Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2098 20:18:47 -0800 From: "Edward Read" <ay080@lafn.org> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg1116$foo@default> Subject: New sundew-flytrap discovery from Oaxaca Mexico
New Discovery Announcement
This is a prepublication announcement for a new sundew discovery made
earlier this year . In January, amateur botanist Edward Read discovered a
previously undescribed species of Drosera while he was on a trip to the
highlands of Oaxaca Mexico in a search for new Mexican butterworts. The
sundew was found growing at the base of a waterfall in semi-aquatic
conditions. The plant bears a strong morphological similarity to Dionaea
muscipula, and it is postulated to be a possible evolutionary link between
the two genera. The leaf lamina is bi-lobed, and with stimulation by
sufficiently large captured insect prey, the lobes fold together in the
same manner as seen in Dionaea. The leaf trap appears amazingly similar to
a hypothetical drawing of an intermediate evotion theorized by Ivan Snyder
which was printed in the I.C.P.S.\222s journal the Carnivorous Plant
Newsletter Dec. 1985. Taxonomist Fernando Rivadavia is preparing a formal
description paper and has made a chromosome count of 2n = 34, which is the
same as found in Drosera regia. This differs from Dionaea which is 2n =32
by one chromosome pair; an important evolutionary fact according to Ivan.
The new species is tentatively named Drosera archaeodoinaea.
The future for the new sundew looks bright. Mexican botanists have already
found two other population sites in the same region. Edward Read has
successfully established the plant in tissue culture from wild collected
seed for mass propagation and distribution. Anyone having the proper
facility to perpetuate it may make their reservations for a single flask
with Ed now at his e-mail address. Participants will be listed in his web
pages. Also, for you hobbyists, grower Sean Samia reports that plantlets
removed from tissue culture and potted grow as well as Venus\222 Flytrap. Sean
expects that he will have plants available for trade starting mid May.
Unfortunately, field photos of the plant in habitat are not clear enough
for computer display, though Ed will soon have good specimen photos for
viewing in his web pages. Watch for upcoming popular nontechnical articles
in his Internet section written by Ivan Snyder in collaboration with
Fernando Rivadavia, Ed Read and Sean Samia. More details to be posted in
the next couple of days.
Take Care and Have Fun!
Edward Read
http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/9848/
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