Pulvinus and movement in Byblis

[shartmeyer]

14 days time lapse of Byblis liniflora show clearly that the genus Byblis moves its leaves by pulvinus (thickening at the leaf or flower stalk base, enabling movement). This has first been noticed and published in 2008 by Brian Barnes (USA). Interestingly enough this amazing feature has apparently not been recognized nor mentioned by other authors who described the different species of the Rainbow Plant in the past. We could find no text mentioning this fact prior to Brian's examinations. So our congratulation for this finding goes to Brian Barnes (USA), ICPS director of conservation and president of the Florida CPS. Our topic time-lapse footage enables everybody to enjoy a genus (all Byblis species move by pulvinus) that not only moves a leaf by occasion, no, the "2 weeks in 1 minute" compression shows a nearly permanently moving plant.

But a movement without catching prey, what is it good for?

Easy to see now: a new trapping leaf and a flower stalk (wearing one flower bud on the tip) both emerge from the leaf axil and both grow up erect to catch flying prey until the flower bud opens. Now a pulvinus is developed in the common leaf axil and the sticky trapping leaf moves down, not to endanger approaching pollinators. The flower is still hold erect. After pollination took place, the pulvinus shows a new thickening and now the flower stalk with the ripening seed-pot on the tip moves down and soon after that movement is finished the seed-pot facing down to the soil opens and seeds are released without sticking to to the gluey plant. Due to the fact that the mainly annual plants (except Byblis aff. gigantea) are rapid growers, the time-lapse of some plants looks like a fascinating group of ballet dancers.

Irmgard and I hope you like the footage, the link is:

[ICPS-bob]

Very nice Siggi. And, the music is a great addition.

[Brian Barnes]

Hi Siggi,

Excellent footage! And yes, the Byblis does look like a ballet dancer...

Thank you for your video. I was done by a true master!

More information and photos of pulvinus in Byblis (B. liniflora 'David') can be read in the current June 2010 issue of CPN.

Happy Growing,

Brian

[sundewman]

Awesome report!

I hate to repost the below info one thread later, but I just want to make sure whether or not my below scenario was already known to all the growers studying pulvini-

I was glancing through my old photos, and found these pics from 2 years ago (at bottom).
The story behind them--- I am off at college, so I have an amazing mom that remembers (almost all the time) to fill up my sundew trays with water once a week.
I had some Byblis liniflora seedlings coming along quite nicely, and then my mom forgot to water for a bit too long (can't blame her though, as she's done an amazing job, and has kept even my rare South American dews watered and alive for 2 years now. Goes to show that anyone can grow these plants as long as you have a good setup with the right media and lighting.

Anyway, sorry to diverge like that, but as I was saying, one particular Byblis liniflora was almost ready to flower (but had not) when it went through a bit of a "drought". All the leaves and the flower stalk died back, but the stem looked fine. I watered it and came back home in 2 weeks to find this-

As you can see, some pulvini hung on (as you mentioned- they must store water in times of drought) and eventually developed smaller leaves again, which allowed the plant to re-grow its newest leaves.
Unfortunately, I didn't get another picture because my mom was busy a few weeks after this and the pot dried out again, so they were toast. I've since put everything into 2 gigantic trays so it's much easier on her...and no deaths so far!

Anyway, here is what the plants looked like before they dried out:

(higher res: www.growsundews.com/sundews/byblis/byblis_liniflora_seedlings_largest.JPG )

[shartmeyer]

Yesterday I uploaded the second part of our Byblis time lapse report to Youtube. This time it shows the whole pot with several plants, performing a kind of ballet to Mozart as background music. Much pleasure!



All movement is caused by the developing pulvini and does not depend on light conditions or day-night-changes.

To sundewman: When Byblis dies back due to harsh conditions as drought but the stem remains are still alive, there are always good chances that new sprouts develop as soon as the conditions become humid and hot again. It may be supporting (tests are welcome!), but probably it does not matter much if pulvini developed in the leaf axils before or not. From my experience it is a normal behavior of annual Byblis to start branching after such disturbance, or when the tip has been cut. The kind of branching that appears - just one or two, or even a large number of sprouts - depends strongly on conditions as temperature, air humidity, amount of nutrition, and the wetness of the soil.

[Brian Barnes]

Hey Sig,

Great job! The music fits nicely as well...

Happy Growing,

Brian

[cindy]

Thanks, shartmeyer. I've always read the postings on the pulvinus but never quite grasp the significance and beauty of it. Now I appreciate my Byblis liniflora plants so much more.