About Us
The objectives of the Society are to promote knowledge, the cultivation and conservation of succulents and to make a contribution to the protection and conservation of all indigenous flora and their habitat by:
- Co-operating with authorities and other bodies with the same objectives
- Supporting research on succulents financially and otherwise
- Providing information and issuing publications
- Establishing a reference library
- Establishing and developing a botanical garden
- Re-establishing flora in its natural habitat
- Participating in conservation of plants and their habitat
- Making available cultivated seed and plant material
- Donating indigenous flora for cultivation in public gardens, parks and spaces
- Organising excursions, exhibitions and lectures
In general, performing any function or activity on a discerning and organised basis towards observing and promoting the objects of the Society.
The Society publishes the journal ALOE that appears quarterly. Articles in the journal range from popular information on the cultivation of the succulents to scientific descriptions of new succulent species. Colour photos of plants in habitat are included in each issue. The illustrations are helpful in the identification of plants, both in collections and in the veld. In the journal emphasis is placed on plants from Southern Africa, the rest of Africa and Madagascar, although succulents from the rest of the world also feature regularly. The journal has already attained international status and is highly esteemed among succulent enthusiasts the world over. Being an international journal the language used is English.
Information is also distributed amongst members by way of the regular newsletter called KAMBROO (a vernacular name of a number of succulents like Fockea and Raphionacme). In this newsletter activities of the Society and its branches as well as other matters which are of interest to members are made known. Members have, for instance, the opportunity to swop plants and seed. An established reference library, specialising in publications on succulents and related plants and named in honor of Dr. G W Reynolds, famous for his pioneering work on Aloes, is available in Johannesburg.
To give members an opportunity to build up plant collections without endangering plants in nature, pure seed is made available to members. Expeditions are also undertaken to areas where plants are being destroyed due to development. These plants are then re-established in gardens or other suitable areas. The collections are carried out under the supervision of Nature Conservation departments who issue the necessary permits.
A number of branches in various cities and towns in South Africa take care of the interests of local members and attend locally to matters such as conservation. Regular slide shows, plant exhibitions, visits to members' gardens and collections, outings to the veld and other meetings are organized by the branches. Information and advice on cultivation of succulents plays an important role at meetings at which there is also ample opportunity to socialize and make friends.
Every three years the SSSA holds it congress, these have always been very popular and a great success.