Re: [Aroid-l] Aroid Plantmen

From: "John Criswick" <criswick at spiceisle.com> on 2014.08.27 at 00:49:33(23064) I’m not a Floridian but have been visiting there since the 1960s, from my home in Grenada. I got to know Monroe Birdsey in the 70s and visited his home countless times. It was a must stop on my rounds. He had a sizeable house lot in SW Miami and since his house was small there was plenty of space for his collection of the aroids he had picked up on his travels. It was in fact a real jungle, but there were paths through it. Many of the species were just green without any particular horticultural value, but I did get one or two nice things from him. I always took plants with me from Grenada, so we exchanged. One philodendron he gave me was called by him “Catherine Wilson”. I guess she may have discovered it in Costa Rica. I seem to remember it as similar to P. plowmanii. Not especially striking. I had been collecting on the Pacific coast of Colombia and one sp. of philodendron he was very keen to get from me was P. tenue. I took it for him no less than four times, because he always managed to lose it. Now, sad to say, I have lost it too. It is a very appealing species because its leaves are very long and narrow, widening only as it forms two lobes at the top. One day I was spending time with Monroe when he had a visitor. This was Julius Boos. He had come from his native Trinidad with corms of a species similar to amorphophallus, but smaller. Apparently the indentured immigrants from India had brought it with them as a food item and it had become naturalized in Trinidad. I was later to get to know Julius very well. On two occasions Monroe came to Grenada collecting and I accompanied him in the field. He was adamant that our native Philodendron ‘giganteum’ was no such thing, but he couldn’t say what it was. He never would pretend to know more than he did. We had great times together, particularly because Monroe had a great sense of humour. He could tell stories that would have me helpless with laughter. I remember him describing a visit from two ladies from a tropical island who were much taken with several specimens he had, growing in the ground, of a gigantic fern. Monroe, being very generous with his plants, invited the ladies to help themselves to a few divisions. That acted as a signal, he said, for them to fall upon the plant in a frenzy and in no time at all there was nothing left of it. Perhaps it was because I myself knew the two ladies that I laughed so much. However, he had another type of sense of humour that involved such corny puns that they made you squirm and groan. I only wish I could recall some of them now, but I’m sure there are many people out there who could. However, one thing that could indicate how “painful” his humour could be was told to me by one of his students at the University of Florida. As a memory aid to the name of the family Polygonaceae, he told the students to think of it as “the departed parrot family”. Well at least it certainly has worked as an effective memory aid! Monroe was a vegetarian, and for him this meant eating things like granola bars at various times during the day. Hardly a healthy diet. I never saw him cook. It would have seemed a waste of precious time to him. One day I arrived at Miami airport to be told that Monroe had been found dead in his chair by a lodger who was staying there. It was a great loss and after there had been a sale of his plants the lovely jungle in suburbia has become, I am told, much like any other in the street. John Criswick. HTML +More From: aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com [mailto:aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of Eduardo Gomes Goncalves Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 12:36 PM To: Discussion of aroids Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Aroid Plantmen Dear fellows, Don't forget the Brazilian Roberto Burle Marx as one of the most Important Plantsman ever in the aroid family. He personally collected, crossed and used many of his discoveries in his gardens in Brazil, Venezuela and elsewhere. Although generally known as a landscape designer, he knew his plants in full depth and even described new species occasionally. Many species used today (including the famous P. mello-barretoanum - one of the forms sold as "P. selloum") where firstly brought to cultivation by Roberto's hands and/or coworkers'. I would also include Harri Lorenzi (another Brazilian) as a contemporary Plantman. As a writer (and publisher) of books in popular botany, he was able to sponsor many important field trips, including those that deciphered the real identity of Philodendron stenolobum, the trip that found the wild population of Philodendron spiritus-sancti and many others. He also keep one of the few private botanic garden in Brazil in which many rare aroid species are cultivated. He has even an aroid genus in his honor - Lorenzia. Very recently, sponsored a trip that discovered a new aroid genus in Rio de Janeiro, which is about to be published. Very best wishes, Eduardo. On 26/08/2014, at 15:24, DAVID LEEDY wrote: Derek et al, On my only trip to the annual show and sale, I was invited to tour Bob See's place. John Banta is a good source not only for other Plantmen, but for himself. His place is amazing (or at least was) and I don't know how many hybrids he is responsible for, but many. I remember one trip Dewey Fisk and I took to Northern Florida to visit some people named Worthman, I