CARNIVOROUS PLANT
NEWSLETTER

VOi 1 IMF Q Niimhfir 2

JUNE 1980

CARNIVOR*

PLANT

NEWSLETT

Volume 9, Number 2
June, 1980

Cover

Sarracenia /lava L. Variant with red-veined green lid, and deep red tube exterior. Brunswick
Co., NC. See feature article, pages 41-44, for details.

The co-editors of CPN would like everyone to pay particular attention to the following
policies regarding your subscription to CPN:

All correspondence regarding subscriptions, address changes and missing issues
should be sent to Mrs. Kathy Fine, c/o The Fullerton Arboretum, California State
University, Fullerton, CA 92634. 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 should be directed to one
of the co-editors. We are interested in all 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 Spetember issue is August 1 , 1 980.

CO-EDITORS:

D. E. Schnell, Rt. 4, Box 275B, Statesville, NC 28677

J. A. Mazrimas, 329 Helen Way, Livermore, CA 94550

T. L. Mellichamp, Dept, of Biology, UNCC, Charlotte, NC 28223

Leo Song, Dept, of Biology, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92634

SECRETARY-TREASURER: Mrs. Kathy Fine, 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, 1 29 Agostino Rd., San
Gabriel, CA 91776. Circulation: 820 (203 new, 61 7 renewal). Subscrip¬
tions: $7.00 annually, $9.00 foreign. Reprints available by volume only.
® 1980 Carnivorous Plant Newsletter. All rights reserved.

30

Carnivorous Plant Newsletter

Editor’s Corner

WE ALMOST KISSED
SARRACENIA OREOPHILA GOODBYE!

It was an excellent idea for Congress to pass the Endangered Species Act of 1973 which
made it possible to prevent the exdnction of many plants and animals. Thanks also goes to
the Smithsonian Institution for identifying some 3,000 species of plants considered to be in
danger of extincdon. From this list about 1 700 species needed immediate protection if they
were to survive in their natural habitats. Sarracenia oreophila was one of these plants.

So far only 5 6 plant species passed the long legal process and studies needed to protect the
plants under the Endangered Species Act. Now with several recent developments, I wonder
if any more can be saved.

The problem now is that Congress amended the 1973 law in direct response to the snail
darter problem (a little fish that was delaying the construction of a Tennessee dam). This
incident created such a furor in Congress that they now require not only the biological
evaluation but also several kinds of socioeconomk studies as part of the legal package to protect
a plant. In addition, they added a time limit of two years to complete all studies or else the
plant cannot be considered as endangered unless new infomiation is presented.

These recent changes now have increased expenses and effort for the protection of each
plant species to the point where they are so excessive that it may be beyond the current
abilities of the limited staff and budget of the Endangered Species Office to complete all the
paperwork.

What can you do.^ Write to your Senator or Representative and let them know how you
feel about protecting S. oreophila and the 7 other Carnivorous Plant species on the
Endangered List.

REF: AMER. HORT. 52(2) :3 (1980)

(Late note: We have been informed that S. oreophila made the Endangered List
before the new guidelines became effective.)

News and Views

CRAIG J. BOLTON (P.O. Box 501,
University of Dallas Station, Irving, Texas,
75061) asks: If you know of collectors, local
societies or nurseries specializing in carni¬
vorous plants in the Dallas — Ft. Worth area
I would appreciate hearing from you.

JOHN B. BURNS (6304-H South Padre
Island Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78412)
writes: Found a use for the 2-liter plastic
soft drink bottles that have the black or
green bottoms. (Coca-Cola, Tab, etc.) See fig
1.

First, pull off the black or green bottom of
the botde. This is usually fairly easy. You

now have a plastic pot and a dome bottomed
bottle. See fig 2.

With heavy scissors cut off the top of the
bottle about one inch above the point where
it starts to taper toward the neck. See fig. 3.
If you cut below the taper the plastic dome
will be the same size as the pot and will not
fit.

Check by fitting dome into pot. The
dome should go in only as far as needed in
order to be stable. If the dome goes in too
far trim off the excess.

The adhesive under the label can be
removed with 'VarsoV or charcoal starter
fluid. Removing as much paper as possible

Volume 9 • June 1 980

31

COLA

COLA

Do Not Cut
Down Here

COLA

fig. 2

fig. 3

Height - 9V4 inches
Diameter - 472 inches

fig. 4

fig. 5

before taking off adhesive makes it easier.
Use the "VarsoV or charcoal starter fluid to
remove the dots of adhesive on the top of the
dome. (Be careful not to set yourself or
anvrhing on fire) A little work may be
needed in removing the adhesive. Be
careful not to scratch the dome. Wash well
with detergent and its ready for planting.

BILL CARROLL (N.C. Botanical Gar¬
den, Chapel Hill, NC 27514) says: I en¬
closed three slides showing CP that I’ve
propagated by tissue culture methods.

Its interesting that these plants survive
without insects. The flvtrap (Dionaea) is a
vear old and has never seen a tly!

When transplanting to a soil mixture (two
parts peat moss and one part fine ver-
miculite), I water the plants with Miracid®
or Rapidgro®, 14 teaspoon per liter of
water. Rapidgro® boosts the growth of
llvtrap and butterw’ort seedlings as well.
I’ve applied it directlv onto the plants
about everv sixtv days with no ill effects.

For the tissue culture tomiula, I used
Miracid® in place of a lengthv list of chem¬
icals and added siu rose and agar and
Dionaea grows ver\' well on this medittm!

One year old flytrap grown on nutrient agar.
Photo bv Bill Carroll.

32

Carnivorous Plant Newsletter

Fig. 2. P. purmla growing from tissue culture Fig. 3. P. lutea about to flower in tube at
at the N.C. Botanical Garden. the NCBG.

Photos by Bill Carroll

REINHARD FRENZER (Johann Strauss-
Gasse 24, A-2340 Modling, Austria) states:

For more than 214 years I’ve subscribed to
the Carnivorous Plant Newsletter and I want
to thank you for your efforts as a co-editor to
make the CPN as great as it is.

Especially the colour-pictures are great.
Sometimes they are of great help to grow a
plant, as you can get some ideas about the
natural habitat of a plant. If it is possible,
please give the CP-growers the oppormnity
to see more CP’s in their habitat.

In Austria there are only few CP’s native.
They are D. anglica, D. intermedia, D. rotundi-
folia, P. vulgaris, P. alpirm, P. leptoceras, U.
vulgaris, maybe some more Utrics and also
Aldrovanda, but although you can find loca¬
tions of these latter in the literature, I do not

know of someone, who did find these dur¬
ing the last 10 years or so, maybe they are
extinct now. Enclosed you find two photos
of D. anglica and D. rotundifolia in their
natural habitat in the so-called “Ibmer
Moor” (Ibm is a small village. Moor means
bog), 30 km north of the town Salzburg
in Austria. Both species are growing to¬
gether and you can also find the hybrid
between both, D. x obvata.

Enclosed you’ll find the bag of a sort of
candy you can buy here in Austria even in
supermarkets and which is containing an
extract of Drosera. (German: Sonnentau,
English: Sundew). I do not think that the
extract is obtained from the native Dro-
seras. (Please turn page to see copy of
top of package.)

Volume 9 • June 1 980

33

Alpenkrauter-Zuckerl

Zusammensetzung:

Zucker, Starkesirup, Malzextrakt,
Menthol und den Extrakt aus:
Sonnentau. Eibisch, SiiBholz, Hollunder.

Spitzwegerich, Quendel, Stiefmutterchen,
Thymian.

