Attila has toured the Australian and international speaking circuits, and he features on television and radio. Attila is immediate past president of the Cactus and Succulent Society of Australia, holding this position for 10 years. He is also a member of the Horticultural Media in Australia, writing regularly in magazines, journals and newspapers about the wonders of succulents. Attila has co-written seven books with Rudolf Schulz about succulents, with his eighth book a solo effort on Australian native species, as well as a more recent series of eight booklets on xerophytic Australian plants. Attila’s life-long interest in succulents is also evidenced by the amazing, sprawling ‘succulent’ garden that he and Michele have created at their home in Melbourne.

We spoke to Attila about his fascination with succulent plants, including the four species featured on the stamps.

What is it about succulents that captures your interest?

“I find their shapes, colours and growth habits fascinating.”

What is it that makes a plant “succulent”?

“Succulent, Succulents, Succulence? The word ‘succulent’ is widely used as a noun e.g. ‘a succulent’, as well as an adjective, e.g. ‘a succulent plant’. Botanists use the more accurate term ‘a succulent plant’ to describe plants having succulence. ‘Succulent plants’, often from arid and seasonally dry regions, have adapted to survive dry periods by having water storage tissue (succulence) in their leaves, stems, trunks or roots. After many months without rain a succulent plant such as common pigface will shrink considerably; then after flooding winter rains the plant rehydrates to be plump and highly succulent again.”

Are Australian succulent plants particularly distinctive, as compared to others found elsewhere?

“Worldwide succulent plants have no great distinction from continent to continent, but any Australian plant that has a relatively high level of water storage, in the form of succulence, become more distinct after floods. Australia mostly has small ephemeral species through much of the arid and semi-arid zones.”

What are some interesting facts about Australian native succulents that the general public may not be aware of?

“Most Australians are aware of common succulent plants in nurseries, markets and on grandmother’s front porch. This is a range of some of the world’s most garden-hardy types. One to two hundred species at best. The public are less aware that there are more than 12,000 recorded species of succulent plants worldwide; and Australia has at least 400 succulent species. Surprisingly more and more exotic species are being imported and grown here in Australia, yet little if any interest exists for trialling our native species. My mission statement is to change this and give Australian succulent plants a fair go!”

Can you tell us something of particular interest about each species featured on the stamp?

Portulaca cyclophylla

