HOOCK, H.; HOOCK, W. 1994 . Kakt. and. Sukk. Band: 45 Heft (9) Seite 186-188 CANTE und Charles Glass: Hoffnung für die mexikanischen Kakteen
CANTE and Charles Glass: Hope for the Mexican cacti
20 years ago Charles Glass made near Viesca, in the Mexican federal state of Coahuila, a complete surprising discovery. He found two Astrophytums which belong to different species growing side by side: Astrophytum coahuilense (H. Moeller) Kayser and Astrophytum capricorne v. senile (Fric) Okumura. One but knew already since 1911 of common occurrences in this area (Purpus, J. A. 1911, Britton, N. L. & Rose, J. N. 1937). However, one suspected at least an area isolation in this respect anyway, so that a mutual pollination didn't come into question. Charles Glass called his two Astrophytums correct 'strange bedfellows' in the publication (Glass C.; Foster, R. 1974). He couldn't find any nature hybrids at that time and nobody succeeded this till now, too, although the crossing don't cause any large problems in culture (Hoock, H. 1990).
We were away in the Viesca basin and the adjacent Sierras several days in October 1993, again on the search for the suspected nature hybrids. We had received all necessary information about the correct location from Charles, however, we found 'only' lovely Coahuilense and Senile at adjacent locations and of course many other remarkable plants. A mountain full of agave victoriae-reginae T. Moore left a deep impression. How Charles Glass did mean later, a form which primarily stands out due to smaller growth and characteristic leave tops. It grows so extreme prominent on steep and often overhanging rock in the southern Sierra Parras that the question about the seed distribution spontaneously arises. For today however, this question also still remains unanswered like the one after the existence of Astrophytum nature hybrids...
We turned from Coahuila to the south to meet Charles Glass (1) in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. He exclusively works there as a curator for CANTE (2) for cacti and other succulents as well as in the herbarium at El Charco del Ingenio since 1991. This institution which is government independent and financed by donations and dedications freely, has the aim to promote the natural and cultural resources of Mexico. It has protection collections of the succulent flora, an orchid collection, large parks with a botanically valuable tree population as well as a still unfinished greenhouse on a Toltecen-Chichimecen tradition area. It is for Mexico a till now one-time enterprise and lives on the private initiative of a few persons primarily like director Dr. Federico Gama, Charles Glass and the international known Mammillaria specialists Betty & W.A. Fitz Maurice. Their experiences with the worldwide contacts to experts are of great benefit to the aims of CANTE.
Mexico visitors being able to include an excursion to San Miguel de Allende and CANTE should reserve for the visit to the different facilities at least half a day. The botanic garden with 12 hectares and the national park are remarkable with 35 hectares of size. Alone here one planted more than 6000 trees of different species from all of Mexico in 1993. A large greenhouse is in construction and offers from its location a wonderful view over the valley of the Rio Laja and the surroundings of the Presa Las Colonias. The 'Placa de Cuatro Vientos' (3) was opened in honour of the old Indian cultures above the reservoir on a small plateau in July 1991. A short stay is also here worth-while with a broad look over the country and San Miguel de Allende. The complete area with oaks, pines as well as subtropical and xerophytic woods (matorral) offers altogether more than 10 kilometres of trails. The orchid collection in town is particularly impressive. The orchid specialist Stirling Dickinson donated it to the foundation with a stock of over 2000 specimens from 200 different species. Who is lucky meets Charles Glass on his inspection and learns from him many things how the protection of plants inventively operates. The method 'protection by country acquisition' also is part of it. Nearby the city of Pozos they bought a five hectares large property, for example, which habitats the seldom Mammillaria albiflora (Werdermann) Back. (M. herrerae v. albiflora Werdermann). Since 1987 CANTE has already executed many research projects and rescue operations for threatened plants in the arid and semiarid countrysides of Mexico. Among other things a complete habitat of Pelecyphora aselliformis Ehrenberg and Mammillaria aureilanata Back. was removed from a new street marked-out route which was pulled between San Luis Potosi and Huizache and nearby established again (Glass C & W.A. Fitz Maurice 1992).