Inhalt; 70 Gramm
Wander Ges.m.b.H., Wien

ALAIN GODBOUT (38 Rue LaBelle,
Beauport, Qiiebec, Province de Qiiebec,
Canada, GIE 5R3) writes; Have vou ever
written on the genus Parmssia? It appears
that between Drosera and Parnassia, there
exists analogies. Is Parnassia carnivorous?
It seems that vcs. If it is true, it would be a
new system to capture insects because the
svstem wouldn’t be based on leaves but on
llowers. The glands that bound sterile
stamens (stamenods) appear to be carniv¬
orous organs. They secrete a limpid, sticky,
acid liquid. The insects are immediately
limed and assimilated

This plant genus grows in calcareous,
damp soils. About fifty species exist, anvong
which twenty in China, six (?) in America.

In Qitebec Province (Canada), we have
Parnassia kotzebuei Cham., P. palustris L.
var. neogaea Fern., P. glauca Raf. (Glau¬
cous parnassia); syn. P. caroliniana, P.
parviflora DC. Type; Parnassia palustris L.

References:

1 . “Flore Laurentienne”, Frere Marie-Vic-
torin, Montreal University Press, Montreal,
1964, P. 291-92.

2. “Traite de Botanique Systematique, Par
M. ChaDeFaud et L. Fmberger”. Tome II
“Fes Vegetaux Vasculaires”, par L. Fm¬
berger, Fascicule II p. 1361, Masson et cie,
France, 1960.

Mr. John H. Hummer (1705 N. Quebec
St., Arlington, VA 22207) writes: I have the
following useful notes and items to pass
along.

For those looking for ways (natural) to in¬
sulate and acidify their CP (especially green¬
house growers of the north). Evergreen
droppings will do the trick. I have already
this fall spread down over 150 gals, of
pineneedles in and outside my greenhouse
(an ideal winter cover for an outdoor bog
garden) and these pineneedles have been
added even to the waters of my Utric’s. Be
sure if vou take pine needles from an
isolated group of Pine trees, you don’t take
all their mulch either. ALWAYS BE
SELECTIVE! These pineneedles will break
down rather rapidlv so that by springtime,
their nourishment will feed your Sphagnum
and CP.

Utric’s are a highly effective form of
mosquito control! Especially those species
which produce an abundance of bladders
(U. intermedia. U. macrorhiza ssp. vulgans).
Inside my greenhouse, since the intro-
duaion of these plants, the mosquito
population (from pans of water they breed
in) has become nearly extinct. In all my
water-holding containers in my greenhouse
there now exist at least one or more fonns
of Utnculana. In dealing with the terresterial
fonii of U. subulata, 1 have found that once
it’s infested a new ‘likeable’ area, it is next to
impossible to ever eliminate.

34

Carnivorous Plant Newsletter

The family of plant parasites Pseudococcus
(Coccus), mealy bugs or plant lice, can really
be a problem for growers of Sarracenia. I
have known the problem well, and if left
unchecked, the results will be an infestation
of these pests at epidemic proportion, and
much reduced crop of Sarracenia. Check
inside the interior of older Sarracenia pit¬
chers, where they conveniently nest. If you
see more than one, chances are there’s an
infestation, since they’re able to reproduce
quickly. Check also at the base of leaf
petioles where they meet the rhizome;
another clever nesting and hiding spot for
these pests. The most effective and safe
treatment against these pest is the use of
Isotox®. I am grateful to Dave Kutt for
informing me on this highly effective insec¬
ticide. Isotox® is systemic and will rid your
plants of these parasites once and for all.
Give them a double treatment several days
after you intially treat them. Be sure to treat
the pitcher plants infested at their crowns.
GOOD GROWING!

Isamu Kusakabe (5-14-6 Chitosedai,
Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan 157)

I’ve enclosed a picture of Nepenthes alata
‘variegata’ which was discovered at a local
nursery. This is a beautiful foliage plant but
it’s rather hard to bear pitchers. The leaves
are highly variegated with white and green
striadons, but the one pitcher shown here
does not seem to have this trait.

Jim Miller, (2319 Ninth St., Green Bay,
WI 54304).

Due to the nation-wide gas crunch, I have
not had as many opportunities to explore
the Wisconsin and Michigan bogs as I might
have wished. I did however, have the
pleasure of visidng Cedarburg Bog at the
invitation of Millicent Ficken, Professor of
Zoology and Director of the University of
Wisconsin Field Station there. The bog is a
2,000 acre preserve, over half of which is
owned now by the state. It is located near
Cedarburg and Saukville just north of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

This late in the summer, the bugs were
quite a nuisance. They nearly form clouds
around your head as you enter the bog and

Variegated N. alata

Photo by I. Kusakabe

pause only long enough to occasionally bite.

The carnivorous plants are found here in
several locadons but I had only time enough
to visit one location which is a string bog
deep in the preserve area. As might be
expected, Sarracenia purpurea ssp purpurea
was found here in incredible numbers, not
only in the open spots but well into the
surrounding woods as well. The soil here is
mainly rich peat and decomposed matter so
that walking is nearly impossible without
sinking several feet into the ooze.

The main objeaive of tny initial visit was
locating Drosera linearis and I was rewarded
by the sight of thousands of plants all
through this location. While this species is
apparently on the decline elsewhere, here it
is quite prolific forming dense colonies.
They are certainly on the increase here as
nearly every plant was seen to have many
maturing seed pods while others were still in
flower. All the plants were found growing in
the open spots in full sun. As expected,
Drosera rotundifolia was found as well, but in
dtis location they were found on slightly
higher ground growing on sphagnum and

Volume 9 • June 1 980

35

shaded over by the taller plants and shrubs.
A large group of D. rotundifolia was also
observ'ed in fairly open woods growing on a
rotten cedar stump.

Though 1 did a little searching, I could not
locate Droscra anglica in this area. Other CPs
in this bog were Utricularm comuta and
U. vulgaris was seen in a stream nearby.

ROBERT McMAHON (3518 Lincoln
Way, Apt #1, Ames, Iowa 50010) is looking
for other CP enthusiasts in the central Iowa
region with whom to correspond. All you
central lowans write Robert at the above
address and get aquainted.

Philip Sheridan (5729 S. 2nd St., Arling¬
ton, VA 22204) announces the demise of the
Potomac Valley Carnivorous Plant Society
and cessation of the bulletin. Interested
members of the group in Philip’s vicinity
will continue to meet informally. If you
have not vet received a refund possibly owed
vou from paid dues, please contact Philip at
the above address. He requests you cancel
pavment on checks. Philip also requests
those former members in the DC area to
contact him so that work can be continued
informally. He reports a bog recently found
near Annapolis, MD which is in relatively
good condition and contains Drosera inter¬
media and Utricularias. Philip is interested
in preserving this area and would like po¬
tential helpers to contact him also.

STEVE SMITH (R.D. 1, Box 296, Kirk¬
wood, N.Y. 13795)

On dormancy for the temperate species;
Eor the past 3 years I remove the plants from
the growing medium, then soak in full
strength solution of Benomyl for a few
minutes. Afterwards, I place the dormant
roots (I cut off all old leaves except for the
winter leaves) in a baggie with some living
sphagnum moss for moisaire. I put differ¬
ent plants in different bags and wxite species
and date and then I store in my refrigerator
until spring. To date, I have not lost a plant
using this method. I have a “double batch”
of plants w'hich means I have duplicates that
1 grow a half year off the seasonal cycle.
They are presentlv growai in an indoor

terrarium under lights w’hich allows me to
show off my collection in any season.

For growers w’ho have water with a pH
near neutral, the pH can be lowered by
using distilled white vinegar. This should be
done carefully as a little goes a long way. An
inexpensive low pH test kit can be pur¬
chased at a pet store. By using this method I
noticed that it enhanced the red coloration
of my plants. I also noticed that it slows
down algae growth.

Finally, I think it is a good idea that when
people exchange cuttings of Nepenthes, they
should include a mature pitcher for the re¬
cipient to examine. It usually takes a long
time before a cutting will yield large mature
pitchers.

