Re: stuff XXXVIXXX

John Taylor [Banshee] (s883351@minyos.xx.rmit.OZ.AU)
Tue, 18 Dec 90 09:22:58 +1100

>I asked him to elaborate on D. sp. '8' Borneo, to which he replied:
> "Mine are ever so small so I can't report much to you...I'm always a
>bit dubious about species A species 2 (B?) etc. There was a prick
>(underlined, presumably for emphasis!) in Germany Harold Weiner who
>used this scam to increase his CP list that he had for sale. The
>printers were tricked of course. Most of the species were something
>else - generally something common. The asshole who now lives in Kenya
>did a lot of damage to honesty in our C.P. world."
> Does he sound peed to Andromeda??! Also mentioned that D. admirabilis
>and venusta were named by a guy from Germany, Paul Debbert.

I have a Pinguicula which looks *exactly* the same as "P. species nova No. 4"
on page 111 of Adrian Slack's "Insect-Eating Plants <etc.>", also named by
Harald Weiner. It was sold to me as P. parvifolia, but doesn't match the
description in the book. Any ideas on what it *really* is?
The interesting thing about this plant is it flowers just as it goes dormant,
which is quite the opposite of other Pinguiculas I've seen. As you can see in
the photo, the "dormant" leaves are very thick and succulent-like, while the
"active" leaves are rounded with a turned-up outer edge. My plants are at
most an inch across. The flowers are pinkish with a dark throat (the opposite
of P. parvifolia).

>My D. binata multifida (extrema?) from Rob has started to regularly
>produce 4 branched leaves (i.e. dichotoma), and only after a year +
>of cultivation! (sheesh!)

My plant is luck to produce *any* leaves. For some reason, the leaves
inside the spiralled stem turn black before they get a chance to open.
I've sprayed the plant with pyrethrum to kill any insects that might be
attacking it (the stems sometimes look chewed), but to no avail. I now
suspect that a root borer may be at work, but since the plant is
reasonably healthy in other respects, I'm not sure this is the problem
either. Any ideas?