Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2000 01:16:19 -0500 From: "Dave Evans" <dpevans@rci.rutgers.edu> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg3561$foo@default> Subject: Re: Multiflowering N. spahtulata x maxima
> I have finally taken a picture of the N. spathulata x maxima that is
> producing multiple flower stalks. The count is now up to three. It
produced
> one flower stalk, two leaves, another flower stalk, another leaf, and then
a
> third flower stalk. This is the same plant that flowered while still
> producing lower pitchers. You can see it at:
> http://www.cpjungle.com/nuspatmaxflow.htm
> Michael Catalani
Dear Michael,
Your plant sure is unusual! If you look carefully the at leaves, you'll
notice that the leaf with the still growing lower pitcher is attached lower
on the stem than lowest flower stalk. I suspect that if any of the leaves
growing above the first inflorescence are to develop pitchers these will be
upper pitchers, or intermediate at the very least.
You know, the more I grow Nepenthes the more I'm intrigued. I have
never seen two pitchers that were the same, even from on the same plant or
clone that I have grown for years. Sort of like snow flakes.
Anyway, I was wondering about this quote from you web-page:
"The plant produced a male flower, and I used the pollen to fertilize a
female red ventricosa. I wanted to determine if the pollen from this flower
was viable, unviable, or possibly the plant is sterile. (Some Nepenthes
hybrids, especially in the wild, are sterile. This is one reason why complex
hybrids in the wild are rare.) The female ventricosa ovaries appear to be
expanding, so it looks like fertilization has occurred. It will be a few
more months before I know for sure."
What Nepenthes hybrids are sterile?
I am wondering because I haven't heard of any sterile Nepenthes hybrids
before. I have heard that some growers have had a trouble crossing
particular species. Often, I heard they though the plants could not be
crossed. I never really gave that much weight, since with all the hybrids I
see in the data base as well those not in it, shows that Nepenthes are very
quick to hybridize in the wild. In culture, most of these hybrids have been
used to create complex hybrids. I always thought that while it is possible
that certain species are not crossable, people should keep in mind that
these are really weird and finicky plants. Perhaps something went wrong
with the flowers or the pollen, or the growers' timing or technique was off.
I know from personal experience- the first time I tried to make a complex
hybrid, it didn't work, Luckily the female plant flowered again right away
and the second time worked. I would think that if you can create N.
ventricosa * N. lowii, just about any Nepenthes hybrid would be possible.
You just might not get it the first couple tries.
BTW, if that pollen was a dud, the ovaries will not grow any longer.
Good luck!
Dave Evans
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