Carnivorous plants (second part) |

January 27

Carnivorous plants (second part)

Fabio D'Alessi
AIPC Italian Association of Carnivorous Plants

We continue from last issue, the article on carnivorous plants. After the introduction and presentation of the varieties, we continue with the categorization.

PLANTS WITH TRAP AT pitcher

And here we enter the realm of "cute little" to the realm of "great and wonderful."

First, what is' a trap to pitcher? Technically the pitcher and 'a leaf modified so as to form a kind of container with the shape more' or less of a glass. Here the prey is trapped and digested slowly. The pitcher and 'made from leaves that fold in on themselves and they close.
The operation and 'quite simple: these plants produce pitchers with a clear opening. Then attract insects with various systems (color, nectar). The insects that fall into the pitchers we die and are digested slowly. Given the relative simplicity 'of this trap, there are more' kinds of carnivorous plants that have adopted it, in different ways. Let's see them.

Nepenthes alata

In the genus Nepenthes pitchers are formed at the end 'of the leaves. The appearance of these plants and 'therefore leaves of plants with "normal" with some sort of "glass" pendants attached to the tip of the leaves. The pitchers are filled with liquid that kills the digestive and assimilating prey.

On the right a typical Nepenthes, with its leaves to pitcher pending. How you can 'see, are extremely beautiful and fascinating plants, with colors ranging from red to purple to black in color combinations that are often unbelievable. There is one genus: the genus Nepenthes, with dozens of species. All are tropical plants (derived from the areas in Borneo and Far East), and require very specific growing conditions, with temperatures and humidity 'controlled, constant photoperiod, etc..

In nature often have behavior often epiphytic or climbing plant and grow seeds cling to other plants in tropical forests, or other detritus of plant origin.
Some species are almost extinct or exist only in cultivation.
The dimensions are significant, and there are Nepenthes that can reach meters in length with pitchers of the ability 'of 1-2 liters. They are tough plants, some rare, and often very expensive.
They are, moreover, that plants have an enormous satisfaction when grown with success, and some of the best growers worldwide carnivorous plant Nepenthes growers are precisely.

Cephalotus follicularis

Plant is very rare and unique, existing in a single genus with a single species, Australia, the Cephalotus follicularis.
In this plant, in contrast to the Nepenthes (where the leaves have a normal appearance, at whose apex and 'attacked the pitcher) there are two separate and distinct types of leaves. There is 'a type of leaf lamina, and that' in all respects a normal leaf, how could it be that of any non-carnivorous plant. Alternating with these leaves are then leaves only to pitcher, with a typical form of glass with cover.

This plant, if grown well, has dozens of groups of normal leaves and dozens of traps. The pitcher traps can reach 10 cm in height and are real tombs for ants. Typical of Australia, Cephalotus, and 'quite rare and difficult to cultivate. It grows on peaty and moist, in conditions of full sun.

We repeat then, two distinct types of leaves: a non-carnivore, carnivore normal and only one type, for pitcher.

A single genus with one species, Cephalotus follicularis, Australia. Quite rare, quite expensive, quite difficult, absolutely wonderful.

Sarracenia and Darlingtonia

We leave the pitcher traps to "glass" to get the plants with pitcher traps to "cone". In this case the leaves are always closed on themselves to form a container, but this container is not 'pendulous and brought to the end' of the leaves, but 'and' erect, elongated, a kind of ice cream cone planted on the ground. The insects, again, are attracted to the cone, where they fall and die, and slowly being assimilated.

Sarracenia flava

How you can 'see sarracenie often look absolutely amazing and it does not refer in any way other plants. They have no leaves leaf, normal looking, but 'only leaves cone (except in rare cases), have colors ranging from yellow-green to purple. All sarracenie from the United States, and are adapted to climates from cool temperate to warm temperate. Require many hours of full sun, always wet and peaty soils (typical of peat bogs) and cold winters during which they enter into dormancy.
There sarracenie that reach to more 'than a meter in height and can form true colonies of hundreds of pitchers cone. The forms are built from the cone and elongated cones crushed to earth, small cone-shaped beak-to-parrot.

Two genera: Sarracenia, with 8 species, all absolutely wonderful and impossible to cultivate. They have the characteristic of being able to breed well together with the option 'then to form an infinite number of hybrids from 8 different species.

Darlingtonia californica, the only genre with unique species. Very similar to Sarracenie, and 'also known as plant-cobra for the particular form of traps, which resemble the head of a cobra. And 'again a typical plant of peaty and wet areas of the United States. More 'Sarracenie of rare and most' difficult to cultivate.
Sarracenie and Darlingtonia are all delicate plants, challenging but not impossible to cultivate. They grow slowly but are, like Nepenthes, real dreams to grow. Some of the most 'big growers and experienced growers of plants are carnivorous Sarracenia.

