S. leucophylla var. alba 'Standard Look' Washington Co, AL
Sept 22, 2017 13:12:20 GMT -5
rudeko, hunter, and 3 more like this
Post by meizzwang on Sept 22, 2017 13:12:20 GMT -5
Washington Co, AL leucophyllas have a certain unique look that you rarely, if ever, see in any other population. My hypothesis is that 99% of the leucos there, if not every last one, has some alata integrated into it's genes, and over time, leucophylla back-crossed so many times that it's no longer obvious. The alata "color genes" overall aren't as dominant in the phenotype, but slight differences in shape and an increase in white pigment production may be linked to this historical hybridization event.
Please note, this is all speculation and conjecture. Replace this whole hypothesis with S. rubra wherryi, which grow side by side with leucos in Washington Co, AL, or what about a combo of both species influencing leuco shape and color? How about rosea? It historically grew in Washington Co, AL as well. Let's not forget S. psittacina....
In retrospect, there isn't one single "standard look" for a washington Co, AL leucophylla, but there are some typical characteristics that when combined together, give them their general appearance:
1) some clones have more white stretch down the petiole than regular leucos
2) the shape of the trap is slightly "alata-ey" or even rubra wherryi'ey. Hard to pinpoint which species.
3) plants tend to be tall and slender, not stout and barrel-chested.
Perhaps the slight hybrid shape is a main characteristic that distinguishes leucos from Washington Co, AL from other populations, but like all generalizations, there's always exceptions to the rule. Keep in mind, what I've seen in my lifetime in the wild is only a fraction of a percent of what used to exist there. There were probably fields out there that had relatively pure leucos with zero or little hybrid influence.
Long novel shortened into cliff notes, here's S. leucophylla var. alba yellow flower 'standard look' Washington Co, AL The flower is definitely "hybridy" and not pure yellow, which suggests either recent or distant hybridization somewhere down the line. Photos taken 9/22/17:
Spring traps were actually whiter. Fall traps are struggling to produce solid white throats on this clone, but you'll just have to take my word for it that this is a verified alba:
Slightly chameleon-like under my conditions:
Look at that shape! Notice the very spade-like lip, similar to some alatas and even rubra wherryis:
Please note, this is all speculation and conjecture. Replace this whole hypothesis with S. rubra wherryi, which grow side by side with leucos in Washington Co, AL, or what about a combo of both species influencing leuco shape and color? How about rosea? It historically grew in Washington Co, AL as well. Let's not forget S. psittacina....
In retrospect, there isn't one single "standard look" for a washington Co, AL leucophylla, but there are some typical characteristics that when combined together, give them their general appearance:
1) some clones have more white stretch down the petiole than regular leucos
2) the shape of the trap is slightly "alata-ey" or even rubra wherryi'ey. Hard to pinpoint which species.
3) plants tend to be tall and slender, not stout and barrel-chested.
Perhaps the slight hybrid shape is a main characteristic that distinguishes leucos from Washington Co, AL from other populations, but like all generalizations, there's always exceptions to the rule. Keep in mind, what I've seen in my lifetime in the wild is only a fraction of a percent of what used to exist there. There were probably fields out there that had relatively pure leucos with zero or little hybrid influence.
Long novel shortened into cliff notes, here's S. leucophylla var. alba yellow flower 'standard look' Washington Co, AL The flower is definitely "hybridy" and not pure yellow, which suggests either recent or distant hybridization somewhere down the line. Photos taken 9/22/17:
Spring traps were actually whiter. Fall traps are struggling to produce solid white throats on this clone, but you'll just have to take my word for it that this is a verified alba:
Slightly chameleon-like under my conditions:
Look at that shape! Notice the very spade-like lip, similar to some alatas and even rubra wherryis: