un sympathique collègue américain a posté une liste de liens vers des sites qui parlent des divers cultivars et mutations de D.muscipula
http://www.omnisterra.com/bot/cp_home.c ... h=cultivar
http://www.carnivorousplants.org/cpn/Sp ... ations.htm
le premier site est celui de Trevor Cox, un très sympa gaillard, et il est intéressant car on peut y voir les diverses variations en comparaison directe....
sur l'un des sites, j'ai également trouvé une histoire "complète" des divers cultvars officiels....celà en intéressera certains, et vous y apprendrez (tout comme moi !) que certains "cultivars" de Dionaea se reproduisent par graines !!!
bref, comme le texte est en anglais, ceci sera une EXCELLENTE occasion de procéder à un entraînement au bachot (ah les ch'tits jeunes, comme on les aime, comme on les bichonne )
et le premier collégien ou lycéen (bye bye, students ) qui traduit le texte en français a droit à un don de graines de la part de Carnibank (comme au bachot, y'a un cadeau au bout)
VENUS FLYTRAP MUTANTS
I will try to provide a written and photographic account of these plants. Whenever possible, I will include published information about each form. Unfortunately, the literature is greatly lacking of detailed information. In some cases I will include unpublished, commonly understood details. Some may call this hearsay but, given the sources, the information is believed to be accurate. In addition I will try to provide a chronology of the discovery/creation of these forms.
Firstly, a quick note about the common forms of the flytrap. The typical variation, not only in cultivation but, also in the wild is tremendous. Trap coloration ranges from yellow, green, pink, red, to purple. There are even "anthocyanin-free" plants that are unable to produce the red pigment and the entire plant is green. Trap size is highly variable, although commonly remains in the 1 inch range. Through successive line breeding, there are reports of plants created with trap size reaching beyond 2 inches. The plants are typically decumbant in nature but, narrow petiole forms with upright habit exist. Add to the confusion the fact that color, trap size and form vary throughout the growing season for any given plant.
Now onto the mutants. Probably the first widely desired form is the "all red." Here is where the hearsay begins. Back when Venus flytrap poaching was rampant commercially, thousands of flytraps were dug-up from the wild and sent to commercial growers. Presumably, on one occasion in the mid-1970's thousands of plants were sent to a commercial grower in Holland. Within that shipment an "all red" plant was found. The plant was propagated and distributed world-wide. It was commonly called the "Holland Red." Although poorly substantiated, there have been reports of other "all red" flytraps germinating on 2 occasions from seed imported from the USA in the 1950's and 1970's.
Prior to 1996 when the 'Akai Ryu' was released, the "all red" forms were very difficult to obtain. The only commercially available form was 'Royal Red.' This plant was isolated and patented by Exotica Plants of Australia in 1994. As "all red" color is carried genetically, 'Royal Red' is probably a descendant of the "Holland Red" or other "all red." Totally distinct from the 'Royal Red,' the 'Akai Ryu' is in fact a direct descendant of the "Holland Red."
Ron Gagliardo of Atlanta Botanical Garden in the USA was attempting to create an "all red-sawtooth" flytrap when he pollinated the "Holland Red" with 'Sawtooth' pollen (see the comments below about 'Sawtooth'). Twenty seeds were collected and grown in vitro. Of the twenty seedlings seven inherited the "all red" character. One of the seven demonstrated superior red color and vigor. Although it lacked the unique 'Sawtooth' teeth that Ron was hoping, this ultimately became the ever-popular 'Akai Ryu.' It was officially named in 1996. Conclusively, the 'Royal Red' was created in Australia by Exotica Plants and 'Akai Ryu' was created by Ron Gagliardo of the Atlanta Botanical Garden in the USA. The only flytrap to have ever been granted a patent still remains the 'Royal Red.'
