I just read another article summarizing recent research on genetics, this one in "The Economist," a news magazine that does not get the readership it deserves because of its name. It is not a magazine for economists, although it does cover the business world along with culture, politics, and science, etc.(Of course to some, all these are at bottom, economics!) I think it is the most interesting news magazine I know. Published in the UK, which also offers a different perspective sometimes. Anyway, this article was more comprehensive than the others I read, and focused on some other aspects of the research, most of which I can't really understand very well. But reading it has in a general way deepened my sense of the complexity of the issues involved in this new research. Good newsstands usually carry this magazine--look for it. cacau: Interesting about burr oak, a tree that has always interested me, but which is not common here, so I have not had a chance to really observe its variability. As for variability in other species that I have observed--really none that compare to Norway spruce and red maple. But among the spruces, I have noticed some good variability in Oriental and Colorado (blue), but not much in Englemann, or white spruce. Some trees always look exactly the same to me--red pine is a good example, and others, like American elm have some good variability in form, although most always more or less vase shaped, but not much variability in bark, leaf color or form, or other characteristics. With red maple and Norway spruce the variability seems to extend to absolutely every part of the tree, although there are limits to the extent of this variability. For example, I never see a Norway spruce with the kind of blue color a blue spruce has, although at times I may see faint hints of it. But other aspects of Norway spruce foliage can be amazing. I have even seen a Norway spruce with the kind of foliage an Oriental spruce has--small shiny needles, etc., so I was completely fooled! I do not live in fir country, but my impression is that the firs don't have as much variability as the spruces. Resin, could this be true? Could there be reasons for it? Among pines. eastern white pine shows some good, but not outstanding variability. Scots pine in this country used for Christmas trees comes in a variety of strains that are varied in color and some other characteristics, but I don't know if in the wild these trees show much tree-to-tree variability. Again, back to Norway spruce and red maple--the variability I see is contained in individual local populations; it is not just variability from strain to strain growing in different regions! --Spruce

Thank you for offering to share your knowledge, bobbejaantjie. I bought some seeds from Silverhill without knowing the climates those plants grow under. I planted them about a month ago, and a few have germinated. I live in Honolulu, where the climate is subtropical, with a low temperature of about 58 degrees F. and a high of about 92 degrees F. Another member of the forum already told me that only a couple of my seeds will grow here. I wonder if you could provide information about the climates in South Africa where the following plants are found so that I can improve my chances on growing them: Dombeya cacuminum Geum capense Geissorhiza inflexa Geissorhiza radians Geissorhiza splendidissima Moraea polystachya Moraea ramossisima Romulea amoena Romulea diversiformis Romulea komsbergensis Romulea rosea Also, I wonder if you could inform me about which areas of South Africa are tropical or subtropical so that next time I get seeds I'll limit my selection to plants that grow in these areas. Thank you.

I have tracked down the book...went to one large bookshop, they said they could order it in, but it would cost an extra $11 !!!! I was rather annoyed about that, dont they want to keep their customers happy. I said I would have a look on the internet. Found www.abebooks.com, very helpful. Found a second hand version of the book, with postage, only costing me $20, delivered to my door. So, I hope this helps others in their search for books. Now, I am excited about getting the book in the mail, hope it turns up today ! Popi

Thanks, I was in the process of changing it but Houzz is different than the old gardenweb I used to know and it didn't register on this post. It is 5b UT now, just moved. The pics are very large (4MB) if you open them up, hopefully that will help with detail but I can take more leaf shots as in the second photo if needed.