Carnivorous Plant Clone Wiki
Awaiting Mike's review. This entry was AI-extracted from forum posts. Treat specifics as a working draft until reviewed.

sarracenia flava var. rugelii

Sarracenia flava var. rugelii Eastern Alabama

AL

First described
2018
Type
population

A multi-individual population accession from an unspecified Eastern Alabama flava site — among the last remaining flava populations in the state east of the central Conecuh National Forest stands. About half of Mike's founder plants showed abnormally large lids and heads ("possibly giant"); the population also includes cuprea-coloration individuals Mike attributes to deep-time moorei or atropurpurea introgression. 17 Mike photos (2020-2022). Distributed by Mike via division to multiple growers ~2016-2018.

Standout traits

  • About half of the founder plants showing abnormally large lids and heads relative to rhizome size, even before vegetative maturity (Mike's tags read 'possibly giant')
  • Population contains S. flava 'var. cuprea' phenotypes — coppery-lid expression Mike speculates may be relic moorei or atropurpurea introgression
  • Some clones show angled lips reminiscent of S. 'Reptilian Rose'
  • Genetic diversity considered above-baseline for Alabama flavas due to historical extirpation pressure
  • Mike's framework: classify rugelii performance as 'genetic giants' (slow, alternate-year giant) vs 'hybrid vigor giants' (many-traps, generally large) — these Eastern AL plants likely show both modes

Cultivation

  • Population-level entry — multiple distinct individuals distributed by Mike via division (~2016-2018).
  • Some individuals are slow to wake in spring (Calen 2018).
  • Heavy first-pitcher / smaller follow-up pattern reported on multiple divisions (adaetz100 2019: 5" lid on 20" first pitcher in a 3.5" pot).
  • Cuprea-like coppery coloration in this population may fade over season; Mike notes it persists better than the Okaloosa rugelii cuprea-blush clones (thread 4077).

Photos (17)

rugelii Eastern AL, 2020-06-10 — traps not very tall but with girth and big lids— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL, 2020-06-10— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL, 2020-06-10— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL population, 2022-05-26— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL population, 2022-05-26— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL population, 2022-05-26— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL clone with reptilian-rose-like lips, 2022-05-26— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL, 2022-05-26— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL, 2022-05-26— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL, 2022-05-26— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL, 2022-06-06 — most traps now open, many large— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL, 2022-06-06— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL, 2022-06-06 — almost-hard-to-believe lid size— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL, 2022-06-06 — average giant pitcher— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL, 2022-06-06 — 'so floppy' (acalvin: 'Dumbo comes to mind')— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL, 2022-06-06 — enormous— Mike Wang
rugelii Eastern AL, 2022-06-06— Mike Wang

Naming

Mike's label — population from a remaining Eastern Alabama flava site. Mike repeatedly emphasizes Alabama flavas are "near extinct" within the state's man-made boundaries (essentially all formerly-known southern AL populations destroyed). Calen (post 37278) clarifies multiple Conecuh NF populations in southern AL still exist; "the plants on this thread are the only ones I know of from farther east."