Parker Webb (302 Stayman Dr., Ranson,
West Virginia 25438) asks: How soon do D.
intermedia seedlings flower? The reason I’m
asking is I have some D. intermedia seedlings
that are 3 months old and they are flower¬
ing! Is that normal?

S. flava

Photo by Steve Smith

36

Carnivorous Plant Newsletter

Review of Recent Literature

Adams, RM and Koenigsberg, SS, Lanhans
RW, 1979. In vitro propagation of the
butterwort Pinguicula moranensis H.B.K.
HortScience 14: 701-702.

The authors describe an agar formula tech¬
nique for successfully obtaining more
rooted buds from leaves of the above
species. The agar formula and methods
are described in detail.

Adams, RM, and Langhans,RW., cover by R.
Scott Bennett, 1979. Carnivorous plants
underexploited for indoor culture.
HortScience 14: 678, 787, and color
covers.

This article brieflv describes CP useful for
indoor culture, along with some general
CP descriptions, functions and pro¬
blems. There is a fine painting of five CP
species in color on the cover. Reprints
(the article on one side and the color
painting reproduced double page on the
other of heavy paper suitable for fram¬
ing) are available at cost, $ 1 .00 iticluding
postage, from: Dr. RW Langhans, Cor¬
nell Floriculture, 20 Plant Sciences Bldg.,
Ithaca, NY 14853.

Army Corps of Engineers, 1977, and 1979
(supplement). Wetland plants of the
eastern United States. (Publication No.
NADP 200-1-1 with supplement 1, US
Army Corps of Engineers, North Adantic
Division, 90 Church St., New York City,
10007, both parts for $8.40, ppd.).

This interesting handbook was designed for
ACE personnel to use in the field and is
by the photo matching concept. Each
wetland species for the area features a
description and at least one, most often
two, color photos. CP covered are Dro-
sera fififorrms, D. intermedia, D. rotundifolia,
Sarracema purpurea ssp. purpurea, tind
Utriculana “comuta” (the photo actually
shows U. vulgaris!). In addition to the CP,

several hundred other wetland plants of
interest are covered as well, including
some native orchids. There will likely be
further supplements. In spite of the
Utriculana error identification, the set is
well worth the low cost. Be certain to get
both parts for the one price since the
supplement is actually larger than the
first portion, and contains the table of
contents, index, corrections and bibli¬
ography. (DES)

Beaver, R.A. , Biological studies of the
fauna of pitchers plants [Nepenthes] in West
Malaysia. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 15(r):3-18
1979.

The author describes 25 species of insects
and 3 species of arachnids living in the
pitchers of N. albomarginata, N. arnpullaria
and N. gracilis in Penang. The differences
between the faunas of different Nepenthes
species can be related to the habitats &
pitcher structure. Most of the species have
aquatic larvae that feed on nutrients in the
pitcher liquor but one predator spider and
one fly larvae acmallv catch insects entering
or leaving the pitcher. Most of the insects
(7996) breed only in the pitcher habitat and
are termed nepenthebiont species.

Beaver, R. Description of the male and
larvae of Endonepenthia schmtemakeri, new
record, from Nepenthes pitchers. Ann
Soc. Entomol. Er. 15(1): 19-24. 1979.

A small two-winged fly of hunchback ap¬
pearance (Diptera, Phoridae) was found
living in Nepenthes pitchers in West Ma¬
laysia.

Dexhimer,J. Ultrastructural localization of
enzymatic activities in the cells of the
digestive glands of Drosera capensis during
the mucigenic phase: Detection of glu-
cos-6- phosphatase activity. Cytologia
(Tokyo) 44(1): 153-160. 1979.

(Please turn to p. 38)

Volume 9 • June 1980

37

The author found that the majority of
the enzyme activity was concentrated in
the cell wall, in the zones where mu¬
cilage accumulate.

Grjebine, A. The mosquitoes living in the
Malagasy pitcher plants: New species of
the genus Uranotaenia (Diptera, Culi-
cidae). Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 15(1): 53-
74. 1979.

Four new species of mosquito are described
which exhibit faunistic differences de¬
pending if they live in the ground pit¬

chers or the trumpet-like pitchers of
taller plants. The mandibles of two of
them are highly adapted to predation.

Kurahashi, H., Beaver, R. Nepenthomyia
malayana, a new genus and species of
caJliphorid fly bred from the pitchers of
Nepenthes ampidlana in West Malaysia.
Ann Soc. Entomol. Fr. 15(1): 25-30.
1979.

The authors describe a large blow-fly of a
new genus living in Nepenthes pitchers.

(Please turn to p. 49)

Carnivorous Plants Do Not Appear To Be Cannibals

by D.C. Speirs (Box 6830, Stn. D, Calgary, Alberta T2P 2E7, Canada)

In an 1879 issue of Gardener’s Chronicle
(Vol. 1 2, page 565) is an interesting note on
Nepenthes. A plant was illustrated showing a
young pitcher that pushed into an older
pitcher and developed inside it. The in¬
terior pitcher was quite healthy and green,
and it did not appear to be affected by
the digestive juices of its host. For those
of you who grow Nepenthes, this might
make an interesting study, deliberately
pushing young pitchers into older ones
and seeing what happens. This could
be done in two ways. Firstly, both
pitchers might be from the sam.e plant,
secondly, each pitcher could be from
a different plant or clone, to see if the
host will attack the foreign pitcher.

In the century since this note was pub¬
lished, it appears that this unusual occur-
ance has not been repeated. Because 1879
issues of Gardener’s Chronicle are difficult
to come by, the original sketch has been
redrawn and is presented here, showing a
cut-away view of the host pitcher with
its companion inside.

38

Carnivorous Plant Newsletter

DARLINGTONIA

by Jim Miller (2319 Ninth St., Green Bay, WI 54304)

Many people, myself included, have ex¬
pressed frustration at the difficulties of
growing Darlingtonia. Having grown these
plants in Tallahassee where daytime temps
may reach over a hundred degrees, I am
quite familiar with the methods neccessary
to keeping them healthy.

First, the best way to grow this plamt in
warm climates is to keep it in a fairly shady
location. That means no direct sunlight
during the hottest summer months. I have
grown them indoors beside am east facing
window (getting only an hour of early
morning sun) as well as in my greenhouse
under the lowest bench. Indoors, the plant
should be misted twice a day with refrig¬
erated distilled water and watered with the
same only when the growing medium
begins to feel dry. At least twice a month
the plant should be taken outdoors and
dunked in a pail of cold, pure water. This
flushes the root system and washes out any
accumulated salts. The dunking should be
done three or four times by submerging the
plant, pulling it out of the water and allow¬
ing the water to drain through the pot be¬
fore repeating the process. This procedure
should also be used each week or so on
plants grown outdoors. The healthiest
growth seems to come when the plants are
grown in live sphagnum as this seems to
keep roots cooler. The outdoor plants may
be grown slighdy wetter than the indoor
ones but in both instances good drainage
is vital.

My latest method of cultivation is even
more successful. I am growing the plants
indoors in a small basement greenhouse
under artificial light (2 four foot grow-lux /
2 cool white). I use the same methods de¬
scribed above, but in the basement temps
rarely get over 65° F. The plants have
pitchers over 18" and they are beautifully
veined maroon. The hoods also are fuller
and the “tongues” are large and well-deve¬
loped with deep red venation.

This also brings up a point. Many people

feel that the red coloration in carnivorous
plants is due to intense sunlight. This is not
always the case. I have found all my Dionaea
to be brighter red in the traps under fluor¬
escent light. All my Darlingtonia and several
Pinguiculas are redder under the lights.
This is perhaps due in part to the ultra-violet
light from the grow-lux lamps, but it also
seems the temperatures play a role here.

