Australian Succulents
Attila Kapitany
Succulents important to women
A wonderful story about a succulent contributing to women of the world!
It starts off about me, then about Michele and me and our relationship with succulents, and then later introducing some real science about one particular succulent that is very famous yet most people don't know of its significance through history at benefiting millions of women across the world.
Michele and I have both been invited (many) times to give talks and presentation about succulents, especially those that we grow successfully in our nursery or garden, but I was the one keen to give talks, Michele not so! Michele found it pleasing to hear me talk about her interests and involvement. Over 25 years of giving succulent talks, Michele has found she is most comfortable 'running the show' or organizing, from behind the stage. I have slowly become more adept and comfortable at keeping her 'up front' in my plant conversations, especially to strangers or large audiences. I want people to know that though I am speaking, I represent both of us and as equal in all academic and physical involvement. It can be far too easy for strangers to misinterpret our relationship as one-sided or even 'controlling'. Our garden and botanical work together is not only enjoyable, it is a remarkable synthesis, living and working together 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It is easy to suggest that 'I don't let her get a word in' and that 'that's how things developed as they had!' Another important point is that Michele is a retired school teacher and has a history of excellent service and long hours on school committees. Since leaving a very hectic teaching career, she insists on a more quiet time in the background. She categorically no longer wishes for stage time or big crowds.
One of my main and most popular presentations to organizations who invite me to speak is titled: (Succulent popularity) Succulents in future garden design. I have been giving updated versions or derivations on this topic since I met Michele over 25 years ago and the biggest component of each presentation, apart from succulents themselves is the female use of succulents in and around the home. While I use Michele's image and her name almost ad nauseam, many other women and their relationships with succulents are also shown and explained to audiences. This strongly focused female thread to my presentations has in fact been very well-received, both locally and abroad where I have been fortunate to have been reinvited back to the USA on five occasions.
A slight deviation here - related to women and succulents that interest me greatly! While I am very uncomfortable about seemingly 'sexist' or 'politically correct' on issues, I do not prescribe to the idea that our social system needs radical change that could destabilize society itself. I believe our civilisation is progressing, sometimes slowly, sometimes fast. Worse for me at least is the idea that many people feel that there is 'so much wrong' in the world that needs to be fixed, changed or burned down with urgency, that our civilisation runs the risk of chaos and anarchy.
Refocusing now on succulents and women.
I have found a fascinating historical account where women from across the world have had what I believe is the greatest single advancement for women's liberation (that may, in my opinion, never be surpassed again). And a succulent is to be thanked! First of all I need to explain what I believe this 'liberation' means in context of anyone being a woman. Children, child birth and child bearing and raising, is the greatest physical and physiological burden a women can have in their lifetime. To be freed from these obligations, to be free from the biological burden or at the very least to be free to choose, if and when, and how many children to have is an incredibly empowering option attributed primarily to the contraceptive PILL. Its origins revolve around a succulent that for thousands of years was used in traditional medicine, before being brought to the modern world of science where diosgenin is extracted, which is the original source of the contraceptive PILL, cortisone and progesterone and a range of other wonder drugs. It is the PILL for which the succulent is most famous.
Cacti and succulent collectors will often seek out desirable caudiciform succulents, one of the most popular being Dioscorea elephantipes or Elephants Foot which is native to South Africa. A slightly lesser known equivalent Dioscorea is native to Mexico, yet superficially it can look very similar. It is this Mexican species that was most famed for its medicinal properties. Both Dioscorea species have a swollen trunk or base that is very soft and succulent, even though they appear woody on the outside.
In the year 2010 there were estimated to be 100 million women using the contraceptive PILL. Source and original article below:
The birth of the pill (the conception and evolution of the contraceptive pill)
https://www.rsc.org/images/The%20Contraceptive%20Pill_tcm18-189796.pdf
Also another different, but very well written article about the genus Dioscorea, and in particular a Mexican species that was historically used by indigenous Mexican cultures for a range of purposes.
How a forgotten plant of Mexico's tropical forests revolutionised life for women.
So how did I find myself so interested in this obscure topic? I have a long history of interest in these succulent Dioscorea species and have been fortunate to have had and grown many species since 1970. I still have about 30 Dioscorea elephantipes, grown from seed originating from Africa and in 1982 I acquired an imported, large 40 cm (habitat collected) Dioscorea from USA under the name of Dioscorea mexicanum. Since the turn of the century I have also started growing various Australian native Dioscorea species. Yes we have native species. I briefly wrote about 2 native species in in my book titled Australian Succulent Plants - an Introduction in 2007. Dioscorea bulbifera and D. transversa have always been used as traditional food, yet are also documented as potentially poisonous (D. bulbifera) if not prepared correctly. I wonder if they also have chemical properties that may one day be of greater significance. I have grown both of these native species looking at their ease of growth and their edibility. It was in fact pure accident that my interest and research in Dioscorea led me to the other linked articles above about the origins of the contraceptive pill.
It so happens that Michele's favourite succulents are collectively referred to as caudiciforms which are primarily short, fat succulents with trunks that appear swollen or thickened. Pictured is Dioscorea elephantipes with Michele alongside. (not our plants) It took her 15 years to grow the potted specimen below.
Enough of my ramblings, but I found it all exciting and interesting and I am sure many readers will find it likewise. If so please share or recommend this website and its contents with others!
Cheers,
Attila June 5 2021
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