The Florida Carnivorous Plant Society
Education and dedication......lead to conservation.
The Byblis Chronicles.
Preface
My love affair with this extraordinary genus began quite some time ago, after acquiring 10 seeds in trade from an overseas source. It began with dividing the seeds between myself and my good friend, Steve Stewart. Much to our surprise, Steve's seed germinated within 5 days. His growing media was live sphagnum and mine was 1/2 peat and 1/2 sand. At first I had very poor results with the peat/sand mix but the following week we burned a small grass fire on top of the peat/sand pots. Every single seed germinated within 5 or 6 days!
We found it quite interesting that the live sphagnum media required no fire treatment for germination, but the peat/sand mix did...And thus started My Great Byblis Obsession!
(Above; Byblis "Goliath" in flower. Note ripening capsule being forced downwards by pulvinus.)
Part One; A pulvinus in Byblis?
What makes this Byblis form different from the rest? The answer is....Pulvinus.
pul·vi·nus (pul′vī′nəs) noun pl. -·ni′-nī′
A Botanical term. An enlarged area at the base of a petiole, at a node, or at the base of a panicled branch, producing movement by growth or swelling. 
(above; a closeup of removed Byblis "Goliath" pedicel with pulvinus.)
(above; complete pedicel with pulvinus)
(Above; complete pedicel with ripened capsule showing entire length including pulvinus.)
A pulvinus (pl. pulvini) is a joint-like thickening at the base of a plant leaf or leaflet that facilitates nyctinastic and thigmonastic movements. It consists of a core of vascular tissue within a flexible, bulky cylinder of thin-walled parenchyma cells.
Pulvinar movement is caused by changes in turgor pressure leading to a contraction or expansion of the parenchyma tissue. The response is initiated when sucrose is unloaded from the phloem into the apoplast.The increased sugar concentration in the apoplast decreases the water potential and triggers the efflux of potassium ions from the surrounding cells. This is followed by an efflux of water resulting in a sudden change of turgor pressure in the cells of the pulvinus. The process is similar to the mechanism of stomatal closure.
Common examples for pulvinar movements include the night closure movement of legume leaves and the touch response of the sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica). Nyctinastic movements (sleep movements) are controlled by the circadian clock and light signal transduction through phytochrome. Thigmonastic movements (touch response) appear to be regulated through electrical and chemical signal transduction spreading the stimulus throughout the plant.
(Above; Byblis "Goliath" showing pulvinic appendage forcing pollinated flower on left downwards)
(Above; Byblis "Goliath" capsule showing measurement in millimeters.)
To my knowledge, there is no such literature which documents the above mentioned formation of pulvini in the genus Byblis. Pulvini seem to form only on fertilized flower pedicels of this particular form, which then force the ripening capsule downwards towards the ground. My theory, based on my experiments and research with Byblis "Goliath" is that this is a mechanism that assures proper seed set by lowering the seed capsule down past competing grasses and of course, the plant's own mucilage-laden leaves. I base my theory on the following experiments;
1) A freshly pollinated flower was attached with thread to the main stem of the parent plant, thus inhibiting the pedicel from any movement. I allowed the seed capsule to ripen, (a process that can take up to three months) until dehiscing. The capsule split perfectly across and scattered all of it's seed. Upon my close inspection, at least 80% of the seed was caught and enveloped in the mucilage-laden tentacles of the plant. Despite a few moderate rains afterwards, many of the seed were still left, held-fast to the leaves...Thus because of it's extreme height (up to three feet) it becomes a danger to the future survival of itself....unless it can "move" the seed downwards past it's own leaves!
Byblis "Goliath" flower pedicels are gravotropic
Gravitropism [or geotropism] is a turning or growth movement by a plant or fungus in response to gravity. Charles Darwin was one of the first Europeans to document that roots show positive gravitropism and stems show negative gravitropism. That is, roots grow in the direction of gravitational pull (i.e., downward) and stems grow in the opposite direction (i.e., upwards). This behaviour can be easily demonstrated with a potted plant. When laid onto its side, the growing parts of the stem begin to display negative gravitropism, bending (biologists say, turning; see tropism) upwards. Herbaceous (non-woody) stems are capable of a small degree of actual bending, but most of the redirected movement occurs as a consequence of root or stem growth in a new direction.
