Post by waxy on Aug 23, 2014 21:56:19 GMT -5
Back in the day, long before cultivar registrations and when artificial hybrids were being named and published with Latinized names by horticulturists (contrary to the Botanical Code), the grex Sarracenia 'Umlauftiana' (purpurea x psittacina) x (leucophylla x psittacina) aka S.(courtii x wrigleyana) was created. The carnivorous plant database gives the following citation:
N: [Sarracenia umlauftiana {Hort.Hefka}]
P: Oesterr.Gart.Z.8:43 (1913)
T: ex cult. Schoenbrunn, Vienna, AT, (?W)
S: =[[[Sarracenia purpurea {L.}] * [Sarracenia psittacina {Michx.}]] * [[Sarracenia leucophylla {Raf.}] * [Sarracenia psittacina {Michx.}]]]
C: priority for parentage
Translation: Published in O?sterreichische Garten-Zeitung in 1913 by Anton Hefka, Garden-assistant at Schoenbrunn Imperial Gardens in Vienna where the type specimen is maintained from cultivated material.
The cultivated hybrid was named for the garden director Anton Umlauft, “A man of unusual knowledge, coupled with a captivating amiability”. He and Hefka presided over a period of great growth and prominence for the garden before World War I.
Ref P21-22 JOURNAL OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN, VOL. XXIX MARCH, 1928 No. 339, (This article gives a fascinating history of the garden at Schoenbrunn and its personnel.)
It is likely that the plants correctly labeled as 'Umlauftiana' today are one or more selected clones of the original and/or subsequent crosses. It is also likely that most of the progeny of the original cross were discarded and relatively few cultivated. As a complex hybrid, the progeny would show a very wide combination of the species’ characteristics and few would have the ones we today associate with the hybrid. The ravages of two World Wars, the Great Depression, and a fall from fashion make it quite possible that none of the original plants survive. If that is the case, then the plants we have are likely remakes of the original. Differences in taste not-withstanding, if he remade the hybrid, it is no wonder that Adrian Slack “didn't think this hybrid was worth a cultivar status”. Much of the progeny could be less than ordinary. There are statements and photos to indicate the cross has been periodically remade in recent times as well as backcrossed.
Also remember, that as long as no new species other than purpurea, psittacina, and leucophylla are bred into the grex it may be referred to as 'Umlauftiana' . Thus 'Umlauftiana' x purpurea, 'Umlauftiana' x psittacina, and 'Umlauftiana' x leucophylla as well as 'Umlauftiana' x 'Umlauftiana' may all still be referred to simply as 'Umlauftiana' even though they will produce distinctly different results.
As to “Skywatcher”, it is an unregistered cultivar. So it will take a bit of detective work to find some history. I have never seen it listed as a clone/cultivar of Umlauftiana, always only on its own. Speculations, even by highly regarded authors, on “possible” parents are confusing and worthless. There are many pictured plants that resemble it and are purported to have different species in the background. Sarracenia “WC” aka “Willow Creek” and S. ‘EVA’ come to mind. I hope something concrete turns up on it for somebody. I certainly will report here if I ever come across something.
N: [Sarracenia umlauftiana {Hort.Hefka}]
P: Oesterr.Gart.Z.8:43 (1913)
T: ex cult. Schoenbrunn, Vienna, AT, (?W)
S: =[[[Sarracenia purpurea {L.}] * [Sarracenia psittacina {Michx.}]] * [[Sarracenia leucophylla {Raf.}] * [Sarracenia psittacina {Michx.}]]]
C: priority for parentage
Translation: Published in O?sterreichische Garten-Zeitung in 1913 by Anton Hefka, Garden-assistant at Schoenbrunn Imperial Gardens in Vienna where the type specimen is maintained from cultivated material.
The cultivated hybrid was named for the garden director Anton Umlauft, “A man of unusual knowledge, coupled with a captivating amiability”. He and Hefka presided over a period of great growth and prominence for the garden before World War I.
Ref P21-22 JOURNAL OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN, VOL. XXIX MARCH, 1928 No. 339, (This article gives a fascinating history of the garden at Schoenbrunn and its personnel.)
It is likely that the plants correctly labeled as 'Umlauftiana' today are one or more selected clones of the original and/or subsequent crosses. It is also likely that most of the progeny of the original cross were discarded and relatively few cultivated. As a complex hybrid, the progeny would show a very wide combination of the species’ characteristics and few would have the ones we today associate with the hybrid. The ravages of two World Wars, the Great Depression, and a fall from fashion make it quite possible that none of the original plants survive. If that is the case, then the plants we have are likely remakes of the original. Differences in taste not-withstanding, if he remade the hybrid, it is no wonder that Adrian Slack “didn't think this hybrid was worth a cultivar status”. Much of the progeny could be less than ordinary. There are statements and photos to indicate the cross has been periodically remade in recent times as well as backcrossed.
Also remember, that as long as no new species other than purpurea, psittacina, and leucophylla are bred into the grex it may be referred to as 'Umlauftiana' . Thus 'Umlauftiana' x purpurea, 'Umlauftiana' x psittacina, and 'Umlauftiana' x leucophylla as well as 'Umlauftiana' x 'Umlauftiana' may all still be referred to simply as 'Umlauftiana' even though they will produce distinctly different results.
As to “Skywatcher”, it is an unregistered cultivar. So it will take a bit of detective work to find some history. I have never seen it listed as a clone/cultivar of Umlauftiana, always only on its own. Speculations, even by highly regarded authors, on “possible” parents are confusing and worthless. There are many pictured plants that resemble it and are purported to have different species in the background. Sarracenia “WC” aka “Willow Creek” and S. ‘EVA’ come to mind. I hope something concrete turns up on it for somebody. I certainly will report here if I ever come across something.