Two choice African <i>Sansevierias: S. hargeisana</i> and <i>S. hallii</i>

Sansevieria hargeisana (from Somalia) and S. hallii (from Zimbabwe and probably elsewhere in SE Africa) are described and compared. Both are relatively slow growing and are therefore choice collectors' items. Both are exceptionally reluctant to flower. Both were described by the Sansevieria expert Juan Chahinian in the Sansevieria Journal (Chahinian 1994, 1996) and neither is especially common in cultivation, with S. hargeisana considered rare both in the wild and in cultivation

Two stapelias: <i>Stapelia gigantea</i> and <i>S. schinzii</i> var. <i>angolensis</i>

Two contrasting species of Stapelia are described from the plant family the Apocynaceae. Stapelia gigantea produces some of the largest flowers of any flowering plant, being up to 40 cm in diameter. This species is widely distributed in southern Africa. In contrast Stapelia schinzii var. angolensis has smaller flowers only 7-13 cm in diameter. This variety has a very restricted distribution in southern Angola and northern Namibia

Gomphus Fraternus (Odonata: Gomphidae) A New Missouri State Record

A male Gomphus fraternus (Say) (Odonata: Gomphidae) was vouchered from the Meramec River at Castlewood State Park, St. Louis, County, Missouri on 7 June 2005. The collection of this specimen is a new state record for Missouri and represents a significant range extension south and westward for this species

My first flowering of <i>Aloe reynoldsii</i>

Aloe reynoldsii is an obligate cremnophyte that has a limited distribution on cliffs along the Bashee River in the humid Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Its flowering in cultivation is described and illustrated. This species is named in honour of Gilbert Reynolds, doyen of Aloe students, whose monograph (1950, 1966) is the standard work on the genus

Introducing the genus <i>Phedimus</i>

The Eurasian genus Phedimus is a member of the Crassulaceae, first described 200 years ago in 1817, so its bicentennial is worthy of celebration. It remained in relative obscurity until 1995 when it was revived and expanded to include around 20 species

CactusTalk: More dragon tree tales

Dragon trees (Dracaena species) are updated since the last synopsis (Walker, 2001) with three new subspecies being newly described. Dracaena draco subsp. caboverdeana is endemic to the Cape Verde Islands, leaving subsp. draco restricted to the Canary Islands and Madeira. Dracaena serrulata subsp. dhofarica is endemic to the Dhofar Province of Oman. Dracaena serrulata subsp. mccoyorum is endemic to Saudi Arabia, where it occurs near the summit of a single mountain and hence is assessed as being on the brink of extinction

Operational considerations for the airship in short-haul transportation

The airship's problems and the possibilities for their solution in a short-haul transportation environment are surveyed. The problems are derived from both past experience and envisioned operation. Problems relative to both fully buoyant and semi-buoyant configurations are considered and their origins in principle discussed. Also addressed in this paper are the state-of-the-art technologies with the potential of providing answers to the airship's operational difficulties

<i>Aloe pulcherrima</i> - a beautiful Ethiopian endemic

Aloe pulcherrima is a large-growing, cliff-dwelling species from high altitudes in Ethiopia with a unique stem branching pattern. It is described both in cultivation and in habitat

<i>Aloe littoralis</i> - a review of this widespread African species

The history and natural distribution of Aloe littoralis are discussed and the species is described both in habitat (principally in Namibia) and in cultivation. Notes on its flowering, conservation status, common names and appearance in a Coat of Arms are also included