VCPS Jun 06 Journal No 80.Qxd
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ISSN 1033-6966 VICTORIAN CARNIVOROUS PLANT SOC IETY Inc. June 2006 No. 80 Drosera pygmaea Utricularia tenella Drosera glanduligera Utricularia aff. dichotoma Utricularia aff. dichotoma Drosera auriculata Cephalotus follicularis Drosera peltata VICTORIAN CARNIVOROUS VICTORIAN CARNIVOROUS PLANT SOC IETY Inc. PLANT SOC IETY Inc. Annual Subscriptions Issue No. 80 June 2006 Australian membership $20.00 Office Bearers: July 2006 – June 2007 Overseas membership $20.00 Payment from overseas must be in Australian dollars. President Stephen Fretwell All cheques or money orders should be made payable to the Victorian Carnivorous Plant Society Inc (VCPS). Vice President Sean Spence Payment by credit card is NOT available at the time of this journal issue. General Secretary Peter Bloem Correspondence Minutes Secretary Sean Spence Please forward all correspondence regarding subscription, change of address, Other Publications Gordon Ohlenrott articles for the journal and back issues to: The Secretary VCPS Journal Editor Stephen Fretwell P.O. Box 201 SOUTH YARRA 3141. Assistant Journal Editor George Caspar AUSTRALIA Internet Co-ordinator Paul Edwards Journal articles, in MS-Word, ready for publication, may be Emailed to the Editor or Secretary. Treasurer Ken Neal Librarian Andrew Gibbons Meetings Seedbank Administrator Ron Abernethy Most VCPS meetings are held in the hall at the rear of the Pilgrim Uniting Church on the corner of Bayview Road and Montague Street, Yarraville – Melway map reference Hardware Co-ordinator Andre Cleghorn 41K7. These meetings are on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 8 PM. However, some meetings may be at the home of members during a weekend. Show Co-ordinator Peter Anderson Details of meeting dates and topics are listed in each journal. Field Trips Organiser George Caspar If unsure of the location or date of any meeting, please ring a committee person for details. Public Officer Alexander Whitehouse The VCPS Annual General Meeting, usually held at Yarraville in June, provides substantial benefits for each and every member able to attend. Sales Administrator Ron Abernethy 2 – VCPS VCPS – 3 Contents FRONT COVER: MEETING TOPICS & DATES for 2006 D. auriculata found growing VICTORIAN CARNIVOROUS P LANT SOC IETY in tufts of moss on Mt. William at the Grampians N.P . Photo: George Caspar. This year we have scheduled the following discussion topics, and events: January (14th) New Year BBQ, Darlingtonia, Dionaea. BACK COVER: Clockwise from top left: February (22nd) Sarracenia species and hybrids, beginners night. I Drosera pygmaea , Red Rock Rd, Grampians N.P . March (22nd) Nepenthes and Heliamphora . Photo: Sean Spence. April (26th) Drosera , video and information night. Utricularia dichotoma with a triple flower head. I Utricularia tenella , Glenelg Photo: Sean Spence River Rd, Grampians N.P . May (24th) Growing conditions, pygmy Drosera gemmae Photo: Sean Spence. collection, 'best' and 'worst' plants. I Drosera glanduligera , Seed structure 6 Glenelg River Rd, Grampians June (28th) AGM, plant give-away, any CPs. N.P . Photo: Sean Spence. July (26th) Seed growing, tissue culture and potting Gardening Australia Expo 9 I Utricularia aff. dichotoma , demonstration, any CPs. Mt. William, Grampians N.P . Searching for Cephalotus 10 Photo: Sean Spence. August (23rd) Tuberous/Winter growing Drosera , show I Drosera peltata , Wonderland preparation, displays, and companion planting. Range, Grampians N.P . VCPS fieldtrip 2005 – Photo: Sean Spence. September (27th) Cephalotus , Brocchinia, Catopsis and swap night. I Grampians National Park 12 Cephalotus follicularis . October (29th) Field trip to Triffid Park (Sunday afternoon, Photo: David Banks. commencing with barbecue lunch) Pinguicula I Utricularia aff. dichotoma and pygmy Drosera. Triffid Park Open Day 20 colony, Mt. William, Grampians N.P . November (22nd) Byblis, Drosophyllum, Genlisea, Roridula, Utricularia. Seedbank 21 Photo: Stephen Fretwell. December (TBA) Annual show at Collectors Corner. Journal Design: The articles that are found within are copyright but can be copied Stephen Fretwell freely if the author and source are acknowledged. The views are of the Please note: All meetings, other than those where a specific venue is given, will authors and are open to review and debate. Please send all material to Printed by: be on the FOURTH WEDNESDAY of the month in the hall of the Pilgrim Uniting Snap Printing (Box Hill) Church in Yarraville – corner Bayview Road and Montague Street, Melway Map the editor for consideration to be included in our quarterly journal. Reference 41K7. 