P.grandiflora f. chionopetra

From: Loyd Wix (Loyd.Wix@unilever.com)
Date: Thu Jun 04 1998 - 07:56:24 PDT


Date: 04 Jun 1998 15:56:24 +0100
From: Loyd Wix <Loyd.Wix@unilever.com>
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg1908$foo@default>
Subject: P.grandiflora f. chionopetra


          John,

>Sometime ago a friend told me of a white flowered form of
>Pinguicula Grandiflora, that had been discovered in
>Ireland, the exact location of which was kept secret to
>discourage plant hunters etc.

>Has anybody else heard of this or was it a wind-up?

          Yes it does exist and is called P.grandiflora f.
          chionopetra. I cannot remember the full information from the
          paper but precise location details were not given, and the
          type specimen was taken in the form of a photograph rather
          than removing and pressing (hence killing) the plant.

>If it was true, does the plant, in it's secret location,
>still exist?

          It probably still lives in South Western Eire.

>Given the prolific nature of P.Grandiflora seed and gemmae,
>why has it never been introduced into cultivation.

          From a horticultural point of view such a plant would be
          desirable, however to 'introduce' it to cultivation would
          need someone to collect plant material or seed from habitat.
          The author of the paper clearly recognised this danger and
          so did not reveal the location. White flowered forms of
          other temperate Pinguicula are also known to occur.

>Does anybody have it in cultivation (and would be willing
>to sell/swap some seed? :) )

          I am unaware of this plant (f.chionopetra) in cultivation
          but other pale forms of P.grandiflora (ssp rosea, f.pallida)
          are in some collections.

          Regards

          Loyd



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