Carnivorous Plant Newsletter
Volume 30, Number 3, September 2001, pages 75-77

Nepenthes 'Scarlet Splash'
Utricularia 'Asenath Waite'

Nepenthes 'Scarlet Splash'

Submitted: 23 April 2001

Nepenthes 'Scarlet Splash' is a variegated hybrid. From its appearance, I think it is probably a clone of Nepenthes x coccinea, ((Nepenthes rafflesiana x Nepenthes ampullaria) x Nepenthes mirabilis). It is distinguished by its yellow variegated foliage. The pattern of variegation appears mostly as longitudinal stripes centered along the leaf-blade midrib (see Figure 1). The dark green leaves, decorated with patterns of pale green and light yellow variegation are striking, especially when red highlights also appear in the leaves. The pitcher lids and parts of the pitcher body may also be variegated. Nepenthes 'Scarlet Splash' has scarlet pitchers which measure 10 cm long on average (4 inches), and have a deltoid, red and green striped peristome which is about 1.2 cm (0.5 inch) wide (see Figure 2). The oval lid is slightly domed with a small keel.

The plant was found in a collection in Europe in the late 1980s, and was given to Dennis Cathcart in Sarasota Florida. He then gave it to me. I am describing the cultivar with Dennis's approval.

This cultivar may only be reproduced by vegetative means in order to maintain the character and details of the cultivar's variegation. The cultivar epithet is intended to be a descriptive adaptation of the common name for Nepenthes x coccinea, "scarlet pitcher plant."

—STEPHAN J. HINKSON • Nevada • USA

Utricularia 'Asenath Waite'

Submitted: 30 April 2001

The marvelous species Utricularia calycifida has yielded a number of cultivars (Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 29:1, p.14, 2000). This is because a number of strikingly different flower types are in cultivation. The attractive leaf venation is an added bonus. Despite my early failures in cross-pollinating the different cultivars (Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 22:3, p.56, 1993), I have made many intraspecific crosses using my Utricularia calycifida and have developed some interesting plants. While the majority of the seedlings are almost indistinguishable from one parent or the other, approximately one out of fifteen crosses show a seedling with interesting new characteristics. Even so, after all the crosses I have made, only one plant has shown characters worthy of cultivar designation. This is the new cultivar, Utricularia 'Asenath Waite'.

Utricularia 'Asenath Waite' resulted from a cross I made in 2000 between Utricularia 'Lavinia Whateley' (seed parent) and Utricularia 'Mrs. Marsh'.  Interestingly, Utricularia 'Asenath Waite' has prominent purple leaf venation absent in both its parents. The flowers of this new cultivar are distinctive.  The corolla lips are large and have a lovely blue-lilac blush. The lower lip has a large palate bulge with a yellow splotch at the crest.   The rest of the palate bulge is cov­ered with spots similar to those on Utricularia 'Mrs. Marsh', but much bolder.

Utricularia 'Asenath Waite' should only be propagated by vegetative means.  There is no guarantee that seed progeny would maintain the characters of this cultivar. Furthermore, many Utricularia calycifida plants grown from seed are slow growing. In contrast, the highly vigorous nature of Utricularia 'Asenath Waite' in cultivation was the final criterion I demanded when breeding superior plants for cultivar status.

Utricularia 'Asenath Waite' will first be offered to the public at the annual  October plant sale at UC Davis (California).  After that, it will be provided to various carnivorous plant nurseries. It may be possible to obtain the cultivar directly from me.

The cultivar name was nominated and submitted for registration by me on 30 April (Walpurgis Day), 2001. The cultivar epithet notes a witch from the story, "The Thing on the Doorstep," by H.P. Lovecraft. Asenath Waite shared many physical characteristics of her ancestor Mrs. Marsh of Innsmouth. Asenath also had an interesting propensity for shallow plantings in soft soils. Additional photos may be seen archived at http://www.sarracenia.com.

—BARRY MEYERS-RICE • California • USA