DECEMBER 1982 VOLUME 11, Number 4 CARNIVOROUS PLANT NEWSLETTER official Journal of the International Carnivorous Plant Society Volume 1 1 , Number 4 December, 1 982 COVER Nepenthes villosa in habitat on Mt. Kinabalu. Photo by Dave Taylor. See article, page 89. The co-editors of CRN would like everyone to pay particular attention to the following policies regarding your dues to the ICRS. All correspondence regarding dues, address changes and missing issues should be sent to Mrs. Pat Hansen, 3321 Hamell Rd., Fullerton, CA 92635. DO NOT SEND TO THE CO-EDITORS. Checks for subscriptions and reprints should be made payable to CSUF FOUNDATION-ARBORETUM. All material for publication, comments and general correspondence about your plants, field trips or special noteworthy events relating to CP shoula be directed to one of the co-editors. We are interested in al' news related to carnivorous plants and rely on the membership to supply us with this information so that we can share it with others. Views expressed in this publication are those of the authors, not necessarily the editorial staff. Copy deadline for the March issue is Feb. 1 , 1 983. CO-EDITORS: D. E. Schnell, Rt. 1 , Box 1 450, Pulaski, VA 24301 J. A. Mazrimas, 329 Helen Way, Livermore, CA 94550 T. L. Mellichamp, Dept, of Biology, UNCO, Charlotte, NO 28223 Leo Song, Dept, of Biology, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92634 Seed Bank: Patrick Dwyer, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 49 Killean Park, Albany, NY 12205, USA. BUSINESS MANAGER: Mrs. Pat Hansen, c/o The Fullerton Arboretum PUBLISHER: The International Carnivorous Plant Society by the Fullerton Arboretum, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92634. Published quarterly with one volume annually. Printer: Kandid Litho, 129 Agostino Rd., San Gabriel, CA 91776. Circulation: 734 (150 new, 584 renewal). Dues: $10.00 annually, $15.00 foreign. Reprints available by volume only. ®1982 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter. All rights reserved. 82 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter THE I.C.P.S. BY-LAWS LET’S GET GOING! by Don Schnell CPN kind of started out as an orphan. Many people, especially those with great experience with various botanical and plant societies and their bulletins, news¬ letters and journals, commented on how CPN grew into such a fine publication and never was associated with an organiza¬ tion. So, after many suggestions that we do indeed organize, we finally put the cart in front of the horse and put the International Carnivorous Plant So¬ ciety together more than a year ago. Every society has some kind of by¬ laws, and we have ours. For some time, they have been undergoing various stages of approval and fine tuning by the Ar¬ boretum and legal counsel and they are ready at last. You will recall that about a year ago, we tried to activate the so¬ ciety by holding an election for officers as required by the interim by-law rules, but nobody came! Apparently, the rules of nomination and election were not un¬ derstood by the readers as they were presented in abstracted form in CPN, or else no one was quite sure they wanted to get involved with leadership. We co-editors have been taking care of CPN for years, and the interim by-law rules provide that we temporarily lead ICPS also until officers are installed. We should not, nor do we wish to, continue as interim officers of the society for¬ ever. We must hold elections, install of¬ ficers, and begin the many fine activities which the by-laws indicate the society should be doing in addition to con- timung CPN. There is a copy of the ICPS by-laws included in this mailing, and you should read them through. LegaJese has been minimized and we believe they are un¬ derstandable. Note the provisions for of¬ ficers, for amending the by-laws in case you, as a member, have some ideas that would benefit all, and the proposed activi- des of the society. We would certainly like to hear your comments on all of this and on any points in the by-laws. But remember that the by-laws can only be changed through an amendment process, which is not all that difficult and provides for broad in¬ put from other society members. Above all, we must elect officers, appoint com¬ mittees, and get going! SEED BANK* (Oct. 25, 1982) Byblis gigantea (10), Darlingtonia califomica (5), Dionaea musapula, Drosera aliciae (15), D. angtica (5), D. aunculata (5), D. binata rmdtifida (2), D. brevifolia (2), D. burkeana (1), D. burmannii, D. capensis, D. capensis (narrow leaf), D. capillaris (5), D. capillans (long leaf), D. curvispica (1), D. dielsiana (15), D. erythrorhiza (1), D. filiformis (3), D. filiformis plifnrmis (10), D. hilaris (1), D. indica (5), D. inter¬ media, D. linearis (10), D. montana (6), D. natalensis (2), D. nitidula (2), D. peltata (4), D. puichella (2), D. pugmaea (15), D. rotundifolia, D. spathulata, D. spath. (Kansai), D. spath. [Formosa] (5), D. spath. (white fl.), D. Irinervia (4), Nepenthes gracilis, N. khasiaria, N. mirabilis, N. rafflesiana, Pinguicula alpina, P. caerulea (5), P. caudata (1), P. Corsica, P. graneUpora (10), P. grandipora J. phallida, P. grandtpora rosea, P. lutea (10), P. primidpora (2), P. vulgaris, P. vulgaris bicolor, Sarracenia Pava, S. leucophylla. S. minor (5), S. purpurea purpurea, S. purpurea venosa (15), S. rubra (2), S. psitt. X minor, S. purp. X psitt, (1), Utncularia capensis (5), U. gibba ssp. gibba (\],U. lalerpora? (6), U. subulata (5). "For instructions on how to send or order seed, see CPN March 1982, page 4. Volume 11 • December 1982 83 News and Views BILL CARROLL (Chatham Botanical, P.O. Box 691, Carrboro, NC 27510) sent the following in on how- he constructed CP plant beds outdoors in his area. The plant beds are about 0.6 x 2.4 in. (2X8 ft.) and 15 cm (6 in.) deep in the ground. A wood frame around and above the bed keeps surface water from running in, and keeps out debris and weed seed. See figure 1. Fairly heavw plastic (4 mil) is used to line the beds. Do not nail it to the frame until the soil mix has been watered in and allowed to settle for a tew days or else the weight of settling will tear the plastic around the nails. He uses a soil SPECIAL NOTICE: Now that CPN has gone to bulk mail¬ ing for U.S. subscribers, it is more im¬ portant than ever to advise us of ad¬ dress changes. Bulk mail is not auto¬ matically forwarded to the new address. Most of it comes back to us, postage due (or 37C for each magazine). If one issue comes back to us, we mail no further issues until we receive notifi¬ cation of a new address. So — if you have moved and have not received vour CPN, that may be why. S. alabamensis alabamensis. The photo shows two tvpes of pitchers: tall erect summer pitchers and recurved spring pitchers. These are robust pitchers from a irnld pop¬ ulation. Please note the cm scale on the left side of the photo. Cultivated traps usually do not approach this degree of robust¬ ness. The populations other people have seen have been shaded and consecjuently photos of wild plants from shaded popu¬ lations will not give the full character of the species. The photo was taken in late fall (when the largest traps are produced); plants were growing in full sun in hillside seepage bog. Sent bv Tom Gibson, Dept, of Ecology and Evolutionarv' Biologs', Uni- versitv of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721. mix of two parts brown fibrous peat (Canadian tvpe) and one part verrnicu- lite. Avoid using perlite because it floats and will cover any small plants. At the low'est corner of the bed, the plastic is stretched under the frame. Ex¬ cess water easilv drains away. A short tvpe of sphagnum moss (live) was plug¬ ged in randomlv with most going to the lower end. This held the “soil” in during heavy rains. See figure 2. A weak solution of water soluble ferti¬ lizer was applied once a month during the summer. Within three months the moss plugs had grow'u to completely cover the bed. A year later, an area of 30 X 60 cm (1 X 2 ft) yielded about four liters (one gallon) of extra moss every tw’o months during the summer. Although the beds w'ere originalK’ built for producing DIonaea plants and seed, one bed was planted with Sarracenia rubra rescued from a construction site. Many flowered this year and seed pods are now ripening! (See photos, right.) NB: cm scale 84 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter Figure 1. Plant beds are 2 ft. X 8 ft. and 6 in. deep. Wooden frame keeps out surface water, debris and weed seed. Figure 2. Plastic stretched under frame at lowest corner causes excess water to drain away. Sphagnum moss plugs help retain soil during heavy rains. Volume 11 • December 1982 85 DAVID HARBSTER (3804 S. Walapai Dr., Apt. 01, Flag.staff, AZ 86001) writes; One of my Venus’ Fly Trap leaves “fell” into one of its own traps. The petiole apparently tripped the trigger hairs and the trap closed. Three days later the trap opened. There was not a sign of any harm to the trap nor petiole “prey.” RICKY M ADDER (112 Harbour View, Titirangi, New Zealand AK7) writes: