The Pitcher Plant Project

S. ((rubra x oreophila) x flava v. rugelii) x ‘Adrian Slack’

Sarracenia Dude — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:00:04 +0000

Sarracenia ((rubra x oreophila) x flava v. rugelii) x ‘Adrian Slack’
Select plant from a 2009 cross.

Bog Goblin – AF Wierdness: Part 2

Sarracenia Dude — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:37:45 +0000

In the last post, it seems that the plant I have shows off anthocyanin free qualities – without any red coloring. I mean, it’s *supposed* to be AF, right? After all, Brooks Garcia did this cross with anthocyanin free plants: Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea f. heterophylla x (leucophylla AF x rubra ssp. jonesii AF). A photo of a few of his S. “Bog Goblins” are below.

Sarracenia “Bog Goblin”
Photo by Brooks Garcia

So here’s the weird thing: the plant I have *at initial glance* seems to be AF. New pitchers have no red markings whatsoever. As the pitchers age for me, it’s a different story. There seems to be a “leakage” of anthocyanin in this anthocyanin free plant. It could stem from a variety of reasons. Could it be my environmental conditions? Water? After all, I water my plants with tap. My tap water, thankfully is clean enough but it’s not as “pure” as I would like. My water runs anywhere from 50ppm-110ppm. The water company here adds chloromine (a chlorine/ammonia compound) to treat the water.

Here’s an interesting post on the International Carnivorous Plant Society Forums. In the thread, Phil Sheridan of Meadowview points out:

“Red blushing in floral or vegetative structures of anthocyanin-free plants is possible. A classic case was Don Schnell’s anthocyanin free Sarracenia jonesii which sometimes have a slight red hint in some leaf veins. Although all Sarracenia studied to date share the lesion in the same gene which blocks anthocyanin biosynthesis there is occasional “leakage” and anthocyanin may be produced in some plants. We don’t know why yet but perhaps enzyme activity is restored due to some factor and a small amount of pigment is produced.”

It could be that something or a combination of some things on my end triggers the enzyme activity that causes this “leak” in this particular clone. Or could it be that what we’re seeing is not really anthocyanin, but another pigment like betalain? (Ehhh maybe. Or maybe not. It is said that betalain occurs in other plant families, and probably not present in Sarracenia… who knows though.) For me, the red leakage has happened on very rare occasions and in a small quantities on other plants, like the AF S. jonesii mentioned above. Perhaps only two or three times that I can recall out of all the years I’ve been growing so far.

Anyway, check it out. These older pitchers exhibit some faint red coloration in the veins. Interesting stuff!

Sarracenia “Bog Goblin”
Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea f. heterophylla
x (leucophylla AF x rubra ssp. jonesii AF)

Bog Goblin – AF Weirdness: Part 1

Sarracenia Dude — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:20:45 +0000

Last year I received S. “Bog Goblin” from Brooks Garcia. The parentage is Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea f. heterophylla x (leucophylla AF x rubra ssp. jonesii AF). Looks pretty anthocyanin free, right?

It’s a nice plant, but there’s something more to it which I’ll share in the next post.

Sarracenia “Bog Goblin”
Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea f. heterophylla
x (leucophylla AF x rubra ssp. jonesii AF)
New growth – looking very AF

Sarracenia “Bog Goblin”
Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea f. heterophylla
x (leucophylla AF x rubra ssp. jonesii AF)
Back of the pitcher.

Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa

Sarracenia Dude — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:07:53 +0000

Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa

Sarracenia “Orange Glow” x ‘Adrian Slack’

Sarracenia Dude — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:19:57 +0000

In 2009 I crossed S. moorei “Orange Glow” and S. ‘Adrian Slack’. Not sure exactly what I was expecting by crossing two moorei plants together, but I can say that breeding projects involving S. ‘Adrian Slack’ have yielded some fascinating (aaaaand… even *not* so fascinating) results. I’m somewhat partial to the select youngster in the photograph below for its delicate and faded pastel color scheme. Don’t let it fool you though. This plant is still a hungry cylindrical savage.

Sarracenia “Orange Glow” x ‘Adrian Slack’

Sarracenia flava “Cinnamon Tube”

Sarracenia Dude — Tue, 07 May 2013 23:45:34 +0000

Sarracenia flava “Cinnamon Tube”
A flava clone originating from Botanique
Parentage: S. flava var. rubricorpora x flava var. cuprea

Sarracenia leucophylla – Franklin Co., FL

Sarracenia Dude — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:00:50 +0000

Here are some exceptional pitchers of S. leucophylla – Franklin Co., FL. These plants are actually S. leucophylla – Franklin Co., FL Clone A x B crossed by Wes Buckner. Can’t wait to witness the autumn pitchers!

Sarracenia leucophylla – Franklin Co., FL
Clone A x B
Cross by Wes Buckner

Weekend Assortment

Sarracenia Dude — Sat, 04 May 2013 19:48:36 +0000

Hello! Here’s an assortment of pitcher goodness from around the greenhouse to start your weekend off. Have a great weekend everyone!

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Sarracenia leucophylla “Juju Lips” x flava “Widemouth”

Sarracenia “John Rizzi” x ‘Judith Hindle’

Nepethes ventricosa x spectabilis – about to open

Sarracenia purpurea “ruffles” x leucophylla – pubescent
Cross by Jerry Addington

Sarracenia ‘Tapestry’

Nepenthes hybrid

Sarracenia flava var. cuprea

Sarracenia flava var. maxima

Nepenthes hybrid

Sarracenia leucophylla “Purple Lips” x flava var. ornata

Sarracenia ”Red Viper”

Sarracenia oreophila x ‘Royal Ruby’
Cross by Phil Faulisi

Sarracenia oreophila

Sarracenia ‘Adrian Slack’

The AF Quest Continues

Sarracenia Dude — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:02:37 +0000

My quest for more interesting AF (Anthocyanin Free) creations continues. Here is just one stop along the journey: Sarracenia (leucophylla “Purple Lips” x flava var. rubricorpora) x “Green Monster”. This was a cross I did back on April 21, 2011. As I mentioned in this earlier post, it has that “hidden” anthocyanin free gene that I hope to unlock in subsequent crosses with other AF plants, or AF recessive plants.

Sarracenia (leucophylla “Purple Lips” x flava var. rubricorpora)
x “Green Monster”

Sarracenia oreophila x ‘Adrian Slack’

Sarracenia Dude — Thu, 02 May 2013 22:47:40 +0000

Below are some various clones of S. oreophila x ‘Adrian Slack’, a cross I did back in 2009. The flower pod was harvested on 26 July 2009 and if I recall correctly, I was able to actually start these babies under lights in the late fall/winter of 2009. Note the variation in the photos below – some plants showing some incredible color and form. Other clones, eh – not so much. Influences from both parents can be spotted among the youngsters. All of them still are pretty interesting and beautiful in their own way. Watching the plants evolve and grow always gives me a sense of self gratification and at the same time also leaves me hungry for more.

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Sarracenia oreophila x ‘Adrian Slack’