In 1998, I purchased a Nepenthes clipeata from Jerry Fischer at Orchids Limited. This plant has grown well, if rather deliberately over the past years, but has yet to flower.
In 2000, I purchased two N. clipeata clones from Andreas Wistuba at the Nepenthes Nursery, partly in order to compare these plants which are "bona fide" N. clipeata, with my original specimen.
It is now clear that the Orchids Limited plant is almost identical to the German TC plants, although the point of insertion of the tendril is a bit further towards the distal end of the leaf, and the leaves are not as orbicular as the "roundest" of the other two. Pitchers are dead-ringers amongst the three, which is not surprising given the fact that captive plants derive from a small gene pool.
I have heard a lot of claims that plants in the U.S. are of hybrid origin - yet this plant, putatively from John de Kanel's facilities is, IMO, remarkably similar to Wistuba's clones and shows no hybrid characters.
Any thoughts? And at what stage do these wretched things start flowering?
In 2000, I purchased two N. clipeata clones from Andreas Wistuba at the Nepenthes Nursery, partly in order to compare these plants which are "bona fide" N. clipeata, with my original specimen.
It is now clear that the Orchids Limited plant is almost identical to the German TC plants, although the point of insertion of the tendril is a bit further towards the distal end of the leaf, and the leaves are not as orbicular as the "roundest" of the other two. Pitchers are dead-ringers amongst the three, which is not surprising given the fact that captive plants derive from a small gene pool.
I have heard a lot of claims that plants in the U.S. are of hybrid origin - yet this plant, putatively from John de Kanel's facilities is, IMO, remarkably similar to Wistuba's clones and shows no hybrid characters.
Any thoughts? And at what stage do these wretched things start flowering?