I have read that CP growers in England have problems with D. aunculata and other tuber-fomiing sundews. Perhaps if they make the compost poorly draining like clay, then they might have more success. They should not let the pot dry out to bone dryness but water them periodically. The Drosera aunculata here generally likes to be in a fairly sunny position al¬ though I have seen them in a fairly deep shade in secondary growth bush. They fonn clumps with several individual plants scattered around an area. The soil varies with clay (poorly-draining) being the most common place to find them with some mosses, grasses and rushes. They seem to grow best when a litde humus is present and the soil is a little better drained. The plants grow with thicker stems and can often reach 2 ft. in height. Growth starts in May in the southern hemi¬ sphere when a rosette will fonn on the soil surface, or it will commence in late July and will shoot directly from under the ground when the rosetted ones begin shooting upwards. By late August, the faster growing plants will start flowering and the season continues until November, when the plants die down. Seed germi¬ nates the lollowing winter and grows a small rosette and then a small stem. Only a small number of insects are caught by the leaves and 1 observed that better looking plants must obtain some nutrients from the soil that is richer. When the plants have completely died down, the ground dries, but it is periodically moist¬ ened bv rain. To prevent your tubers from drying up, it might be a good idea to give them a little water everv now and then. There are two kinds of Drosera binata growing in Northland (N.Z.). They are D. binata dichotoma “small” and “large.” The large type is found in swamps and at the back of salt marshes amongst tall rushes and reeds. There the leaves may reach up to Im (3 ft.) high and span about 9 inches wide. Most of them are about 2 ft. high. Nearly all have germi¬ nated on fallen logs and roots grow down into permanently wet ground. A few were growing direcdy in the soil but were in an airy position. Growth starts here late in July but doesn’t really get away until September. They flower in Jan. -Feb. and die down immediately. The seed is released around March. The “small” type is found in sphagnum bogs and on seeping rocks and clay banks. The leaves commonly have 14 prongs on them. The ones growing on clay banks are rosey-red in color and very healthy looking, suggesting that they get some sort of nutrients from the soil. They grow the same as the larger form. In places (esp. sphagnum bogs), they grow so thick it is impossible to walk without squashing heaps of them. It’s a red carpet of glistening leaves. The seed genninates during autumn and grows slowly in winter and then increases its growth rate in spring. The seed seems to germinate er¬ ratically. JOE MAZRIMAS reports that the August San Francisco Flower Show was again a success. The exhibitors were Raymond Triplitt, Louise Avila, Joe Mazrimas, Larr\’ Logoteta, Emmi Weiss, Thomas Koerber, Glenn Greenawalt, Harold Charns and Gene Dong. The best of show was won by Ray Triplitt for Nepenthes truncata. The show' is open to anyone who lives in the greater Bay Area. In order to enter the show, you must send a postcard to the manager of the CP section in June 1983. He will send you the entry fonn and book as soon as they are ready. Please send your postcard with your address to: Tony Rea, 296 Precita Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110. Incidentally, the first five exhibitors men¬ tioned above were winners in at least one category. (See photos page 91.) 86 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter DON SCHNELL comments on why seed to two rare CP plants are not readily available in the seed bank. It has to do with the availability of viable pollen to fertilize the flowers. He says: The only time I ever got pollen from Heliamphora was when I was growing them under lights and the flowers opened against the warm, dry cover glass immediately beneath the tubes. I was then able to produce seeds, seedlings, and hence the article in the NYBG publication. Since they have been in the greenhouse, the anthers always stay soft, even in older flowers when the stigma is long, brown, and dry, then when the anthers do dry, they still do not dehisce. I think open air and sunlight without greenhouse ceilings intervening are re¬ quired for proper maturation. In the lights/ terrarium setup, this was simu¬ lated since the cover glass never fits tightly and there is less humidity near the top, and the flowers were right up next to the warm glass. Drosera regia might also require drier air and brighter light to dehisce pollen. PAUL SIMONS, 8 Gunter Grove, London SWIO OUJ, England writes; The British Carnivorous Plant Society has produced a fascinating booklet entitled “Meat Eating Plants” for their stunning exhibit at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. The booklet outlines the variety of carnivorous plant traps, but is mostly devoted to an in¬ triguing description of camivory in less well know species— including Shepherd’s purse seeds and petunias — as well as the possibilities of carnivory in a whole host of other plants. This 12 page, fully illus¬ trated (12 illustrations) publication can be ordered, price £1.00 including postage, from: The Secretary, Carnivorous Plant Society, 40 St. Thomas Road, Brent¬ wood, Essex, England. While in southeast Texas recently working on computers, RICH SIVERTSEN used his spare time to do some CP scouting in the Big Tliicket area. He found a man transplanted Irom the Bronx who liad a superb growth of Sarracenia alata in his pasture. Of course, he had the familiar complaint that the browsable grasses and forbs were decreasing while the S. alata was flourishing. He plans to bulldoze the pasture and reseed it to grass this winter and has given an open offer to anyone interested in CP to come and collect all the S. alata they want. Contact by mail ahead of time (or phone — get number from information): Mr. Joe Dianni, Rt. 2 Box 622, Warren TX 77664. He will give directions to his place. It is lelt that a six-pack would be an appropriate gratuity. STE’VT: smith (Rt. l, Box 296, Kirkwood, NY 13795) has found what may be the answer to the algae problem in growing Aldrovanda. He had previously used the tea made by soaking Canadian peat in hot water, but this and many other methods result eventually in an overgrowth of algae and severe decline in the Aldro¬ vanda. He is now trying a solution of 14 teaspoonful of tannic acid in 14 gallon of water. If algae starts to grow from the original innoculum, he adds 14 teaspoon¬ ful of tannic acid additional once a week until the algae turns yellow and dies. Meanwhile, so far, his Aldrovanda culture is considerably rejuvenated with budding and new growth. Steve will keep us posted on how this new method works over the long run. New locations for Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea f. heterophyla continue to be dis¬ covered by intrepid CP explorers. STEVE SMITH (1159 Trim St., Kirkwood, NY 13795) has discovered previously un¬ reported locations in upstate New York, these being in the proximity of Bing¬ hamton, NY. Two bogs were located with the plants and Steve offered proof with excellent photos of the veined and hetero- phylla fomis growing side by side and even intermingled in the open sphagnum bog. The area is supposedly riddled with bogs yet to be explored. Volume 11 • December 1982 87 1982 Activities of the North Carolina Carnivorous Plant Growers Ron Gagliardo 1216 Cooj)er Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27607 It all began last Januarv' on a chilly 30° F. day. The first congregation of NCCPG was held in Raleigh. The ttipic was “Nonhern CP” as presented by Don Schnell. Members present were 8. This meeting got the ball rolling and the next one came in early April when we tamped out near the Green .Swamp. This meeting started out Saturday morning with a tour of the swamp and later a [tlant rescue led by Stanley Rehder. At the rescue site, members indulged in acres of Sarracenia flava, rubra, purpurea; Drosera capillaris and intermedia. We returned to cam[t that night for a “gourmet” dinner prepared by chefs Floyd Rich (Reidsville, N.C.) and Jim Powell (Chesapeake, VA). Polish sausage, vegetables and ravioli were on the menu! The remainder of the eve¬ ning was spent in general conversation about CP. Members present were 12. Cur May meeting was a treat for all. Don Sthnell and family had us all out to their place for lunch. We were all so impressed with Don’s collection, but we touldn’t figure out just how he could grow mature and flowering specimens of Ileliamphora and Darlingtonia in the hot 100 °F greenhouse. It was truly a CP lover’s delight with rare CP like Drnsophyllurn, Heliarnphora and unusual Utncularia on display. But we soon discovered that Don wasn't the only plant nut in the family. Mrs. Sdmell tlisplaved a complete collec¬ tion of Begonias and Peperomias! We can’t thank the .Sdmell family enough