July 27, 2001

Contact: Robert Lowery (509-963-1487/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail loweryr@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Cacti are typically associated with the U.S. desert southwest, or western movies. But, they are actually grown in all areas of the world. A wide variety of those plants is now represented in the cactus and succulent collection at Central Washington University. Dave Stein, of Corvallis, Ore., recently entered an agreement with the university for the long-term loan of cacti and succulents he has accumulated during the past 15 years.

"It has more than doubled the diversity of our collection - and we had a respectable collection to begin with," Dr. Steve Verhey, CWU biology professor and faculty greenhouse coordinator, says. "What you're interested in, especially in a collection like this, is diversity. Some plants that came with this new collection are from surprising families."

The familiar grape, cucumber, morning glory, geranium and lily families also contain members that are native to extreme environments. Seventeen families are represented in the Stein collection.

"Even though desert plants sometimes may be referred to as 'cacti,' that term really only includes the cactus family," Verhey adds. "What we usually mean is cacti and succulents. They are plants that live in environments where it gets very hot and where they may go months, even years, without water."

In all, the CWU collection now numbers about 1,000 plants, with very few duplicates, Verhey points out.

Verhey and Stein became acquainted when Verhey was pursuing his Ph.D. at Oregon State University. That was where Stein's collection was housed. It was after OSU officials notified Stein that they needed the greenhouse space for research that discussions began about moving his plants to Ellensburg.

"He decided this is the best place because we have a very nice facility," Verhey says, "and because he's always made sure his plants were accessible to students. He really likes that aspect of sending his plants up here."

Not only will CWU biology and botany students benefit from the fortified collection, but art student may, too.

"Dave told me, at OSU, art classes often came in (to the greenhouse)," he adds. "There are some really wild forms; these plants have very unusual shapes, sizes, spines and flowers. They're unfamiliar plants for those of us who live in the Northwest."

Along with the desert environment, the CWU greenhouse has two tropical rooms and one with a temperate climate housing a large collection of plant species from around the world.

"We try to have as many different species here as possible," Verhey says, "so that students and members of the community can see that diversity. We're now planning for an open house sometime this fall."