I have seen Dionaea grown by Bob Han-
rahan at the World Insectovorous Plant
facility at Arroyo Grande, California with a
beautiful dark red color in the traps. These
plants were grown in moderate shade in the
multi-leve^ growth area so they received
little, if any direct sunlight. Arroyo Grande
though, has very cool temperatures year-
round. In August, when I visited WIP the
temps were only in the sixties during the
day. So it seems that in some way these two
elements affect the plants to produce the
color changes. And again, it points out how
much more we need to study them in order
to understand all the factors involved in
successful growth.

(WIP has moved. See March, 1980 CPN
source list.)

Photo by Kim Lynch

Volume 9 • June 1 980

39

THE PREDACIOUS FUNGI

by Glen Claudi-Mcignussen
(26861 Quevedo Ln., Mission Viejo, CA 92691)

A number of species of fungi have the
ability to catch, kill, and consume certain
animals. A variety of methods and mech¬
anisms are used to capture prey, some of
which are similar to those of the carnivorous
angiosperms. Most of the predacious fungi
are either Phycomycetes or Deutero-
mycetes. Most of the predacious Deutero-
mcetes are Hyphomycetes, many of which
belong to the family Moniliaceae. About
half of the genera of predacious Phyco¬
mycetes belong to the family Zoopagaceae.
A few predacious funge are aquatic, but
most can be found in soil, decaying plant
matter, etc.

The most common method used by the
predacious fungi to capture prey is with
adhesion. The adhesive may be found
covering the fungus, on special branches, on
the inside of rings, or on spherical knobs.
The knobs are found atop short, lateral
branches. The rings are formed when
hyphae bend and fuse with their own bases.
In many species, complex networks are
formed when secondary and tertiary rings
arise from other loops. Some protozoams or
other organisms are captured with adhe¬
sives, but nematodes are the principle prey,
and in the case of adhesive rings, the only
prey. The prey is captured on contact, and
as it struggles, the fungus secretes additional
adhesive to prevent its escape. Trophic
hyphae then enter the prey to absorb nu¬
trients. The adhesive found in the Phyco¬
mycetes is considerably stronger than that
found in other fungi.

Probably the most fescinating trap used
by predacious fungi is the constricting ring.
The ring is composed of three cells, and is
situated on a two cell stalk. The inner
surface of the ring is sensitive to touch.
When a nematode touches it, the cells swell
to about three times their original volume,
pinning the worm between them. Prior to
swelling there is a lag of one to two seconds
but the actual swelling takes only about one
tenth of a second. Following capture,
hyphae enter the prey and absorb the nu¬

trients. The exact process causing the
swelling is not known, but it has been
hypothesized that the cell membrane be¬
comes more elastic, allowing water to rush
in and the cell to swell.

Rings are also used to capture nematodes
in another way. These rings are shghtly
smaller in diameter than the nematodes
captured. When a nematode tries to pass
through the ring, it gets stuck. It then tries to
force its way through the ring, but can only
wedge itself tighter into the ring. Once the
worm is caught, hyphae enter it to withdraw
nutrients. This type of trap is usually called a
“non-constricting ring.”

Another method is used to catch rotifers.
The tips of hyphal branches act as bait for
the rotifers. When the rotifer bites the
hyphae, it swells within the rotifer’s mouth
and secretes mucilage. Hyphae then grow
through the mouth and absorb all but the
shell. One species, Momcrosporium passalo-
paga, has developed another way to capture
rotifers. When the rotifer bites its filament
the fungus thrusts a lateral branch into the
rotifer’s mouth. This branch then swells,
making it impossible for the rotifer to es¬
cape. The rotifer-catching fungi are usually
found in association with algae where the
rotifers are often found feeding.

There are also some species of fungi
whose spores either adhere to or are in¬
gested by their prey. The spores which
adhere to the body surface then penetrate
the surface. Both types grow within the
prey’s body, eventually killing the prey.
Only the hyphae which produce spores
grow externally; all other growth remains
within the prey’s body (with a few excep¬
tions). At least one species [Harposporium
anguUlidae) has been shown to be highly
attractive to a cenain species of nematode,
indicating that the chance of infection is not
always purely random. While most other
predacious fungi can survive without prey,
these species cannot.

Not until 1888 was the carnivorous nature
(Please turn to p. 52)

40

Carnivorous Plant Newsletter

A PHOTOGRAPHIC PRIMER OF VARIANTS
OF SARRACENIA FLAVA L.

by Donald E. Schnell

Several readers have asked if CPN might
be able to publish color photos of various
CP species variants that have been dis¬
cussed, particularly Sarracenia /lava and S.
purpurea. The co-editors of CPN feel that
such comparison photos might indeed be
useful.

We are starting off the series with S./lava,
and will continue it — probably in the next
volume year — with S. purpurea. In the
meantime, we would appreciate your
comments about this kind of presentation,
and your suggestions for future topics.

The S./lava variants described briefly be¬
low and pictured on the following pages are
those recognized by me after some study
(see primary reference 1 below, and second¬
ary reference 2 and 3). For various reasons
I feel that these variants are genetic. Read¬
ers are invited to consult my papers for de¬
tails of this concept which we cannot go into
here in this short descriptive cirticle. A few
reprints are still available to those who have
no access to the journal.

As a result of my study in the Carolinas, I
recognized five clear coloration variants,
with a possible sixth, the latter being very
rare in the study area and therefore not
subject to combined study of large numbers
of plants. However, the variant (No. 6 below
and in photos and on cover) is rather
common in the Gulf coast range of the
species and I believe it also is genetic and
include it here.

The numbers below correspond to the
numbered photos that follow.

1 ) The most common or typical form of S.
/lava throughout its range as a whole. Note
the generally yellow-green pitcher color,
minimal venation comparatively, and the
purple pigment splotch on the interior of
the lid column. Brunswick Co., NC.

2 ) The rather rare all red form with deep
red pigment nearly to the ground. Note that

the red color carries over to the interior of
the pitcher. The pigment is of course most
prominent when the plants grow in open
situations, tends to fade to variable degrees
late in the season, and will fade rather pro-
minendy if the plants are moved in spring
or early summer, but will recur the follow¬
ing season if conditions are good. Bruns¬
wick Co., NC.

3 ) The form with a metallic reddish-
brown or coppery pigment of the upper lid
surface and tending to extend down the ex¬
ternal surface of the pitcher tube about a
quarter its length. Note the familiar purple
splotch of the lid column, and somewhat
more prominent venation. Bmnswick Co.,
NC. (Also rear cover)

4 ) The striking heavily veined form has a
very prominent, heavy pattern of reticulate
red venation over the entire pitcher exterior
as well as internal portions of the hood and
column. Careful observation indicates that
the purple splotch of the hood column is in¬
stead a confluence of veins in this form
rather than a more diffuse or laked pattern
as in (1). When moved or cultivated, this
variant is susceptible to the same problems
as outlined in (2) above. Brun.swick Co.,
NC. (Also front cover)

5 ) The form which lacks all red pigment
in the pitcher, being a diffuse pale yellow-
green. However, pitcher primordia (pitcher
buds) are often pigmented, so there is a re¬
duction of pigment production in mature
leaves, rather than the situation with F.
heterophylla of S. purpurea. Brunswick Co.,
NC.

6) The probable sixth genetic color
pattern variant. Note the green lid but
with red veins, the variable vein conflu¬
ence of the lid column, and the deep

Please turn to p. 44)

Volume 9 • June 1980

41

1) Typical form

2) All red form

VARIENTS OF

ALL PHOTOS BY

3) Upper lid with coppery pigment

4) Heavily veined form

42

Carnivorous Plant Nevttsletter

5) Green form 6) Green lid with red veins

SARRACENIA FLAVA L.

DONALD SCHNELL

7) Hybrid

8) Probable hybrid between # 4 & 5

Volume 9 • June 1980

43

(Continued from p. 41)

red color of the external portion of the

tube nearly to the ground. However, the

interior of the pitcher is tan-green and

not red (cf. 2 and 4 above). Liberty Co.,

FL.