for all their time, food, and fun. There were 18 members present. Moving into July, we caught up with Steve Smith i Kirkwood, N.Y.) who was on cacation. A small group met with him before the Green Swamp tri|t antf sat in total awe during his slide [tresentation on Nepenthes and other unusual CP. The next day we proudly wore our CP shirts whic h read “Carnivorous Plant Growers” on the front and a detailed Nepenthes on the back, tfianks to Jim Powell. We tfien were reach' to visit the Swamp to see S. purpurea, minor, rubra, flava hybrids; Drosera capillaris, intermedia, brevifolia; Utncularia purpurea in bloom! Another interesting meeting ended with 6 members present. Our next meeting will be in early Sep¬ tember. It will include a plant contest so new members arc encouraged to start pruning and shaping up their plants. Prizes will be awarded. Our future plans might include a trip to Atistralia! Because we have members from other states now, the name of our organization has been changed to the “Eastern CP Gretwers.” Membership is SI.OOAt. and re- c|uests to join should be sent to the author. CP GROUP MEETS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA The first meeting of a carnivorous plant interest group for Southern Califor¬ nia took place on Saturday, September 23 in Iiv'ine, California. The meeting liad been in the planning stages for over a year. Through mail, fivers, and an announce¬ ment in mie issue of CPN, I finally con¬ tacted about 15 persons in the Soutficrn California area. Basically, the purpose of the meeting was to gather persons in the area who were interested in CP, regarcfless of experience, to exchange ideas, expertise, and perhaps even plants. About eight persons attended the meeting. Wayne Mrazek spoke liriefly on his recent trip to Mt. Kinabalu in Malaysia. He passed around a few photos he took on his trip to Nepenthes, etc. It was more or less the feeling of those at the mc'eting that formation of a struc- 88 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter Once In a by David W. The lliglit along tlic coastline was en¬ joyable, and it was interesting to be able to see the landscape and the tniles ot jttngle below. Stiddenly in the lar dis¬ tance, I saw the otitline of a inotnitain sltrouded in mist. Could that be Kin¬ abalu? We very soon reached the small airport ol Kota Kinabalti, and yet another bus drove us to yet another hotel. After we had settled in our modern hotel, I decided to look around the town. It was market day, and there were jteojtle everywhere. The town itself was not im¬ pressive; in fact, its description as a con¬ crete jungle was very apt. The diesel-driven btis that was to take us on the long journey to the Kinabalti National Park arrived on time the follow¬ ing morning, and we were soon outside NEW CP SOURCE Carnivorous Gardens P.O. Box 224 Stones Corner 4120 Brisbane, Qiteensland AUSTRALIA 75c for catalogue Seed of native and N.A. CP CP Group in So. Cal. tured club or olfic ial chapter of the I.C.P.S. was undesirable at this time. For the time being, at least, things will be left on an informal basis. We are tentatively planning the second meeting for approximately three months from now. Also in the works is a plan to participate in the Los Angeles Fern Society’s annual exotic plant show as a group. I plan to compile a roster of attendees listing species of CP grown to facilitate trading and information ex¬ change. Anyone interested in participating in our next meeting shoultl contact me at my new address: Steve Clancy, 2009- D S. Circle View Drive, Irv'ine, California 92715. (714) 553-8408 or (714) 833-7309. Lifetime Taylor the vicinity of Kota Kinabalu and out into the countryside. The drive was very bumpy on roads that were full of holes and after six hours of torture and contin¬ uous replacement of cases that were piled up on the back seat, the bus eventually ground up the narrow roadway to the small arrival post ol the Kinabalu Park. The large, comfortable chalets that were afforded us were brand new, and we were the first people to use them. They were situated on the left side of a nar¬ row winding track known as the Kam- borangah Road which is the beginning of the summit trail to the peaks of Mount Kinabalu. It was early evening and there was not much to do apart from explore some of the surrounding forest tracks, {Continued next page.) OOPS! Many members noticed and commented on the black captions for the front and back covers of the September issue. Those who examined the pages carefully could see that the captions originally printed were blacked out; in fact, they are the captions for this issue, which were in¬ advertantly mixed up en route to the printer. Fortunately, an alert employee of Kandid Litho realized the error and was able to black out the incorrect captions. The only real confusion came on page 64 of the Septemlter issue, which re¬ ferred to the back cover photo of Nepenthes bkalcarata. Nepenthes bicakarata appears on the back cover of this issue. The September covers are photos of paintings by Mr. Paul Connor. Mr. Connor is an accomplished wildlife artist whose paintings have been used regularly by tfie National Wildlife Federation for their annual conservation stamp series, the US Postal Service for commemorative stamps of natural subjects, Audubon Magazine, and several other publications. He has gen¬ erously donated the use of these paintings to CPN. Volume 11 • December 1982 89 after which it was early to bed in order to be ready for our first full day in the park. The Kinabalu National Park was es¬ tablished in 1964 and measures some three hundred square miles. I had come here with the specific interest of find¬ ing and photographing Nepenthes. In the short time that we all had here, I knew that it would be impossible to see every species of Nepenthes that the park con¬ tained, so I decided to inquire as to the best places to explore to achieve maximum sightings. I was told that the summit trail would be my best track to take, as I would see at least three species and some good scenery besides. This suited me, and I decided to spend my first full day walking up the summit trail. Nobody seemed to want to tackle the gradual climb towards the thirteen- and-a-half-thousand-foot peak of the mountain on the first day, so I had to go alone. Dressed in shorts and tee shirt with a jungle hat, and camera with flash¬ gun attached slung over my shoulder, I set out on my climb up the mountain early on the morning of August 4th, 1981. The summit trail really started from a power station at the end of the Kambarangah Road, and I soon found mvself walking through a maze of tw'isted trees and steep banks covered in various ferns and mosses. I stopped for a few minutes to gaze at a beautiful waterfall that was cascading crystal clear water down a slippery bank and under the soaked wooden foot bridge where I stood. Further on, the track became tricky, as there were some larger trees to pass by, whose roots were sticking out of the ground wherever one looked. The soil here was of a sandstone clav mixture, and I was thankful that I had a good thick tread on mv walking boots. Even so, it would still be easy to catch a foot in the gnarled and twisted root system of the trees, and end up sprain¬ ing an ankle. I must be careful, I kept thinking to mvself, as I trod on a very stctut piece of roctt and hoisted my body ocer the top of it and down again back onto the track. Suddenly, I found my¬ self in a small clearing and I was able to look out over the vast area of the national park below. A wisp of cloud drifted over the top of me, and I real¬ ized that I was making good headway up the mountain. I was watching all the time for Nepenthes plants, and it was not long after my short stop to view the breath¬ taking scenery of the park, that I saw my first plant. It was on the right hand side of the track, twisting its way round the lower branches of a small tree, com¬ peting with a large healthy looking fern that was also growing at the foot of the tree. The species was Nepenthes tentaculata and as I walked further up the track, I saw many more plants. It was strange to notice that they were all growing on the right of the track, but they were cer¬ tainly very abundant. The attractive crim¬ son and green pitchers were everywhere, and there were also seedling plants growing out of the mossy ground as well. According to my guide book, and the map of the mountain region, I was on an elevation of 6,500 feet. The Kamba¬ rangah Road where our chalets were was at an elevation of 5,000 feet, so I had climbed a fair distance in quite a short time. After a session of photographing Nepenthes tentaculata I trudged on in search for my next species. I really wanted to see Nepenthes lowii, and I knew that I was getting verv near to the level at which it grew, but I could not see anv. Feel¬ ing a bit disappointed, I looked up the track, which was now getting very steep. I was determined to get as far up as I could and my next aim was the moss forest. Here was a beautiful part of the mountain where moss grew