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Post by jfowler on May 1, 2012 2:00:02 GMT
I've just posted 26 images in my flickr photostream for your enjoyment. Here is the link: tinyurl.com/JimsflickrStreamJust click on the thumbnail image and it will automatically expand for you. This past Sunday was an exceptional day for seeing these hybrids in bloom. I had found this location several years ago, but it has never been as showy as this. The fire managers of the national forest had performed a prescribed burn in the area this past winter, so that fast-growing woody shrubs would not take over the slower-growing orchids and carnivorous plants. They are doing a fine job down there for which they receive little thanks... Jim Fowler, Greenville, SC |
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Post by paulbarden on May 1, 2012 13:29:05 GMT
Jim,
Thanks for sharing these great photos profiling a very interesting group of plants! One thing you didn't mention is this: how did this population of hybrids originate? Are they all naturally occurring, or we're they the result of man-made crosses? I would have thought it unusual to see so many hybrids in a single location, or maybe not?
Paul
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Post by Aidan on May 1, 2012 18:45:43 GMT
All three species coexist in the same area so there is no reason to suppose that this is anything other than the result of natural hybridisation. S. rubra and S. minor are shown growing side by side in Jim's photos which explains all the S. x rehderi variants. So the only species to account for is S. flava, which I believe is also nearby
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Post by gardenofeden on May 1, 2012 20:39:40 GMT
super pics, thanks!
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Post by jfowler on May 1, 2012 22:08:14 GMT
Paul,
Aidan is correct. These are all natural hybrids. This is what is called a hybrid swarm. There are sections of this location which are predominately S. minor while other areas are predominately S. rubra var. rubra. The plants are in a low area which runs for at least 300 yards (~300 meters). It transects a power line cut where the vegetative competition is kept low on purpose. My only concern is that the power company may get the urge to spray to keep the woody growth in check. That would definitely be a very bad thing...
The S. Xharperi is a single plant with a dozen or more pitchers. In fact, S. flava var. flava does grow nearby. But it is very common at this location, and I did not photograph it on this trip. Since S. minor and S. flava var. flava usually bloom a couple of weeks apart in this region, there is little chance for them to cross, but occasionally, their bloom cycles will overlap a tiny bit -- thus we have a natural hybrid between the two.
Thanks for asking that question...
Jim
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Post by Alexis on May 5, 2012 14:00:44 GMT
I wouldn't be surprised to see rehderi x harperi examples somewhere.
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Post by paulbarden on May 5, 2012 14:34:21 GMT
Paul, Aidan is correct. These are all natural hybrids. This is what is called a hybrid swarm. There are sections of this location which are predominately S. minor while other areas are predominately S. rubra var. rubra. The plants are in a low area which runs for at least 300 yards (~300 meters). It transects a power line cut where the vegetative competition is kept low on purpose. My only concern is that the power company may get the urge to spray to keep the woody growth in check. That would definitely be a very bad thing... The S. X harperi is a single plant with a dozen or more pitchers. In fact, S. flava var. flava does grow nearby. But it is very common at this location, and I did not photograph it on this trip. Since S. minor and S. flava var. flava usually bloom a couple of weeks apart in this region, there is little chance for them to cross, but occasionally, their bloom cycles will overlap a tiny bit -- thus we have a natural hybrid between the two. Thanks for asking that question... Jim I didn't realize such hybrid swarms were possible, since I have not had the experience of seeing any Sarracenia other than S. purpurea in its native habitat. Thanks for that knowledge! Paul |
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