mr ed
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Post by mr ed on Jan 8, 2012 2:25:09 GMT
From out of my Bazaar files rears this little gem. It's a S. flava Appalachicola seedling that came up in a tray which is devoid of the nectar coated mid rib and has an open split to just above the ground. It is basically a rolled leaf which still catches flies but obviously will not hold fluid. It would have made Darwins day had he found one in the wild! Anyone seen one in the wild? I also have a purp purp with the same affliction! Attachments:
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mr ed
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Post by mr ed on Jan 8, 2012 3:18:08 GMT
Same plant, late summer with a dead moth caught but not digested showing a slightly more normal shape. Attachments:
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Post by Apoplast on Jan 8, 2012 3:51:07 GMT
I'm not normally a big fan of the pitcher species, but those are awesome! Thanks so much for sharing!!
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Post by kiwiearl on Jan 8, 2012 4:02:44 GMT
Fascinating.
As you say, this plant evokes images of a possible evolutionary mid-stage. If the "malformation" is stable it may suggest there could be individuals within the wild population the seed came from. So the name refers to the fact it originates from the Apalachicola Forest? As you say, be great to know if those who spend time there have seen one in the wild.
Seems as though this clone could only make for a terrific educational tool with respect to pointing out the zones of a Sarracenia pitcher without the need for a blade.
In the first image, the hood column is flopped backward. Is this typical as each leaf develops then going on to become upright as it hardens up and contracts as per the second image?
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mr ed
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Post by mr ed on Jan 8, 2012 4:47:15 GMT
Hi Kiwiearl Yeh I chose my biggest, reddest tubed Apalachicola flava's, selfed them, and got more than just colour variations!
In the past when I have done displays I have opened up an old pitcher full of bugs and tried to find someone to laminate it for me but for some reason there is a reluctance to run a dried trap full of wasps, flies, moths and blowflies through their nice clean machines?
The first spring pitchers at the rear of my green house recieve less light but the same amount of heat as others at the front so tend to grow greener and spindlier but as the sun moves more overhead they resume normality.... well as normal as can be expected for this plant!
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mr ed
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Posts: 21
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Post by mr ed on Jan 8, 2012 4:55:44 GMT
Here's a purp purp doing the same thing. It is about a 1 in a 1000 occurrence so not overly common and have not had it with any other species. Attachments:
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Post by gardenofeden on Jan 8, 2012 8:18:42 GMT
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mr ed
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Post by mr ed on Jan 8, 2012 8:50:03 GMT
Wow .... your top flava looking plant resembles a Heliamphora with its tiny lid!
I've sown more leuc's than any other species and never seen one do that!
Interesting you say they revert as I have had my purp purp Blinkie flower now for 3 years and it still is unchanged. The flava on the other hand has yet to flower so may as you suggest revert. Another oddity of the purp purp is on the flower where it is unable to reproduce as it has no stigmas which was a shame as I was curious to self it to see if the genetic flaw would be carried through.
When you say they revert do they slowly do it pitcher by pitcher or come up normal after dormancy or flowering and if the later was the flower normal?
Appreciate your input.
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Post by gardenofeden on Jan 8, 2012 10:17:18 GMT
it was only ever the odd pitcher, with subsequent pitchers normal your purp is very interesting albeit slightly macabre here's another  Sarracenia proto 2 01 by gardenofeden67, on Flickr |
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Post by bouncingwatermelon on Jan 8, 2012 10:28:40 GMT
mr ed, are those malformities stable on the specimens shown?
Also, should it be something genetic, does it change any of the inflorescence morphology? I am curious because many genetic variations which alter leaf characteristics (eg leaf color as in loss of some pigments) also appear in flower characteristics.
Maybe you should consider registering the clone as a cultivar for educational purposes?
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Post by Aidan on Jan 8, 2012 12:31:45 GMT
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Post by jdallas on Jan 8, 2012 16:55:06 GMT
These are great photos. Do any of you have plants that consistently produce pitchers like that?
Jeff
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mr ed
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Post by mr ed on Jan 9, 2012 1:22:28 GMT
I'm confident to say the purpurea won't revert as I have had it put up these opened pitchers every time from a seedling now for about 7 years and taken divisions which are the same.
As for the flava it is about 4 years old and every pitcher, so far, has grown with the open split but may be too early to say. Sometimes the pitchers spiral upwards like a candy cane with the green tube and red venation while others it is straight but never fused.
Aiden, was that pitcher a one off?
bouncingwatermelon, I can't find a photo of the flower of the purp but found another of a clone I nicknamed "aristolochoides" for its normal fat pitcher but it has a tiny lid and opening. Again it about 7 years old and has yet to throw out a regular pitcher.
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mr ed
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Post by mr ed on Jan 9, 2012 1:27:33 GMT
I bent the umbrella open to show the absence of a stigma. Petals have been removed for photo. Attachments:
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mr ed
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Post by mr ed on Jan 9, 2012 1:37:38 GMT
This shows an unusual formation on the tip of the sepal which I thought may be a false stigma as it is on every sepal tip, coupled with the fact there are none on the umbrella??? I can't actually remember the flower on purp purp Blinkie so these pics are possibly irrelevant but none the less interesting. Attachments:
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