CSSA VOL.69 MAY-JUNE, 1997 No.3 More-successful stonecrop cultivation Ray Stephenson Echinomastus in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas Gerald R. Raun New chrisogenic species of Conophytum N.E.Br. from the Richtersveld Steven Hammer Succulents of Dhofar, the land of frankincense Nora Martinez Valley View Succulent Notes Gerald S. Barad Euphorbia pteroneura Berger: a succulent Mexican spurge Miguel J. Cházaro & Burl L. Mostul Spotlight on Round Robins Braden Engelke & Rita Fleischmann Aloe lindenii, a new species from Somalia J. J. Lavranos Cacti & Succulents for the Amateur Duke Benadom Brachystelma albipilosum, a new dwarf species from Zimbabwe Ralph Peckover How fast can a saguaro reach maturity? Mark A. Dimmitt This bud's for you - a fantasy Nathan Walpow Letters to the Editor

Cover illustration: One of the most distinctive and appealing things about succulents is their conspicuous symmetry compared to conventional shrubs and trees. When a plant becomes reduced in the number of its parts and those parts become thicker and thus more prominent, a strong element of design becomes apparent, as seen in our photo of Agave shawii growing at Torrey Pines National Park, California - the radiating leaves form a stiff silhouette, while the marginal teeth (reddened by sunlight and drought) resemble cogs in some fiendish machine. Lindsey Martin, who provided the desert scene on the cover of the last issue, has here created a contrasting but inspired work of art.