2) The flower pedicels of Byblis "Goliath" are gravotropic. The reflexed action will not just move the capsule towards the main stem of the plant but always towards the ground, regardless of the angle of the main stem. This was concluded by growing the plant in some quite unusual positions and pollinating it's flowers, (which must be cross-pollinated between two different plants for successful pollination to occur, much like Byblis gigantea). Despite the fact that I even grew the plants completely upside-down, the pedicel still formed pulvini which aimed the capsule to the ground perfectly!
3) Byblis "Goliath" cuttings root extremely well which is the only Byblis known to do so, based on conversations with other growers familiar with the genus. With a strike rate of nearly 80%, they prefer a rooting media of fresh, live Sphagnum moss. Desired cultivated traits are more consistant from cuttings than seed, but are never 100% consistant. I imagine that this would apply to tissue cultured clones of Byblis as well.
IMPORTANT; Byblis 'Goliath' UPDATE- OCTOBER 23, 2008
OCTOBER 22, 2008. ************************************************************************************************ I've been conducting ongoing experimentation with Byblis flower colors, shades and the renowned "yellow backed flower and "white backed flower" occurances. What I've found is quite interesting. The following documentation revolves around one of my Byblis 'Goliath' clones, in which I noticed three separate distinct flower shades, fimbrate petal forms and colors existing within the same plant. I wish to exhibit the following instances.. The next photo was taken as assurance to the reader that these are existing on the same plant; In regards the the "yellow-backed" and "white backed" forms of Byblis flowers, I used the same flowers as depicted in the above closeups showing color variation of the three selected subjects (third photo up). The youngest and next to youngest flower were used and the blueish tinted one was not. The next photo shows the youngest flower having NO yellow coloration to the back of the petals. Again, these flowers are existing on the same clone; The next photo shows existing yellow coloration in the older or "next to youngest" flower. The petals have an irridescence much like that of a moth or butterfly's wings and light plays a major role in the amount of yellow that is seen. Full sun or high red spectrum levels seems to enhance the yellow color even more. This can be witnessed in following the photos by me moving the flower to where the light strikes it from slightly different angles. Based on the results of the above experiments, I wish to theorize the following; And thus the Great Byblis Quest continues! Be sure to check back for updates on my research and experiments with this remarkable plant. Byblis "Goliath" shall be officially released as a cultivar in the March 2009 issue of The Carnivorous Plant Newsletter (ICPS) with a cover shot of the flowers AND a wealth of cultivative information! Rooted Byblis 'Goliath' plants will be offered within the US only in Spring of 2009.
I've been working quite often with Byblis 'Goliath' flowers over the last week or so and have made a very interesting discovery, which I have finally verified as a proven fact! While cross-pollinating flowers amongst pots consisting of large multiple plants, I noticed a very peculiar odor which reminds one of a sweaty, musty shirt that had been worn a few times. (Before the reader thinks it, no I was freshly showered and dressed!) To my amazement, I immediately found that the strange smell was coming from....Byblis 'Goliath'!!
The smell becomes much stronger as one's nose travels from the top to the bottom of the plant, with the growth top and flowers remaining completely odorless. The central and lower parts of the main stem of the plant secrete the strongest odor. I immediately ran out to the greenhouse to "test" my other Byblis 'Goliath' plants for this interesting trait and found them to carry the same odor, but not quite as strong as the plants I had been working on. The pot that had the strongest odor, was the large pot of plants I had taken into the patio to work on. It seemed as if disturbance actually made the smell grow stronger! I immediately called Steve Stewart, who is a good friend and local CP grower as well. He's the only other individual who has growing, mature 'Goliath' plants that I had given to him prior. He verified the same odoriferous event and verified the same areas of the plant which exuded the peculiar smell. Of course you know, this called for immediate further study...
