Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 20:26:38 +0000 From: Phil Wilson <cp@pwilson.demon.co.uk> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg3725$foo@default> Subject: Re: Fall Flowers
In message <F0DEEE37B071D211AB210001FA12DAAF10C62E@MCDC-ATL-50>,
Mellard, David <dam7@cdc.gov> writes
>>A question for the Sarracenia experts: Is it normal for S. rubra to
>>bloom at this time?
>
>Hi Trent,
>
>I don't think of myself as a Sarracenia expert, but rather a Sarracenia
>specialist so here's my attempt at your question.
>
>While fall is not the normal flowering period, the occasional flower will
>pop up in fall. Quite often they end up on shorter stems and may have
>deformities depending upon cultural conditions. I've never read anyone
>giving a specific hypothesis for why the plant decided to flower other than
>a general reference to cultural conditions or rather changes in cultural
>conditions. If it was happening here, I'd cut the flower preferably before
>blooming and certainly after blooming rather than trying to set seed. If
>you're thinking about setting seed, remember that the plant is really trying
>to go dormant and probably doesn't have the energy to mature a seed pod.
>I've also read that the pods quite often become infected with a
>microorganism.
>
I think the main reason for flowers being produced in the fall rather
than the following spring is the weather. The next spring's embyonic
flower is produced or part produced in the late fall as the plant is
preparing to enter dormancy. If the fall weather is unusually warm then
the flower can be fooled into thinking it is spring and continue to
develop and fully emerge.
In cultivation I too find the flowers normally develop short stems and
although I have heard of one grower who was able to collect seed this
seems to be pretty rare.
I was also surprised to find fall flowers also occur in natural
population of Sarracenias. Normally it is just one or two plants at a
site but I remember finding a colony of S. minor near the Okkefenokee
swamp in Georgia where almost every plant was in flower.
Regards,
-- Phil Wilson
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