Re: sundry seeds and sarras

Peter Cole (carnivor@bunyip.demon.co.uk)
Sun, 11 Jun 1995 17:49:21 GMT

> Hey everybody,
>
> I was recently discussing keeping Sarra.'s outside in my region
> (Philadelphia, PA) and I was wondering whether there are any growers out
> there who know if this is safe for them (S. purpurea should obviously not
> be a problem).
> I finally received Lowry's catalogue. Here's some questions:
> 1. Anyone out there know the U.S.-Australian $ exchange rate?
> I'm curious to find out how much a $3 seed pack really(?) costs.
> 2. What are a) Proboscidea

Devil's Claw (*crazy* seed pods!) sticky but not carnivorous

> b) Ibicillia

Ibicella lutea - closely related to the above; argued by some
to be carnivorous

> c) Roridulla

Roridula - Once thought to be carnivorous, now proved otherwise.
Sticky leaved & looks a bit drosera-esque.

> 3. Does anyone know if there's any other source of Genlisea and
> Polypompholyx aside from Lowry? I know I asked this before in reference
> to Poly. but I just thought I'd check once more before I make the
> purchase (I also can't stand waiting so long).

Genlisea violacea seems to be commonly offered as seed - Rowlands
in the UK do it, Marstons did last year too.
Nature et Paysage in France have mature G. hispidula, repens,
pygmaea and violacea plants for sale.
I'm sure plenty of US and other firms also stock at least seed.
Addresses and details available from the seller.list in the
listserv.
Polypompholyx tenella and multifida are not uncommonly available,
but not many people still call them that. Polypompholyx was
absorbed into Utricularia in, umm, about 1988?. (Shame to lose
such a great name though...) Look for U. tenella and U. multifida.
U. westonii seems very scarce though.

> On a different note, does anyone remember someone mentioning a company
> in Oregon that made T-shirts with CP pictures on them? Are they still in
> business? I sent a letter asking about the shirts the same time I sent a
> letter to Lowry; I still haven't gotten a reply.
> One more thing. Has anyone ever tried rooting a leaf cutting from any
> Sarra. species. I don't mean a normal leaf cutting, but rather a piece
> of a leaf, as is done with VFT's (y'know, put a piece of leaf on moist
> media, etc..., and voila, plantlets budding off the cutting)?

I don't like to say "it can't be done", but I wouldn't waste my
time trying. Except psittacina and purpurea (which need the whole
pitcher and a piece of rhizome,) leaf cuttings appear to be a
complete no-no. Probably possible with a large (read 'expensive',)
laboratory full of tissue culture equipment, but not practical
for everyday propagation. Rhizome cuttings are probably the most
reliable vegetative method.

Hope this helps,

Peter Cole