sarracenia rubra ssp. gulfensis

Sarracenia rubra ssp. gulfensis (extinct radiotower site) Okaloosa Co, FL

Okaloosa Co, FL

First described: 2019
Type: population

A conservation-significant gulfensis population — extinct in the wild (development destroyed the radiotower-area site near a busy intersection). Multiple cultivated clones survive in Mike's collection including dark-purple and red selections. Evergreen overwintering trait. ~21 Mike photos (2019-2026) including 2 of the empty post-development site.

Standout traits

EXTINCT in the wild — conservation-significant
Most clones can turn dark purple-red under optimal conditions
Some individuals have produced gigantic traps in the past
Several red selections in Mike's accession (multiple clones documented)
Withstands several freezes — gulfensis evergreen-overwintering trait
Red-trait expression is genetic (Mike's 2026 side-by-side comparison: regular form vs red clone in same conditions)

Cultivation

Multiple clones in Mike's accession.
Standard rubra culture; not sat in water for long periods.
Evergreen overwintering — survived multiple freezes (2025).

Photos (21)

EXTINCT site visit — empty intersection where the population once was, 2019— Mike Wang

EXTINCT site, 2019 — no plants left— Mike Wang

Mike's cultivated stock, 2019-11-04— Mike Wang

Two select red clones, 2021-01-08— Mike Wang

Select red clones, 2021-01-08— Mike Wang

Dark purple clone (radiotower-site lineage), 2025-01-03 — withstood several freezes— Mike Wang

Dark purple clone, 2025-01-03— Mike Wang

Genetic-vs-environmental: regular (left), red (right), 2026-01-15— Mike Wang

Naming

Mike's locality designation. 'Extinct' refers to the wild source population (not the cultivated material). Site was near a major intersection in the 3rd-fastest-growing US city per news reports.