Heliamphora nutans

Other kinds of carnivorous plants with pitcher traps conical and elongated. Like sarracenie and Darlingtonia, no normal leaves, but leaves only vertically elongated cone. The traps are believed to be very primitive, as they are less sophisticated and improved those of sarracenie and Darlingtonia.

The appearance draws in some way that of sarracenie, with the difference that the pitchers do not have the "cover" as it happens for those of sarracenie.
The heliamphore are very special plants that live in extreme environments on the tops of the plateaus (called tepui) in Venezuela and Brazil, where there are prohibitive environmental conditions, constant rain, strong winds, cold nights.

The plants are so beautiful and demanding that fans of carnivorous plants is considered a "status symbol" to come to a Heliamphora in good condition in its collection.

A single genus: Heliamphora, including 5 species. They are all plants of the tropical mountain (tepui). Require very specific growing conditions. Rare, some extremely rare, difficult, expensive, slow growing and delicate. In short, they all have flaws but also a very small value: they are beautiful.

Other traps, other species

These set out above are the three types of trap more 'known and common in the world of carnivorous plants. But are not the only ones.
There are in fact species sometimes less known and less cultured, but no less interesting. Let's take a quick look:

Utricularia

The bladderworts plants are very strange. Some species seem mosses with small leaves and colorful flowers but very minute; other species which are more 'showy leaves with a "pen" or other forms and beautiful flowers. Some land, others are completely aquatic.

Only genus Utricularia with dozens of species scattered across the globe.
The characteristic of these plants and 'small traps that are equipped with underground or underwater, similar to tiny bags. These bags are evacuated and when a microscopic pet passes near open for a fraction of a second, suck the inside and close. Over time, then the animal dies and is absorbed. The traps are not very large (in the order of 1-2 mm) and often the visible part of the plant and 'thin and miserable, and that' why it is very rare to find in cultivation. Nonetheless, the simplicity and beauty of flowers' cultivation bladderworts make an interesting alternative to the usual carnivorous.

Aldrovanda vesiculosa

Only species of a genus which has almost disappeared. In practice, and 'a small aquatic Dionea. Without roots, lives in water and has very small traps (microscopic) that function similarly to those of Dionea, ie 'snap.
It 'a plant that was once very common throughout Europe. To this day, now, is believed to have virtually disappeared from almost every place where it was before this, due to pollution.
Very rare to find in cultivation, because 'often seen as a sort of little interest, small and insignificant. It 's rather a plant that is very interesting because of its relationship with a plant apparently so' different as precisely the Dionaea muscipula.

There are other kinds of carnivorous plants (Genlisea, Ibicella and others) but they are so rare and unusual to find in cultivation to be known only to some very experienced growers.

Key Recognition

We summarize all this' exposed right now, trying to fix in memory at least a minimum schemino. We divided the carnivorous plants in different groups depending on the capture mechanism. Then build ourselves a scheme to "Question / Answer" (dichotomous key type) to recognize the main kinds of carnivorous plants.

- Leaf shutter that closes? Leghold trap: Dionaea muscipula

Single genus, one species. Common, easy to grow. USA.

- Leaf surface slippery? Glue trap:

* Glands invisible, smooth-looking leaf? Pinguicula

A general, several dozen species, some common and easy to grow.

Distributed around the globe, in all types of terrain. Particular group of Mexican pinguicole. Pinguicula moranensis very suitable for beginners.

* Glands conspicuous, leaf-looking hairy? Drosera

A general, several dozen species, some common and easy to grow.

Distributed around the globe, often damp and peaty soils. Special group of Australian sundews dwarfs, giants of the African, the tuberous sundews and more. Drosera capensis suitable for beginners.

- Leaf-tube or cup? Trap pitcher to:

* Leaves normal, with glass pendant end '? Nepenthes

A general, several dozen species, all tropical and farming difficult.

Distributed in tropical and eastern autraliane. Two groups: a group of plains and mountains of the group (more 'demanding). Rare and expensive, highly prized for the beauty. They grow on other plants or on plant debris in
humid environment.

* Two distinct types of leaves: leaves leaf normal, non-carnivorous, and leaves the glass completely, carnivorous? Cephalotus follicularis

One kind, a species of Australian origin. Cultivation difficult, and hard to find. Very beautiful, grows in very large colonies, on peaty and moist, in sunny plains.

* All pitchers cone, elongated and vertically into the ground, with an extension to "cap" or "cover" that covers the opening of the pitcher? Sarracenia

A genus, 8 species, all of marshes and wetlands of the USA. Challenging (but not too much), and of particular beauty. Suitable for beginners Sarracenia purpurea vein and some hybrids on the market.

* All pitchers Cone, elongated and vertically into the ground, but without a "hat"? Heliamphora

A genus, 5 species, all of the mountain areas of tropical South America. Extremely rare, difficult, but particularly beautiful.

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