SPECIAL ISSUE - Aipc

• Sarracenia flava f. viridescens S. McPherson & D. E. Schnell, f. nov.
The forma epithet is derived from the
Latin viridescens (becoming green), and indicates
that this plant is incapable of producing
red anthocyanins. As a result, both
the leaves and flowers appear yellowish
green. In all other respects this form is
identical to Sarracenia flava var. flava.
Sarracenia flava f. viridescens is easily
distinguished from all other varieties of S.
flava by the colouration of its foliage and
inflorescence. In all other varieties, the
petioles and rhizome scales always bear
some red colouration, even in those plants
growing in heavy shade; in S. flava f. viridescens,
however, these parts are entirely
yellowish green.
This variety was first discovered in
Colquitt County, Georgia, in 1998, and a
further specimen discovered in 2004 near
to the town of Ash, Brunswick County,
North Carolina. Seeds germinated from
these populations have demonstrated that
the inability to produce anthocyanins
is genetic. Recently, further examples of
this form have also been discovered in the
wild as isolated populations of one or a
few individuals, whilst others have arisen
spontaneously from seed germinated in
cultivation by horticulturists. Given its
rarity in the wild, no hybrids with other
varieties are known, though the anthocyanin-free
habit is usually a recessive trait
and therefore likely to be masked. It is not
known whether populations of this rare
form persist in the wild.
Description:
McPherson, S., D. E. Schnell (2011). In
Appendix of S. McPherson, D. E. Schnell
(2011), Sarraceniaceae of North America:
746.
by Stewart McPherson
35 - AIPC Special Issue n. 4