12 replies to this topic

[strath76]

Apologies if this has been posted before.  I went back through a year or so of pages and didn't see anything similar.  I was looking at my Ceph 'Giant' this morning and noticed a few leaves that couldn't decide on whether they wanted to be carnivorous or not.  It seems they settled for somewhere in-between.  Has anyone else experienced this.

Look carefully at overall plant

Close up of one leaf

Another angle of same leaf

If you look carefully in centre you will see another

This leaf I removed to get better pictures.  This is the most highly developed.

[Sebulon]

Haha, it couldn't decide if it wanted to be a pitcher or a normal leaf!

Thanks for sharing.

Greetings,
Jarkko

[TheInactiveMoth]

Wow! Is it a pitcher? Is it a leaf? No, of course not - it's a leatcher!

[Stu]

I've heard this happens relatively common with Cephalotus plants (compared to other carnivorous genera).
I've certainly observed it on mine before, but never as advanced as in the last few photos you've posted.

It's an interesting way of observing how the carnivorous 'pitcher' leaves develop and differ from the normal-like non-carnivorous ones.

Thanks for sharing.

[mobile]

Yes, I have seen this several times on my plants. I feel that it gives you an insight to the evoloution of this species.

[RL7836]

If you grow Cephs for a while, you'll likely find some interesting leaves, usually in the spring when they can't make up their mind. When I notice them, I try & snap a pic. There are a bunch of pics in my growlist but here's my favorite:


... and probably my 2nd favorite:

[Daniel G]

Hahaha, i love these leaves!

[adnedarn]

Very cool!  I just found one on my Hummer's Giant yesterday.
Andrew

[Marcus B]

mobile, on 03 April 2012 - 11:29 AM, said:

Yes, I have seen this several times on my plants. I feel that it gives you an insight to the evoloution of this species.

Yes, they are definately not unusual.  Evidently the trigger for switching between leaf types can go part way and the result varies from leaves with "horns" or bumps if particial rims form, or cups as shown in one of Andrew's photos.  They seem to be more often seen in the change of season when the plant is switching between leaf types.  Horned leaves seem to be the most common type amongst my plants.

[dchasselblad74]

These can probably be marketed as 'X-Men Ceph'

[pmatil]

Haha nice! I wish my cephs would make mutant leaves too.

[Damien]

I haven't had a mutant leaf but I did have a double ceph pitcher !!

If you imagine sticking 2 together, with one pointing to the left and the other to the right - it looked like a pair of shoes !!!

[WeXi]

RL7836 : great Xman leaves