Flowering Nepenthes

[richjam1986]

Here's some pics of the flower spike. It IS female, right?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/8471875623/" title="184_2564 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8471875623_8f43003a03.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="184_2564"></a>

With glabrata vine behind it:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/8471875685/" title="184_2563 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8236/8471875685_24132de54e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="184_2563"></a>

Bad picture of a developing upper pitcher... I didn't feel like pushing asside all the leaves:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/8471875731/" title="184_2562 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8471875731_502796e66e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="184_2562"></a>

Given that the flower only popped out a couple days ago, how long should I expect before flowers start opening?
I will try to solidify pollen trades with several of you in the next day or so, but I'm really busy with other stuff right now too, so please have a little patience. I'm definately interested in the spectabilis pollen, Whimgrinder's offer, and Graham's offer, and maybe want to make some pure ventricosa seed too, so we'll see.

 

[Nepenthes101]

That definitely looks to be a female, congrats!

 

[hcarlton]

Flowers may start opening, depending on conditions, within 1-3 weeks.

 

[richjam1986]

I looked up some info on pollen collection and storage, and pollen viability.

The most concrete information I found was from a CPN article in March 2006, publishing results of experiments on pollen viability in different conditions. The results found that:

1)Pollen harvested at night was much more viable than pollen harvested during the day.

2)The pollen required light to germinate

3)Viability dropped off very quickly at room temperature/humidity, and was virtually nil by the 8th day.

4)Viability dropped off quickly for pollen stored in water, regardless of whether it was stored at room temperature, 3C, or -18C.

5)Pollen which was dried with a desiccant and stored at -18C for 10 months had a 40% germination rate.

6)Pollen kept at -196C for 20 hours and pollen kept at -80C for over a month showed no reduction in germination rate."

The message being, collect pollen at night if possible, get it dry as quickly as possible (using a desicant such as silica gel packets, or dry uncooked rice), and then keep it cold.

Here's a couple more links on the subject I found as well:

http://www.terraforums.com/forums/s...lecting-Storing-and-Shipping-Nepenthes-Pollen

http://www.petpitcher.com/nepenthes/pollen-collecting/

http://pitcherplants.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=print&thread=7495

 

[lance]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing the info, I'm sure it will come in handy. The horrid smell that eminates from Nepenthes flowers may have something to do with the night cycle. Moth pollinators perhaps?

 

[Whimgrinder]

I looked up some info on pollen collection and storage, and pollen viability.

The most concrete information I found was from a CPN article in March 2006, publishing results of experiments on pollen viability in different conditions. The results found that:

3)Viability dropped off very quickly at room temperature/humidity, and was virtually nil by the 8th day.

If that were 100% true in every instance, every time, then it would be literally impossible to collect, dry, and mail pollen between community members, and yet we know this is possible. I myself have seedlings grown from pollen donated by someone in South Africa, pollen that took over two weeks to arrive in the mail. So, I would take item #3 with a grain of salt....or rice, if that is your preference ;-)

 

[richjam1986]

If that were 100% true in every instance, every time, then it would be literally impossible to collect, dry, and mail pollen between community members, and yet we know this is possible. I myself have seedlings grown from pollen donated by someone in South Africa, pollen that took over two weeks to arrive in the mail. So, I would take item #3 with a grain of salt....or rice, if that is your preference ;-)

Good to know, thanks Still I hope anyone sending pollen will keep some of these general guidelines in mind, to maximize viability of pollen sent (=more seeds for everyone!). But I understand there's a lot of variability in these things, and a lot of factors involved.

BTW, I'll promise to send seed to everyone who sends me pollen, regardless of whether your pollen yields seed or not, just for playing the 'game' (assuming I get seed).

Not sure how to go about this exactly, but I'll probably be sending out PM's to arrange pollen transfers and timing, etc., in the next couple days. If anyone has any suggestions on the process, I'm open to hearing them. The thing I'm worried about most is arranging the timing right... We'll see.

Again thanks for everyone's patience...

Who has/ will have pollen available to collect in the next few days?

 

[hcarlton]

My red vent should be opening flowers in a couple days here, no more than a week at most.

 

[Ambanja]

nice info, thanks

 

[richjam1986]

Just an update on the progress of the flower. Looks like it still has some elongation to do before flowers start opening, I presume...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/8493247433/" title="184_2584 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8376/8493247433_42f25bc60d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="184_2584"></a>

Out of focus, but I like the angle.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/8494347886/" title="184_2586 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8494347886_29a36e9baa.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="184_2586"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/8493247265/" title="184_2587 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8109/8493247265_896ca728fd.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="184_2587"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/8494348046/" title="184_2583 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8530/8494348046_dfff2f4432.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="184_2583"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/8494348198/" title="184_2581 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8100/8494348198_d9bfe57154.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="184_2581"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68248217@N04/8493247693/" title="184_2580 by richjam1986, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8493247693_aaed9cf2f5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="184_2580"></a>

In case you noticed; Yes, the setup is pretty ghetto, but it works. The plants are under two T-12 fixtures, under one of those plastic foldable tables (about 2x5 ft), on top of which is a wire shelf with the rest of my highland plants. It's also temporary, I'll be making a new setup for my taller vining highland neps in the next couple months, which should be a little more asthetically pleasing

 

[richjam1986]

I just sent out a group PM to those who offered me pollen. I think my flowers should start opening soon You'll find details in the PM. Thanks!