Byblis liniflora

Hello Cindy,

Excellent photos indeed!

Thank you for your verification of my theory. This is blatant evidence that Byblis can take on different appearances depending on soil conditions i.e. extreme periods of wetness or dryness. I'm quite sure that based on our findings, these are applicable 'in situ' as well.

Also, in the last photo that you've generously provided, one can see the clear swelling of tissue at the very base of the flower pedicel. This is evidence of the conditional pulvinus, that officially separates Byblis 'Goliath' or "Byblis spec. Goliath" from the rest of the supposed Byblis species in question.

Unfortunately, Our good Byblis growing friends in Japan have never posted good closeup photos of their flower pedicel attachments at the main stem before and after pollination of the flowers, showing the ripening capsules. I doubt they ever will...

Of course, there's a reason for this. I'm quite sure you'd see pulvinus there as well.

Happy Growing,

Brian.

Hi Cindy,

Yes, Byblis 'Goliath' [filifolia] does have pulvini on the flower pedicels and the leaves as well. The pedicel pulvini are the most prominent though. Even if a flower is not pollinated successfully, the pedicel will still lower itself towards the ground via it's pulvinus.



I theorize that this pulvinic reaction, along with that of the leaves, create a tripod-like effect to help support the plant somewhat. However upon successful pollination, the formation of the pulvinic appendage is drastically enhanced and then lowers the ripening seed capsule towards the ground, to ensure proper seed set once the capsule dehices.

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The pulvini on the pedicels and leaves of Byblis 'Goliath' [filifolia] are remarkably similar to structures on the base of legume stems. For example, turgor pressure changes in the pulvinus of the “sensitive plant” (Mimosa pudica) is what causes that plant’s leaves to droop when disturbed. These same type structures is what causes the leaves and pedicels of Byblis 'Goliath' to move downwards. This is a very prominent and important feature never before documented within the genus Byblis as a whole, until the publication of B. 'Goliath' back in 2008.

Happy Growing,

Brian Barnes,
8/10/09

Konnichiwa!

Interesting point indeed.

And did you state what plant feature caused this movement in the specimens depicted in the prior CPN article as well?

Surely the cause of such a reaction should have been quite noticeable and is as important as the prior documentation of such occurrences in the family Fabaceae. In my opinion, such movement is as important...and even more noticeable than snap- tentacle movement in Drosera.

Also, some decent photographs of your entire plant as a whole, including the main stem/pedicel junction of your plants with ripening capsules might prove interesting indeed.

Happy Growing,

Brian Barnes,
8/10/09

Hi Cindy,

Great eye for observation!

I encourage all growers and lovers of Byblis to look closely at their plants [using the official species descriptions as a key] and publicly document their findings for the bettering of science as a whole. I look forward to their communications.

Meanwhile, I'd like to share some of my latest findings in regards to the genus Byblis;

Documentation of pulvinic formation on the leaves and pedicels of the supposed species Byblis liniflora, 8/11/09. Note the lowering capsule via pulvinic appendage, as is published in Byblis 'Goliath' [filifolia];



Happy Growing,

Brian Barnes, 8/11/09.

Phill,

This is so off-topic...

...but is B. aquatica all red in the wild? Or it is just the plants you saw?

Greg,
Thanks for the compliments. B. liniflora does exceedingly well here so I do hope I have the conditions suitable for the other annual species. ;D

Phill,
I checked up on the info in "Glistening Carnivores", B. aquatica "typically produces foliage that is pure red in colour". Hehe.