Red and white:
Phil is busily researching the pigmentation in Sarracenia. In particular, he is investigating the gene that
governs anthocyanin-free pigment mutations.
There is some argument in the literature as to whether the famous "veinless" Sarracenia purpurea plants
result from hybridization between normal red plants and anthocyanin-free plants. (I talk a lot about the veinless
plants in my Ontario 2003 field trip report.) Phil believes that the veinless mutation is unrelated
to the mutation that gives rise to
anthocyanin-free plants. It made for an interesting conversation, listening to his perspectives. He certainly has
the room to do his experiments on a large scale and he has compelling data to support his arguments!
The red Sarracenia leucophylla above, by the way, is not part of this study, but it is
lovely nonetheless.
Phil thinks this red plant
probably owes its striking coloration to some backcrossing with other Sarracenia, and I agree with him. But
regardless of its origin, doesn't this red and pink plant contrast spectacularly with the green and white ones?
