What is a succulent - was Schizobasis intricata

James Waddick jwaddick@kc.rr.com
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:46:51 PDT
>Aren't most bulbs/corms/tubers water (as well a other things) 
>storage organs, and so technically succulent?

Dear Tim,
	Off hand I'd think so without getting into technical 
discriminations especially since we/PBS tend to include a wide range 
of plants with storage organs - rhizome, thickened roots, tubers 
etc....and we often PUSH the limits by including all of a genus when 
only a few qualify.

	The thing with caudex forming plants is that many/ some? only 
show this enlarged storage stem (usually) if they are planted 
abnormally high and above their 'natural' soil level. I suppose that 
might include a true bulb growing with the majority exposed (Boweia 
for a recent example).

	So some bulbs are routinely included in succulent shows and 
some plants with water storage organs are planted to expose this 
feature in succulent shows, but there are surely exceptions and lots 
of limits.

	For example Leeks versus onions. Both in the same genus, the 
former neither succulent nor bulbous, the latter both (some might 
disagree).

	Others can add 2 cents worth.			Best		Jim W.
-- 
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph.    816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
	Summer 100F +


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