- First described
- 2019
A Baldwin Co alba whose 2019 fall traps produced the most extreme alba expression Mike has documented. Strong evidence for Mike's chameleon-alba hypothesis. The 2019 expression has not been reproduced since (2022, 2024 went 'sanely NOT white'); Bogman's hypothesis is that nitrogen-deficiency stress (from 9 years of unrepotted soil + near-dehydration) triggered the extreme white as an insect-attractant response. Vigorous and tall when undisturbed. ~26 Mike photos (2019-2025).
Standout traits
- Most extreme alba expression Mike has documented in cultivation (2019 fall traps)
- Strong evidence for Mike's chameleon-alba hypothesis — whitest alba genes hide in clones difficult to color up
- Recovered post-2019 expression has not matched 2019 — bog-man's nitrogen-stress hypothesis (post 41873) proposes the extreme expression was a stress response, not normal
- Vigorous and tall when undisturbed (2025 update)
Cultivation
- 2019 expression came from extreme neglect: 9 years without repotting + near-dehydration + crowded pot.
- Bogman's hypothesis (2019-10-12): nitrogen deficiency from soil exhaustion may have triggered the white-as-attractant gene expression.
- Subsequent years (2022, 2024) Mike couldn't reproduce the expression even with similar conditions.
Photos (26)
Naming
Mike's working label — most extreme alba expression Mike has documented in cultivation. Distinctive expression appeared ONCE (2019) after extreme neglect (~9 years no repotting, near-dehydration episode); subsequent years 2022-2025 the clone has gone "sanely NOT white" again.