Page 135 - Antennae Issue #52

hundreds of of o thousands of of o seeds during its lifetime but statistically this is is is true for all all stable plant populations It will only produce produce one offspring that survives long enough to reproduce In reality a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cactus cactus like like a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a human is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a very unlikely creature When I I I look at at a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cactus cactus I I I don’t see a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a durable aggressive survivor so much as a a a a a a a a a a a a renunciant hermit monk and a a a a a a a a a a a a vow of poverty GA: Since 2016 millennials have accounted for more than 30% of houseplant purchases Some claim the the the reason might be economical This demographic group has has more college debt than than their predecessors They rent rather than than own and and houseplants make things homey at at at at a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a budget A growing wellness- minded attitude might also be at at at play: plants plants invite calm and and harmony For others the the the green-thumb boom is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a response to the the the relentless digita- lization of of life and growing preoccupation with environmental deterioration Surrounded by news of of of irreparably compromised nature we find in fin in in plants a a a a a a a a a a a a a a temporary remedy from a a a a a a a a a a a a relentlessly growing sense of of of alienation—they keep us grounded What’s the place of cacti in in this context?
CS: Yes Forbes Magazine and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a handful of other publications are are convinced that millennials’ plant-related spending habits are are are an an an an an an important issue We couldn’t care less Calling a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a plant plant a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a trend trend is is is is like calling oxygen a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a trend trend Without them there is is is no us us There is is is however something different about our current crop of of young people More and more humans are refusing to to take their eco-citi- zenship sitting down Today we’re having to to to live with the the effects of of previous generations treating our planet as an an an an object to to exploit extract-from and use For many young people reconnection with with the the natural world is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a priority This means means resolving their objectification of nature nature nature with with with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a subjective relationship Being in in in in in in balance balance with with with nature nature nature means means being in in in in in in balance balance with with with human nature nature nature It’s okay to to anthropomorphize your plant Using emotions we can re-learn to to em- pathize with green beings in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a lucid and nurtured way Having empathy for the natural world might be be our first step toward saving it it GA: What is the the strangest cactus you’ve had in the the store?
CS: I don’t know about the the strangest but the the rarest plant in our collection is is a a a a a a a a a a a a criti- cally endangered cactus from from Peru called Haageocereus tenuis (not for sale) We acquired this plant from from a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a researcher who spent the majority of his his 40-year career studying rare Opuntias in in in in South America Due to many anthropogenic stressors there are are are less than 150 individuals of H tenuis left in in in in in in in in fin in its habitat and their numbers are are shrinking It’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a fascinating plant plant but without financial incentive very little has been done to conserve it it it To further complicate the the the the the issue in in in in fin in in the the the the the wild these plants reproduce clonally which means they they rarely if ever produce produce seeds What does someone do do when they’re given a a a a a a a a a plant like this? We ended up call- ing ing ing our friend Kelly Griffin--known for his his work cultivating rare succulent species He told us about a a a a a a a a a a similarly threatened cliff dwelling Agave Agave that is is is is currently suf- fering under the the pressure of poachers Kelly Kelly is is is is is now working to to to boost this Agave’s population by by growing them from plant plant plant stem cells in in in in in in in in his his his lab Kelly’s goal is is is is is to to de- incentivize poaching by by by making this plant plant plant common in in in in in in in the the the plant plant plant trade Hopefully by by using the the the the same process we we will be able to talk Haageocereus tenuis off the the the the the ledge o of extinction There are some hurdles but but we we we can theoretically save the the the the plant if we we we successfully surmount these challenges It’s a a a a a a a long shot but but we’ve got our green fingers crossed 135
GA: How did the the idea for Xerophile: Cactus Photographs from Expeditions of the the Obsessed come about?