Natch Greyes' Carnivorous Plants

Carnivorous Plants, Sarracenia, Nepenthes, Drosera, Dionaea, Utricularia, Pinguicula, and more!

[ngcarnivorousplants]

This week only, I'm running a special on Cultivating Carnivorous Plants! Get yours for only $30 + Shipping! Visit http://bit.ly/CultivatingSale 

[ngcarnivorousplants]

Being #1 in my Amazon category is cool!

[wire-man]

Sarracenia hybrids and a Cleistes orchid in Mobile County, AL.

[jeremiahsplants]

Amazing Nepenthes at Exotica Plants, Australia

[bizzareplants]

Nepenthes “Red Beauty”, looking good (but not that red!)

[jeremiahsplants]

Nepenthes villosa

[ngcarnivorousplants]

Jeremiah has some wonderful plants

[ngcarnivorousplants]

#1 New Release in Tropical Climate Gardening on #Amazon! So excited! #carnivorousplants #books #californiacarnivores #gardening

[lewisginter]

For a second these guys looked like a quartet of singers — mouth wide-open. These are Sarracenia leucophylla or pitcher plants. #rvablooms #sarracenia #carnivorousplants #naturerocks #nofilter (at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden)

[fuckyeahcarnivorousplants]

Nepenthes singgalana

Sumatra

[richleighton]

A field of Schnell’s pitcher plants with some yellow pitcher plants in the foreground in the Apalachicola National Forest. Among these were numerous other types of carnivorous plants, as well as a couple types of terrestrial orchids. This is a regular stop for us when we are in the area, and something that really must be experienced. No photograph can do it justice! See more at www.leightonphotography.com/nature #naturephotography #Florida #carnivorousplants #Sarracenia   http://leightonphotography.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Pitcher-Plants/G00002rd25eTkQLk/I0000x7Pex6TIibw/C0000tlh.kpCs1gk https://plus.google.com/111174860133952172483/posts/bWLr876BBLY

[ngcarnivorousplants]

Sarracenia Species Redefined

New Sarracenia Relationship Tree

A new paper has the potential to redefine the species within the genus Sarracenia. In fact, efforts are already underway to utilize this research in redefining Sarracenia. (More about that when it's revealed). In the meantime, some interesting new information has been revealed, much of which is detailed in the phylogenetic tree above. (The tree above was adapted from the paper). Some of the cool information includes: S. purpurea has been revealed to be related in a very interesting way. S. purpurea montana is thought to be the most ancient variety of S. purpurea, and is more distantly related to the other three members (S. purpurea burkii, S. purpurea venosa, and S. purpurea purpurea). If this information withstands scientific scrutiny, then I think it's pretty clear that designating S. purpurea burkii as a different species (S. rosea) is invalid without also designating S. purpurea montana as a separate species. As it is, my guess is further taxonomic review will not find the purpurea group not separated out into species, but we shall see. Interestingly, S. oreophila and S. flava are not closely related, despite their similarities in pitcher structure and growth habit. (It should be noted that, as far as I saw, the study only broke down a few varieties of S. flava, so I'm not sure too much can be said about the intraspecies relationship). S. alabamensis can now be said to be a separate species, one which converged with the S. rubra group. It is interesting to see that its relationship with rubra is more distant than either with S. leucophylla or S. alata. Regarding S. alata, I'm glad to see that it is so closely allied to most of the S. rubra group. I've often found it difficult to distinguish some S. alata from some S. rubra, and hybrids are particularly difficult. I'd be interested in seeing a more detailed study on a variety of S. alata and S. rubra to further clarify the relationship between all these plants. (I'm also wondering if it will turn out that S. rubra gulfensis will be redesignated as S. gulfensis or S. alata will be incorporated into a larger species, which is comprised of most species of S. rubra). For more about the results, see Stephens, J.D., et al. Resolving phylogenetic relationships of the recently radiated carnivorous plant genus Sarracenia using target enrichment. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2015.01.015 (P.S., in writing this, I realized I misspelled "montana" as "montata" in the photo above).

[ngcarnivorousplants]

Highland Nepenthes Updates

Nepenthes inermis x ventricosa

Now that the chill of winter has been upon us for months, the highland and ultra highland plants are looking awesome! It's been very easy to cool them to around 50 degrees at night, and keep them at or below 70 degrees during the day. All I have to do is open the window and let the icy air inside.

Nepenthes jamban x dubia

The first photo was of a Nepenthes inermis x ventricosa, which I had purchased at the NECPS fall show. Interestingly, the pitchers aren't as pure yellow as back then, but we'll see how it develops. This second photo is of a jamban x dubia, which I also picked up at the show. It has been doing very well. (I've discovered that both parents are very sensitive to pesticides, which, unfortunately, I've had to use a couple times due to new pests that got introduced prior to my implementation of strict quarantine procedures).

Nepenthes spectabilis x jacquelineae

It's amazing how crosses can result in such convergent pitchers! This Nepenthes spectabilis x jacquelineae and the Nepenthes eymae x (izumiae x jacquelineae) below look very, very similar, to me at least. The shape and color are slightly different, but, right now, it is hard to differentiate them.

Nepenthes eymae x (izumiae x jacquelineae)

I do like the rich pinks and burnt oranges on both of these plants. I think that they'll be real show-stoppers when when grow up. (Right now, pitchers are hovering around 3" on average).

Nepenthes aristolochioides x jacquelineae

Ah, the grand prize of my collection, Nepenthes aristolochioides x jacquelineae. It definitely has a strong aristolochioides influence, but it does not look pure at all. (This cross was handmade with jacquelineae pollen and female aristo flowers). I really have no idea how this plant will turn out. In any case, I can't wait to see.

