Post by kiwiearl on Aug 7, 2014 0:25:32 GMT -5
Below is a photo of a nice S. flava var. cuprea, a "Coppertop".
I use the photo simply because it is a really nice example of the variety but the main reason for this post is to ask what I feel is relevant question as it relates to the debate on the all red flava plants in Western Florida. Specifically, I'm referring to the individuals within an otherwise broad population of fundamentally var. rubricorpora (variable as that variety inherently is) that whilst exhibiting every other aspect of that variety become fully red and are therefore accorded by some the title of var. atropurpurea as that has long referred to those all red flava found as a distinct entity in the Green Swamp, etc of the Carolinas. There are those, such as McPherson, who state that an individual var. atropurpurea can indeed be found within stands of var. rubricorpora despite their common beginning and factors beyond colour alone.
As I've done previously elsewhere, I contend that a specimen that starts out as every other var. rubricorpora to which it is clearly intimately related in the population (genetically) but develops colour over and above its more typically nominal relatives can't then have become two varieties within the same season; two things at once so to speak. And, that this highlights the potential frailty of what one might describe as the variety within varieties element within some promoted Sarracenia nomenclature.
As most are familiar with, a large percentage of S. flava that present initially as var. cuprea will fade ie, lose the copper colour to their hood and upper pitcher, often to the degree that no copper colour is evident past a certain point in the season. Often this can occur quite rapidly and disappointingly for the horticulturist.
The question I put is this: If following the rationale that a var. rubricorpora can legitimately be latter described as var. atropurpurea over the course of a season, can a var. cuprea, once faded, be just as legitimately said to have transformed into var. flava or var. ornata once the copper colour has been lost? Certainly I, for one, have never heard that stated.
I use the photo simply because it is a really nice example of the variety but the main reason for this post is to ask what I feel is relevant question as it relates to the debate on the all red flava plants in Western Florida. Specifically, I'm referring to the individuals within an otherwise broad population of fundamentally var. rubricorpora (variable as that variety inherently is) that whilst exhibiting every other aspect of that variety become fully red and are therefore accorded by some the title of var. atropurpurea as that has long referred to those all red flava found as a distinct entity in the Green Swamp, etc of the Carolinas. There are those, such as McPherson, who state that an individual var. atropurpurea can indeed be found within stands of var. rubricorpora despite their common beginning and factors beyond colour alone.
As I've done previously elsewhere, I contend that a specimen that starts out as every other var. rubricorpora to which it is clearly intimately related in the population (genetically) but develops colour over and above its more typically nominal relatives can't then have become two varieties within the same season; two things at once so to speak. And, that this highlights the potential frailty of what one might describe as the variety within varieties element within some promoted Sarracenia nomenclature.
As most are familiar with, a large percentage of S. flava that present initially as var. cuprea will fade ie, lose the copper colour to their hood and upper pitcher, often to the degree that no copper colour is evident past a certain point in the season. Often this can occur quite rapidly and disappointingly for the horticulturist.
The question I put is this: If following the rationale that a var. rubricorpora can legitimately be latter described as var. atropurpurea over the course of a season, can a var. cuprea, once faded, be just as legitimately said to have transformed into var. flava or var. ornata once the copper colour has been lost? Certainly I, for one, have never heard that stated.