everv'W'here, covering the ground, and hanging from the trees. Once here, I found myself alone in a wonderland. There were mosses, ferns, and manv orchids, all growing in harmonv together, and there was complete silence. I had to keep walking, as the onlv other species of Nepenthes to be found was N. villosa. I suddenly walked out onto a larger clear¬ ing which was mistv with cloud. There 90 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter Nepenthes tentaculata (Mt. Kinabalu) Photo by D. Taylor. Nepenthes truncata, grown by Ray Triplitt, won Best of Show at San Francisco Garden Show, Aug. ’82. Nepenthes lowii (Mt. Kinabalu) Photo by D. Taylor. San Francisco Garden Show August, 1982. Photos ItyJ. Mazritnas. Volume 11 • December 1982 91 was quite a breeze blow'ing, and it was noticeably colder. This w'as the site of Carsons Camp, and the old tin shack standing here was a retninder of the early explorers of Mount Kinabalu. I was now at a kwel of 8,000 feet, and I was feeling tired and hungry’. I now’ had to climb oyer rocks, apart from keeping my footing on the slippery’ track. But it was yvorth it, because just fifteen minutes after leaying Carsons Camp, I sigfited Nepenthes villosa. I could hardly haye missed it. The enormous, fat, bizarre- looking pitchers just drew one’s eyes, and 1 stood for a yvhile looking at them in dis¬ belief. The temperature here w’as only 58 degrees Fahrenheit, and it was w’indy. .Some plants had beeti broken by the yvind, and decaying pitchers lay on the ground. The plants themselv’es yvere big, yvith stems oyer one-half-inch thick. Their leases were anything up to 18 inches long, anci yvere yery conspicuous among the surrounding yegetation. The pitchers yvere so remarkable, that I couldn’t keep my eyes off them, and it was a tremendous experience to see and photograph such a wonder of the bo¬ tanical yvorld. My hunger yvas getting the better of me by noyv, and I sat on a rock surrounded by Nepenthes villosa, and began to eat my lunch. After tliis, I decided to press otr, although 1 knew that could not go on much ftirther as I must allow time to return to camp. I eyentually made the decision to turn back at 9,500 feet, al¬ though 1 yvas sorry to haye to stop my climb upwards. As I wandered back doevn the mountain track, 1 stopped at the place yvhere I first spotted Nepenthes villosa, and I picked up two pitchers that yvere broken off from the main plants. 1 felt that I just had to take theitt back to show tlie rest erf the party. My weary legs yvere aching from tlie climb, but now at least it was a little easier for me on the de¬ scent. I was still as enchanted with the moss forest as 1 yvas when 1 first entered it on the yvay up, and eyentually 1 found myself looking once again at the Ne¬ penthes tentaculata plants, so I knew that I was well on the w’ay towards the start of the summit trail. As my feet trod onto the stoney sur¬ face of the Kambarangah Road, I looked up to the peaks of Kinabalu that rose high above, misty and majestic. I took my time in getting back to the chalets, but W’as pleased w’hen they came into sight. It w'as early evening as I climbed the steps to my chalet amid welcoming calls from my colleagues. I was glad to get my muddy boots off, and rest awhile on the bed before discussing my day’s adventures. The two Nepenthes pitchers 1 had brought back with me caused a lot of excitement, and every’bodv wanted to photograph them. I did see a huge pitcher of Nepenthes lowii the very next day, yvhen a colleague had better luck than I in finding a solitary plant. I was sorry' to learn that there had been much illegal collection of this species on the mountain slope, and consequently it was difficult to find the very few’ plants that yvere left. The following few days at Kinabalu were spent in exploring the forest tracks and botanizing. I longed to spend more time at this fascinating place, but we had to move on. The last remaining days yvere to be spent seeing some of the tour¬ ist attractions. These included a visit to Poring Hot Springs, a tropical beauty spot w’here one can see Rafjlesia, the yvorld’s largest floyver. Unfortunately yve were just several weeks too late in seeing the spectacular sight, but yve did see some of the largest bamboo trees in existetice. We delighted in the beauty and seren¬ ity of the botanical gardens at Singapore, as yvell as the exquisite blooms of color¬ ful orchids in a private garden. The yvide and varied colours of the tnatiy floyvers in this garden gave me an excuse to test my photographic skills, which 1 did yvith much commitment. My three weeks of adventure was now over, and I yvas preparing myself for the long flight home, a return journey frotn an adventure that comes just once in a lifetime. 92 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter TISSUE CULTURE OE PINGUICULA by Bill Carroll, P.O. Box 691 Carrboro, N.C. 27610 Butterworts (Pinguicula sp.) arc usually propagated by seed, leaves or occasional sideshoots. Tissue culture is a relatively new method. With proper equipment and sterile laboratory techniques almost any plant can be tissue cultured. The most difficult aspect of tissue cul¬ ture is the elimination of bacterial and fungal contaminants. For most species of Pinguicula 1 have worked with*, it is neces¬ sary to take out the shoot meristem. This is the very center of the plant, where the new leaves emerge. When all other leaves and roots are cut away there is much less chance of contamination. As a first step to obtaining clean tissue, the shoot is washed with soap and water. Next the shoot is trimmed again so that only unopened leaves remain at the tip. By now the shoot is less than one centi¬ meter in height. It is placed in a solution of .5% sodium hypochlorite (1096 chlorine lutea, pumila, caendea, ionantha, planifolia, primuliflora, gypsicola, lilicina. bleach such as Chlorox). Adding a drop of liquid soap per twenty milliliters of solution helps the chemical sterilize the plant tissue. After shaking for fifteen to twenty minutes, the tip is removed in a sterile environment and rinsed twice in sterile water. A sharply pointed scalpel and forceps are used to cut out the center of the shoot tip, one to two millimeters in size. This is the meristem, a white or colorless group of cells usually shaped like a somewhat rounded, microscopic pyramid. Placed on the right combination of nutrients and plant hormones,* protected from contami¬ nating organisms, and supplied with op¬ timum light and temperature, the tissue will thrive. When the tissue grows to about 1 cen¬ timeter in height, it can be divided and placed on other nutrient media having different amounts of honnones or other chemicals. Sometimes a lot of tissue is * See Table 1. Table 1. MEDIA INGREDIENTS PINGUICULA CaNOj Calcium Nitrate milligrams/liter 1000 NH^NOj Ammonium Nitrate 300 KH,PO^ Potassium Phosphate 250 MgSO^ Magnesium Sulfate 250 MnSO, Manganese Sulfate 10 Fe Chelate Iron Chelate 20 Thiamine 10 Inositol 100 Sucrose 20,000 Agar 12,000 Plant hormones for shoot multiplication are Kinetin or 2iP in a range of 0.5 to 2.0 mg/liter of solution. Auxins for rooting were IBA or NAA in a range of 0.1 to 1.0 mg/liter. The media is brought to a boil while stirring constantly, dispensed into test tubes or other containers, and stetun sterilized for fifteen minutes at fifteen pounds of pressure (120° C. or 250° F.). Volume 11 • December 1982 93 Pingukula pumila Grown from seed. Pingukula pumila Grown from tissue culture. Photo by Bill Carroll. Compare seed vs. clone Photo bv Susan Sizemore. Cloned Pinguicula lutea and cloned Dionaea rnusapula in the greenhouse. Cloned plants Photo bv Bill Carroll. 94 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter shoot multiplication of Pinguicula lutea in vitro. Photo by Bill Carroll. Pinguicula caerulea Pinguicula ionantha. From leaf tissue. Comparison of two media. Photos by Susan Sizemore. Volume 11 • December 1982 95 needed to find the right combination for shoot multiplication. Once this is discov¬ ered, there is no end to the number of plants that can be produced. Later, some plants are moved to nutrient media with root-inducing honnones at different con¬ centrations. In about a month, the plants can be transferred to soil. Tissue cultured plants are transferred to soil much like tender seedlings. The nutrient media is first washed off to pre¬ vent disease organisms from starting. Roots are gently covered and the plants watered in with a !4 strength solution of liquid fertilizer. The container is covered with clear or opaque plastic or glass to reduce light and hold in humiditv. This cover is removed a little more each dav over seven to ten days. The plants graduallv adjust to their new environment. Laboratories worldwide now produce tissue cultured ferns, orchids, African violets, as well as manv other tropical plants. Some rare plants are becoming plentiful. Countries that restrict impons of soil grown plants can now receive plants m vitro in sterile conditions, making more varieties available to everyone. FURTHER READING From Single Cells To Plants, E. Thomas and M. R. Davey, Wykeham Publications, London, England, 1975. Introduction To In Vitro Propagation, D. Wetherell, Avery' Publishing Group, Inc., Wayne, NJ 07470, 1981. Plant Propagation, the Future is Here, C. Haramaki and C. Heuser, American Honiculturist, August/September, 1980. Plant Tissue Culture Methods, National Re¬ search Council, Ottawa, Canada KIA OR6, 1982 (NRCC 19876). Propagation of Higher Plants Through Tissue Culture: A Bridge Between Research and Application, Svanposium Proceedings, Na¬ tional Technical Information Serv'ice, U.S. Department of Commerce, Spring- field, VA 22161, 1978 (CONP-78041 1 1). Propagation of Higher Plants Through Tissue Culture: Emerging Technologies and Strategies, Journal of Environmental and Experi¬ mental Botany, Vol. 21, Number 3/4, 1981. (Submitted August, 1982.) WHYTHEY DO OR DO NOT GROW bv Don Schnell How manv times have those of us who grow CP noted one or both of the fol¬ lowing events.