I don't think anyone is being patronizing, although I can understand it may feel that way.
We have seen incorrect information flow around here as freely as what is correct,
and when something as obvious as this comes up, a lot of people are going to jump on it.
For all we know a "Red HG" may be a new cultivar that none of us has heard of yet...
However, indeed more likely (and what usually is the case around here) is that someone misunderstood, mis-represented, or otherwise confused what plant is being dealt with.
We do not have the ability to easily check the DNA of a plant to know for certain that it is indeed a specific plant/clone. (And even that may not give us the accurate results we may expect.) We also do not have a certificate program, where every plant that is sold also comes with a certificate of authenticity. (And even those can be counterfeited!) I would hate to see it come to that, so I do agree with people wanting to help others understand things and why they are as they are.
I know it is difficult for people who are new to growing plants (in this case, CP's) to deal with and understand all these things, but there is a reason we can't allow people to name their own plants randomly, or even to assume they are something just because someone said. It does take trust for us to relate in a fashion that is fair and correct, and a bit of mistrust to keep from allowing us and others to be taken advantage of or end up with the wrong plants.
Indeed some plants like the Ceph H.G. don't easily show their differences, and for many people who buy one and grow them in less then ideal conditions, they may never know if the plant they have is a true H.G. or just a typical. Especially if the plant dies off before ever reaching maturity.
Many people have bought Neps from reputable dealers, and don't realize that they were sent the wrong variety until the plant throws out mature pitchers. And this happens! How much more so with a plant that is hard to identify from a typical form. So close are they (H.G.'s and Typicals), that unless they are throwing out huge pitchers, you might never know you have the wrong plant. Hence why it becomes important to know and/or trust the person you are getting the plant from... and even then, like a reputable dealer, errors can and do happen.
(There is another thread out covering the small differences in H.G.'s vs. Typical Cephs.)
And as far as "Red H.G." Cephs is concerned, I would not blindly trust that there is such a variety/clone out there until I spoke with a few people to confirm its existence and the probability that I did indeed get one from the person who claims that is what it is. This is a small world, and a variety cannot stay in hiding for long... and even then it is common that others at least know about it and who has them.
As I stated earlier, it is more common around here (and probable) that someone mis-spoke, misunderstood or mis-represented a plant, than it is for someone to suddenly come out with a plant they bought that is an entirely new variety, that no one else has heard of. Not that it can't happen, but it would be an EXTREMELY rare occurrence.
With age also often (but not always) comes experience. And with experience also often (but not always) comes wisdom. I am sorry if what some people say (or how they say it!) comes across as patronizing, but some of us (NOT ALL) have been thru things like this, that have ended up causing bigger problems, like plants being traded/sold/exchanged that are NOT what the tag says they are! I would rather risk offending someone, then to sit by silently and allow someone to to think that the plant that they have is exactly what they think it is.... IF I KNOW IT ISN'T!
With the trading and exchanging of plants that goes on, we all need to ensure that people get the actual plants they think they are getting. If there is ANY doubt about the plant you have, then have the integrity to let that be known when you trade/give or sell it to someone. Would you want anything less from others?
I don't think anyone here doubts the integrity of Listserv, however it does appear that something isn't adding up. While he may trust the person he got it from, and the effectiveness of the communications they had concerning the variety of the plant he got; those here who have never heard of nor seen any evidence of a "Red H.G." being created, cannot just blindly trust that it is.
There are processes/rules one goes thru to "Name" a plant, which keeps plant breeding and hybrid creation/propagation (as it relates to distributing/selling that plant to others) in an orderly, factual and honest way. One does not just go out and name a plant whatever they want.
http://www.carnivorousplants.org/cultivars/names.php?name=Cephalotus
http://www.carnivorousplants.org/cultivars/cultivarsmain.html
And while some people in this hobby/field understand the need for such processes, and have the experience to know why and how to go about things, there are (sadly) some people who do not.
The real challenge is in determining which is which!
I don't think anyone here is actually being snobby, just careful. (A good example of how misunderstandings take place during normal communication.)
Some people color the way they say things with their emotions, while some color what they hear with past experience. If nothing else, it sure keeps things....colorful! (
)
Good luck all!