Los Angeles
Cactus and Succulent Society

Mission Statement

The Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society (LACSS) cultivates the study and enjoyment of cactus and succulent plants through educational programs and activities that promote the hobby within a community of fellow enthusiasts and among the greater public.

Come and Visit!

Welcome to the website of the Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society. Our nearly 200 members come from throughout the southland and share a passion for cacti and succulents. Throughout the history of LACSS, many of the most prominent researchers, authors, and collectors of the succulent world have been leaders and members of our society. 

LACSS meets monthly in the San Fernando Valley to enjoy stimulating presentations, hands-on workshops, plant sales, mini-shows, raffles, trading, and other activities. In addition, LACSS offers field trips to member gardens, nurseries, and private collections. We serve the greater community by offering free educational activities, and presenting an exciting annual festival in April or June, and a Fall Sale.

In order to share the joys and benefits of collecting and cultivating cacti and succulents, we invite you to check out our general meetings on the 1st Thursday of each month at ONEgeneration Senior Enrichment Center at 18255 Victory Blvd.

 Doors open at 6:15 for the Social Hour, Ask an Expert, and much more. The business meeting starts promptly at 7pm. Attendance is FREE and open to the public. Each new visitor receives a free plant! We hope to see you at a meeting soon. 
March Speaker​

Woody  

Bio: 
Brief Biography of
Wendell S. (Woody) Minnich
2024
Woody, as he is commonly known, grew up in the Mojave Desert and has had an attraction to desert plants and animals since the early 1950’s. He has been involved with the cactus and succulent world for over 52 years, as a grower, field explorer, club and organization leader, writer, photographer, lecturer and presenter.

Having been a speaker all over the world, Woody is most often associated with giving presentations on his field work from the wild places he has traveled. This talk will be featuring his encounters with many beautiful flowering cacti and other succulents, as well as his observations of their pollinators.

He has published numerous articles and his photography is featured in many books including; “The Copiapoa” by Schulz, “The Mammillaria Handbook” by Pilbeam, “The Cactus Lexicon” By Hunt and Charles, as well as many others. As of November 2017, he is featured as the primary photographer in the sold out book “The Xerophile.” This book specializes in what the authors call, The Obsessed Field workers from around the world. 

Woody and his wife, Kathy, live in Cedar Grove, New Mexico. He is a retired secondary school teacher of 32 years where he taught Graphics, Art and Architecture. In the cactus and succulent hobby, Woody is recognized for his high energy and creative spirit. As an educator, he has become an important part of the hobby and thus is an honorary life member of thirteen C&S societies across the country. Woody has also served on the National board as well as in many leadership positions with numerous other C & S societies. He is a co-creator, and currently the president, of the Santa Fe Cactus and Succulent Club. With 52 years in the hobby and 64 years in the field (old fart), he has many experiences to share and thousands of photos to show. If you’re like Woody, put your glasses on and turn up your hearing aids, and we’ll all have some fun.

PACHYPODIUMS
and other FAT (Caudiciform) Plants
Wendell S. (Woody) Minnich
2024

The Genus Pachypodium is one of the most popular of all caudiciform genera. Pachypodiums are all old-world plants, coming mainly from Namibia, South Africa and Madagascar. The genus Pachypodium means, having a short, thick or often succulent stem appearing like a platform. From this platform, or thick stem, the branches appear and are apically attached to this fat or caudiciform base. Once appearing above the caudex (base), the branches stay thin and often radiate outward in multiple numbers. Pachypodiums are also recognized by the morphology of their flower, fruit and seed. Along with the Pachypodiums, there are many other genera that develop a large swollen base, but they often branch from the base or side or top of the caudex. These other large water storing caudiciforms, are frequently found growing side by side with many of the Pachys. 

The Pachys are found from seven countries in the southern hemisphere; Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. From these countries, the northern most species comes from Angola and Namibia, Pachypodium lealii v. lealii. Going further south and east in these wild northern regions, the sub species Pachypodium lealii v. saundersii occurs in Zombabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa. The third, an amazingly beautiful species, comes from southern Namibia and occurs mainly in South Africa’s famous Namaqualand, Pachypodium namaquanum. The last two of the African species are from the extreme southern regions, Pachypodium bispinosum and Pachypodium succulentum. These five African species appear closely related and seem morphologically similar with the exception of Pachypodium namquanum, yet they are all mostly different from the majority of the Madagascan species.



Some of the other FAT plants that we will encounter in our search for the Pachys will include; Adansonia, Adenia, Adenium, Aloe, Cyphostemma, Delonix, Moringa, and Operculicarya. It will be great to have you join me in the back country of Southern Africa and Magagascar.


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REFRESHMENT REMINDER
Our next meeting is March 7,, 2024   Last names beginning with  B, please bring treats!

It is a collective effort that we provide refreshments for our members at the meeting! As you know, bringing refreshments to the meeting is a way to make our meetings more enjoyable and welcoming for everyone.
This month, last names beginning with  "  B "       It’s your turn!

We kindly ask that each member brings a small contribution of snacks or drinks to share with the group. A lot of us are coming straight from work and appreciate that we are mindful of empty stomachs.

Examples of refreshments that you could bring include:

Appetizers / Sides    Cookies or pastries    Fruit or vegetables       Chips and dip    Finger food  Pizza
Please bring your contribution in a “disposable” dish!

If bringing refreshments is a difficulty, we ask that you leave a donation in the “Donation Jar” at the Refreshment Table. The club relies on your contribution to continue supplying our membership with sustenance. 
We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Thank you,

LACSS
Renew your membership NOW! 


March 7th
Meeting
One Generation
18255 Victory Blvd
Reseda CA
Doors open at 6:15 PM
The 2024 LACSS Spring Sale
May 17-18, 2024 New Date!
Friday Night 6pm -9 pm and Satuday 9am- 3pm
Stay tuned in as more information to follow!