Charles Glass wore an 'Astrophytum' T-shirt as he welcomed us in San Miguel de Allende: of course he also had hoped for message of Astrophytum nature hybrids. He promised to follow the secret of the 'strange bedfellows' in Coahuila after two decades of his astonishing discovery as soon as the work for CANTE leads him to this isolated area again.
Footnotes:
(1) Who would like to read more about the adventurous journeys of this well known cactus expert and his life, the article mentioned in the literature appendix of L. W. Mitich: Cacti, Shells and Music -The Charles Glass Story is recommended.
(2) The name CANTE was taken from the Chichimecen language, and indicates water source.
(3) Placa de Cuatro Vientos = place of the four winds, is also borrowed from the Chichimecen culture. Both the order and the colours of the space have one special meaning each:
- the north, deep brown symbol of the ground;
- south green and blue, the character for water source,
- the east represents the flora, yellow, Maguey or agave;
- the west, red the Coyote, symbol for the fauna.
Figure texts in the article:
Form 1:
Charles Glass called these two Astrophytums 'strange bedfellows' which he found in the foothills of the Sierra Parras in 1974 and took of a photo. Its are Astrophytum capricorne v. senile (Fric) Okumura und Astrophytum coahuilense (H. Moell.) Kays. and one didn't discover any nature hybrids from them till now. He provided us kindly with the original slide for an illustration in this article.
Form 2:
Charles Glass (left) and the well known Mammillaria specialist W.A. Fitz Maurice near El Charco del Ingenio, CANTE, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. The area of the botanic garden is a Toltecen-Chichimecen area rich in tradition: Charles points at old Indian drawings which are chiselled into stone.
Form 3:
View from the 'place of the four winds' on the Presa Las Colonias. In the background San Miguel de Allende. The botanic garden extends over a total area of more than 37 hectares on both sides of the river Rio Laja and has about 10 kilometres of trails.
Literature:
BRITTON, N. L.; ROSE, J. N. (1937): The Cactaceae - Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family, Carnegie Inst. of Washington: 2. ed.: Vol.III; 182-185; Plate XXI, XXII
BROOGH, H. (1974): Von uns für Sie gelesen (zit. GLASS, C. und FOSTER, R. in Cact. Succ. Journ. (US) Vol. 46 (3) 1974: 112, Strange Bedfellows), Kakt. and. Sukk. 25 (11): 253
FITZ MAURICE, B. & W.A. (1992): Peoplenotes: An Auspicious Beginning, Cact. Succ. Journ. (US) 64 (4): 181-183
GLASS C.; FITZ MAURICE, W.A. (1992): Operation Rescue, Cact. Succ. Journ. (US) 64 (6): 295-298
FRIC, A. V. (1925): Rod Astrophytum, Zivot v Prirode 29 (10): 33-35
GLASS, C.; FOSTER, R. (1974): Strange Bedfellows, Cact. Succ. Journ. (US) 46 (3): 112
HOOCK, H. (1990): Astrophytum capricorne v. senile (FRIC) OKUMURA - Fortsetzung aus Heft 2/90, Kakt. and. Sukk. 41 (3): 56-60
MITICH, L. W. (1993): Cacti, Shells, and Music -The Charles Glass Story, Cact. Succ. Journ. (US) 65 (1): 3-11
PURPUS, J. A. (1911): Standorte und Standortverhältnisse einiger Kakteen, Monatsschrift f. Kakteenkunde 21 (6): 82-86
Address of CANTE:
CANTE A.C., Diez de Sollano 21, San Miguel de Allende, Gto. 37700, Mexico, Tel. 46522990, Fax. 46524015
Photos:
Astrophytum coahuilense und Astrophytum capricorne v. senile, strange bedfellows
Charles Glass, W. A. Fitz Maurice
CANTE, place of four winds
CANTE, cacti collection
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