N. burbidgeae

[leilani]

Since, this post was recently referenced on another forum I took the time to read it again and it seems I promised to update those (no longer) concerned as this plant continued to mature.

This particular N. burbidgeae has had some ups and downs since 2009 but it continues to remain viable and makes upper pitchers with regularity. Unfortunately, in spite of my efforts, it refuses to make a basal.

The pitchers it produces today are exactly as they were in 2009. The only, possibly significant, new information comes from having bred this plant. Back in 2009 Geoff said "if you breed with it you will see some variation in the progeny if it's a hybrid."

This N. burbidgeae is the female parent in several greges produced here at the nursery. Only one of these hybrids: N. Porcelana [N. burbidgeae x veitchii] NN4840878 is mature enough to provide any evidence but, for what its worth, it is a very consistent grex.

[morbus]

very cool Sam
I like this plant! their peristomes are so vivid!

[kevnep]

Another possibility is that the plant is a seed grown specimen from a population that contains some hybrids and it may in face be a complex hybrid that might have watered out the other parent a little. Whether its a hybrid or not its still a pretty plant but i get what geoff means when he says there is something a bit off about that pitcher. But maybe its just a case of unrecorded variability in the species even taxonomists can miss a population or two

[agustinfranco]

Mar 17, 2013 9:57:13 GMT -10 kevnep said:

Another possibility is that the plant is a seed grown specimen from a population that contains some hybrids and it may in face be a complex hybrid that might have watered out the other parent a little. Whether its a hybrid or not its still a pretty plant but i get what geoff means when he says there is something a bit off about that pitcher. But maybe its just a case of unrecorded variability in the species even taxonomists can miss a population or two

Hi Kevnep:

It looks like the general consensus of "Nepenthes species" means all plants must look like one clone. In my view, the idea is simply absurd.
If you look at a population of plants, there are small variations between individuals and they are all species.
If you make hybrids between 2 single clones from 2 different species, you'll get all the F1's looking the same. Although the idea sits well on anyone's mind, it is hardly what occurs in the wild, as there are several individuals from the same species with small variations in pitcher colour, shape, etc. Now how much variation is tolerated before we call it a hybrid, it would depend on who is judging the plant

Perhaps for commercial purposes, that's the way to go, so nobody questions your merchandise, but you are removing the very essence of genetic variation and the process becomes predictable. When you set the rules of the game, nobody can beat you!.

Cheers,

Gus