My passion these days is pygmy Drosera. I have an ambition to
establish a reference collection here in the UK but my current
premises are far from optimum for cultivation and receiving
visitors. I am particularly interested in the miniatures, and in
view of the taxonomic uncertainty regarding the Pygmaea and
Occidentalis complexes, I am trying to obtain as much different
material as possible, preferably with locality data.
I am also building a collection of aquatic Utrics (and yes, I
would like Aldrovanda but then who wouldn't) and a collection
of CPs hardy in the UK. Hardiness is relative - my VFTs live in
a timber/perspex conservatory and they usually get frozen a
couple of times a year without too much harm, but I wouldn't
risk them with no protection. I hope to add some US Pings
to my hardy collection this year if I can obtain seed from the
UK society. I would appreciate details of possible suppliers of
hardy South American species like P. Antarctica and D.
Uniflora.
(I also collect Docks and Sorrels - seed of Rumex Occidentalis
and other non-European species would be very welcome).
Some questions:
Adrian Slack's first book mentions several pygmy species by
locality, but I can find no subsequent usage of those names.
Can anyone match them to things on Allen Lowrie's latest
list?
Does anyone have any hints on germinating pygmy seed? I
have had few successes, although a spell of prolonged high
temperature sometimes seems to help.
Has anyone experimented with pygmy leaf cuttings? I have
had some success with species having broad leaf stalks, and a
lot of success where the leaf has been gnawed from the plant
by sciarid fly larvae. I suspect I am accidentally crushing the
leaf stalks of the smaller species.
What is the CP trading post? Can I join using only e-mail
facilities?
Good Growing, Nigel Hurneyman