More cool stuff from Okaloosa Co. FL
Sept 21, 2016 0:46:23 GMT -5
meizzwang, stevebooth, and 7 more like this
Post by calen on Sept 21, 2016 0:46:23 GMT -5
Fortunately there are several threads on here that document the amazing diversity, carnivorous and otherwise, that can be found in the bogs of the western Panhandle. I remember a few years ago it was extremely hard to find many good photos of the plants in habitat, so it definitely makes me happy to give everyone a sampling of what we were able to see. These photos come from a few different seepage bogs all within the same general area. A couple takeaways from this area as of mid-September 2016:
- the leucos weren't "crackin' hard" in this area compared to others (to use one of Mike's phrases). Not sure if we were too early, or if the plants were really just going to go dormant with no fall crop.
- the flavas were in much better shape than I expected. Many were pretty crispy, but most were not.
- Way more ticks and mosquitoes in the fall. :/
- the mooreis we saw were mostly leuco-dominant clones. We saw many browned out pitchers from what were no-doubt spectacular spring traps, but no fall pitchers were evident on these individuals this year.
- Not too many phyllodia on the flavas. Seems like cultivated plants have a ton, but didn't really notice them in the wild. I suppose we were distracted by the traps!
- Overall all the sites were far drier last week than during spring / early summer visits. Most areas weren't squishy like normal and the creeks that would swallow you to your hip in May were pretty easily crossed.
Ok, pics! Images from 9/12/2016.
Beautiful mixed flava color forms. At this site the leucos grew higher on the slope where it was drier.
Typical leucos: TONS of plants, but very few fall traps.
This group at the drier top of a seepage slope had more going on.
If it looks gloomy in these pictures, it's because a thunderstorm just finished fire hosing us! It was still drizzling and thundering as I took these.
This clone with painted lips really stood out.
More "typical" for this area:
Another shot of an open seepage slope. The flavas no doubt find the wettest spots to set up shop!
Again, I was pretty happy with the condition of the flavas. Expecting burnt husks, I thought they still looked amazing!
Here and there among the rugeliis were these very interesting clones that somehow reminded me of flava "Killer"
Probably the hugest lid I've ever seen on a lava:
This ornata was in amazing shape for September
At one site we were pleased to discover S. rubra ssp. gulfensis growing. The plants were smallish and similarly to the leucos looked as though they hadn't put out their best traps yet.
We found what we believed were x readii hybrids here, but none had pitchers worth photographing. This rubra lid showed influence of S. leucophylla though. Cool!
There were many beautiful moorei clones to be found, most on the "leuco with a throat blotch" end of the spectrum:
Green lynxes were large and in charge here. They are smart and had ditched the old flavas, taking up residence on the new leuco and moorei pitchers.
One of the only well-preserved spring moorei traps I saw. These flava-dominant clones seem to produce better early in the season and were mostly unrecognizable in September, but not this fella. Spectacular!
A sneaky moorei trying to pass for flava rugelii - the shape is a bit off and the lid is whitish! Very cool back-crosses are pretty easy to find in areas like this.
Last but not least a beautiful fringed orchid and L. catesbaei to end the show:
- the leucos weren't "crackin' hard" in this area compared to others (to use one of Mike's phrases). Not sure if we were too early, or if the plants were really just going to go dormant with no fall crop.
- the flavas were in much better shape than I expected. Many were pretty crispy, but most were not.
- Way more ticks and mosquitoes in the fall. :/
- the mooreis we saw were mostly leuco-dominant clones. We saw many browned out pitchers from what were no-doubt spectacular spring traps, but no fall pitchers were evident on these individuals this year.
- Not too many phyllodia on the flavas. Seems like cultivated plants have a ton, but didn't really notice them in the wild. I suppose we were distracted by the traps!
- Overall all the sites were far drier last week than during spring / early summer visits. Most areas weren't squishy like normal and the creeks that would swallow you to your hip in May were pretty easily crossed.
Ok, pics! Images from 9/12/2016.
Beautiful mixed flava color forms. At this site the leucos grew higher on the slope where it was drier.
Typical leucos: TONS of plants, but very few fall traps.
This group at the drier top of a seepage slope had more going on.
If it looks gloomy in these pictures, it's because a thunderstorm just finished fire hosing us! It was still drizzling and thundering as I took these.
This clone with painted lips really stood out.
More "typical" for this area:
Another shot of an open seepage slope. The flavas no doubt find the wettest spots to set up shop!
Again, I was pretty happy with the condition of the flavas. Expecting burnt husks, I thought they still looked amazing!
Here and there among the rugeliis were these very interesting clones that somehow reminded me of flava "Killer"
Probably the hugest lid I've ever seen on a lava:
This ornata was in amazing shape for September
At one site we were pleased to discover S. rubra ssp. gulfensis growing. The plants were smallish and similarly to the leucos looked as though they hadn't put out their best traps yet.
We found what we believed were x readii hybrids here, but none had pitchers worth photographing. This rubra lid showed influence of S. leucophylla though. Cool!
There were many beautiful moorei clones to be found, most on the "leuco with a throat blotch" end of the spectrum:
Green lynxes were large and in charge here. They are smart and had ditched the old flavas, taking up residence on the new leuco and moorei pitchers.
One of the only well-preserved spring moorei traps I saw. These flava-dominant clones seem to produce better early in the season and were mostly unrecognizable in September, but not this fella. Spectacular!
A sneaky moorei trying to pass for flava rugelii - the shape is a bit off and the lid is whitish! Very cool back-crosses are pretty easy to find in areas like this.
Last but not least a beautiful fringed orchid and L. catesbaei to end the show: