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Discussions about anything related to Venus Flytraps, cultivars and named clones

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By KamoAmo
Posts:  110
Joined:  Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:30 am
#135513
Is spotty ok, is it bad? I've heard that plants that have variegated traps like these,
Spotty.jpg
Spotty.jpg (14.78 KiB) Viewed 8112 times
Spotty.jpg
Spotty.jpg (14.78 KiB) Viewed 8112 times
are harmless, but I have also heard that they can be harmful. I will not EVER acquire a plant like this, unless I have seen proof that It is completely harmless and does not spread to other plants.
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By Grey
Posts:  3255
Joined:  Mon Jul 26, 2010 3:48 pm
#135514
For some reason just looking at that plant makes me uneasy... there are thoughts that the spotty variety of venus fly trap is actually a virus but as of yet I haven't seen anything to render this statement fact or fiction.

If in doubt... leave out I'd say, especially when it comes to potential plant viruses.
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By Steve_D
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Posts:  3913
Joined:  Tue Nov 18, 2008 5:06 pm
#135526
About 10 years ago there were virtually no spotted or variegated Venus Flytraps reported or photographed in anyone's collection. Then one spotted Venus Flytrap appeared, then another, then another, and soon it seemed like there were a good handful of them (maybe 7 or 8 such Venus Flytraps in widely scattered locations).

I personally don't think that the spots and variegation are genetic, but are instead the result of a plant virus that just happens to not be too deadly to the plant, so the plant can often survive. But viruses are potentially able to spread to other plants through sucking and chewing insect activity, or by the human cultivator using the same scissors to trim the leaves of the variegated plants and regular, non-variegated plants, for example.

Although the variegated Venus Flytraps such as Spotty, Patches and Charlie Mandon's Spotted look interesting, I wouldn't want one in my collection, and the interesting coloration would in my mind be negatively offset by the fact that it is not a part of the plant's own characteristics but instead the effects of a foreign agent (the virus). In addition, although some photographs to the contrary might exist, I've never seen a photo of a robust, full grown Venus Flytrap with the spots or variegation. My guess is that the virus, while not deadly, does interfere with the plant's health and growth, and the spotted plants I've seen (such as the photo posted at the beginning of this discussion) all look small and underdeveloped to me.

I'm very curious about the subject and anxious to read any information that supports a different point of view than the opinions I have expressed above. Those opinions just represent my views about this subject so far, just to add to the discussion. :)
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By Matt
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Posts:  22523
Joined:  Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:28 pm
#135532
Steve_D wrote:In addition, although some photographs to the contrary might exist, I've never seen a photo of a robust, full grown Venus Flytrap with the spots or variegation.
That's probably because you've never grown one Steve. If you were to grow one for about 6 months, it would probably be the largest Spotty on record :)

I've been growing Spotty for over a year now. I didn't want one and never asked for it, but a friend sent me one as a surprise. It was quite small when I got it, but has grown well. I expect it will flower this year and it appears to be as healthy and robust and vigorous as any normal flytrap.

But, like Steve, I strongly suspect that the spottiness of Spotty is the result of a virus. Unlike many of the unique flytraps I have in my collection, I don't intend to clone and distribute Spotty.
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By xr280xr
Posts:  2807
Joined:  Wed Jun 22, 2011 3:29 pm
#135537
Matt wrote:I've been growing Spotty for over a year now.
Sounds dangerous, if it is a virus, given that you grow and ship so many around the world. I'm guessing you keep it well quarantined?
By 0rmus
Posts:  217
Joined:  Tue Mar 06, 2012 11:37 am
#135538
It would be good to do an experiment, if it is a virus then it can be spread. If you can pass the spotting to a 'healthy' plant it would put a rubber stamp on the subject. I'm sure Matt and Steve have a few guinea pigs they could use?

Personally i think the spotting looks pretty cool.
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By Matt
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Posts:  22523
Joined:  Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:28 pm
#135539
xr280xr wrote:Sounds dangerous, if it is a virus, given that you grow and ship so many around the world. I'm guessing you keep it well quarantined?
Yes, I don't ever use pruning shears to trim it.
0rmus wrote:It would be good to do an experiment, if it is a virus then it can be spread. If you can pass the spotting to a 'healthy' plant it would put a rubber stamp on the subject. I'm sure Matt and Steve have a few guinea pigs they could use?
Yeah, I'd like to try to see how contagious the virus really is. I might try infecting some plants this year with leaves off of a spotty plant and watch them grow over the next season or two.
By 0rmus
Posts:  217
Joined:  Tue Mar 06, 2012 11:37 am
#135623
i was thinking a good way of getting an infection to spread would be to graft a leaf for a leaf on to the rhizome. Not sure its possible but the VFT seems pretty hardy in that sense. Theres a thought, leaf grafting, placing a leaf pulling from one plant into the fresh space made by the leaf pulling on another plant. Think its possible?

If the graft takes then surely it would be a clear sign that the virus *if there is one* has spread to the mother plant. The only problem with this is varied immunities but then maybe the spotting would start to clear on the infected leaf. I would be interesting :)
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By xr280xr
Posts:  2807
Joined:  Wed Jun 22, 2011 3:29 pm
#135629
@0rmus: Interesting idea. You'd have a pretty small surface to work with though!
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By Matt
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Joined:  Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:28 pm
#135631
0rmus wrote:i was thinking a good way of getting an infection to spread would be to graft a leaf for a leaf on to the rhizome.
That's essentially what I was going to do, but it wouldn't require a full "graft." Just breaking open a leaf on Spotty and a healthy flytrap and spreading the fluids from Spotty into the healthy flytrap should spread the virus (assuming it's easily transmissible).
By pieguy452
Posts:  2460
Joined:  Sun May 22, 2011 11:09 pm
#135718
Although it is a plant virus, I think it gives the flytrap an attractive look :)
By Carnivine
Posts:  2
Joined:  Sat May 05, 2012 3:01 pm
#141582
where can I get a plant of this spotty?
By SEB
Posts:  201
Joined:  Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:19 pm
#141621
It's broken tulips all over again. History seems to repeat itself. At least this time you know a virus is suspect.
By Daniel_G
Posts:  5472
Joined:  Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:27 pm
#141694
pieguy452 wrote:Although it is a plant virus, I think it gives the flytrap an attractive look :)
Possibly! Possibly a virus!
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