^ An article appears in CPN or some other publication going into great ex¬ plicit detail about how a particular CP species can be grown — indeed, the author may insist that it must be grown the way he outlines or your plants will surelv expire. You smile smugly and comment that you have been growing the same species a completelv different way and the plants are perfectly healthy, or you come across one or more addi¬ tional articles, these perhaps describing completely different ways of growing healthy specimens. The second event is that you read a superblv detailed article about how to grow a CP to exquisite perfection. Everv- thing seems to be there in print — water, pots, soil, fertilizer or no, light, etc. — Every'thing. So you set out, follow the di¬ rection to the letter, and your plants promptly go under. This has happened to all of us, and woe be to the poor author beleaguered w'ith smug or angry letters, respectivelv. Are the authors right.^ Are they WTong.^ Well, they may be neither, or both. It comes down to a matter of perspective. There seem to be few absolutes among life forms, and manv relative factors affecting them. And after that five cents worth of philosophy, let’s see what might have gone wTong — or right. In the first instance, where the plant does not seem to be as fastidious and 96 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter fussy as implied, this is probably true. If we look to the way things look in the field (that always helps), how about those Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea that thrive — as expected in nice, cool acid sphagnum bogs in the north country — but also in alkaline, open sunny and often hot marl-sandy fens in the same region? This is just one example. It il¬ lustrates that seemingly delicate species may indeed have more latitude than we expect. Remember, growing plants out of habi¬ tat in pots in greenhouses or under lights or two thousand miles away from where they naturally occur is a stress. Even the finest appearing plants in cultivation are under stresses not present in native habi¬ tat. So the plant may well react atypi- cally. Also, CP are generally held to be poor competitors ecologically. Once a native habitat is changed in such a way that the soil or hydration becomes more conducive to' competitive plants that were previouslv held at bay, the poor CP’s are often overwhelmed. The grower in the first instance men¬ tioned above, then, may have undefined stresses in his particular area that pre¬ clude his CP being grown in any other but his way in his locale. But as we saw above in the S. purpurea example, a species may actually be quite diversified in its requirements once a basic few have been met, perhaps plenty of water that is generally non-toxic, and little compe¬ tition. So, if you are going to describe how you grow CP, be war\' of the use of always and must, and remember you are describing a growing system that works for you where you are, under your conditions. Now how about the detailed failure in the second example at the beginning of this article? Actually, pretty much the same principles we have been discussing apply. In the second instance however, the grower describing his technique may well have overlooked one or more factors important in his growing system in spite of the detail of his report. Is he care¬ less? Not at all. There may be some undefinable variabilities in his growing system that perhaps no one could notice causally, that might perhaps require de¬ tailed research and study. Maybe he has too much boron in his water he uses. Who might know this right off, or what difference it would make in combination with all the other variables? So, when you read a very nicely de¬ tailed article on how a grower manages his CP species, remember it is him in that locale, under those circumstances. There are many things we take for granted or cannot easily know(at the other extreme) that would not appear in a list of our observations. Well then, is it indeed hopeless writ¬ ing and reading all these articles on how to grow CP? Absolutely not! Quite the opposite. The only hope is to continue our horticultural endeavors and pass on our observations to our fellows. Horti¬ culture is itself a science and contributes far more to our knowledge of plants than some of our botanist brethren might care to admit. It has been said you do not really know' a plant until you have grown it — or tried to. So the botanist who rarely sees the inside of a green¬ house or holds a pot in hand, is really missing the boat. Each stressed growing attempt is itself an exjieriment if we trv to define and control conditions to the best of our ability. The important lessons, then, seem to be that if you write an article on how you grow CP, remember that your conditions are relative, and open your mind and text to other factors or variables. If you read an article on how to grow a CP species, remember that the author may well be describing all growing factors in seeming detail, but there may be so much more he cannot have easily no¬ ticed. For instance, even in a heated or air conditioned greenhouse controlled to the same temperature and humidity, the daylight photoperiod is going to be a lot longer in Ontario on June 21st than it is in Florida. Did anyone think to consult the almanac, or any one of a hundred other things? {Continued page 102.) Volume 11 • December 1982 97 Chelsea Flower Show Photos byj. Sirkett 98 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter The Chelsea Flower Show by John Sirkett, British CP Society This year, for the fourth time, the Car¬ nivorous Plant Society staged an exhibit at Chelsea Flower Show. I have just read an article that described it as “one of the most daring we have ever attempted,” which is an interesting comment, and one that I would not question. During the judg¬ ing, we were described as a young and vigorous society (some of us didn’t feel all that vigorous by the end of the week), and it was suggested, very politely, that we were showing plants that were not really any of our business, but in many ways, that’s what we were trying to find out. What do you mean when you say Car¬ nivorous.^ Perhaps I had better start at the be¬ ginning and explain. Chelsea is one of the world’s great flower shows. The Royal Horticultural Society put up a big white tent in the middle of London, and for a week in May, it is filled with the most spectacular things that the world of horti¬ culture has to offer. The exhibitors get about two weeks in which to put up their stands, though most use rather less time. Everything must be ready for 4;00 p.m. on Monday, when the Royal party arrives to view the show. On Tuesday, it is open from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. for mem¬ bers of the Royal Horticultural Society to view, and then for the next three days it is open to members of the public. Last year, a quarter of a million people came to see it. For the Society, it is our main event of the year, where we go out and meet the public, and try to correct some of the mistaken ideas about carnivorous plants that people seem to have. We are, after all, an educational charitv. I will ad¬ mit, however, that there is another reason for exhibiting. We sell an introductory booklet about carnivorous plants, and try to make a lot of money! This is essential to keep the Society going. Our costs for such things as the meetings, journals and newsletters are cuiTently much higher than our income from subscriptions. For the last three years, we have tried to put on a spectacular display of c.p., and we have been awarded two silver gilt and silver medal for our efforts. The first tow years’ displays were based on replica bogs; however, last year a commercial firm exhibited for the first time, and they also chose the ‘Bog-Look.’ We felt that there was no point in duplicating the stands, and so we concentrated on show¬ ing as many as possible of the c.p. in cultivation. These ranged from Heli- mnphora to Aldrovanda, displayed on a very striking black and white stand. This year presented us with a new chal¬ lenge. All through the year we had been hearing from speakers at the meetings, and from the members during general discus¬ sions, about plants that hover on the edge of conventional carnivory, and which bring us back to the question “What do you mean when you say a plant is car¬ nivorous?” There have been a number of definitions put forward, some of them lengthy and complex, yet I haven’t seen one that does more than fit some of the facts. We decided to ask the general public what they thought by presenting them w'ith the problem at Chelsea Flower Show. We had moved beyond the visual display and were trying to make the stand into an active part of the debate. Our aitn was to provide a visually appealing stand that also inspired comment on the subject. We were awarded the Flora Medal for our display, aptly described by one member as the booby prize, and this reflected the visual effect of the stand, w4iich was interesting but not spectacular. We were slightly hampered right trom the outset by size of the stand that we were allocated, seventeen feet by seven. This was longer and thinner than w'c had wanted, but this turned out to be an ad¬ vantage. A strip two feet wide all round the stand was raised to a height of two feet, and the central block was raised two feet above this. This central peak w'as used Volume 11 • December 1982 99 to display the tallest species and hybrids that we conhl get hold of, from the genus Sarracema. These were to attract the eve to the stand, and to give us the maxi- inuin height possible. At the lower level, the stand held the bare bones of our ar- guinetit. Alotig one of the sides, we dis¬ played ‘Sticky Traps,’ a combination of carnivorous and non-carnivorous plants that had all developed sticky parts, for one reason or another. The other long side repeated the idea, using plants that fiad developed pitcher structures. The short ends were rapidly filled witli displays of the British carnivores, and with a large patch of venus fiv trajts, respectively. I’m sure that there are lots of snurll chil- dreti who would have been genuinelv de¬ lighted if this plant had actually bitten the ends off of their probing fingers! The ‘sticky’ display started with the sticky buds of Horse Chestnut, which had been in my refrigerator for three months to keep them iti tlieir sticky state. (They opened in record time w'hen brought out into the wann.) These, and sotne species of Rhododendron, use sticky buds to pro¬ tect their soft tasty innards from insect attack during the winter, and althougfi they undoubtedly catch plenty of insects, they are not carnivorous. Tfie same is true lor Plumbago which protects its flowers with a mass of sticky hairs on the caK'x. The London Pride, Saxifraga urbiurn, and indeed nearly till of the Strxifrages, is a bit more open to question, with sticky hairs all the w'av up the flower scape. The next plant iti the sequence was the Petunia. The whole plant is covered with sticky hairs, and some Italian researcfi from early in this century says that this plant is definitely carnivorous! The same paper comes to the same conclusions about Silene viscana (Catch-fly), which we liad to force into flower specialh' for the show. I’m not so sure about that one myself I'he sfiepherti’s-purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris is a strange novelty, witli sticky carnivorous seeds, (sec C.P.N., vol. 7, p. 39). Tfie last major (juestion mark hung over the head of Martynia lutea (synonym Ibicella lutea, related to the flnicorn Plant), which is 100 covered in all its parts with sticky glandu¬ lar hairs. While I’m on the subject, I should mention tfie sticky-haired species of potato and tomato, which we tried to get onto the exfiibit, but were thwarted by the plants’ natural dormancy — without its sticky leaves, one potato looks much the same as another. Carnivorous vege¬ tables seems rather a back to front con¬ cept anv'wav. From Martynia we progressed to Drosophyllum, probably tfie simplest of the conventional sticky carnivores, and then on to Drosera and Pinguicula. The pitcher traps started at an equally simple level with the common lupine, which does no more than catch a drop¬ let of water in the centre of its leaf. The teasel (Dipsacus) carries this a bit further. The bases of the leaves join to fonn great buckets in which water and debris collect, and wTich raise it to the rank of possibly caniivorous. Following this, we had a dis¬ play of Tillandsia (Bronieliads), selected from those species that have hollow bulb- shaped bases in wliich ant colonies live. This is one of the most sopliisticated car¬ nivorous (.^) svmbioses that 1 know. Another bronieliad, Neoregelia, returned us to the ‘watery grave’ principle, the green rosette of leaves forming a water-catching pitcfier, and the bright red inner leaves acting as an attraction. From this, we moved to Sarracmia purpurea, using a very similar principle, but in the slightly duller green and purple. The ‘true’ carnivores then continued with Darlingtonia, and Nepenthes (which looked distinctly ill by the end of the week) and then on to the most complex trap of all, represented by Utricu- laria sandersomi. Throughout the week the stand was kept manned by at least four people, who were kept busy answering tjuestions and holding lively debates both among themselves and with the public. I’m sure a number of people wondered what we w’ere doing, but couldn’t be bothered to ask; however, these were out¬ numbered by the people who were pre¬ pared to tell us what they thought. (Continued on page 106.) Carnivorous Plant Newsletter notes on NEPENTHES IVAN KOCSIS I am a novice grower of Nepenthes that I grow along w'ith my collection of other plants. My main interest lies mostly in orchids and bromeliads, so the specific needs of the Nepenthes have not exactly been met to the fullest extent. Never¬ theless, they perform above my expecta¬ tions, reacting to my semi-neglect. As soon as I had developed an interest in this family of plants, I was faced with two problems. First, where to obtain my stock, and second, to locate adequate literature on the subject. Fortunately I was able to overcome the first hurdle by obtaining plants mostly from Asia and Japan. I have assembled a collection of Nepenthes consisting of nine species and 21 hybrids which I grow under lights and in a greenhouse. Mv cultural prac¬ tices consist of the following: To propa¬ gate by seed, I cut up live sphagnum moss with scissors, wet with distilled water, squeeze out lightly and spread out in plastic bags. I then scatter seeds on sur¬ face and moisten them with distilled water from an atomizer. I keep them in low light and warm. As the young plants grow, additional misting at 2-to-3-day intervals is beneficial. When the plantlets are about 14 inch in size, I plant them in community pots, still covered with a plastic bag which remains until they reach about 114 inch in diameter. Feeding: I use mostly organic fertil¬ izers such as manure in the proportion of about one pound of fresh cow manure mixed in three U.S. gallons of water. It is sieved through window screen and poured on the plants’ mature leaves all during the summer growing season. Urine (Asia) was also used alternatively in a 40:1 ratio applied in the same manner. I feed ever\' three to four weeks. In winter, a balanced complete fertilizer, (NPK as 20:20:20) with trace elements is used every six weeks. What I have been describing to you in the above is nothing out of the ordi¬ nary, but here comes information that might be of value to some growers of Nepenthes. In 1980, I worked with Dr. James Brasch of McMaster University of Hamilton, Ontario, on a plant hormone formulation primarily for orchids. I was the grower who mostly tested the product due to the large number of Phalaniopsis orchids I grew and having flower spikes numbering over 100 on my plants for experimentation. After trial and error, the hormone was finalized and the results were very gratifying by being able to produce 70 young plants (mericlones), in the first season of application. In the meantime, our interest turned to a wider field of plants on which to try the hor¬ mone formulation. It worked with vari¬ able success and at times failed complete¬ ly. So I decided to experiment with Ne¬ penthes, due to their difficult propagation. The hormone worked extremely well on Philodendron, etc., wherever a dormant eye is present. The eye (axillary bud) is quite pronounced in most cases in Ne¬ penthes where I placed the hormone prep¬ aration. In about 80 to 90 percent aver¬ age, the plants developed new side shoots at all points of application, grew well and pitchered in the same manner as the mother plant. Root development in each case was completely absent. Basically, by using the hormone. Nepenthes will be¬ come a stockier plant with a good num¬ ber of side branches and greater number of pitchers, which are desirable traits. Illustration I, 82. If one wants to ob¬ tain a larger number of cuttings for prop¬ agation, now this is possible. Presently I have N. gracilis with eleven branches that I induced with the hormone. The hormone formulation is readily available since it is marketed and can be obtained from: KEIKI GROW Plant Hormone; P.O. Box 354, McMaster University; Ham¬ ilton, Ontario L85 IGO; Canada. Prices Volume 11 • December 1982 101 Approximately quantity of hormone to be used on toothpick as an applicator. Position of dormant bud on nodes oc- asionallv is further down or even com¬ pletely behind leaf axil. Emerging young side shoot triggered by the application ol hormone. Why They Do (from page 97.) As we continue to offer and acquire our knowledge among ourselves, certain patterns begin to develop among all the articles and experiences, and it is from these patterns that we can learn and ul¬ timately successfully grow that CP. So, continue to write and read and grow by all means, but do so in perspective. tings. Emerging shoot at point oi honnone application. Photo by 1. Kocsis. 