Field trip to the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory

A few weeks ago I organized a field trip to the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory for the Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society (SCSS). Botanical Conservatory director Ernesto Sandoval and nursery technician Marlene Simon gave us a tour of the greenhouses and showed us some of the best succulent plantings on campus. The outside areas we visited were the same I blogged about earlier this year (see here and here), and it was great seeing aloes in flower that hadn’t been blooming during my previous visits.

I didn’t take as many photos as I normally do when I’m on my own because I was busy listening to Ernesto and Marlene and/or chatting with other SCSS members, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to leave the camera in my pocket either.

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The Botanical Conservatory is open to the public during the week from 9 am to 5 pm. Tours can be arranged for groups (info here). The closest visitor parking is at the Pavilion parking structure (directions here).

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Encephalartos horridus and Aloe comosa

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Aloe buhrii in full bloom

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Aloe buhrii

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Aloe buhrii in front of Kumara plicatilis leaves (Kumara plicatilis is the new name of the fan aloe)

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Baja fairy duster (Calliandra californica) in front of a Mexican grass tree (Dasylirion longissimum)

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Claret cup (Echinocereus triglochidiatus)

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Aloe striata (left) and Aloe comosa (right)

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Aloe hereroensis

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Not a succulent, but just as beautiful: tower of jewels (Echium wildpretii)

The next set of photos was taken inside the arid room of the main greenhouse. I didn’t take photos in the other sections because the light level was fairly low and I was more focused on Marlene’s presentation, which ranged from carnivorous plants to vanilla beans and coffee to the giant corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum). If you ever have a chance to take a tour of the Botanical Conservatory, jump on it. You’ll learn a lot of interesting and strange things from the world of plants!

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Dorstenia gigas, a rare fig relative endemic to the island of Socotra off the coast of Yemen

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Dendrosicyos socotranus, the famous cucumber tree from Socotra. UC Davis has produced more seedlings of this very rare plant than any other institutions in the U.S.

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Pachypodium namaquanum endemic to South Africa and Namibia

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So many goodies here

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Aloidendron ramosissimum

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Aloidendron pillansii, the giant quiver tree, is one the largest tree aloes. Uncommon in cultivation and quite frost-sensitive.

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Brighamia insignis, a critically endangered Hawaiian native with succulent stems. Here is some info on this plant if you’re interested.

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Welwitschia mirabilis, often called “the ugliest plant in the world” but also one the most intriguing. Check out this article to see what a mature welwitschia looks like in habitat.

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Welwitschia with cones

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Euphorbia neohumbertii endemic to Madagascar

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Part of the SCSS group

Comments

  1. So many goodies as usual! And a visit to somewhere you've been to a few times before takes on a different feeling when visiting again, this time with a group of fellow enthusiasts isn't it? :)

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    Replies
    1. Yes, definitely true. I love seeing what are people are interested in.

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  2. Welwitschia - intriguing! Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. Definitely one of the strangest--and long-lived--plants on the planet.

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  3. Replies
    1. It's always fun poking around places crammed to the gills with plants.

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  4. Some really weird and wonderful succulents! This reminds me that I have to get started on finding a tree aloe (to live in a pot) this year...

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  5. Really interesting plants - that Welwitschia is fascinating. However, the plant I'm going to have to hunt down is that Aloe buhri.

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    1. The Botanical Conservatory had Aloe buhrii seedlings for sale. If I'd known I would have picked one up for you.

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