Photos of the Collection: Late June 2014

Nepenthes talangensis x robcantleyi
(A little messy from a previous meal)

June was a month of growth and acquisitions. A few new acquisitions were especially photogenic upon arrival, including the above Nepenthes talangensis x robcantleyi. This is certainly one of the finest robcantleyi hybrids that I've seen. (See here for commentary). This specimen was a particularly attractive one from Black Jungle's inventory. Since its arrival home a couple weeks ago, it has done well, growing a new leaf and pitcher (soon to be photographed).

Nepenthes robcantleyi

The real prize of my visit to Black Jungle's annual June sale was this Nepenthes robcantleyi. It is fantastic! I can see why Melody got a question about hers over at Hooray Plants a little while ago. There's something indescribably wonderful about this plant. I'm not sure if it's its quirky leaves, dark peristome, or nice shape, but it's definitely a great plant!

Nepenthes robcantleyi

The N. robcantleyi was definitely the prize of June. It is a fantastic plant! And, to my knowledge, the plant I purchased was not the famed "Queen of Hearts" x "King of Spades" variant. It appears, so far, to be a bit lighter in coloration and with more purplish coloration. Like its cousin, the talangensis x robcantleyi, it hasn't missed a beat. It is in the process of putting out another pitcher as well.

Nepenthes truncata

Thinking of plants with neat leaves, my Nepenthes truncata from Dean Cook has grown stupendously since I received it in December. Compare the tiny plant in the background from this post from January with the above plant. It actually has color now and is putting out pitchers around 4" - 5" in height, a great increase from the inch or so in January.

Pinguicula 'Pirouette'

Going back to new acquisitions, the Atlanta Botanical Garden's Fuqua Orchid Room's instagram inspired me to find one of these gems with this photo. Definitely one of my favorite Pings. It, like the Pinguicula agnata 'Red Leaf' below, both came from Ron West at Cascade Carnivores. 

Pinguicula agnata 'Red Leaf'

I've recently become very interested in Mexican Pinguicula and gone on a Mexican Pinguicula acquisition streak. I'm really partial to the dark reddish-purple ones, and, once I saw this P. agnata 'Red Leaf', I had to have it.

Nepenthes burkei

Returning to oldies-but-goodies, my Nepenthes burkei has been on a pitchering streak recently. Up until this photo was taken, I had it growing in an extra spot in one of my tropical trays and hadn't realized that it had so many pitchers! There's one on every side of the pot! Quite an improvement from previously, when I couldn't get the stubborn thing to pitcher at all.

Nepenthes Viking

I was so worried, prior to April, that my prized Nepenthes Viking would not pitcher for me (or that it would have extremely ugly colored pitchers). I am worried no more! Look at that beauty! Wow! It really is a vibrant orange! (When the pitchers first inflate, they are an attractive pink). I'm glad it has good coloration characteristics.

Nepenthes aristolochioides x jacquelineae

I have to dedicate three photos on this post to my Nepenthes aristolochioides x jacquelineae. It's definitely one of my rare prizes, and doing quite well alongside its frequently photographed spathulata x jacquelineae cousin. It has steadily produced a pitcher on each new leaf and these have been quite consistent in shape, despite the plant being so young.

Nepenthes aristolochioides x jacquelineae

The pitcher mouth appears at nearly the same placement as with other aristolochioides hybrids, such that there is no real hunchback, as with true aristolochioides. (Of course, this is still a juvenile plant, so its morphology could change). Further, pitchers have the characteristic shape of aristolochoides hybrids, but, so far, the one jacquelineae styling is really best seen in the next picture - a slight pinching of the pitcher in the middle, as with other jacquelineae hybrids.

Nepenthes aristolochoides x jacquelineae

 I also greatly like the leaves. They are very similar to my spathulata x jacquelineae hybrid, long, thin, and firm, rather than the floppier, wider, slightly-fuzzy leaves of a pure aristolochioides. It's definitely an awesome plant! I can't wait for it to grow up!

Nepenthes bicalcarata

 To finish out the photos of the collection, I have photos of the first pitchers of Nepenthes bicalcarata 'Marudi' and 'Sri Aman'. Unfortunately, I forgot to note which was which in the photographs, so I'm presenting them both here. (I suspect the above is 'Marudi' due to its more orange coloration).

Nepenthes bicalcarata

Both of these bicals have shorter "fangs" than my 'Orange Clone', but both are quite fearsome and I look forward to their continued development.