102 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter are 15 cc @ $15, 30 cc @ $28, 45 cc @ $35 postpaid anywhere. Further reading suggested on this subject telling in de¬ tail how the hormone works with plants. Bull. Amer. Orch. Soc., Oct. 1980 49 (10): 1123, “You can meristem with hor¬ mones” byj. D. Brasch and 1. Kocsis. By a very good fortune, I became an owner of some old English horticultural books. Cassels’ Popular Gardening from about 1875-1885 (actual publishing date missing) and Greenhouse and Stove Plants by Thomas Baine, London, 1885. From these books I would like to quote some entries on Nepenthes, since as we know those were the days when Victorian gar¬ deners and plant fanciers devoted them¬ selves to the cultivation of Nepenthes in their greenhouses, conservatories and “stoves.” “Bornean species are plentiful and eas¬ ily procurable (in 1885 by author). Those who grow them for sale, propa¬ gate them by the thousands. Most fail¬ ures are due to placing the plants too far from the roof glass. They should be hung only a few inches from the roof and lowered as they get taller. Never injure any of the delicate roots. When repotting one should not attempt to free all roots from the old medium. The risk of damage is too high! When in vegetative growth it needs plenty of water on a daily basis, and even in winter should be kept wetter than most plants. To reach full potential. Nepenthes should be three to five years old, and cut back about twice to possess four to six side shoots with many pitchers. Around the end of February, potting on and taking of cuttings can be done. Plants should be placed in relatively small pots to prevent the media from turning sour. Some shading is required during all times, slightly heavier in the hottest months of the summer. Pitchers formed in the dull fall and win¬ ter months will open with warmth and higher light levels of spring weather. Grow them with a minimum of 65° F. at night higher with summer. This is also a safe winter minimum tempera¬ ture for them. Good drainage, and high humidity should be provided. Cuttings of two joints with eyes and all portions of leaves of the upper joint retained. Insert in mix of crocks and sand, cover with glass and give bottom heat of 70 to 75 ° F. They will strike any time of the year if the correct con¬ ditions are provided for. When large plants are cut back, the base will throw one to several side shoots. Baskets or pots are equally good while pots will dry out slower. Pots can be hidden with sphagnum and placed in wire contain¬ ers. Pinch cuttings in early spring to check leggy growth. Each cutting should have one to two eyes, with one eye be¬ ing sufficient to produce a plant when longer cuttings are not possible. A cut¬ ting about a foot in length produces roots freely. Fig. 3. A frame of coconut husk fiber kept very moist and heated to 75 to 80° F. can be used to insert cuttings. Roots will form in about six weeks time. In case the above is not available, a Hat pan filled with water some 214 inch pots may be used. The cuttings placed with their bases through the hole of the pots, but not allowed to touch the water. Over this place a “bell glass” (plastic bag in 1981) and keep in high “stove” temperature (80° F.) The cuttings soon callus and form roots at which time they may be potted up in pure sphagnum moss. For species such as N. albo-mar- ginata, N. rajah, and N. sanguined, it would be safest to partially sever the portion intended for cutting from the parent stem. Tie a bunch of moist sphagnum moss with sand around the incision. Keep continually saturated with moisture (air layering!) The above species of Nepenthes require more abun¬ dant water at all times than other spe¬ cies.” With the above I am not offering any¬ thing conclusive on Nepenthes, but per¬ haps some or all this will prove to be of some use for those who are interested in this very fascinating group of plants. The books I cite in this article are not available to most, and growers of those times achieved a wider acceptance and popularity of Nepenthes than was thought. At least they knew how to deal with them. Personally, I am ready to learn from any¬ one who has knowledge on this subject. Volume 11 • December 1982 103 Review of Recent Literature Angcrillia, N.P.D. 1980. Influences of acjuaiic plants on colonization of arti¬ ficial ponds by mosquitoes and their insect predators. Can. Ent. 1 12:793-796. The plants involved were Utriculana minor, Elodea canadensis and Lemna minor. There were fewer mosquito eggs and larvae in ponds filled with the above plants than in plantless controls, and more predators in the Utricidaria and Elodea ponds than in the Lemna and plantless ponds. Bopp, M. and 1. Weber. 1981. Hormonal regulation of the leaf blade movement of Drosera capensis. Physiol. Plant. 53:491-496. A summary' ol this fascinating work ap¬ peared in the June, 1981 issue of CPN (10:37). DES Bossennan, R.W., Elemental cotnposition of aqtiatic platits from Okefetrokee Swamp (Georgia and Elorida, USA). J. Freshwater Ecology’ 1(3): 307-320 1981. Three species of Utricularia {purpurea, juncea and inflata) were sampled frotn 7 marshes atid partitiotied into roots, rhi- zotrres, stems, petioles, leaves atid flow¬ ers. Utriculana had the highest concen¬ trations iti item atid aluminum and geti- crafly the eletnents, potassium, calci- utn, sodiutn and mangatiese were higher iti concentratioti in upper platit parts than roots and rhizomes. Carlquist, S. Wood atiatomy of Cephalo- taceae. hit. Assoc. Wood Anat. Bull. 2(4):175-178 1981. The study of the wood anatomv of Ceplmlotus apparetitly shows that it is related to the Saxifragaceae atid allied families. Forsvtfi, A. 1982. Bog behavior: Pitcher plants and sundews. Horticulttire 60:24-29. An excellent article by a Catiadiati nat¬ uralist covering Sarracenia purpurea atid Drosera rotundifolia as they grow in northern bogs anti wTitten from an eco¬ logical befiaviorist viewpoint, as the title suggests. The author stresses natural habitat, but gives advice on outdoor growing, to be recommended for these species over indoor growing. Accomp¬ anied by six superb color photos (one full page) and a range map. DES Heusser, C., Palynology of cushion bogs of the Cordillera-Pclada, Province ofVal- divia, Chile. Qiiat. Res. (NY) 17(1):71- 92 1982. Fossil pollen identified as Drosera uni- flora was found in deposits that dated 10,425 carbon- 14 years ago. This spe¬ cies continues to grow today in the Cordillera Pelada. The author discusses the climate changes that occurred dtir- ing this long time period. Hill, BS and GP Findlay. 1981. The power of movement in plants: the role of os¬ motic machines. Qiiarterlv Rev. Bio¬ physics 14:173-222. Among several plant genera discussed, the CP genera of Drosera, Dionaea, Al- drovanda and Utricularia are of course reviewed. These are brief stimmaries in which the main thmst is the authors’ contention that movement is chiefly due to osmotic fltiid shifts stimulated through various mechanisms. The paper should be read for more details includ¬ ing mathetnatical formulae and bibli¬ ography. DES Hindlev, K. 1980. The association of ladv- slipper orchids and insectivorous plants: Part III. The association of Cypripedium reginae and Cypripedium pubescens with Drosera rotundifolia in bogs iti Vemiont. Orcfiid digest 44:233-235. In a 20-acre sphagnum bog in Vemiont, the author found comparatively few, widely scattered clumps of the above orchids. The sundew's were always fotind in association with the orchids, in spite 104 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter of apparently similar habitat abundant throughout the large area. DES Hoo})cr, R. R. 1982. Collecting beetles in an acid pitcher plant bog. Blue Jay 40:80-81. The author spent several days in a Sas- bitchewan sphagnum bog collecting beetles. One interesting feature of the article is that the author found many recttrds or unusual species bv noting clvtra and other chitinous body parts in Sarracenia purpurea pitchers, which thus served as natural concentration traps for the collecting entomologist. DES lijima, T. and T. Sibaoka. 1981. Action potential in the trap-lobes of Aldro- varida vesiculosa. Plant and Cell Physiol. 