The most likely reason why some genera of orchids can be hybridized with
other genera is that they are very close genetically, but LOOK different
enough to justify the different genera groups. Even within genera there
is a large variation in appearance of plants.
I was thinking that Polypomphlox could be proved to be different to
Utricularia by seeing if a Utric. X Poly. hybrid could be made, but in
light of orchid hybrids, it might not be rigid enough. (Are there any
Utric. X Utric. hybrids?
-------------
The latest Victorian CP Society newsletter mentions a possible new CP,
Martynia fragrans. "This shrubby stands perhaps 50cm high, has
wavy-edged Geranium-like leaves and purple flowers with white and yellow
throats vaguely resembling those of Pinguicula. The whole plant (both
sides of leaves, stems, and all flower parts including petals) is
covered thickly in very short hairs (midway in size between those of
Pinguicula and Drosera) each topped by a drop of sticky dew. Numerous
small midge-sized flies and other insects had been trapped all over the
plant I [Nick Ward] saw at Oxford [England]. Clearly, this description
suggests that the plant may well be carnivorous. At the time of my
visit [1987] this was yet to be investigated."
According to an old gardening book I have, this plant is native to
Mexico, Arizona (hi guys! :-), Brazil and North America. Two other
species are listed, M. louisiana ("Unicorn Plant") and M. lutea ("Yellow
Martynia"), which may or may not have the same features as M. fragrans.
It might be interesting to get hold of this plant to see if it IS
carnivorous (although sticky dew isn't an end-all determinant of being
carnivorous, as in the case of Roridula).
Some other interesting Aussie plants are the Greenhood orchids
(Pterostylis). These are terrestrial orchids that flower in late
Winter-Spring, dying back to a dormant tuber over summer. The leaves
are uninteresting, and it is easy to miss the plants in the wild if they
are not in flower.
The flowers ARE interesting - some species look similar to a Cephalotus
or Nepenthes pitcher on a stalk (but much smaller). Some have a much
larger hood that hangs down over the entrance, while others have a
"beard" sticking out from the entrance. Inside the "pitcher", a touch
sensitive stylis(?) knocks any insect climbing into the flower against
pollen on the back wall, much like the trigger mechanism used by
Stylidium.
Plants are probably difficult or impossible to obtain overseas (they're
are'n't showy enough for most orchid enthusiasts), but probably could be
obtained here as dormant tubers.