video & pictures S. rubra in habitat

[rzerr]

Over the weekend I made a trip around Eglin AFB seeking new sites for Sarracenia rubra .
2 sites previously unknown to me were discovered. One site also has and abundance of the large variety Utricularia purpurea
and a second site is a lake and has more Utricularia floridana than I've ever seen at all the previous known locations put together.
Scattered S. rubra seen on the shore in sphagnum but it was too dark to investigate so I'll have to return another day.
I've been driving by this lake for years and never explored it until now.
Revisited the "green giant" rubras and took out the measuring tape again.
One pitcher was 31" tall and another on a different plant was nearly 33 inches! I wonder if the aquatic
floating peat bog habitat is the reason for the enormous growth.
The largest plants are in the water. Similar to the Okeefenokee Sarracenia minor.

video link:

b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/swf/mvp.swf?8%3A152716%3A1&v=1103673686546&ev=0




photos:



Sarracenia rubra ssp. gulfensis



Sarracenia rubra ssp. gulfensis


Sarracenia rubra ssp. gulfensis


Sarracenia rubra ssp. gulfensis



Sarracenia rubra 'green giant'



Sarracenia rubra 'green giant'



Sarracenia rubra 'green giant'

[Brian Barnes]

Hey Randy,

Wow...huge pitchers! I agree...I've always thought that the reason the Okeefenokee Sarracenia minor are so big is because of their year-round, super wet 'in situ' conditions.

In fact, I know of a site here in central Fl. that has a huge form of S. minor comparable in size to the Okee variant. They grow in the lowest wettest area of the bog, many times in two to three inches of water or more... year-round.

The green form of S. rubra gulfensis is absolutely gorgeous!

Thanks for sharing.

Happy Growing,

Brian.