May Speaker - California’s Quirky Flora: Unveiling Native Marvels by Eli Cohen
My name is Eli Cohen; I’m a student at Pasadena City College and a part time propagator of many wonderful xerophyte plants. I’ve previously worked at several retail nurseries around the Greater Los Angeles area. I have held a deep passion for growing xeric plants for over a decade. The hardiness, beauty, and sheer oddity of the natural world never fail to astound me, and I’m very grateful my work and education allows me to spend time near it. All of this has led me to pursuing my education in biochemistry, for a chance to one day possess a greater understanding of the functions of life around us. Thank you for allowing me to spend time with your club, and have a great time discussing some of our favorite plants!
There is an old saying misattributed to several authors, but the essence of it has stood the test of time: “America is built on a tilt, and everything loose slides to California.” The quote’s author may be in doubt, but many would agree with the sentiment. I'll be sharing with you some of the unusual, beautiful, and perhaps oddly familiar plants that resemble, relate to, or exist in the same habitats as many of our favorite backyard cacti and succulents. In particular, genera such as Crassula and Dudleya may be familiar, but even they have remarkable and strange species. Meanwhile, some genera may be unfamiliar in name, but display forms any succulent lover would recognize. The aim of our discussion will be to foster appreciation for native plant diversity, expand the perception of what native plants can be, and place greater focus on education and conservation.