7 ) and 8 ) Hybrid plants of the primary
variants 1-5, photographed in the same
bogs. Variant parentage may be difficult to
determine. In 7, the condensation of what
red pigment is there in the lid column sug¬
gests a hybrid between 1 and 5 as most
likely, but there are other possibilities, in¬
cluding complex back and third crosses.
Plant 8 is probably a cross between 4 and 5

above as suggested by the more diffuse pat¬
tern of light venation.

REFERENCES

1. Schnell, DE. 1978. Sarracenia flava L.:
Infraspecific variation in eastern North
Carolina. Castanea 43:1-20.

2 _ 1978. Sarracerm L. petal

extraa chromatography. Castanea 43: 107-
115.

3 _ 1978. Systematic flower

studies of Sarracenia L. Castanea 43:211-
220.

HOW TO RAISE FRUIT FLIES
AS FOOD FOR CARNIVOROUS PLANTS

by R. Douglas Wiggins Jr.

(140 N.E. 72nd St, Pordand, OR)

The semi-closed environment of a ter¬
rarium seldom contains enough insea life
to provide a hearty diet for most carni¬
vorous plants. I have found that the inclu¬
sion of wingless fruit flies provides my
plants with enough nutrition that the growth
rate is markedly increased. Pitcher plants,
Dionaea and sundews each benefit from this
treatment although the smaller sundews
and larger Dionaea sometimes have trouble
keeping their prey.

Wingless fruit flies are Drosophila melano-
gaster that have been bred for the recessive
gene that causes the wings not to form.
Thus, the proper term is not wingless, but
vestigial winged. The recessive aspea of this
genetic trait means that if a vestigial winged
fly breeds with a wild type fly, all of the first
generation offspring will have wings. For
this reason, it is necessary to be careful that
no wild type flies enter a wingless culture
during transfers to other vessels.

It is aaually fairly simple to raise fruit
flies, as any lover of fruit must notice during
the summer. A slice of ripe banana with a
dash of yeast is a sufficient medium, but, as
the banana decomposes, it becomes runny
and often results in drowned fruit flies. A

much better medium can be made of a
mixture of com syrup, corn meal, malt and
a trace of fungicide to prevent mold for¬
mation. This medium can be further im¬
proved by the addition of more nutrients
(note: the com meal is to provide a solid
substrate — mashed potato flakes could
also be used).

The best and easiest to prepare medium is
a dry commercial medium which is pre¬
pared by adding an equal volume of water
and a few grains of active yeast. This
medium can be obtained from biological
supply houses in multiples of one liter
volumes (one such place that does mail
order business is Carolina Biological Supply
Co., Burlington, N.C., 27215, or Gladstone,
OR. 97027).

Fmit flies are very prolific and have a very
short life cycle (that is, the period of time
from the egg to the adult). The life cycle
involves four stages. At 20 degrees centi¬
grade (room temperature) the fly is in the
egg and larval stages for eight days, and in
the pupal stage for six days. The fly emerges
an adult, and has a fairly long life expec¬
tancy. The female will begin laying eggs in a
few days, and can lay 500 eggs in ten days

44

Carnivorous Plant Newsletter

rime. The females remain fertile all their
lives.

To culture these flies, some medium is
placed in a container (there are standard
culture tubes available, VA" X 4") and a
piece of coarse nylon net is added to allow
the flies a place to stand (to keep them from
getting stuck in the medium) and a porous
plug is inserted (gauze or cotton will do,
but there is an autoclavable foam plug
made) that will fit the culture tubes and
that will also neatly fit the neck of a 250 ml.
erlenmeyer flask). After the medium sets for
a minute, six or eight flies can be introduced
by either shaking them into the container, or
by inverting the empty container over the
container of flies and allowing the flies crawl
up into it (fruit flies are phototropic, so a
light above the empty container will aid the
transfer). In two weeks, more fruit flies will
be emerging. If the cultures are kept at
slightly higher temperatures, the life cycle
will be shortened, but this increases the
possibility of mold. Each culture can be
kept for one month or longer, but keeping
them too long might tillow mite infestation.
Two or more cultures should be kept, so that
if one is lost by mite infestation one will be
left as a spare. Never take a culture from a
vial that does not appear to be producing
multitudinous flies, as this is an indication
of mites. In addition, the vials should be
kept on “No Bugs M’Lady” shelf paper.
This will kill any mites that walk across it,
thus avoiding the spread of contamination.
If this brand of Lindane treated paper is not
available, any shelf paper can be sprayed
with a solution of Lindane available at your
local nursery. It is a contaa pesticide, so it
will not harm the flies in the vial.

If one has the desire to aid the growth of
small sundews that normally could not hold
a live fruit fly, the flies may be killed and fed
to the leaf surfaces by hand (a time con¬
suming but rewarding task that normally
should be reserved for rare plants). Ether is
the best killing agent. A glass jar with a one
inch hole cut in the lid will hold the flies,
while a cotton plug with ether on it is
inserted in the hole. Death is indicated
when the wings stand out from the body at

about a 45 degree angle. Alcohol can be
used instead of ether, but it is much slower
(use denatured alcohol). Carbon dioxide
gas or freezing temperatures will also work,
but these require even more time. I have
found that the use of winged flies for hand
feeding is best, as the wings provide a
purchase for tweezers. Although it may be
possible to collect wild fruit flies by setting
out a piece of ripe banana or some grapes
(spontaneous generation?), wild flies col¬
lected in this fashion may have mite infesta¬
tion and often do not do well in culture. I
use cultures of white eyed fruit flies (as
opposed to the wild red eye) in order that I
may be certain that I do not receive the
blame for the fruit flies around the fruit
bowl.

Cultures are available from Carolina
Biological Supply Co., Burlington, N.C.,
27215, or Gladstone, OR. 97027). Phone
number for Gladstone, OR. is 503-656-
1641. Prices as ofjan. 9, 1980 are;

Drosophila cultures — $3.95@ or two and

up for $3.75 . depends on trait

Culture Vials — S2.75 per doz . 67-4060

Eoam Vial Plugs — $1.25 per doz . 67-

4062

Drosophila — $2.75@ . 67-4080

Anesthetizer

Medium — $3.50 per liter . 67-5000

—$9.50 per 4 " . 67-5002

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

SPECIAL NOTICE

Eor those CP enthusiasts who live in the
San Erancisco area. The Elower Show will
take place at the end of August. To enter
your plants in the show please write for a
premium book and entry form after July 1.
Write to:

Anthony Rea

738 22nd Ave.

San Erancisco, CA 94121

This years’ prizes total $150.00 and a
Cephalotus class will replace the Unnamed
Hybrids class.

Volume 9 • June 1980

45

A NEW DROSERA FROM
THE TOP END OF AUSTRALIA

by Peter Tsang
528 Mt. Crosby Rd., Anstead
Brisbane, Qld., Australia 4070

Way up north where there is no snow and
way up north where the big gums grow,
comes this beautiful beaudful new sundew.
It is always exciting to discover a new plant
but it may not be necessary that the new
found plant has the beauty or any inter¬
esting aspect, from the hobbiests’ stand¬
point, to match the excitement of its dis¬
covery. Any scientific significance is another
matter.