Another commonly cultivated "all red" is the "Green Dragon." This plant has erroneously been reported as a hybrid or sexually propagated descendant of 'Akai Ryu.' In fact the "Green Dragon" is a sport of 'Akai Ryu.' It was isolated sometime around 1996 during the amplification of 'Akai Ryu.' The "Green Dragon" is similar in most aspects to 'Akai Ryu,' except color. 'Akai Ryu' is almost entirely red with green limited to trap margins. In contrast the "Green Dragon" produces relatively more green, including the petiole and trap.
It's probably a fair assumption that 'Akai Ryu' is the most widely distributed carnivorous plant. Agristarts III of Florida began it's propagation around 1995. Around 2000 Triffid Park of Australia also began distributing it. To this day Agristarts III continues to donate proceeds from the sale of 'Akai Ryu' and the "Green Dragon" to the Atlanta Botanical Garden's native plant conservation program. Please visit their website. Atlanta Botanical Garden was preserving mutant flytraps long before most growers took notice.
Onto the 'Dentate Traps' and a short discussion of it's origin. Leo Song Jr of California State University, Fullerton and Bob Hanrahan originally isolated this plant in the mid-1970's. Surprisingly, it was found amongst a group of wild-collected flytraps.The plant was subsequently propagated by seed and division, and distributed throughout. This mutant possesses a rare feature amongst the mutant flytraps; this plant will pass it's unique character to it's progeny. The only other mutant flytrap known to share this feature is the "all red" and it's forms. Coincidently, 'Dentate Traps' and the "all red" flytraps are the only known mutant flytraps to have originated from naturally occurring populations. As seen in the accompanying photograph, 'Dentate Traps' produces short, triangular shaped teeth. In 1993 Leo Song crossed the 'Dentate Traps' with a large, vigorous "typical" plant. Of the resulting progeny 'Jaws' was isolated and subsequently named formally in 2001. 'Dentate Traps' is widely available from tissue culture sources since 1997; however, prior to then it was very difficult to obtain. At the time it was commonly referred by the following names: "shark's tooth," "bear trap," "California dentate," "dentata," or just "dentate." As of 2000, this mutant flytrap was formally named, 'Dentate Traps.'
With the discussion of the "all red" and 'Dentate Traps' completed, I would like to leap chronologically to discuss a hybrid of the two mutant forms. In 1995 Edward Read of California began crossing the two mutants. After years of efforts of selecting and further crossing, the 'Red Piranha' was officially named in 1999. This plant retains the unique tooth shape of 'Dentate Traps,' along with the "all red" color. In addition this plant is quite vigorous and easily propagated.
Again around 1995 there was already limited distribution of two European mutants. The first one was formally named in 2000, 'Sawtooth.' Prior to this date the plant was informally known as, "fine tooth," " saw tooth," "comb tooth," and "German dentate." Like 'Dentate Traps' this plant produces triangular shaped teeth; however, it's teeth are much more finely divided. This plant is an excellent grower and will easily reproduce asexually. In addition 'Sawtooth,' produced by Thomas Carow, is likely a tissue culture sport. It is very similar in character to 'Dentate Traps.' In fact they are grouped within the same cultivar group, 'Dentate Traps Group,' along with the 'Red Piranha.' Strangely, 'Dentate Traps' and 'Sawtooth' are not related in origin nor, is one derived from the other.
The second European mutant was also isolated by Thomas Carow. Formally named in The Savage Garden, 'Fused tooth' is another tissue culture sport. This plant is truely a spectacular mutant. It's teeth randomly fuse together, producing a webbed appearance. The extent of fusing differs throughout the year. In early spring through mid-summer the plant will produce limited fused teeth. By late summer the trap's teeth are heavily fused. Again, 'Sawtooth' and 'Fused Tooth' were already in limited distribution by 1995. The exact date of their isolation is not known; however, Henning Von Schmeling of Atlanta first received the two plants in the late 1980's.
