green swamp and pitcher plants
dionea@nando.net
Wed, 23 Aug 95 22:28:33 EDT
hi all, Phil and I had the opportunity to see the swamp a short time
after a summer burn. the pitchers were small and not all that shoddy
because they were second growth after the burn. However, there was
damage by Zxyra larvae and therefore the plants werent all that
spectacular in the field that many "visitors" get to enter into to see
the plants. We did travel some (not a lot in near one-hundred temps)
and found fields that weren't burned and the plants were true to form,
and spectacular isn't strong enough of a description. However, I do not
recall the phylodia growth on the field plants that mine show on all the
Flavas, leucos, and oreos, and hybrids that I have growing in otherwise
more controlled conditions at my house. This summer has truly been a
stressful summer for all my outdoor plants--too much rain; no
rain....The growth of the phyllodia for my plants, Jeff, will mean the
end of summer-type pitchers if the past 6 years is any indication of
their growth pattern. They just don't get going this late in the year.
Some other points of interest to make about the plants we saw: S
rubra was
tolerating the drier conditions even better than I had seen them do so
in the past.Perhaps they are getting more water than we realize. The
flytraps are unbelievable--large traps and large plants everywhere.
Very easy to find in even tall grass. Phil was able to help me find
more pings than ever before. No sight of U. inflata--no surprise, just
disappointment.
All in all, a good trip. Unfortunately, my wife opened my camera to
load it
with film and my film of the trip was still in it! Oh well, time for
another trip! Bruce