In case others in the CP group may be interested, I'll respond to the whole
CP group. Here's a copy of the article, "Observations of S. Oreophila"
by Don Schnell in CPN vol. 1, #1:
"This species is certainly not the best studied of the Sarracenias. It
is commonly held that its range is a rather narrow area in Northeast
Alabama. Randy Troup of Guntersville, Alabama, spent many years
carefully tracing down all reported stations in an attempt to
authenticate the range. He found that the species was rather common in
its area, and that the range actually extends south of Birmingham. I
had an opportunity to visit several stations with Randy and have since
revisited these and some others. As is the case with S. flava, one is
struck by the variation present within the species, but doubly so since
the plant was felt to be rare and rather monotypic for so many years.
In spite of the variation, species characteristics were clear and
uniformly present, particularly the flower, shape of the hood and
character of the winter leaves.
There would appear to be two rather common variant patterns. One is
typified by the plants that grow along the Little River just over the
line from Georgia, on the Sand Mountain plateau. These plants grow
right on the edge of the water, the soil being extremely sandy and
rocky. At first glance, they appear to be etiolated, with rather pale
green pitchers that are tall and lanky, little to no vein coloration and
narrow mouths. The other type is best seen in an open field which is
dishlike in contour with a natural pond in its center, and is located
about fifteen miles further west. Here, the plants do not grow 'with
their feet in the water' but occur in a ring around the pond in
definitely wet peat-sand soil some fifteen to twenty feet from the edge
of the water, but well below the highest elevation of the field where
the trees begin and the soil is drier. These plants are rather stout,
the pitchers often having deeply colored veins, coppery lids, and wider
mouths.
Plants were collected from both stations and grown under identical conditions
(including washing of roots and replanting in the same formulated soil). One
would expect that the changes noted above could very well be environmental,
but the variant characters held true; the river plants maintaining their
rather lanky, pale habitus and the field-collected ones their more hardy
appearance for at least two subsequent seasons.
S. oreophila is a problem in culture, the plants tending to wane and pine
away in time, under conditions where other transplanted Sarracenias thrive.
My impression is that they do better if collected with a good ball of sod
around them, the entire mass being put into a tub with the roots relatively
undisturbed. But even then their lifespan in culture seems limited. Much
more needs to be learned of the factors possibly present in native soils
and/or waters that are necessary for the health of this plant and that
probably need renewing."
===========================================================================
> Well, all I really know is that the seed is from Allen Lowrie, who claims it
> came from Pilztal. But I just looked through my notes and realized I don't
> know where Pilztal is!
Try a map of Czechoslovakia (now two seperate countries). Pilztal sounds
like a town in eastern Europe and Miloslav Studnicka collects plenty of
native Ping seeds, so chances are this Ping seed is from him and collected
in Czechoslovakia.
Other topics:
I finally found a good permanent marker at a local art supply store for
writing on plant labels. The usual permanent marker pens found in
department stores have thick square felt points that force only big ugly
block letters to be drawn. This new pen comes in .1 and .3 mm tips and
now at last, very thin lines can be drawn. The company name on the pen
is Itoya.
Sean Samia says Nepenthes seeds germinate much better when treated with
gibbrellic acid. Joe mentioned this today in the CP group. Here in the
USA, a 4% solution can be bought by mail order from Mellingers but is
very expensive. The seed coat is very tough and seems water-resistant
when dry (seeds float on water for a long time - up to 3 days). The
seeds should be kept very wet when trying to germinate to help soften
the seed coat.
Does Gordon or anyone else know anyone who raise tropical praying mantis?
Many of the species seen on nature shows and in photos in magazines are
spectacular. Obviously a lot cleaner than iguanas too! :-)
Average low temperature has just gone up to 32 F and is increasing a degree
every few days. Spring is almost here!
Steve, will there be a March CPN or will we have the usual double issue
in June?
-- Don Burden New Albany, Indiana, USA donb@iglou.com