- Collector
- Mike King
- First described
- 2012
The most sought-after dark S. alata in US cultivation as of 2022 — Mike King's accession A58, originally from the Whites Crossing population in Stone County, MS. Capable of near-solid-black pitchers, but environmentally sensitive. Documented continuously from 2012 to 2024 (32 Mike photos).
Origin
Wild-origin S. alata from the Whites Crossing site in Stone County, MS, collected and accessioned by Mike King ('MK A58' = Mike King's 58th accession or his coded designation). Mike Wang imported it from Mike King at an unspecified point "several years" before 2017 ([VERIFY] for the year of acquisition).
The original 2012 photographs of this clone were posted to photobucket and later lost when photobucket discontinued its embed feature; Mike re-photographed and replaced them in July 2017 (his edit-note on post 1).
History
- Wild collection / Mike King's accession: date [MISSING].
- Pre-2012: Mike Wang imports the clone from Mike King.
- 2012-05-26 (post 1, original): First forum documentation. Photos later lost.
- 2017-07-30 (post 1, edited): Mike re-introduces the plant with new photos. Notes that prior year (2016) the plant produced ~2.5' near-solid-black traps — photos not taken.
- 2017-08-30 (post 8): Mike's breeding-strategy commentary — selecting for dark colors that aren't environmentally sensitive is the next step in the breeding program; "weed out all finicky plants."
- 2018-05-30 (post 10): Mike's case against the new alata varietal nomenclature, illustrated by MKA58 expressing both nigropurpurea-like and rubrioperculata-like phenotypes on the same plant under different conditions.
- 2018-08-03 (post 19, bogman): Detailed tannin-chemistry hypothesis for color expression.
- 2018+: Continued documentation.
- 2022-12-02 (post 26): Mike's retrospective — MKA58 is the most sought-after dark alata in US cultivation, but newer clones are easier to color up.
- 2024-09-30 (post 28): Latest update — looks "completely different" depending on the year.
Standout traits
- Most sought-after dark alata in US cultivation (Mike's 2022 assessment).
- Dark purple to almost black under optimal conditions; ~2.5' trap height on a good year.
- Phenotypically variable — same plant can resemble multiple proposed alata varieties depending on conditions.
- Environmentally sensitive — coloration unpredictable year-to-year.
Cultivation notes
- Full sun, year round.
- Repotting + good light is the proven Mike-Wang regimen.
- Tolerate pale years — they don't disprove the clone identity.
- For rot-prone conditions, use "leuco method" (no constant standing water).
Photos
See gallery below — 32 Mike-photos spanning 2017 through 2024.
Standout traits
- Capable of solid dark purple, almost black traps under optimal conditions — Mike (2018-07-16): 'this whole dang thing can turn almost black, but it's tough to do'
- Reported 2.5-foot (~75 cm) tall traps in good years (Mike, 2017-07-30)
- Extremely phenotypically variable — same clone can resemble different 'varieties' depending on environmental conditions (Mike's central argument against recent alata varietal nomenclature: same plant can look like both nigropurpurea AND rubrioperculata)
- Hard to color up — environmental sensitivity is a defining frustration; even Mike's full-sun, optimally-grown plants only rarely hit full black
- Most sought-after dark alata clone in US cultivation as of 2022 (Mike's assessment), but newer clones are easier to color up
- Sun/shade phenotype on the same trap is dramatic — Mike has documented half-and-half pitchers (sun side dark, shade side light)
Cultivation
- Full sun, year-round. Mike (2022-12) keeps his plants in "blasting full sun all year round" and even so cannot reliably hit full black coloration every year.
- Repotting + good light + patience. Mike's 2017-07 description of how he revived the plant — repotting and moving it to better light — produced 2.5' near-solid-black traps "last year" (2016).
- Don't despair on a pale year. Mike emphasizes (2022-12): if your MKA58 looks pale one year, that doesn't mean it's not the right clone — environmental sensitivity means dark coloration won't show every year, even on a confirmed dark plant.
- Rot susceptibility: forum member rmeyer (2018-07-16) lost his plant and all his alatas to rot. Mike's response — try the "leuco method" (water-table-only, not constant standing water) that he uses for rot-prone leucos.
- Tannin chemistry hypothesis (bogman, 2018-08-03): tannins (humic / fulvic acids) released from peat may chelate iron and facilitate dark color expression; cool-water morning watering reduces tannin loss. Bogman's experiments on Wewahitchka, FL flavas are the most-detailed supporting evidence.
Photos (32)
Naming
'MK A58' is Mike King's accession code for this Whites Crossing, Stone Co, MS *alata*. The 'Black' / 'black alata' label is Mike Wang's descriptive shorthand for the dark-purple-to-near-black phenotype this clone can express under optimal culture.