Intro. to David McConachie

D.P. McConachie (D.P.McConachie@massey.ac.nz)
Tue, 06 Apr 93 13:09:05 +1200

I am another new member to this mailgroup. My interest in CPs began when
I started working as a technician in the Dept. of Horticultural Science,
at Massey University,N.Z.. One of the papers I helped run had a lab on
vegetative modification and the students got to look at pickled
D. binata and U.monathos. I made the suggestion that we try and grow
some plants so the students could look at some fresh material. This was
an outstanding success with the students and my own interest in the
plants saw the collection grow dramatically.

For the last two years my role academically has been reversed and now I
am a full-time student in my final year of a BSc in Plant Biology and
Genetics. My particular interest is in Plant Systematics.

At present my personal collection consists mainly of Sarracenia spp. and
hybrids with some Drosera spp., Utricularia spp. and of course VFTs
which are growing in an artifical bog. They have been growing outside
for the past two years and the only loss I have had during that time was
my Darlingtonia which was fertilised by one of the neighbourhood cats.

Can anyone tell me if much work has been done on the systematics of the
Drosera spatulata complex. I have found living material that corresponds
well to descriptions of the synonymous D. triflora Col. and is quite
distinctive when compared to other N.Z. material of D. spatulata.

Thanks in advance,

David McConachie
329 Botanical Rd.
Palmerston North.
New Zealand