Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 17:10:43 -0500 From: "Richard Brown" <esoft@ix.netcom.com> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg3416$foo@default> Subject: Re:Home Depot Neps
>-Did you really mean N. alata X N. Ventrata, or is it N. alata X N.
>ventricosa? How would one tell the difference between those two
>hybrids?
N. Ventrata is alata X ventricosa. The DeRoose hybrid looks intermediate
between a Ventrata and an alata. I would suspect that the seed bearing plant
at the DeRoose, Belgium Nursery was a female alata, thus the hybrid bears
the name of this plant when put into tissue culture. This only my opinion,
but is the only logical explanation. Whatever its exact parentage may be, it
is not a true alata. We call it, here in Florida, N alata "DeRoose", so it
may not be confused with a "pure" alata.
>What is it about the DeRoose nursery that makes them incapable of
labeling correctly?
Workers at the various retailers don't care, and a lack of common
nomenclature in horticultural circles for naming Nepenthes. Again, my
opinion: In order to tissue culture N. alata, one needs N alata seed. Unless
collected in the wild, one would need a male and female alata to bloom at
the same time. I suspect that the DeRoose alata is the result of a female
alata and a male Ventrata in bloom at the same time in the same greenhouse.
>I think your assumptions of hybrid 1 and 3 are
>right on the money. I'm not convinced hybrid 2 is N. x coccinea although
>I could see how you might think that from my paltry description. It would
>not surprise me if there are more than 3 hybrids being sold at chain
>stores.
So far, DeRoose has only three Nepenthes in tissue culture. The N. Coccinea
is not a pure N. Coccinea for the same reasons as the N alata. It is an N.
Coccinea hybrid, probably with another (N. mirabilis X N Hookeriana),
perhaps onto N. Edeninsis or Chelsonii. The N Coccinea "DeRoose" is actually
better than the old Victoria hybrid. It has larger pitchers, and is more
heavily marked in red spotting. Again, not tp confuse it with the old
original hybrid, we have been calling it N. Coccinea "DeRoose".
All three of these Nepenthes hybrids are attractive and vigorous, and worth
having in a collection if you are interested in growing Nepenthes hybrids.
You "Species purists" beware! Two of these three clones are being sold as a
species and they are in fact hybrids! If you acquire one by accident, watch
out! It just might convert you to growing hybrids with its large, colorful
and plentiful pitcher production!
I don't like to make commercial pitches, and I am not a commercial grower,
but my pal Clyde Bramblett of Orgel's Orchids in Miami has all three clones
for sale, and they are nice sized plants. Some other growers down here have
the plants, but I don't know if all clones are available.
Until later,
Trent Meeks
Pompano Beach, Fl
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