think. Although Dewey told me the were bromeliad people, he thought they might have some variegated Philodendron 'Florida'. Instead they had several dozen pots of Anthurium dresslerii, which was really uncommon at that time. I believe it was discovered that this was not really A. dresslerii after Rick Cirino brought the plant back from Columbia. Anyway, John crossed it with many of the velour Anthuriums (A. forgetii, A. chrystalinum, etc.). Another very good Plantsman, in addition to being a Botanist, was Monroe Birdsey. I had the opportunity to visit his place with Dewey Fisk on one of my trips. Joe Wright was another good Florida Plantsman, but on the west coast. Surely some Floridians can elaborate on Monroe and Joe. Other Botanists, who are Plantsmen are Tom Croat and, I understand Wilbert Hetterscheid. Also, from the experiences he relates, I think Peter Boyce might also qualify as a good Plantman. I have visited the Munich Botanical Gardens, where Josef Bogner was my host. Now there is another Plantman/Botanist. Of course if you could get Dewey to share some of his stories, you would have another really good source. I sure hope others, with more knowledge will contribute to this thread. David Leedy On Tuesday, August 26, 2014 3:59 AM, derek burch wrote: I will see if I can stir up John Banta about Bob See. John is a fantastic source of information, and we may be able to put together something for the e-supplement to Aroideana which is due out in December. Or even a longer piece from many contributors which I should be happy to collate and edit for next years Aroideana (deadline December 15, 2014 before you all get busy for the holidays) Thanks to every one who is poking the fire to get this topic on the move. Derek From: aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com [mailto:aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of John Criswick Sent: Monday, August 25, 2014 8:59 PM To: 'Discussion of aroids' Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Aroid Plantmen Hi David, Bob and Catherine Wilson did create a wonderful botanical garden in Las Cruces , Costa Rica . I understand it was off the beaten track and very difficult to get there. I was hearing about it in the 60s. Yes I do believe that Anderson ’s Nursery is in Carlsbad . Did anyone know Bob See of Florida and of the aroids he created? John Criswick Grenada. From: aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com [mailto:aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of DAVID LEEDY Sent: Monday, August 25, 2014 11:27 AM To: Discussion of aroids Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Aroid Plantmen Thank you Derek, The Newsletter is exactly where I was trying to direct that kind of information. Over 35 years ago, I propagated Aroids for Bob Cole and Bill Cook's Botanical Gardens Plant Shop in Reseda, California . I recall that they mentioned Ed Hummel, but they always referred to him as "Mr. Hummel." Like so many, I can't remember what I knew about him. I was of the opinion that Anderson 's red was from Anderson 's Nursery in the San Diego area, possibly Carlsbad . I do recall visiting that nursery around 40 years ago and meeting his son, I believe his name was Rod. It is quite possible that Mr. Hummel named it. I am of the opinion that one of the Bobs, Wilson or McColley, went to Costa Rica and built a rare plant nursery or area there. David Leedy On Monday, August 25, 2014 5:28 AM, derek burch wrote: David, The articles that Enid and I did for the June Newsletter were attempts to stimulate more on this type reminiscence (perhaps of a more serious nature than mine) –but, rather as expected, there has been no follow up. The medium for publishing in an archived form Newsletter and Aroideana) does exist. Now we need more people to join in with submissions. Best, Derek p.s. Fantastic Gardens was Bob Wilson, not Bob McColley, who was active in the Apopka area at Bamboo Nursery, and introduced a number of philodendrons, including such gems as Prince of Orange ’. After his death, his wife Cora continued his work if my memory is correct. Glasshouse Works attributes Anderson ’s Red to Ed Hummel. From: aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com [mailto:aroid-l-bounces@www.gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of DAVID LEEDY Sent: Friday, August 15, 2014 7:33 PM To: Aroid-L List Subject: [Aroid-l] Aroid Plantmen I appreciated the information given to us on this list by A. Sunjian with respect to Philodendron ‘xEvansii’ and Philodendron ‘ Soledad ’. However, I want to know more about the “Plantsmen” in the Aroid Plant Family. We can read about the old timey Botanist (e.g. Schott and Engler & Kraus), the Botanists of our life time (e.g. Cecil Prime and Monroe Birdsey), and the current Botanists. But how about the Plansmen? What is the story of Anderson ’s Red (Philodendron) and of particular interest would be Bob McCauley of Fantastic Gardens fame in Miami ? What other Plantsmen should we know about? How about famous Plantsmen in Australia , the UK , Germany , etc.? What cultivars or hybrids are they responsible for? I, for one, would really appreciate anyone taking the time to either write this down or tell me where I might otherwise find it. Thank you. David Leedy This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. _______________________________________________ Aroid-L mailing list Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! 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