4 – VCPS VCPS – 5 camera to take pictures through the eyepiece. Fig. 1 This method is unsophisticated but works quite adequately. Observations made have shown that dif - ferent groups of Drosera have characteristic seed structures. A close look at the seed you are about to sow could save you many hours trying to work out why your plant doesn’t look like it should, and what it actually is. a) D. spatulata b) D. burkeana The most commonly mislabelled plant in “Cranbourne” collections would have to be Drosera (1) (2) spatulata (see fig. 1a) . Various forms of this plant are being circulated under a wide variety of names. This can occur due to a number of factors such as when a stray D. spatulata seed lands in another pot. If the intended species fails to germinate the D. spatulata generally will. The seed from the mature D. spatulata is then passed on as the c) D. capillaris “Praia d) D. biflora De Imbe, Rio Grande species that was supposed to be in the pot, Do Sol, S.America” usually due to the ignorance of the grower. Fig. 2 Unfortunately Drosera spatulata seed is very similar to a number of other species, howev - (3) (4) er close examination of the seed will allow Photographs taken under a microscope of seeds from different genera. (1) Sarracenia psittacina , you to rule out a large number of these (2) Utricularia beaugleholei , (3) Roridula dentata and (4) Drosera callistos . Photos: George Caspar species. Adding to the confusion is the situation where plants are simply mis-identified. A rea - son for this is that there are many species Seed structure that have very similar appearances that can D. sp. madagascar D. madagascariensis easily be confused. A good example are the in fact two taxa being considered. This can - GEORGE CASPAR of seeds sown as a particular species species Drosera burkeana and D. capillaris. not be substantiated though, as they have matured into a different plant. At the same D. burkeana is from Africa whereas not been studied on a taxonomic level. It eed structure is a helpful tool in time I noticed a great deal of variation in D. capillaris is from the Americas. Both plants should be noted that the structure of seed is identifying which species of plant you the appearance of the seed I was sowing. I look very similar. A quick look at the struc - merely one consideration in separating one Sare growing. This is particularly true had a look on the internet to investigate ture of the seed shows that these species are species from another. Other factors such as with Drosera . Although many species are the seed of different species only to find quite distinct (see fig. 1b & c) and easily the phenotype and DNA sequence of a par - closely related, a number of the more that there were virtually no references for identifiable when seed is examined. ticular plant can be of equal importance. common species that contaminate pots in seed appearance. This motivated me to The study of seed raises a number of The difference in seed appearance is collections have distinct seed structures. begin creating such a resource, mainly for questions. I have received Drosera madagas - prominent in the Northern hemisphere I first became interested in seed struc - my own use. cariensis seed from two different and distinct temperate Drosera species; D. rotundifolia, ture when I was beginning to expand my I use a standard dissecting microscope populations. The seed were very different intermedia, capillaris, anglica, linearis and Drosera collection. I found that a number to view seed and then use my digital (see fig. 2) , which could indicate there are filiformis . All have distinct seed, in fact the 6 – VCPS VCPS – 7 Fig. 3 only seed that can be confused is that of D. linearis and D. intermedia . Fortunately these are very different plants which can be easily distinguished when in active growth. Bigger, Better … Drosera rotundifolia has filiform seeds. Drosera intermedia seeds are covered in a Gardening Australia Expo mass of fine raised bumps. Drosera capillaris has longitudinal ridges. Drosera anglica has larger, black, erratically shaped seed. Drosera With a fresh name – Gardening Australia Expo – D. rotundifolia D. intermedia filiformis has barrel shaped seeds that are cov - and a fresh approach, the three-day event will be held ered with bumps. Drosera linearis seed is sim - ilar in shape to D. filiformis but the seeds have Melbourne (October 6-8), 2006. a much finer seed coat. (see fig. 3) You’ll see creative feature gardens for the backyard, courtyard and the balcony. Seed is not always a foolproof method of There will be thousands of new products to see and buy and non-stop practical identification. When we again consider gardening demonstrations and talks from several theatre stages. Drosera capillaris and other closely related Presenters from the ABC TV’s Gardening Australia and other gardening and species we will notice that a number of landscape experts will be on hand to answer your questions and provide advice. these species have seed that is very similar. D. anglica D. capillaris , Charlotte I grow Drosera capillaris and D. biflora (see Don’t miss your chance to experience the exciting Gardening Australia Expos. County. Florida fig. 1c & d) . Although these plants look Where & When: Caulfield Racecourse, Caulfield, October 6-8, 2006 slightly different, the seed is almost indistin - guishable. The same problem exists with Open: 9.30am – 4.30pm daily Drosera sessilifolia and burmannii which are Tickets: Tickets available at the door.