Re: striking Euphorbia rigida cuttings?

Is it possible that a virus is causing this?  It looks like an
aberration of E. rigida.

Diane
Vancouver Island
_________________
----- Original Message ----- From: "Sean A. O'Hara" <sean@gimcw.org> 
Subject: Re: striking Euphorbia rigida cuttings?



Hi Joe -

The garden owner said she purchased it at a nearby nursery (Berkeley
Horticultural) as E. rigida.  That is not conclusive proof that it is,
or that
it is not a hybrid with another.  I've spent a far amount of time
looking at
this guy (because of my interest) and it fairly looks representative
of that
species.  I have seen some hybrids of E. rigida & the closely related
E.
myrsinites (Besty Clebsch has some nice seedling volunteers in her
garden),
which look more of less intermediate between these two in height and
laxness
of the stems.  This plant seems like it might be expressing a certain
amount
of laxness that many E. rigida specimens, so it might be a possible
hybrid of
that type.  Without having seen the batch of plants being offered by
the
nursery (in 4in pots apparently), I can assess if the other bore any
resemblance to this plant or is they were a collection of 'variations
on a
theme'.

I know of a few Euphorbia species that I can imagine might have been
involved,
but these are not generally in our area - but then who knowns where
the seed
for these plants might have originated!

Thanks everyone for your assurances - I will certainly make every
effort I can
to propagate either this clone or its progeny.

Seán A. O'Hara
sean(at)gimcw.org
www.hortulusaptus.com
(ask about mediterranean climate gardening forum)


Sean:

  Are we assuming this is an aberrant E. rigida because it was
purchased as
such or because it is among others of that species or because it was
a
seedling volunteer of that species that was already growing there?

  Is it not possible that this is another species of Euphorbia?  I
know of
some others that look roughly like E. rigida but have tigher foliage
and
such.

  Joe

Jan Smithen <jsmithen@verizon.net> wrote:
  I agree with Moira that in order to get the same plant
characteristics, you should take cuttings.

Euphorbia rigida is now making small basal growth while it's
blooming, so this is what I would do. Using a small sharp knife like
an Exacto, sever away one or two of the smallest ones trying to take
some of crown with them. This is where most of the plant auxins are
concentrated and gives you a better chance of rooting. Dry it out in
shade for a day or so. Be sure not to bury this crown portion too
deep in the rooting medium. Just press it in firmly and you may have
to prop it up with skewers or something.

Good luck and let us know what happens.
Jan Smithen


On Feb 12, 2008, at 11:35 AM, Sean A. O'Hara wrote:


Hi folks -

In my neighborhood, there is a plant of Euphorbia rigida that is
really unusual:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hortulus_aptus/2213493392/in/pool-
medit-garden
The leaves are very lightly packed and arranged in a spiral
fashion, some
growing one way, some another. The owner has agreed that I could
take some
cuttings, but I can't recall striking cuttings from this type of
Euphorbia
before. Is there something special you need to do with latex
sapped plants
such as this? Does anyone have experience rooting cuttings from
this species?
Would layering be better? (or would it even work?). As you can
see, the
plant is coming into flower, so I may have a chance at obtaining
some seeds
(which may or may not come true). Before I impose upon this person's
generosity, I thought I'd try and maximize my success.

Seán A. O'Hara
sean(at)gimcw.org
www.hortulusaptus.com
(ask about mediterranean climate gardening forum)
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index