Carnivorous Plant Newsletter
Volume 29, Number 2, June 2000, pages 46 - 49

NEW CULTIVARS

Pinguicula 'Hanka'
Sarracenia 'Abandoned Hope'
Sarracenia 'Lamentations'
Sarracenia 'Spatter Pattern'

Pinguicula 'Hanka'

The novelty is a hybrid selected from offspring made by the author in 1990 by crossing Pinguicula zecheri Speta & Fuchs (female plant) and P. rotundiflora Studn. (male plant). The selected cultivated variety, nominated by the author in 1992, forms a winter succulent rosette and a summer carnivorous one, both relatively small and rather brown-coloured when grown in sunny sites. The winter rosette, consisting of about 50 drop-shaped leaves, measures about 27 mm across. The summer rosette, consisting of 10 to 18 leaves, measures about 45 mm across. Its leaves are spathulate, membranous, turned upwards in the margins.

Flowers are produced at any time, by both the winter and the summer rosettes, but most frequently in November. Flower stalks are about 55 mm high. The corolla is subisolobous, is oval in outline when viewed from the front, and measures up to 30 by 27 mm. The wide corolla lobes touch or cover each other in the margins. They are corrugated and slightly emarginate. The corolla is lilac, darker reticulated, with a yellowish stripe in the middle lobe of the lower lip. The corolla tube is 4 mm long. The bluntly pointed spur is 8 mm long, bent towards the lower lip. The calyx consists of narrow, about 2.5 mm long lobes, rounded at the tip. The calyx, the corolla tube, the spur and the flower stalk are endowed with glandular hairs.

The stigma is purple, corrugated, with long hairs in the reverse side. The plant is sterile. Its minor capsule measures 1 mm, and it is spherical, dark green, with sessile glands on the surface. Pinguicula 'Hanka' may be propagated easily by means of leaf cuttings made from the numerous winter leaves. It is cultivated in the Botanical Garden Liberec at the present time. It has been sent also to Japan.

The described cultivated variety is dedicated to my daughter Hana P. ("Hanka" in a familiar name form), as nice as the described flowers and to my pleasure also clever in botany.

MILOSLAV STUDNIČKA • Liberec • Czech Republic

Figure 1: Pinguicula 'Hanka'

Sarracenia 'Abandoned Hope'

I created this Sarracenia x catesbaei in 1989 by crossing S. purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkei with S. flava var. flava. This notable cultivar was distinguished from its siblings by having enormous early season pitchers, particularly when its flowers are removed at an early stage. While similar to other S. x catesbaei crosses using similar varieties of the two parent species, this individual stood out by attaining pitcher heights as great as 80 cm (30 inches). Only one or two spring and early summer pitchers of this enormous size are produced, and the pitchers that follow later in the season are only about half this size. Also notable is the oversized, wavy and undulating lid that can effectively reduce collected rainfall and thus lessen the toppling nature that plagues Sarracenia x catesbaei. The pitcher body is olive-green with red longitudinal veins both straight and jagged, plus lesser horizontal veins joining those that run lengthwise along the pitcher. The ala is pronounced along the lower half of the pitcher and edged in red. The red lip of the mouth is held horizontally. A prominent red splotch at the throat radiates red veins throughout the yellow-green lid. The flowers are large-petaled and peach-pink on the exterior surface, beige on the inner surface.

I coined the name in 1994. The name is taken from the sign at the entrance to Hell in Dante's Inferno: "Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here." This cultivar should only be reproduced by vegetative means.

PETER D'AMATO • Forestville, CA • USA

Figure 2: Sarracenia 'Abandoned Hope', photo E.M. Salvia.

Sarracenia 'Lamentations'

This plant has narrow, upright trumpets 30-45 cm (12-18 inches) tall and no more than 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide at the mouth. The olive-green pitchers are heavily veined with dark red nerves; when grown in full sun, the upper two-thirds of each pitcher, including the lid, turn entirely reddish-maroon with especially dark veins (unlike the individual in the photograph). The back of the pitcher throat, and underside of the lid, can turn dark purple-burgundy. This cultivar is especially notable for the upper inclination of the lid, which is wider and longer than the mouth opening. The lid has slightly wavy margins and fine bristles on the underside. The pitchers are notable for lasting well into the winter dormant season in good condition. The flowers are small, with dark red 2.5-3.5 cm (1-1.5 inch) petals, similar to Sarracenia rubra, and are borne on stems as long as the pitchers. The flowers are slightly fragrant, similar to cherry flavored drinks or roses.

The origins of this plant are something of a mystery. It is possible it originated from California State University at Fullerton in the 1980s. In any event, I coined the cultivar name in 1995. The name notes how the clusters of pitchers, with their upturned lids, can metaphorically appear to be crying towards heaven. This cultivar should only be reproduced by vegetative means.

PETER D'AMATO • Forestville, CA • USA

Figure 3: Sarracenia 'Lamentations', photo Barry Meyers-Rice.

Sarracenia 'Spatter Pattern'

This plant has an unknown parentage, but it probably includes S. leucophylla and S. rubra. Its very narrow, upright trumpets average 38 cm (15 inches) tall and less than 2.5 cm (1 inch) at the mouth. The trumpets have a very slight bulge centered 5 cm (2 inches) below the mouth lip (at least on full-sized pitchers). The ala is largest on the lower half of the pitcher, and is less than 1 cm (.5 inch) wide. The lid (finely hairy underneath) is inclined upwards, and flares to slightly wider than the width of the mouth. Its margins are undulate. The upper parts of the pitcher, including the lid, have a white background that is heavily veined red and laced with red-orange. Travelling down the pitcher tube, the red venation becomes even stronger and the dominant color. Below that, the lower half of each pitcher tube is dominated by green. The flowers are medium-sized with red petals up to 5 cm (2 inches) long. The scapes are up to 50 cm (20 inches) long.

I nominated the name in 1999. The name originates from a term used in criminal forensics, indicating a spray of blood used as evidence in a violent crime. This cultivar should only be reproduced by vegetative means.

PETER D'AMATO • Forestville, CA • USA

Figure 4: Sarracenia 'Spatter Pattern', photo E.M. Salvia.