Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 12:11:51 +0800 From: David <dwkwong@pc.jaring.my> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg1110$foo@default> Subject: Re: Seed banks
Hi Perry,
Thanks for the speedy response.
On Tue, 11 Apr 2000 11:36:41 -0700 (PDT), "Malouf, Perry"
<Perry.Malouf@jhuapl.edu> wrote:
>I don't know if my first attempt at answering the original
>posting made it through, so this is my second attempt.
This is the only one received by me.
>Why seeds, David?
Because it is probably ten times more costly to ship plants across
international borders. There is also the hassle of going through
customs, permits, etc.
>It takes a long time to grow a satisfying Nepenthes from seed.
Time is not an issue with me.
>With wild-collected seed, you can never be sure if the progeny are pure
>or hybrids until they get large enough to identify (could take a couple
>of years).
Not with the Malaysian climate. Neps. are vines, but grow as fast or
faster than weeds under our ideal weather. Probably take 6 months
max.
>Some seed banks offer Nepenthes seed that has been obtained under controlled
>conditions in cultivation.
Perhaps you might reveal the names of such seed banks?
>My luck with such seed has varied. Sometimes they grow very well,
>other times they don't.
That is also the case with seeds of most other plants, besides Neps.
>If you want to expand your collection, why not obtain established
>plants from a close-by enterprise such as Malesiana Tropicals in
>Sarawak?
I sent them 2 e-mails last week, but they did not even bother to
reply.
>From KL you could take a weekend jaunt over there,
>select the plants you want by examining the stock, and then bring
>them home. I wish I had that kind of option. :-)
You would have to take a flight there. For those of you not in the
know, Peninsula Malaysia is separated from East Malaysia by the South
China Sea. Then, there is this idiotic procedure of clearing customs
even though both places are technically Malaysian territories.
>I went through an experience like that when I visited Mesilau at Mt.
>Kinabalu and climbed up some deer trails to take pictures. Very
>tiring but a very memorable experience that I wish I could repeat.
Did you have any luck in obtaining Nep. specimens? If so, was it easy
for you to bring them back to the US?
>I have friends in Malaysia who ......................
Maybe you can put me in contact with them, or vice versa?
>> ...Neps. are....seldom in demand by the Malaysian
>> public, therefore are rarely stocked in nurseries....
>
>Why do you think this is so?
Could be that familiarity breeds contempt?
>Do Malays cultivate orchids more often?
You should have posed that to your Malay friends. BTW, I ain't no
Malay. Malays go by Muslim names - eg. Ali, Ahmad, etc.
-- Regards, ____________________________ \244DAVID\244dwkwong@pc.jaring.my\244 \257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257\257
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