However, this sundew is unusual as well
as beautiful and, above all, its new! Whether
it has been come across by person or
persons in the past, I do not know. But
definitely new in the sense that it has never
been listed or published before. The dis¬
coverer of this sundew is a good friend of
mine of long standing and has been collec¬
ting various CPs and native tropical fishes
for me from time to time as we do a lot of
exchanges nationally and internationally. It
was during one of these collecting trips that
my friend stumbled upon this new sundew.
I have given live materials to our Govern¬

Fig. 1. New species of /)rosfra

Photo by Peter Tsang

ment botanist and CPN member Dr.
Laverack to study. Unfortunately, no classi¬
fication can be made until they flower again
next summer as at the time of discovery, the
flowering period was just over. If possible,
I would like this sundew be named
DROSERA FALCONERI in honor of its
discoverer. (Fig. 1)

My friend, Mr. Falconer described that
this sundew is found in a very restricted area
and the colony is extremely small. No
photogaph could be taken to show of its
natural habitat due to very tall grass densely
covering the area. A pecularity was noted in
this particular area in that the pH of the soil
reads around 8 instead of the normal
common characteristic in Northern Terri¬
tory where soil is in general with low (acid)
pH.

Upon close examination of this sundew, I
am inclined to believe that it must belong to
the same group as D. petiolaris (Fig. 2)
because of their great similarity in their root
(Please turn to p. 48)

Fig. 2. D. Petiolaris

Photo by Peter Tsang

46

Carnivorous Plant Newsletter

Nepenthes ampullaria Dietrich Varez, Jr., 1980
Dietrich Varez, Jr. (Box 13, Volcano, Hawaii 96785).

I am 13 years old and made this block print by carving a linoleum block. The block
is inked and pressed on paper. 1 chose the N. ampullaria for my subject because I like
the short, wide pitchers of this species. I plan to make prints of other plants and
send them to CPN when they are finished.

Volume 9 • June 1 980

47

THE NEW FOREST BOGLANDS

by David W. Taylor

(The Everglades, 76 Crosslands Ave., Norwood Green, Southdall,
Middlesex UB 2 5RA, Great Britain)

The many levels of land and the different
areas of changing vegetation that make up
the vast expanse of the New Forest include
the forest boglands. These wild and deso¬
late places, some of which are almost im¬
passable, are scattered all over this mightv'
regioti of land that lies in the south west
comer of the county- of Hampshire in
southern England. Thev are extremely rich
in flora both common and rare, and are the
home of countless birds and insect life. A
number of rivers flow into these lands
thereby keeping them cotistantlv wet. Two
of the forest boglands that I have visited on
a number of occasions are Bishops Dvke
which is a sphagnum bog, and Hinchelsea
bog. This is largely a peat bog, and it is here
that all three of our native Droseras are to
be found. It is a very wet area of land, and in

one particular part where the water level is
eighteen inches deep, there is to be found
Drosera anglka ( Fig 1 ). As this land is so wet
there is but a siitgle footpath leading straight
through the centre, and the onlv people that
use it, are day-trippers and hikers. Com¬
pared with this bog. Bishops Dyke is more
walkable. The first sign that vou are near to
this bog, is the many stands of cotton-grass
that can be seen quite clearly some three
hundred yards away. (Fig. 2) It is at this bog
that Drosera intermedia and rotundifolia can be
found. Also here is Utricularia minor.

Both these bogs and the manv others in
the New Forest are areas of latid that have
hardlv altered over hundreds of vears. The
casual walker feels a sense of freedom as he
or she walks in loneliness through these
lands of floral and natural interest.

Fig. 1.

D. anglica

111 Hinchels Bog

Pfioto bv
David Tavlor

. . . New'Drorcra — P. Tsang
stmcture and their tomentose crown when
dormant. Yes, even in the far north of
Australia where there is no winter and plants
still go dormant because of the extreme high
contrast of wet and drv- seasons. D. petiolaris
has long and slender petioles which when
young, tends to be pubescent where as the
new sundew has shon, broad and glaborous

petioles. The glands on the leaves of this
new Drosera are extremelv fine almost like
those of the pvgmy species.

After the initial shock, my plants are
starting to put on new leaves but it is still too
early to tell how well they will fare, long term
wise, in Brisbane. A verv limited plants wall
be available for exchange only.

48

Carnivorous Plant Newsletter

Fig. 2.

Cotton Grass in bog at
Bishops Dyke

Photo by
David Taylor

Continued from p. 78 —
Matile, L. Xenoplatyura beaveri, new species,
(Diptera, Mycetophiloidea) of Keropla-
ddae living in Nepenthes pitcher plants in
Malaysia. Ann. Soc. Entomol Fr. 15 (1):
31-36. 1979.

A two-winged fungus gnat was bred from
larvae spinning webs in the urns of the
pitcher plant Nepenthes ampidlana on the
island of Penang.

Nesbitt, H.H.J. A new anoetid, Creutzeria
seychellensis, a new species from the Sey¬
chelles. Can. Entomol. Ill (11): 1201-
1206, 1979.

Nepenthes pervillei pitchers suppon the
above genus of tick.

Schnell, Donald E. 1980. Pinguicula
caeruLea Walt, forma leucantha: A new form.
Castanea 45:56-60.

A white flowered variant of Pinguicula
caerulea Walt, is herein described and pic¬
tured, its significance being possible con¬
fusion in field identification with commonly
white flowered plants of P. pumila Michx.
(Reprints: D.E. Schnell, Rt. 4, Box 275B,
Sutesville, NC 28677, USA)

Taylor, Sylvia. 1979. Insectivorous plants
in British Columbia. Davidsmia 10:41-53.

An excellent summary article on the CP
found in British Columbia. Brief but accu-

Recent Literature Review
rate descripuons of the plants are given,
often with a sketch, and habitats are dis¬
cussed. There is a general introduction
discussing camivory. Note: Reprints of this
article are NOT available, but copies of the
entire journal can be purchased for the
reasonable cost of $1.50 plus postage (your
choice) from the Office of the Botanical
Garden, 6501 Northwest Marine Dr., Van¬
couver, BC, V6T 1W5, Canada; ask for
Davidsonia, Vol. 10, No. 3.

Shinonanga, S., Beaver, R. Pierretia urceola,
a new species of sarcophagid fly found
living in Nepenthes pitcher plants in West
Malaysia. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 15(1):
37-40. 1979.

The authors described a new species of
sarcophagid fly found living in Nepenthes
pitchers in Malaysia.

Skogen, A. 1979. Drosera intermedia m
Norway. Blyttia 37: 15-20. IN NOR¬
WEGIAN (English summary).

This interesung distributional and ecologic
review indicates that many herbarium
sheets for the country are mislabeled due
to confusion of D. intermedia with D. x
obovata (D. anglka x rotundifolia). Cor-
reaion of these and additional locations
indicate a southern coastal range wi th the
(Please turn to p. 53)

Volume 9 • June 1 980

49

eoinne rs M^orriGr

CEPHALOTUS FOLLICULARIS

by Donald Schnell

First described by Labillardiere in 1806,
the Australian pitcher plant is confined to a
relatively small range in extreme south¬
western Australia where it grows in rather
dense, reedy peat swamps, often heavily
shaded. In some of the swamps nearer the
ocean, the water becomes brackish, as does
the peat soil, and some have concluded that
a “pinch of salt” (NaCl) in Cephalotus
growing medium will do wonders. How¬
ever, it is not clear whether the plant’s
growth in more brackish areas amounts to a
tolerance rather than a requirement, and
many areas are not brackish at all.

Only 15-20 years ago Cephalotus areas were
still rather inaccessible except for a few
marginal locations within a few hours walk
from primitive roads. In the late 1950’s, a
very understanding government forester
based in Perth provided me with living
material on two occasions, perhaps the first
location collected material for propagation
sent to this country. His letters always
contained several sentences about the dif¬
ficulties the field man encountered in
aquiring the material, all of which made the
plants I was fonunate to receive seem that
more precious and exotic. Now, current
correspondents indicate that Cephalotus
stands are indeed quite accessible, and that
development has preceded apace in the area
with many former locations now being
drained fields for agriculture. Plants are
plowed up by the thousands as roads are
cut. Still, I understand that protected areas
remain, the government is more benevolent
than before, and the species apparently has
reached the same state of uneasy equi¬
librium that Dionaea has in this country.

