Re: Genlisea
CMDodd@aol.com
Thu, 13 Apr 1995 21:47:04 -0400
Peter Cole asked about Genlisea hispidula and pollination. I have several
plants of one clone and every now and then they send up their rather tall
inflorescences and produce a few light purple flowers. I have never made an
effort to pollinate them and they still produce a few seed now and again.
They do not, therefore, seem to be self-sterile and in fact seem
self-pollinating, although it is possible that they are being pollinated by in
sects. I have had unintentional Nepenthes hybrids due to insect pollination
in the greenhouse and have started 'bagging' the female inflorescences of
anything of value when several males are blooming. As for whether the seeds
are actually fertile is unknown. The few I have sown did not produce
seedlings.
If propagation is desired in G. hispidula, remove the plant from the soil (I
use pure peat) and remove about 1/3 to 1/2 of the outer leaves of the rosette
as close to the base of the plant as possible. The whitish leaf base should
be inserted about 1/3 the length of the leaf into fresh peat. Plants will
form in a few months. I grow this species very wet with the water level just
below or at the soil surface. They are cute little plants and far easier than
the other species of Genlisea that I have unfortunately killed.
Cliff