What is a succulent - was Schizobasis intricata
James Waddick (Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:46:51 PDT)

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
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