Date: Sat, 13 Sep 1997 22:40:25 -0400 From: Richard Brown <esoft@ix.netcom.com> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg3527$foo@default> Subject: Re: More N. Williamsii
Hello,
Jumping in again from the office (Richard Brown). Did a little homework
on Victorian Nepenthes hybrids. N.x Williamsii is the hybrid of N.
xHybrida x N. Hookeriana made by James Taplin around 1880. Showing the
same parentage, also made by Taplin, are the hybrids N.x Superba,
xHenryana, and xOutramiana. Taplin also crossed mirabilis and
Hookeriana and named the progeny N. xAtrosanguinea, xWrigleyana,
xCoccinea, xMorganiana, and, a few years later, N. xParadisae.
The criteria used to name these siblings was not exactly scientific, but
rather, motivated by the best way to sell more expensive Nepenthes. As
a group of siblings grew up, they were sorted by appearence of the
pitchers. Each population that looked similar was given a name, ie.
N. xCoccinea were the tall red pitchers, N. xMorganiana were the pale
round pitchers with the heavy chocolate spotting. This gave the nursery
a nice assortment of plants to sell to collectors from a minimum number
of parent plants. If these plants bloomed again in the following
season, the cross could be remade and continue the supply of Nepenthes
hybrids. Perhaps even a few new names could be added the the price
list!
A Nepenthes list (as well as other CP) is a great idea, but the hybrid
list will require considerable detective work to unravel the old
crosses. Fascinating stuff-and we haven't even gotten to the Japanese
hybrids.
until later,
Trent Meeks
Pompano Beach, Florida
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