In spite of superficial resemblances,

Cephalotus is not held to be closely related to
Nepenthes, and certainly not to the Sarra-
ceniaceae. Its evolutionary development of
pitchers for carnivoiy' appears to be an
example of convergence or parallelism.

The plants sprout from an underground,
mainly horizontal rhizome from which
fibrous roots penetrate into the peat. The
rhizome is rather soft (compared to Sarra-
cenia), britde, and attains a diameter aver¬
aging 1.0 cm. The growth points give rise to
two main kinds of leaves approximately
sequentially: an ovate to lanceolate slighdy
succulent vegetauve leaf which is completely
unspectacular; and the well-known pitcher
which on the average reaches 4-5 cm in
length in the field. In culdvation, these are
more likely to be 2-3 cm. There is appar-
endy at least one genedc variant with pitch¬
ers that regularly reach 6-8 cm. I received
living material of this form about three years
ago and the pitchers are indeed consistently
larger, even in cultivation. The plain vege¬
tative leaves are also larger. A third kind of
leaf often appears between the two just
described, an intermediate leaf which is
largely flat but has some indication of cup¬
ping to varying degrees at the tip. In culti¬
vation in the northern hemisphere, the
vegetative leaves appear in late summer to
early fall, followed by a few intermediates,
and then pitcher leaves in late fall into
winter. Flowering is in late winter to early
spring.

The flowers appear as a spike, the pedun¬
cle being up to 60 cm long in the field but
considerably shorter in cultivation. The
flowers are apetalous with greenish-tan
sepals and 12 stamens.

50

Carnivorous Plant Newsletter

Culture —

Pot — Plastic with draiiiholes, not set
in water.

Medium — Live sphagnum or Canadian
peat. The former often overgrows the plant,
so peat is preferred.

Planting— Place the rhizome horizontally
about 1-1.5 cm below the soil surface. Hori¬
zontal placement encourages many growth
points along the rhizome, vertical place¬
ment (or acute angle) encourages fewer but
larger growths.

Watering — Pure. Keep constandvdamp but
not sloppy.

Humidity — Very high.

Light — Dilltise sunlight (barelv shadowed)
bright shade. Full sun not recommended
in cultivation. Good fluorescent light sub¬
ject in a terrarium.

Fertilizer — Lightly sprav foliage monthlv
with Vi strength balanced fertilizer liquid.
Temperatures — Grows best at medium to
sligfitly want! ( 1 6-27°C), does not do as well
in culture in overly warm situations. Can
withstand cold dow^l to just above freezing.

Propagation —

Sexual — Seed propagation has litde to re¬
commend it. As the flowers on the spike
appear to mature, they often abort in cul¬
ture and no viable pollen is produced and
stigmata mav not be receptive. Occasionallv
one may recover dry, viable pollen and this
should be transferred to stigmata of flowers
that appear open up and down the spike (in
anv one flower, stigma receptivirv is asvm-
chronous with pollen production) as well as
to flowers of different plants, preferablv
different strains. Mature seed can often be
recovered in 6-8 weeks. Most growers have
had little to no luck with germination, and
perhaps some degree of stratification, water
soaking or honnone treatment might prove
helpful on an experimental basis.
Vegetative — This is the preferred technicjue
for propagation of Cephalotus and can be
achieved bv two means:

1 . Leaf — One can often induce budding in
mm-pitcher leaves. Newlv emerged leaves
should be used (^juvenilitv is a factor in
success) and these should be peeled off the
shoot so that there is a maximum of

Cephalotus follicularis Drawing bv Jim Miller

Volume 9 • June 1 980

51

shoot so that there is a maximum of petiolar
base tissue. Place the leaf upright about half
way down into damp living sphagnum and
keep in conditions similar to mature plants.
It is important not to over-water and to keep
the cuttings on the warm side of limits. New
buddings will often appear from the base of
the leaf petiole down in the sphagnum.
These new shoots should not be disturbed
until they appear like miniatures of their
mature counterparts. During this budding,
rooting and initial growth phase, keep the
growing living sphagnum carefullv pushed
down so that it does not cover the cuttings.
2. Rhizome — This is the most rapid and
successful! method of all. One can simply
cut rhizomes into 1.5 cm lengths and plant
these horizontally as for plants, and new
shoots will appear. Or one can simplv plant
an entire rhizome horizontally, allow new
shoots to appear, be certain of root devel¬
opment, and then divide the rhizome half-
wav between adjacent shoots. Each of
these sections of rooted rhizome with new
shoots can then be potted up as separate
plants. Obviously, this process will usu¬
ally occur naturally in any healthy plant¬
ing, and one can make offset pottings at
anv time.

Final Comment —

Cephalotus is certainlv one of the most
“growable” carnivorous plants and is now
commercially available from propagated
material. There does not appear to be a
dormancy requirement and propagation is
verv simple bv the rhizome method. The
most likely pitfalls will be overwatering
(especiallv in cooler situations), lack of
proper drainage, overheating, and impro¬
per lighting.

When vou first obtain vour plant, your
first step should be to establish it with sound
horticultural techniques as described
above. After the plant is fluorishing, then
trv propagation, first dividing the rhizome
betw'een shoots which will likely have
appeared. Next, tr\' the vegetative leaf
technique which is somewhat more chancey
but can work well. Do not peel off all the flat
leaves from your main plant, and do not

damage the central stalk of the growth
shoot.

Many enthusiastic new growers try to rush
into propagadon too earlv — a cardinal rule
of horticulture is to look after your stock
plant first. Once your stock plant is robust,
then try propping, using the most certain
method first, and one method at a time
sequentiallv undl you have a reserve of
many offset plants. At this point, you can
then safely experiment w’ith new or un¬
checked techniques, or ideas vou might
have. If they work, let us know about it!

(Continued from p. 40)

of some fungi was discovered. Now, over
100 species in about two dozen genera are
known. There is still confusion, however,
about these fungi and their classification,
and much work will have to be done before
thev are as well understood as the carniv¬
orous Angiosperms.

BIBUOGRAPHY

Drechsler, Charles, “Organs of Capture in
Some Fungi Preying on Nematodes,”
Mycologia,XXVl (1934), 135-144.

_ , “Some Hyphomycetes

That Prey on Free-Living Terricolous
Nematodes,” Mycologia, XXIX (1937),
447-552.

Duddington , C.L., “Fungi That Attack
Microscopic Animals,” The Botanical Re¬
view, XXI (July 1955), 337-439.

Duddington, C.L., and Wybom, C.H.E.,
‘Recent Research on the Nemato-
phagous Hyphomycetes,” The Botanical
Review, XXXVIII (Oaober 1972), 545-
565.

Lloyd, Francis Ernest, The Carnivorous Plants,
New York, Dover Publicadons, Inc.,
1976.

Sparrow, F.K., Jr., “A Note on the Occur¬
rence of Two Rotifer-Capturing Phyco-
mycetes,” Mycologia, XXI (1929), 90-96.

52

Carnivorous Plant Newsletter

Continued from p. 49 — Recent Literature

limiting factors being sufficient moisture
(in either rich or impoverished soils),
sufficiendy long growing season (south¬
ern distribution in Norway), and low
competition. The species rarely occurs
inland and north, and in addition to lack
of suitable wet, low competition habitat
in a sufficient growing season, poor dis¬
persal (probably by birds) is felt to play a
part. DES (article sent by DC Speirs)

Winston, R.D. and Gorham, P.R., 1979.
Roles of endogenous and exogenous growth
regulators in dormancy in Utricidaria vul¬
garis. Can. J. Bot. 57:2750-2759.