Steve arrived at my place around 1 PM and we figured it was perfect, cool weather to repot some Heliamphora divisions. While we were sitting on the patio cleaning Sphagnum, I carefully and gently brought in a large pot of Byblis 'Goliath' clones and set them on the table. Being careful not to shake or disturb the plants, we smelled the main stem and the mentioned odor was slightly present. I then took the pot and tapped the bottom on the table and then shook the plants rather briskly. Upon us both smelling the plants a second time, the odor began to immediately intensify, to the point that the muscilage itself became saturated with the unpleasant scent. In fact, I had gotten some of the muscilage on my nose and the odor within it was very strong!
To my knowledge to date, until now no experimentation or documentation of odors within the genus Byblis have been done. Therefore, I wish to theorize this conclusion based on my experiments and my study of this phenomenon.
Theory; The reason behind odor production within Byblis 'Goliath' is two-fold...
1} Production of the odor serves as a repellent against herbivores that might try to eat the plant 'in situ'.
Although the odor is very discernable in plants that are undisturbed or at rest, any disturbance to the plant produces the odor in nearly overwhelming amounts, which is very detectable to humans and other mammals, i.e. possible threats to it's survival.
2} The odor also serves as an attractant to possible prey for the plant. Fungus gnats and other small insects are indeed attracted to the plant in large numbers, with larger numbers of prey being caught on the lower stems and leaves, versus the upper. This might explain why the scent becomes stronger as one's nose travels from the top, to the bottom of the plant. The areas with the strongest odor have the most insects trapped, which proves it is an obvious attractant. The top of the plant and the flowers are very colorful but scentless, as assurance that possible pollinators are attracted more- so to the flowers themselves firstly, instead of the shining, smelly muscilage that would otherwise lead to their entrapment and digestion in areas below the pedicels, of course. Also, the top portions of the plant have fewer if no prey caught at all, hence their odorless nature. I plan on studying this extraordinary event much further and will keep everyone updated on my findings.
Update; October 31, 2008. Regarding different petal forms, flower colors and pink shades of Byblis 'Goliath' flowers, including notes and observations on "white backed flower" and "yellow backed flower" anomalies occuring within the genus Byblis.
Photo 1; Shows three separate flowers on the same clone, with the youngest flower to the left (opened for two days), mid-aged to it's right (open four days) and finally the one below both of them, which exhibits blueish tint, and has been open for seven days. Note differences in petal fimbration patterns.
There is quite a surprising difference in shade and more-so, the visable differences between petal shape and fimbrate edges of each flower, with the differences between the youngest and oldest being the most noticable. Note the darker- hot pink coloration of the youngest flower between my fingers.
The next photo shows a clone that has flowers that opened at the same time. Note the uniformity in color, flower size and petal shape.
1) All pink flowered forms become duller with age. Freshly opened flowers display a beautiful "hot pink" coloration that eventually fade to a lighter pink and then finally, to a blueish-pink tint. No form keeps it's bright hot-pink coloration all the way through petal drop. This of course, is not applicable to white flowered variants of Byblis.
2) Petal serration patterns and shape changes along with the flower's age. There is no consistancy.
3) "White backed flower" and "yellow backed flower" forms are one in the same. Yellow coloration occurs as the flower matures and then slightly diminishes before petal drop occurs. Light spectrum, flower age and flower positioning play a vital role in the amount of yellow coloration that is viewable. I'm wondering if the uncanny iridescence which resembles that of moth or a butterfly's wings, plays an important role in the attracting of potential pollinators 'in situ'.
4) Clones that have several flowers that open at once will appear to have consistant flower color, but the overall coloration of the flower group will uniformingly fade with age. Consistant, long-lasting flower color is unobtainable due to the apparent age/fade factor. This again, is not applicable to white flowered variants.
Brian Barnes, Friday Oct. 31, 2008.
Brian Barnes,
President of The Florida Carnivorous Plant Society, 2008.
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