Nepenthes spathulata x (talangensis x spectabilis)

Lastly, my Nepenthes spathulata x (talangensis x spectabilis) has turned from orange to pink! This ought to be a very interesting cross. (I believe Dean might have a few left, if anyone is interested). I predict that the pitchers will end up large and richly mottled. They should be quite magnificent.

[ngcarnivorousplants]

Book Review: A Guide to the Carnivorous Plants of Singapore

A Guide to the Carnivorous Plants of Singapore

A Guide to the Carnivorous Plants of Singapore is a small book by the Singapore Science Center. Somewhat strangely, it was largely paid for by BP. Yes, that BP. Overall, this is a very thorough and compact book. Singapore is naturally home to two genera of carnivorous plant - Nepenthes and Utricularia - and this book covers both, as well as some plants, such as Dionaea, which have been naturalized in areas of Singapore. This book is so thorough, in fact, (and Sinapore's natural areas so small) that it actually covers a few individual plants in native locations which are aberrations from the norm. Although I didn't really need the descriptions of how the traps of the various carnivores worked, I did really appreciate this guide for examining Singapore's few species of Nepenthes and Utricularia in depth. Helpful comparative photos of both pitcher stages and species and hybrids of plants would be extremely helpful in the field. Most places which stock this book sell it for about $20, a price well worth the content.

[ngcarnivorousplants]

Plants from Black Jungle's Closing

Nepenthes mirabilis x khasiana

Among the plants I bought from Black Jungle before it closed was this Nepenthes mirabilis x khasiana. It's a neat plant with rather plain, yellow pitchers that I'm planning on testing in intermediate conditions.

Nepenthes mirabilis x khasiana

This is a fantastic, large plant, which I was very happy to find among Black Jungle's collection. (It was mislabeled as Nepenthes mirabilis var. smilesii, which is now known as Nepenthes smilesii, but I discovered the hybrid lineage after a few hours of investigation online).

Nepenthes mirabilis x khasiana

As far as I know, the only other photo of this cross online is from Jeremiah Harris' collection, so I'm pleased to be able to share some more here.

Nepenthes spathulata x ventricosa

I also picked up a Nepenthes spathulata x ventricosa. This was a cross which I had previously, but which died suddenly from a fungal infection soon after moving to my new place this summer. It's a neat cross, and one I was happy to reobtain.

Nepenthes spathulata x ventricosa

One last shot of the pitcher up-close. In time, these pitchers will be nearly a foot tall! I can't wait!

[ngcarnivorousplants]

Farewell to Black Jungle's Retail Store

The Retail Store

Earlier this month, I learned that Black Jungle Terrarium Supply was ceasing to exist as a retail store, and would only persist as a mail-order business. I am saddened by this news. It was Black Jungle's annual June sale that brought me back into the carnivorous plant world a few years ago. The ability to go to the store and pick out the plants I want will be sorely missed.

Me Looking Through Plants

Due to the fact that Black Jungle would be shuttering their operation, I decided to take a final journey down there. (You can read about prior trips here and here).

A Tray of Nepenthes

Given that it's winter, most plants available are Nepenthes. These are not too well organized, so, by digging through all the plants, you can often find some plants that are not listed on Black Jungle's website, and others that are listed as out-of-stock.

A Sad, Dying Nepenthes vogelii

You can also find some sad plants that just hadn't quite made it...

Tray of Nepenthes

I thought this picture pretty clearly showed the variety of conditions of the plants. This variety is true elsewhere (I've mail-ordered a few plants, notable a Nepenthes ovata, which just never did recover from treatment before I received it).

Hanging Nepenthes

Due to the downsizing to a mail-order only operation, Black Jungle is trying to clear out some of its stock plants as well. The ones they are trying to get rid of are ones like Nepenthes 'Gentle', Nepenthes 'Miranda', etc., not the "rarer" ones like any of the bicals or amps. (I specifically asked).

Nepenthes truncata

This giant Nepenthes truncata was also not for sale. That was probably for the best, as I have no where to put it, but I really can't wait for mine to grow that large!

Me Holding Some of My Prizes

It's sad to think that I could have this picture taken of me during the final months of Black Jungle's retail store within a few years of the first picture of me getting back into carnivorous plants.

New Nepenthes in Quarantine

At least I can provide some of the plants a home. For now, of course, they're in individual quarantine. I've had pests introduced via plants from Black Jungle before, and I no longer add plants directly to the collection from any source.

[ngcarnivorousplants]

Book Review: Paul Temple's Carnivorous Plants

Paul Temple's Carnivorous Plants

Carnivorous Plantsby Paul Temple, published under the Royal Horticultural Society's name, is a short, introductory guide to carnivorous plants. The version above, the version I have, is the original. There is also a revised version. This is a good read for anyone who is just entering the world of carnivorous plants, but it does not provide a lot of substantive material for those who are avid collectors. I do think that it's an interesting book, however, as it's written from a British perspective, meaning a lot of the advice is great for someone in the British isles, but may be a bit different for those outside that area. Overall, for $0.77 used (on Amazon), it's a worthwhile read.

[ngcarnivorousplants]

Last Day to Pre-Order Sarrs!

S. 'Mardi Gras'

Today's the final day to pre-order your Sarrs for spring planting. The catalog is two pages long and contains a number of awesome plants! Check out Page 1 and Page 2. Orders must be in by midnight! 

I expect plants to come in around March 15, and I'll be mailing them out to you shortly thereafter. I will have a few extras around that time, but I can't promise I'll have everything in the catalog.