A companion paper to the above by the
same authors in which plant growth reg¬
ulators (plant honriones) effects on dor¬
mancy are investigated. Regulators studied
were the classes auxins, abscisic acid, gib-
berellins and cytokinins. During turion in¬
duction, abscisic acid levels rose and gib-
berellins were bound, abscissic acid applied
to actively grown plants could induce dor¬
mancy. Kinetin induced sprouting in innate
dormancy but funher growth could not be
sustained, unless supported (best response
in last stage of dormancy) by auxin and / or
gibberellin applications. Levels of these
compounds measured in the turions during
three states of dormancy and variations of
light and temperature as discussed in the
preceding paper paralleled the experi¬
mental results. An excellent flowchart
summary of the work is provided.

Winston, R.D. and Gorham, P.R., 1979.
Turions and dormancy states in Utricularia
vulgaris. Can.J. Bot. 57:2740-2749.

Turion studies were made over a year in
the field, and from specimens collected
throughout dormancy and treated to vary¬
ing degrees of temperature and photo¬
period in the lab. Domiancy was found to
be in three states: pre-, innate and imposed.
Turions began fonning soon after summer
solstice and short days seemed to be the
inducing factor. In late fall and early winter,
innate dormancy could be temporarily
broken by high temperatures (30°C) but

cooling to 20°C resulted in prompt turion
reformation in spite of photoperiod manip¬
ulation. Only during the last stage (imposed
or environmentally controlled) of dor¬
mancy would high temperature sprouting
and long day treatments result in robust
growth. An excellent study worth reading in
its entirety for details of the exploration of
this subject.

Wirth, W.W. and Beaver, R.A. The
Dasyhelea biting midges living in the pitchers
of Nepenthes in southeast Asia. Ann. Soc.
Entomol. Fr. 15 (1): 41-52, 1979.

Five species of the genus Dasyhelea midges
are found in Nepenthes pitchers and are
known to breed there.

SPECIAL NOTICE

CPN wishes to apologize for the delay in
mailing of the March, 1980 issue. Various
problems in the production were respon¬
sible. We sincerely hope that this problem
will not be repeated.

N. rafllesiana Photo bv Steve Smith

Volume 9 • June 1 980

53

— CPN BOOK SHOP —

The books listed below arejapanese books written in their language on the subject of CP. They
are generously interspersed with many excellent pictures in color and B&W. The prices include
all postage and insurance costs (both overseas and domestic). Please send your check or money
order to J.A. Mazrimas before August 1, 1980. At that time the books will be ordered and vou
should expect a delay of two or three months before you receive the books. All books are
sent bv surface mail. Starred books are newlv published.

AUTHOR

TITLE

PAGES

PRICE

Aldrovanda vesiculosa at Hanyu-City

32

$6.50

Asashi

Plants of the World:

#9 (Utncularia)

$2.50

#64 (Drosera, Nepenthes, Sarracenia)

$2.50

#46 (Cephalotus)

$2.50

Komiya, S.

Carnivorous Pits., Observation & Cultivadon

160

$4.50

Garden Life Magazine Vol. 1 A'ill

$5.00

Komija, S. in
Shimizu, K.

Examination Notes on Cam. Pits.

90

$4.50

Kondo

Carnivorous Plants

292

$10.00

Shimizu

The Mvsterv of Cam. Pits.

54

$5.00

Suzuki

Insectivorous Pits. (Cult. & Coll.)

168

$3.25

Yamakawa, G.

Insectivorous Plants

152

$3.75

* Kusakabe, I.

(CP portion): Cacti, Succulents and Insect Pits.

127

$9.00

* I. P.S.J.

Insectivorous Plants

199

$10.00

Prices are U.S. Dollars.

SPECIAL NOTICE

Our stocks of Volumes I-IV have been
temporarily exhausted. For those who have
already sent their money in, your refund will
be forwarded shortly. We will notify our
membership as soon as they become avail¬
able.

Please note our new address. All
inquiries about your subscription, as
well as payments, should be sent to;
CPN, do the Fullerton Arboretum,
California State University, Fullerton,
Fullerton, CA 92634, USA.

COMING IN SEPTEMBER
— The British CP Society

— CP Growing The Unique
Way - A Report From
Down Under

54

Carnivorous Plant Newsletter

WANT ADS

Richard Chinnock, 3316 Old Kirkwood Dr.,
Virginia Beach , VA 23452. (WB) Sar-
racenia purpurea ssp. purpurea f.
heterophylla, S purpurea venosa (pink
flower), S. purpurea ripicola, Drosera
miniata, D. nitidula, D. scorpoides, D.
androsacea, D. “Lake Badgebup”, D.
“Bannister”, Cephalotus follicularis.

William Clemens, 7410 Lime St., Apt. E, La
Mesa, C A 92041. (WTSB) Byblis gigantea,
Drosera regia, D. Petiolaris, D. schizan-
dra, D. trinervia, D. burmanii v. dietri-
chiana, D. glanduligera, D. montana v.
robusta, D. whittakeri, Pinguicula cau-
data, P. grandiflora, P. gypsicola, P.
ionantha.

John Graham, 8 WarudaSt., Bracken Ridge,
Queensland, 4017, Australia. Wishes to
trade seed of Drosera burmanii var.
dietrichianea for seed of the following:
D. cistiflora, D. cunefolia, D. regia, D.
natalensis, other rare South African
Drosera, P. gypsicola and other tropical
Pinguiculas, U. simulars, U. sandersoni
and any Heliamplora.

ERRATA - Rear cover is S. flava
variant #3. See pp. 41 &: 42.

Jeff Gold, 13126 Anza Drive, Saratoga, CA
95070. (TS) in limited quantities:
Dionaea muscipula (large plants), Dro¬
sera aliciae (seedlings), D. auriculata
(seedlings), D binata (various forms,
plants and cuttings), D. dielsiana (seed¬
lings), D. hamiltoni (small plants), D.
intermedia (small plants), D. montana
(seedlings), D. neoccalednica (root cut¬
tings), D. peltata (mature plants), D. X
nagamoto (mature plants), Darlingtonia
californica (offshoots), Sarracenia pur¬
purea (small plants), S. minor (seedlings),
S. psittacina (small divisions), various
Utricularia starters, miscellaneous other
CP, and other exotic plants. (WBT)
Australian CP (.seeds, plants or cuttings
of the above).

CPN SEED BANK

5/14/80 $.50 /Packet

Byblis liniflora, Darlingtonia californica, Dionaea muscipula, Drosera binata (8),
D. burmannii (15)^ D. capensis, D. capensis (narrow), D. capillaris, D. capillaris
(long If.), D. capillaris (white fl.) {5),D- capillaris mix, D. erythrorhiza, D.filiformis
filiformis, D. heterophylla, D. intermedia, D. macrantha, D. natalensis, D. peltata, D.
planchonii, D. pygmaea (1), D. rotundifolia, D. rotundifolia (Oregon), D.
spathulata, D. spath. (Kansai), D. spath. (Kanto), D. spath. (white fl.) [3], Drosera
mix (U.S. rosettes) (11), Nepenthes gracilis (5), N. rajah (4), Pinguicula alpina (6)
P. caerulea (1), P. grandiflora (10), P. grandiflora ssp.ro5ra (10), P. vulgaris, P.
vulgaris f. bicolor (10), Sarracenia flava, S. flava (Gulf), S. leucophyla, S. minor,
S. purpurea purpurea (9), S. purpurea venosa, S. rubra jonesii, S. flava scoreo. (15), S.
leuco. X flava (mixed w/leuco.), Sarracenia mix (3).

Pat says that the Seed Bank in getting low. Please send in your extra CP
seed as soon as possible. See March, 1980 CPN for instructions.

Volume 9 • June 1980

55

S(’rr('(rnia [lava L. variant with red-veined green lid, and
rleei; tube exterior. Liberty Co., fl.| ^ n t— ^ w

bW)Wifr^^c%idi

Photo

JUN 1 1980

ISjcvV YUtvrx

BOTANICAL GARDEN