22:1595-1601. Action potential studies indicate a mechanism very similar to Dionaea. This is interesting in view of differ¬ ences in natural habitat adaptations. Both mechanisms may have advanced from the slow one of Drosera. DES lijima, T. and T. Sibaoka. 1982. Propa¬ gation of action potential over the trap- lobes of Aldrovanda vesiculosa. Plant & Cell Physiol. 23:679-688. An action potential was generated in a cell in the base of a sensory hair. Re¬ cordings indicated that the potential spread electronically over the lobe. EM disclosed numerous communicating plasmodesmata between cells which would allow an electrical transmission between cells. Moffat, A.S. 1982. The acid-rain problem. Horticulture 60:12-19. There has been much discussion lately in popular and scientific annals about the acid rain problem, often with few facts to back up emotional assertions. The author does a fine job of sum¬ marizing what we know to date, includ¬ ing what little experimental work has been done. In fact, while acid rain may decrease various kinds of productivity of some plants, it increases many others (including agricultural species). The ratio is about 50/50 overall. The greatest threat of acid rain then may be to diversity rather than plant life itself (effects on animal life are far more profound in many cases, especi¬ ally amphibians and fishes). CP are not specifically mentioned, but it is noted that eutrophication in manv Adiron- dacks boggy lakes is arrested. Specific research on CP would be of interest. DES Nordbring-Hertz, B. and G. Odham. 1980. Determination of volatile nematode exudates and their effects on a nema¬ tode-trapping fungus. Microb. Ecol. 6:241-251. Volatile organics were determined by gas chromatograph, and CO2, NHs and acetic and proprionic acids by other methods, as expressed from nema¬ todes. The eflects of some of these com¬ pounds in trap induction in Arthro- botrys oligospora. Generally (somewhat concentration dependent — see paper), CO2 inhibited, NH3 stimulated and the two acids had no effect on trap induc¬ tion. Schnell, D.E. 1982. Effects of simul¬ taneous draining and brush cutting on a Sarracenia L. population in a south¬ eastern North Carolina pocosin. Cast- anea 47:248-260. A large, privately-owned pocosin was drained and cleared for silviculture. This afforded an opportunity to ob¬ serve the phenology and some pos¬ sible relationships of pitcher plant sur¬ vival under varying conditions after the treatment. Immediately after clearing, increased light and space resulted in a massive display of three Sarracenia spp. the following spring, and reason¬ ing is offered against nutrient ash ef¬ fect. As the results of ditching be¬ came effective a year or more later, pitcher plant growth ceased, indicating soil moisture as a limiting factor since there was insufficient pocosin shrub Volume 11 • December 1982 105 regrowth yet to bring light and space limitations into play. The observations were in effect a model of the effects of these three factors on pitcher plant populations. (Reprints: D.E. Schnell, Rt. 1, Box 145C, Pulaski, VA 24301). Simons, P., The touchy life of nervous plants. New Scientist, March, 1982. This popular article discusses the need for plant scientists to resume re¬ search into the “real” electrical signals that a large variety of plants evoke in¬ cluding CP for regulating many differ¬ ent processes. The author describes why electrophysiology was neglected for decades, which left a gap of knowledge that was filled by sensationalists who grossly exaggerated the plants’ response to stimuli. This is an article that will stimulate new ideas for research and should be read by everyone interested in this area. Watson, A. P., et. al. 1982. Arthropod as¬ sociates and macronutrient status of the red-ink sundew [Drosera erythrorhiza Lindl.). Australian J. Ecol. WANT ADS Jim Comia (18701 San Rufino Dr., Irvine, CA 927 1 5). WB: Sarracenia oreophylla, S. nibra wherryi, S. rubra gidfensis, S. rubra alabamensis, S. rubra jonesii, S. rubra rubra, Firigmcula vulgaris, S. purpurea veno- sa “Louis Burk" flower, S. flava “red throat,” Pingidcida macroceras. Harris Emmons 111 (824 McGilvra Blvd. E., Seattle, WA 98112). WB: (plants) Drosera adelae, D. filiformis, D. schizartdra, D. regia, D. binata (T form), Pinguicula caudata, Cephalotus. Steve Friedrich (172 Hutchens Close, Baringa Gardens, Melba A.C.T. 2615, Australia). Wanted: Plants, seeds or cuttings of Nepenthes and Heliarnphora. I have tor trade Drosera pro- lifera, D. schitandra, D. indica, Byblis gigantea. Chrysamphora califomica, Nepenthes mixta, N. bal- founana, N. mirabilia and many others. Donald Kalb, Jr., (Box 25, Peosta, Iowa 52068). WB: Byblis gigantea seeds or plants; Drosera regia seeds or plants. Various arthropods associated with this sundew in native habitat were studied. Several were prey for the sundew, some were pre-robbers. Phys¬ ical model studies in the field indicated that insect components were sufficient to supply 10096 of nitrogen and phos¬ phorous, but a negligible portion of potassium which came from soil sources. Wolfe, L.M. 1981. Feeding behavior of a plant: Differential prey capture in old and new leaves of the pitcher plant {Sarracenia purpurea). Am. Midi. Nat. 106:352-359. An environmental chamber of S. pur¬ purea plants was set up in the lab and the plants captured measured numbers of fruit flies introduced into the cham¬ bers. New pitchers captured more in¬ sects than old, as did pitchers with wider openings. Also, older pitchers on plants with a new pitcher captured more flies than older pitchers on plants without new pitchers. These re¬ sults were within limits of numbers of introduced flies which were varied. DES Lee’s Botanical Gardens (P.O. Box 7026, Ocala EL 32672). TS: giant psittacina, red flava, flava rmxiina, psittacina X alata, psittacina X purpurea, flava X rubra, rubra X purpurea, psittacina X leu- cophylla, leucophylla alba, many more. WT: Ne¬ penthes plants or cuttings. CHELSEA (from page 100.) If 1 may be allowed to quote from our rules, the Constitution of the Society, our primarv' aim is ‘to further the knowledge of the public in the field of carnivorous plants.’ 1 think that this stand furthered everybody’s knowledge. Naturally, no education process ever stops, and we would be pleased to hear other people’s comments on plant car- nivorv' so that we can work towards a defi¬ nition of plant carnivorv' that is accept¬ able to everybody. The Carnivorous Plant Society can be contacted at ‘Cam View,’ banner Hill, Redruth, Cornwall TR16 6DA, ENGLAND. (John Sirkett’s address.) 106 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter TITLE INDEX Cultivating Drosera lineans (Gttldie) . 19 Cultivating the orchid-flowered butterworts . 46 Field studies on CP at LIMBS . 10 Field Trip to Singapore . 74 Field Trip to Toolbrunup Peak . 49 Introductioti to Gerilisea . 13 Most dangerous (looking) Nepenthes . 64 Notes on Nepenthes . 101 Once in a lifetime . 57, 89 Photographic jtrimcr of variants of Sarracenia rubra Walt . 41 (from) Sinnesorgane in Pflanzenreich. Insectivores: Dionaea muscipula . 9, 32 Drosera and Drosophyllum . 66 The Chelsea flower show . 99 The problem of carnivory in the common toothwort . 17 Tissue culture of Pinguicula . 93 Why they do or do not grow . 96 Aldrovanda Arthrobotrys Cephalotus Darlingtonia Dionaea Drosera Drosophyllum Genlisea Heliarnphora Lathraea Mimosa GENERA INDEX (Photos are italicized) 50, 87, 99, 104 25 104 88, 100 5, 7, 9, 12, 21-23, 27, 32-40, 50, 56, 68, 80, 84, 86, 94. 104 5, 6, 7, 10, II. 19, 20, 25, 4S-A9. 50, 56, 66-73, 79, 86, 87, 88, 100, 104 66-73, 88, 100 13, 15, 16, 20 87, 88, 99 17. 20 50 Nepenthes I, 2, 5, 25, 27, 31, 50, 56, 57, 60, 61. 62, 63, 64, 65, 73, 74-78, 77, 81. 86, 88, 90, 91, 92, 100, 101, 102, 103, 108 Pinguicula 6. 7. II. 13, 25, 46-4 7. 50, 57, 52, 56, 79, 93, 94-95, 96, 100 Polypornpholyx 1 3 Sarracenia ' 5, 8, 10, II, 13, 19, 25, 41, 42, 43, 44, 50, 53, 54, 55, 56, 79, 84, 87, 88, 97, 100, 104 Silene 3 1 Sytlosanthes 50 Utnculana 5, 10, 13, 18, 19, 28, 50, 56, 79, 88, 100, 104 AUTHOR AND PHOTOGRAPHER INDEX Netherby, B., 31 Pereira, 5 Powell, J., 56 Abel, H., 4 Barnett, W., 4 Bednar, B., 5, 55 Carow, T., 5, 6-7, 27 Carroll, B., 84, 93-95 Clancy, S., 89 DeLoach, M., 5 Depaz, M., 18 Claudi-Magnussen, G., 13 Dodd, C., 64, 65* Gagliardo, R., 88 Bigson, T., 84 Haberlandt, G., 9, 32, 66 Harbster, D., 86 Kocsis, I., 101-103 Korolas, J., 19 Lowrie, A., 31, 48, 49 Mauder, R., 86 Mazrimas, J., 1, 86, 91 Mellichamp, L., 8, 10, 1 1, 28, 45 Rea, T., 31 Russell, G., 56 Schnell, D., 3, 41-45, 83, 87, 96 Shailer, K., 8 Simons, P., 87 Sirkett, J., 99 Sivertsen, R., 87 Sizemore, S., 94-95 Smith, S., 46, 47, 51, 65, 87 Spiers, D., 31 Steiger, J., 29, 52 Studnicka, M., 17 Taylor, D., 57, 61,81, 89-92 Walter, A., 78 Williams, S., 36 Woodring, M., 77 Zillins, R. V., 108 "Photo attributed to R. V. Zillins (CPN, September, 1982, page 65) was actually taken bv Cliff Dodd II. Volume 11 • December 1982 107 Nepenthes bicalcarata grovvnng in cultivation. Photo by R. V. Zillins