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Rediscovering Triphophyllum peltatum


Guest MadAboutCPs

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Hi Christian,

here is a previous discussion on this species and the odds to get it into collections.

I visited the botanical garden in Wuerzburg last spring and had the pleasure to take a look at this species. Judging from what they told us there about their experience, I would subscribe to Frederick's statement at the end of the linked post.

In addition (if I remember correctly), this species only rarely went through its carnivorous phase in culture.

Best regards,

Dieter

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I think Fredericks final post sums up the situation fairly well Christian. Unless you fancy a trip dodging bullets and machetes in Sierra Leone. :wink:

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Guest MadAboutCPs

hi guys,

initially, i had thought it was going to be difficult, but I have a couple of good friends who are originally from Africa and I have given them photos and details of the plants themselves. And they know what I'm talking about. They are going to source it for me and bring me back some seeds. When I get them I hope a few experienced growers would be interested in growing them also and keeping a journal with photos of it's life.

Christian

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Hmm, I'm used as a reference :wink:

Christian,

I sincerely hope you can prove me wrong. Depending on your experience, you could get them started and your Ozzy microclimate will determine the amount of cash it's gonna set you back. At this stage I'm sceptic to what you'll find in your letterbox, and don't forget your custom's allergy for strange and new plants.

I would strongly advise to get in touch with a nearby botanical/tropical garden to find a backup place in case you're successfully running out of space. That kind of donation would give you a say into what happens with possible offspring.

Fingers-crossing-Fred

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Guest MadAboutCPs

Hi Aidan,

I am already prepared as I have built a 2 metre high by 3 meter wide and long lowland enclosure so environment should not be a problem as I can easily isolate a particular area should it require a more drier condition.

Thanks for the info.

Christian

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Guest MadAboutCPs

Hi Frederick,

I have spoken to numerous people and they say that seeds of the plant should be no problems importing. It is not living tissue...yet. Also, this is a hobby which I enjoy and it would be great to bring this rare species into collections of people who are serious in getting together and try to get a bunch of these plants growing for the rest of us. The sooner it's done the sooner everyone can share in it.

I read the article about Triphophyllum not being able to produce a viable seed set in cultivation but if there are enough people who are serious about this, maybe we can find some answers rather than having to wait for the bigger companies to release them. It seems alot is being kept hush hush about this plant. There is no harm in trying and its a hobby I enjoy like the rest of you!

Christian

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You can definitely import seeds into Australia. I don't think that the plant is being kept hush, hush- there is no reason for that to occur whatsoever. The plant is just so difficult to collect and get seed material from. Can you imagine climbing to the top of the huge vine in hope that some ripe seed will be present? Or waiting on the ground until some of the winged seeds take off and land tens of metres away? This is assuming that you can negotiate your way through the machine guns and machetes which abound in the region to get there in the first place. You would want to be extremely dedicated to even consider attempting this.

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Guest MadAboutCPs

Hey Sean,

There is another article with photos on the wurburg site of a Triphophyllum seed germinating. Will have to post it when I can find it again. I can't read german. hehe.

Christian

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That's 30m! Were you to successfully germinate seed a 2m high case is unlikely to last very long. As Fred notes, this really is a plant for botanical gardens with the appropriate facilities.

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I am slightly bemused by the amount of negativity.

As long as a plant is kept away from amateur growers there is no chance of seeing what extremes of conditions it will adapt to. The Wurzburg reports are encouraging in dispelling the idea that it requires constant very hot temperatures at least.

A lot of people grow large vines or lianas in amateur setups. Things like aristolochia will grow ti huge lengths ultimately. There are ways around it. Pruning, dwarfing, cuttings, training around hoops, canes many times. The point is "no-body knows" becuase no-one but a couple of botanical gardens attempt it, and then attempt to give optimum conditions.

Sure there will be many losses in semi-amateur hands, but trial and error is the touchstone with these things.

