>I have grown CP's for about seven years now and this season will be
>attempting cultivation of both Byblis species. My question is...Has
>anyone attempted to hybridise between the two species B.gigantea and
>B.liniflora? I have never heard of any hybrids...Does that mean it's
>not possible?
It is at least not very probable that a plant with 2n=14 chromosomes
(_B.gigantea_) will readily hybridize with one having 24 or 32 chromosomes
(_B.liniflora_, depending on author consulted or clone considered). So we
can hope with some reason that at least in _Byblis_ there will never be the
terrible hybrid jumble so well known from other genera of horticultural
interest.
>On another note....What is the taxanomic classification of Drosera
>auriculata, is it a separate species or a subspecies of D.peltata?
>I keep reading articles stating it as a subspecies yet I see it on
>seed lists as a separate species.
Barry J. CONN has demonstrated with much care and diligence that there is
virtually no morphological discontinuity between the two taxa (in nature,
not necessarily in cultivation!), and he has therefore combined both as
subspecies of _D.peltata_, reflecting the quantitative predominance (but
not exclusivity!) of "auriculata" features in E Au, whereas "peltata"
characters are more frequent in the remaining range (which is by far the
largest in subgen. Ergaleium) of the species. N. MARCHANT rejected these
views (without even approaching something like an analysis) because of
differences in embryo structure which CONN did not consider. I follow CONN.
>Finally, I have been reading up on tissue culture techniques for
>various species, the slide show provided by Rick Walker being
>invaluable, and have tried some on Nepenthes leaf cuttings.
You are not the first (and rather certainly not the last) who has not
managed to sterilize _Nepenthes_ leaf cuttings. So far the only promising
in vitro method in _Nepenthes_ is growing them from seed. The fungi are not
necessarily systemic but you usually will not be able to kill them *before*
the plant tissue dies. My tip: try seed.
Kind regards
Jan