Forward to 1996 when 'Akai Ryu' was being distributed, there existed a unique form of flytrap isolated from tissue culture in the USA. Agristarts III of Florida created a, yet officially unnamed, form called the "cup." I'm not certain when the "cup" was first discovered but, it was extremely limited in distribution until around 1998. At that time Agristarts III distributed thousands of "cup" flytraps before eliminating it from their stock, almost a year later. As the photograph demonstrates, the "cup" has it's trap lobes fused at two points, the mid-rib and the distal margin, respectively. This plant easily propagates asexually but, rarely attains significant trap size; averaging about 1/4 inch in length.
The next flytrap, having very limited information, is the "clamshell." This plant was distributed in very limited numbers around 1995. To this day it remains very limited. In fact I don't have a photo to include. Having seen the plant, I can provide some detail. The "clamshell" is a very small grower that doesn't reach 2 inches in diameter from trap to trap. The unique characteristic is it's trap shape; the traps do not have teeth and have undulating margins. The "clamshell" was once cultivated at Atlanta Botanical Gardens, until it perished.
The "Bart Simpson" flytrap has been in limited distribution since around 1996. Not yet formally named, it has also been called, "wacky traps." As seen in the photo, there aren't any teeth on the trap. In fact much of the trap is absent. Imagine cutting a trap in a zig-zag pattern in a direction parallel to the mid-rib of the trap. This is the most unique characteristic of "Bart Simpson." Although not obvious from the photo, "Bart Simpson" traps are very thick. It is best described as, too thick; the thickness prevents rapid closure of the trap. This plant was first isolated by Thomas Carow.
From 1995 through 2002 there have been at least three unique occasions, whereby the next mutant has been isolated. These plants are unofficially known as, "hedgehog," "pom-pom," and "scrub brush." All 3 clones share the same characteristics of a non-functional trap thickened on the outside of the trap by excess plant tissue. The excess tissue looks like a series of spiney projections. This plant is known to be a very small grower with traps rarely reaching 1/8th of an inch.
As early as the 1970's, there have been reports of "variegated" flytraps. Believed to be caused by a virus, the traps and petioles will have a variegated appearance. Unfortunately, the variegation would infrequently appear, and in a limited fashion. The rest of the time the plant seems to have reverted to "typical." It could be during times of stress that the plant produces the variegation. In 2001 a clone was isolated in the USA that doesn't display any of the mentioned shortcomings. This clone will always produce a random pattern of variegation from green to yellow to white. Each and every leaf will be variegated during active growth. This clone is not yet formally named.
Unofficially known as "feather," the next flytrap originates in the USA. First isolated around 2001, this plant produces excess plant tissue along the mid-rib of the petiole. The excess tissue projects outwardly like little fingers. Collectively, the projections give the petiole a "feathery" appearance. This type of mutation has been noted in the past, although former clones have a tendency to revert to "typical." The clone isolated in 2001 produces the "feather" character on each and every petiole.
Finally, 2002 yielded another noteworthy mutation. The "fused petiole" originates in the USA. Similar to "typical" in most charactistics, "fused petiole" has it's traps continuous with the petiole beyond just the mid-rib. The proximal margins of each lobe of the trap are fused to the "wings" of the petiole. Consequently, the trap and petiole are not separate. This most recently isolated mutant flytrap has not yet been officially named.
While comprehensive, this list is not meant to be complete. This is simply a list of stable flytrap mutations that are somewhat distributed. Certainly, there are other forms out there that haven't yet circulated. As well, some mutations may not be noteworthy or stable. I hope that I have been able to provide some insight into these plants. In addition I hope to impress the need for officially naming widely distributed mutants. Along with the editors of the Carnivorous Plant Newsletter, I hope to satisfy this need. Please email me, if I have mentioned anything incorrectly. I have tried to be as complete and accurate as possible. Please note that the images included are not to be used without permission.
I have immense appreciation for the valuable comments and suggestions from the people that made this webpage possible. The pioneers of mutant flytrap cultivating have patiently and enthusiastically given me their support. Thank you, Ron Gagliardo, Leo Song Jr., Henning Von Schmeling, and Barry Meyers-Rice. In addition, I do want to thank Thomas Carow for isolating and distributing his wonderful plants.
Sincerely,
Stefan Ploszak