Adventures with Ventricosa (N. ventricosa hybrids)

[rainforest]

The use of N. ventricosa is a common occurrence and why shouldn't it be? N. ventricosa is an easily bloomed species and has a season where flowers come into bloom-blast all at once. With the advent of having modern selected strains giving better color, substance, size and ease of growth, these now have ruled as the most popular breeding parent used most often today.

While N. ventricosa tend to be more highland, selected forms have adapted well to grow in tropical climates. Their hybrids have allowed many tropical climate growers to easily grow them to perfection.

The real beauty of N. ventricosa won't be known until we see more complex hybrids involving them. They have allowed many species' characteristics to shine through and create a more perfect hybrid.


M

[rainforest]

This N. ventricosa x sibuyanensis gives the impression of a fat tubby ventricosa. Note the wide peristome evident in sibuyanensis.

This is a shot of a seedling plant.

M

[rainforest]

N. ventricosa x campanulata Leilani

This hybrid combines the compactness of campanulata with coloring of ventricosa. Note the dominance of campanulata overpowering the pitcher for shape and peristome development. These are characteristics evident in ventricosa hybrids. Usually the pitchers of the opposite parent dominates the appearance. Here we see a pitcher form close to N. campanulata with the influence of ventricosa. One might say that since campanulata is just a pale yellow-green, the mottling colors of ventricosa will overpower this.


Note the rosette of leaves due to the campanulata influence.

This will be an interesting hybrid to watch as it gets larger. Will the vining influence of ventricosa dominate this and vine or will it remain a compact rosette of pitchers all around it.
These will turn out to be nice plants for limited space growers.

M

[rainforest]

Ventricosa combined with complex hybrid crosses produces plants with the other parent in mind. Here a ventricosa is crossed with a trunvata x densiflora with the resulting offspring resembling a nearly truncata x densiflora seedling.

Note how ventricosa imparts some of the form of this hybrid, the peristome and pitcher is somewhat reminiscent of a ventricosa.


Another example of this complex hybrid.

M

[rainforest]

The meshing of ventricosa with Trusmadiensis (macrophylla x lowii) produces some of the most intricate of pitchers on a ventricosa frame. Here the wide peristome with ribbing shines through. While not a truly toothed result, the peristome does appear to be fuller than even a Trusmadiensis pitcher. This hybrid grows like a ventricosa with ease of pitcher production and side branching like a ventricosa.

M