Nepenthes Choice

Demetrio Lamzaki (Dee_Lamzaki@msn.com)
Fri, 12 Apr 96 08:15:42 UT

>I am going to set up a warm glasshouse (winter min. 13'C (55'F))
>and I want a couple of Nepenthes climbing up one side of it. I
>wondered if anyone could tell me which species would be good
>for this, (the faster growing species of Highland origin) but not N.
>alata or khasiana.

Toby, I second Bob's suggestion of N. ventricosa, the smooth pitcher
texture is quite outstanding, some varieties look like they're made of
wax or porcelain. The brilliant red peristome is a real eye catcher and
makes a great color contrast with the rest of the plant, the almost
perfectly circular mouth with the figure eight pitcher shape is very
attractive. They can also take a lot of abuse and a wide fluctuation in
temperatures. My ventricosa is putting up flower stalks now, about a
month and a half later than he did last year. He's been a very fast
grower, I keep him in my screened porch and he's doing great.

NH>Adrian Slack's first book mentions several pygmy species
NH>by locality, but I can find no subsequent usage of those
NH>names. Can anyone match them to things on Allen
NH>Lowrie's latest list?

Welcome to the list Nigel. Allen uses some former place names next to the
scientific names of the species of pygmy drosera on his 1995-1996 list, for
example:

D. nitidula ssp. omissa X D. occidentalis = D. sp. "Lake Badgerup"

I don't know if all the species formally named by locality you're looking for
are there, but quite a few others on the list are translated in this manner.

>I don't believe I have ever seen a picture of a cross with N.
>bicalcarata and anything - do they exist?

Hi Bob,

There have been hybrids with bicalcarata, but from what I've heard many
lack the "fangs" of the bicalcarata parent so the results are
nondescript. I'm sure someone on this list has seen/made some and can
detail which have had the "fangs" and which lacked them. I wonder if
crossing the hybrid with a pure bicalcarata helps to bring them back.
That's what our hobby needs, a rajah with 10-inch fangs! What a great
plant for Halloween! :-)

Regards,

Demetrios