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Cephalotus 'Hummers Giant' suspicion ...

I suspect that a significant percentage of the 'Hummer's Giant' Cephs being grown are typicals. Why?

1 - similar to non-mutation VFTs, there is no way to differentiate one Cephalotus clone from another with absolute certainty
2 - HG Cephs command a higher premium than typicals (sometimes amazingly so ...)
3 - there are many unscrupulous individuals
4 - many of the pics I see of HG Cephs do not have the characteristic wide 'midrib'. As stated in reason #1, there is no absolute way to distinguish one Ceph clone from another. However, close to 100% of the adult HG Cephs* which I have grown and pics of verified HG Cephs (that I've seen) grown by others have exhibited this trait (not necessarily all pitchers). BigBella's HG Ceph in this thread clearly demonstrates the wide midrib - as do most of the plants pictured in my growlist. Here's a pic of two of my 'outside' plants this spring exhibiting various degrees of the wide midrib (my apologies for the less-than-sanitized conditions):
Cephtray052510sideoneRS.jpg


I'm sharing my suspicion because I'd like to hear if other HG growers have a different viewpoint and also to warn potential purchasers to only procure HG Cephs from trusted / reputable suppliers** if they truly want the real deal ...

* - my original HG clone was purchased from Charles Brewer and I was with Charles when he purchased the clone from John Hummer at the ICPS Conference held in Atlanta (ABG).
** - the term 'trusted supplier' (or reputable) could probably merit it's own thread. Some growers are content to believe the assertions of semi-anonymous eBay sellers. Some are not ...
 
When my plants were younger, they did not always display that prominent midrib and "chunkier" appearance; and even when mature, didn't always display it. I currently have some small divisions from my mature plants and they appear typical for the time being . . .
 
What does this plant look like:

Picture004-7.jpg
 
Here are some of the midribs of my Ceph's

This is the Hummer I received from Ron for reference.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39807474@N07/5214774465/" title="Ceph. 'Hummer's Giant' by randallsimpson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/5214774465_67e425d66d.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Ceph. 'Hummer's Giant'" /></a>

This Hummer is from an E-bay Seller, one of the better ones in my opinion.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39807474@N07/5224422173/" title="004 by randallsimpson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5224422173_7d1fd34b0f.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="004" /></a>

Here you can see the thin ribs and the new larger growths starting the wider ribs.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39807474@N07/5225015620/" title="002 by randallsimpson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5225015620_05d29f1c62.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="002" /></a>

This is a typical that is oddly enough growing a wide midrib, the other divisions of this one are no where near that full. This is also the one growing on the "wall" found here.
http://www.terraforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122053

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39807474@N07/5225016588/" title="006 by randallsimpson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5225016588_2f0a493677.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="006" /></a>
 
that.. first.. pic.. is.. AHHHH MAZE ING!
 
I wouldn't be surprised if you are correct. In fact, I would be even more surprised if you were not correct. I'll keep an eye on my HG clone. I trust the person I got mine from. But I can't say I trust who he got it from since I don't know.

IMHO, I guess that is the problem with trying to label something as "special" when it displays only a variable difference from others in certain set of unknown conditions. With ambiguity comes much opportunity for abuse. This is especially true when thrown into a market full of trusting, but possibly under educated people on the topic. I mean that with the highest of regard towards my fellow growers and would include myself in this category of trusting but under educated.
 
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while i completely agree that a good chunk of the "hummers giant" out there, are likely not the real deal, it is like you said, impossible to tell really for the most part, as even the midrib varies from pitcher to pitcher on my plant for example, and it weighs heavily on conditions...
my hummers giant isnt consistant with producing a wide midrib, though it most definitely does produce them
here is a typical and hummer next to eachother for comparisons sake...sorry they arent the best photos, just saw this thread and thought i would throw in my 2cents
first, one of my hummer's
P1010002.jpg

and here is a typical
P1010018.jpg

side by side now, typical right, hummer left...
not the size difference though, the typical is potted in a 4" round pot
P1010003.jpg
 
We may have to bug John Hummer, himself!
 
  • #10
now i really really want one those pics are great everyone.
 
  • #11
I really love the color on that 'typical' better than the colors on the Hummer's Giant, SirKristoff. Unfortunately, my typical keeps dying back and never thrives to the point of producing mature pitchers while the Hummer's Giant keeps popping out more and more huge pitchers.
 
  • #12
We may have to bug John Hummer, himself!
About what?

While John makes no mention of the wide midrib in his cultivar description, you'll notice the characteristic midribs in his photo at the bottom. (Barry probably didn't help this situation with his added comment).

Ever since Forbes pointed out the extremely wide midrib on a plant I sent him many years ago, I have looked for it on plants labeled as HG's. As Bella (& I) noted, it is not a reliable indicator especially with young plants and those with only a few pitchers. However, I have yet to see a healthy, adult plant with a large number of pitchers from a reliable source (ie - traceable to John) that doesn't exhibit a noticeably wide midrib on at least a few of the pitchers. I grow them in a wide variety of conditions (outside for summer, windowsill, terrarium, etc) and have this characteristic on all adult plants with many pitchers (& most plants with only a few pitchers).

With most plants, the differences are quite obvious. The pictures shown over in this thread show pitchers that are shaped like a typical ceph. This is a healthy plant with more than 10 adult pitchers and all show a very narrow midrib.

In the photo at the start of this thread, the majority of the pitchers show the wide midrib without even requiring close examination - but there also a few with the more narrow version (one near 12 o'clock and one around 9 - for example). Sometimes, the midribs are so wide as to almost be amazing - like on this developing green pitcher @ 6 o'clock:
Ceph-midrib1RS.jpg

However, when you look at the pitchers on either side of this, neither is completely definitive.

I understand that many people paid a significant premium for their HG plants and really don't want to accept that they may have a typical. I'm simply sharing my experiences & my observations in the hope that it might save some others a few dollars.
 
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