow mesembs as successfully in cold Siberia. :)

Didge Rowe continues searching a key to mesembs evolution. He writes about different evolution-related phenomenas like modularity, tandem repeats and neoteny.

Steven Hammer with his humorous style that made translators of his books and articles to swear translating his articles, writes about old letter from Harry Hall (remember L. hallii?) about Conophytum fulleri from Goodhouse and white conophytums.

Discussion on ‘acf.’ term is getting really hot in “Readers corner”. Roy Mottram and David Blythe sent their letters.

Last article is Suzanne Mace's “Literatures review”.