S. ‘Chaos’ x FLG

RobBlog, Recessive: Lidless, Sarracenia

Here’s another one with those hidden sleeper lidless genetics. (Hopefully.) A few years ago I did a pairing of S. ‘Chaos’ and S. flava – lidless giant. This was a mash-up of two plants with unique definitive characteristics: S. ‘Chaos’ with its ominous angular peristome combined with the strange but sophisticatedly simplified S. FLG. (FLG for Flava Lidless Giant). Parent photos are below for context. The above gallery features one of the young plants from this cross. Updates to follow on the siblings.

The plants from this cross are not of blooming maturity just yet. But so far, I like what I’m seeing. I really enjoy how the peristome from S. ‘Chaos’ carried over. The (normal -lidded) flava shape influence is also apparent. If my inclinations are correct: crossing this with another lidless or lidless-recessive (for example: selfing or sib-crossing) should result in some un-hooded goodness. And of course, I’m looking to throw that peristome of chaotic angular-ocity into the mix. Stay tuned to see where this goes! 🙂

S. “Sun Piercer”

RobBlog, Sarracenia

A plant that has been catching my eye in recent season is a moorei that I’m calling S. “Sun Piercer” as a working name. I don’t remember exactly where the seed came from or who did the cross. The seed was received as S. leucophylla 30A x flava “Goldie” from a few years ago. It is turning out to be a rather nice moorei featuring golden undertones, an angular nectar roll, and dark red veins that lace the upper portion of the pitcher. The working name S. “Sun Piercer” was inspired as I was walking through the garden during the early evening hours. The setting sun behind the pitchers made it appear as if the golden pitchers were “piercing” through the sun. Here are a few photos from previous seasons.

2024: First Bloom

RobBlog, Flower, Recessive: Anthocyanin Free, Recessive: Lidless, Sarracenia, Sarracenia Flowers

S. (courtii AF x “Green Monster”) x flava var. ornata lidless
01 Jan 2024

A new year, new bloom and new possibilities. Some time ago, I crossed S. (courtii AF x “Green Monster”) with pollen from S. flava var. ornata lidless. Photo on left is from 03 Nov 2021. It has a combination of characteristics from both parents. The semi upright form one could expect from the combination. Worth noting are the veins patterns that are from S. flava var. ornata lidless. This is the only plant that is from that cross that year. It was growing outdoors for most of it’s life, then brought under lights to encourage a bloom.

As of 01 Jan 2024 – a bloom on this plant opened. It’s another step on this journey to a semi-upright Sarracenia that is hopefully both AF and lidless. Hey, why not – right? To the right is a photo as of 01 Jan 2024 grown under lights for about 2 months. I left some of the pitchers on that were from the outdoors. I know, the old pitchers look kinda crusty. But look! There’s new pitchers growing. Old dying pitchers will eventually be removed as new pitchers develop and grow. Flower is still fresh and pollen has not dropped – yet. If/when it does, a selfing is in order. Let’s see where this goes!

Lidless Moorei: S. ‘Bris’ x flava lidless giant

RobBlog, Lidless

More lidless-ness? Yes please. Here are some clips and photos of the lidless S. moorei seedlings, resulting from a primary cross of two lidless plants: S. leucophylla ‘Bris’ x flava “lidless giant”. The cross was done in 2021. Pollination in May, seed harvested in September, then germinated in December of that year. Out of the five seeds, three sprouted and two survived. This past season, seedlings grew outside for most of the year. After a very quick autumn quasi-dormancy, the seedlings were moved indoors under lights to get them growing again. Enjoy a few clips of documenting the recent pitchers, Dec 2023.

The plants are still developing – so far I like what I’m seeing. Some general observations: At first glance, seedlings do look very much like the mother plant: S. leucophylla ‘Bris’. The latest pitchers on both seem to have a touch more stockiness, compared to S. ‘Bris’. The “nub” ( or “pitcher column” I guess? “Nub” sounds funnier tho…) looks to also be a little stouter in comparison to the nub-to-pitcher ratio of the mother plant. Pitcher development on the seedlings starts off flat. I’ve seen this characteristics with other lidless Sarracenia. One pitcher can been seen in the photos/video in this pitcher-inflating transitory state. For coloration – as the pitchers age, the pitcher nub-dongle-column-thingy develops a red coloration. This characteristic is from the pollen parent – S. flava lidless giant. The recent pitchers do not have this coloration yet, but as they mature I hope to see that characteristic pull through.

To add on to all of the lidless excitement – one seedling even had a pitcher sporting a double nub! YES. DOUBLE. NUB. Twice as much lidless flavoring infused into that one pitcher. 🙂 Fun stuff!

See related posts: here and here.

Curious Catesbaei Encounters of the Lidless Kind

RobBlog, Lidless, Sarracenia

The seedlings are growing and it has been remarkable to witness the growth and evolution of these babies. It’s really exciting to see how these are shaping up. These are a few photos to document the growth and journey of a 2022 selfing of S. purpurea ssp. venosa var. montana x flava var. ornata – lidless. Here are some seedlings from the batch. (An update to this post…)

Clear Edge

RobBlog, Sarracenia

A while back, Jerry Addington gifted me with some of the first divisions of the famed white purps. (Supposedly resulting from a cross between two regular looking S. purpurea plants.) I’ve been growing the various clones outdoors and after a couple of seasons, they do still color up quite beautifully. I noticed something interesting the other day that I haven’t really observed on other plants. There is a subtle thin translucent edge on the pitchers! So cool. Here are a few photos of the plant and some close ups of the hood edge.