I remember a couple of decades ago when Heliamphora was regarded as almost prohibitively difficult to grow, and also the mystique surrounding Genlisea when they first materialised as a "new" genus in cultivation. I don't want to suggest that Tryphyophyllum is likely to be as easy as Hoya carnosa, but I don't see a long-term benefit to keep it wrapped up cotton wool becuase then there is no hope for it in cultivation, and therefore probably as a viable part of the planet's biosphere either, considering the treatment of its native habitats.

If someone is willing to go and get seeds with a view to private attempts then that's great (provided the experience is shared) - although altruistic in the extreme.

Cheers.

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Rob - It is negativity with the best of intent. What little data there is available indicates that it is far from simple to cater for the requirements of the plant. Personally, I would prefer to see further research carried out by the botanical community before the likes of us get our hands on it. We may then have an idea of how to successfully care for this unique specimen.

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My negativiity was based purely on how difficult the material would be to obtain in the first place, nothing to do with how difficult tha plant wuold be to cultivate. I'm more than happy for any dedicated amateurs to have a go at determining the ideal growing conditions and spreading it around the CP community.

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Guest MadAboutCPs

Hi everyone,

seems there has been talk about this topic while I was away. I believe that negativity is what stops people from accomplishing what they set out to do. How do you think that alot of the plants we can aquire today are available to the rest of us? It's by pure persistancy and dedication by a number of individuals that everyone can share the species we enjoy at present that might have been lost during the war or some misfortune. Just because most people don't have a laboratory with all the high tech gizzmos, does not mean that we cannot provide the right conditions for the seed itself to germinate and flourish. We are not trying to propagate them....yet...but to grow plants that can produce a viable seed set. Alot of people have had to make do in growing a number of carnivorous plants in tanks or whatever shape and form. There is no such thing as impossible.....maybe difficult but there are always ways around it.

I am already in the midst of speaking with a couple of botanists in the Ivory Coast and negotiating some seeds. It's not about the money, but the passion for growing these plants so that generations can ejoy them also.

Kindest Regards,

Christian

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Hi everyone,

........negativity is what stops people from accomplishing what they set out to do........ There is no such thing as impossible.....maybe difficult but there are always ways around it.

Kindest Regards,

Christian

I say 'go for it' and the best of luck. Please keep us all informed of your efforts and when the seeds germinate set up a web cam so we can all see it grow :lol::lol::lol: .

8)

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Guest MadAboutCPs

g'day dunc,

sure will mate.

have a good one

Christian

Hi to everyone who has read this post. Seems like things are on the move and by the sounds of it I'll be getting the seeds within a month or two depending on how many plants produce seeds. The french language sure came in handy. Never thought I'd ever use it. hehe.

I have read articles on the ICPS website and many numerous info sites about this species. If anyone knows of any other websites that specifies the substrate for this plant just pm me.

A few questions I'd like to discuss:

1) must this plant be grown in nutrient defficient substrate to encourage it to produce the carnivorous leaves.

2)does it grow in a low-medium nutrient substrate to start with and as with other cps will it die if placed in a substrate containing nutrients.

3)A possible soil mixture: fine grains, pebbles and sandy soil, perlite vermiculite? As to replicate the African substrate of its origin.

cheers.

Christian

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  • 3 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 4 months later...

I've noticed that he pops in here occasionally but haven't seen him in person for quite a while.

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That's 30m! Were you to successfully germinate seed a 2m high case is unlikely to last very long. As Fred notes, this really is a plant for botanical gardens with the appropriate facilities.

Hi Aidan,

True, it does grow to 30m, but do you have to traint it to grow in a straight line?

Orchid growers(myself included) train Vanilla vines to go up and down and all directions rather then a straight line, so it uses up much less room.(Vnillas need to have at the very least 8 feet of vine to flower, but they can grow a lot larger then that)

Since Triphophullum is a vine, could you not train it like a Vanilla?

I have not tried a Vanilla yet, but this information about growing it came from a few expert growers I spoke to

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