Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 07:59:38 -0500 From: "Sundew Sundew" <sundew@hotmail.com> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg283$foo@default> Subject: re: Heliamphora sp
Hi Ivan,
I'm thinking the 3/4 Heliamphora seedlings you had which stayed small might
have been inferior clones but the one youve got which is now 1" high might
be large because tatei and neblineae are larger plants relative to the other
Heliamphoras youmight have experience with. In other words, I'm not sure
that what you have is a superior clone - it might just be a normal grower.
As to the mold which killed the majority of the seedlings, did you try using
any fungicide on the seed / seedlings?
Also, do you really think stratification was necessary with these? When we
spoke a while back regarding germination, it seemed like you were
stratifying even species which I would never even consider stratifying.
On a similar note, I hear Fernando's got one of Lowrie's new Heliamphora
germinating techniques to tell us about - it greatly improves viability over
time. I'm pretty anxious to hear more!
Matt
> From: Ivan Snyder <bioexp@juno.com>
> Hi Cpers,
>
> Last year I aquired about 100 wild collected seed of Heliamphora
> which was collected by a group of CP nuts who climbed Mount Neblina. The
> seed was a mix of both H. neblina and tatei. I sowed these all together
> on live Sphagnum and refrigerated them for one month. I then took them
> out of the frige and put them under my light system and germination began
> after another few weeks. I had many sprout but most of these either died
> and got moldy or got moldy and died. Four seedlings continued to grow.
>
> One of the four had distinctly larger seed leaves to begin with and grew
> much better, the rest barely grew at all. I kept the best one for myself
> and gave the other three genetic liabilities to other growers. Now,
> almost one year later, my one plant has pitchers one inch tall. I had
> grown Heliamphorae from seed before and am sure that this one plant grew
> far better than any others. This plant is also very red.
>
> I was told that H. minor has much red coloration, but the seed was not
> taken from that species. To account for my seedling's superior growth and
> deeper color I have an idea that possibly it is a natural hybrid.
> Botanist Phil Sheridan has reported that natural Sarracenia hybrids have
> more anthocyanin red. Perhaps hybrid vigor gives the plant better growth?
> Maybe in another year when I see the mature pitcher shape I will be able
> to positively identify the plant.
>
> It will be years before the plant is large enough to propagate, so please
> don't ask. My friend Ed Read wants to start it invetro in that far
> future.
>
> Ivan Snyder
> Hermosa Beach
> California
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