Journey to Europe’s Hawaiian Islands: Volcanos, Aeoniums, and Super-Sized Daisies off the Coast of Northern Africa

 

This talk will focus on the flora of Lanzarote, which is one of the driest of the Canary Islands. The island of Lanzarote lies roughly 80 miles off the coast of Western Sahara and Morocco. With its 327 square miles, it is slightly bigger than the Hawaiian Island of Moloka’i, and  it has a population density one third that of O’ahu. Much of the island is covered with vast lava fields, cinder cones, and calderas from the most recent eruption. Nevertheless, this charming island has a full assortment of succulent plants emblematic of the Canary Island. The endemic plants on Lanzarote include rugged Aeoniums, dense rosettes of Aichrysons, dainty Monanthes, and its own species of sedum. Its hillsides are covered with various species of Euphorbias and Echiums, plus it is the home of Caralluma burchardii, which is a rare succulent Asclepiad. It is also home of numerous daisy species that color much of the island after a winter rain. To top it off, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura have their own species of “dandelion” that reaches up to six feet in height! This talk will present the wonderful sights of the island’s villages, volcanos, and landscape together with highlights of Lanzarote’s superb flora. The talk will also compare Lanzarote’s unique plant species to related species endemic to the wetter islands 200 miles further to the west.

 

Peter has been traveling extensively around the world to explore and photograph succulent flora in habitat including Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Namibia, South Africa, various Caribbean Islands, and the Mediterranean Coast. Peter has an extensive collection of succulent plants at his home in Livermore. He profusely propagates plants from seeds and cuttings, including many mesembs and bulbs from the winter rainfall areas of South Africa. He is a participant and contributor to the shows and sales of MBACSS and several other cactus and succulents clubs in northern California.