Looking to try parasites.
- Thread starter dewy
- Start date
Take a look at the posts here to get some ideas. You can see the species I have been successful with. Also if you have any species in mind, let us know.
Last edited:
Smilodonichthys
Carnivorous Plant Addict
Orobanche uniflora is a fun one to grow. It grows easily on Sedum spathulifolium. I don't have any available right now but I'll try to propagate it from the small pot of Sedum that I have it growing in. I'll let you know if that works out.
Orobanche uniflora is a obligate parasite with no chlorophyll, which makes it quite interesting.
dewy
Carnivorous Plant Addict
I am thinking about trying castilleja again. I did once but they didn’t survive.
But I would also love to try any other orobanchaceae.
dewy
Carnivorous Plant Addict
Please keep me posted
Castilleja is nice. I grew them for years but it was hard to get them to keep flowering.
Smilodonichthys
Carnivorous Plant Addict
Another interesting thing about Orobanchaceae is the evidence of horizontal gene transfer in many of the obligate parasitic species. A botanist I know was telling me of gene regions in Orobanche uniflora that were likely transfered from a saxifrage host at some point. I don't know if that's been published yet but here's an interesting read on gene transfer in other Orobanchaceae: https://academic.oup.com/gbe/article/10/12/3196/5165405
Cuscuta can transfer genes and viruses
from one host to another host!
from one host to another host!
Last edited:
Smilodonichthys
Carnivorous Plant Addict
I germinated some Castilleja seeds in a pot of Eriophyllum lanatum as the host under lights over winter. Seems to be doing well.
Smilodonichthys
Carnivorous Plant Addict
I'm also trying some Pedicularis groenlandica from seed but they aren't doing well post germination. Hopefully they just need some time.
Which Castilleja species is that?
I tried Pedicularis but after germination they stopped growing.
I tried Pedicularis but after germination they stopped growing.
Orobanche californica is fairly easy. See my thread.
dewy
Carnivorous Plant Addict
Cool! I have a pot of Artemesia frigida sitting around that I’m thinking about using as a host for C. miniata. Do you think it would work?
And also, when did you plant them?
dewy
Carnivorous Plant Addict
Do you know of a source for seeds?
Smilodonichthys
Carnivorous Plant Addict
C. levisecta.
That's my experience so far with all the Pedicularis I have tried. I've heard that growing them wet helps as water is one of the things they get from hosts. No luck with that yet though.
dewy
Carnivorous Plant Addict
Oh i love the color of that species. Another one for the “i wanna grow” list haha. And i once again ask, where can i get some?
Smilodonichthys
Carnivorous Plant Addict
That one might be difficult to get. I lucked into it through someone who grows it but doesn't often have seed available.
Smilodonichthys
Carnivorous Plant Addict
If you Join N.A.R.G.S. (North American Rock Garden Society) they often have tons of interesting seed in their seed exchange including Pedicularis, Castilleja, etc. heres an example:
Here's a link: https://www.nargs.org/seed-exchange/seed-list?page=7#plant-alphabet
| 3075 | Castilleja chromosa | yellow-orange Nevada: Washoe Co 2438m 72 | W |
| 3076 | Castilleja flava | yellow 100cm Colorado: Rio Blanco Co 74 | W |
| 3077 | Castilleja sp | 10-15cm Alaska: Bison Gulch 28 | W |
Here's a link: https://www.nargs.org/seed-exchange/seed-list?page=7#plant-alphabet
@Apoplast maybe but it's been a long time.
Anybody growing Castilleja: make sure you grow a perennial species.