Cultivars
The International Carnivorous Plant Society (ICPS) maintains a list of registered cultivar names for Dionaea muscipula Soland. ex Ellis (aka Venus flytrap).
From Wikipedia: A cultivar is a cultivated plant that has been selected and given a unique name because it has desirable characteristics (decorative or useful) that distinguish it from otherwise similar plants of the same species. When propagated it retains those characteristics.
Here is a complete list of all of the current Venus flytrap (Dionaea) cultivars registered with the ICPS.This list does not include those cultivars which are not fully registered with the ICPS such as Dionaea ‘Clumping Cultivar’, Dionaea ‘ Big Mouth ‘, Dionaea ‘Kinchyaku’, Dionaea ‘Red Rosetted’, Dionaea ‘Royal Red’ etc.
Dionaea ‘Akai Ryu’ - aka Dionaea ‘Red Dragon’
The most common red form of the Venus flytrap. Is known for it’s intense dark red colouration.
Dionea ‘B52′
Currently considered to the largest Venus flytrap cultivar. Optimal growing conditions are required for these plants to reach their full size. Poor growing conditions will result in a plant the same size as any other.
Dionaea Clayton’s Red Sunset
Red with long skinny petioles (particularly during winter) whereas other red cultivars have quite wide petioles. They often lose all of their leaves during dormancy.
Dionaea ‘Cupped Trap’
The traps are joined at one end, creating a cup shape. Despite their warped appearance the traps still function correctly.
Dionaea ‘Dentate Traps’
The spines of each trap are short and triangular like a sharks tooth instead of long and skinny as in ‘regular’ varieties. The spines of small/younger plants do not shows these properties as prominently.
Dionaea ‘Fused Tooth’
The spines of the traps are bent out of shape, fused together by webbing. The traps usually look normal during spring however.1
Dionaea ‘Green Dragon’
This is believed to be a mutation of the ‘Red Dragon’ cultivar, but the edges of the traps do not turn red, even when exposed to intense sunlight.
Dionaea ‘Holland Red’
A red variety which is often green when growing in insufficient light.
Dionaea ‘Jaws’
The traps are very big and have short, pointy spines.
Dionaea ‘Justina Davis’
The traps are always green, even when exposed to intense sunlight.
Dionaea ‘Louchapates’
The spines of the traps are split and found at the ends of the trap lobes.
Dionaea ‘Petite Dragon’
Has the same deep red colour as Dionaea ‘Akai Ryu’ but is not as large and has bifurcated flower stalks.
Dionaea ‘Red Burgundy’
A red variety which is known for having rapid growth characteristics (for a red variety).
Dionaea ‘Red Piranha’
Has short, triangular spines like Dionaea ‘Dentate Traps’ but the intense dark red colouration of Dionaea ‘Red Dragon’.
Dionaea ‘Sawtooth’
Similar to Dionaea ‘Dentate Traps’ but with trap spines which are modified into short, sawtoothed edges.
Dionaea ‘Wacky Traps’
The leaves are incompletely developed. This is an extremely slow grower that also has strangely distorted flowers. Known in some circles as “Bart Simpson”, but this name has not been established and might even violate some trademark laws.
Cultivar Groups
From Wikipedia: Under the botanical nomenclature of the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP), a cultivar group is any gathering of cultivars designated by common traits.
Dionaea Dentate Traps Cultivar Group
This cultivar group contains all plants with short, triangular shaped spines.2
Photos of ‘Fused Tooth’ and ‘B52′ courtesy of Corrosive Halo. Photo of ‘Red Dragon’ courtesy of Cobalt Crow.
BigGreenSwamp responded on 01 Nov 2007 at 6:26 am #
Hi.
Thansks for the low down on cultivars. But how do you get something “registered” as a cultivar? I have a plant with freakishly big spines. It sounds like a cultivar to me but I don’t know much about botany stuff. And if it is good enough to be a cultivar can I name it myself? Or does someone else do that?
Thanks for the information.
Ryan responded on 01 Nov 2007 at 6:29 am #
Wow, that was fast! I only published this a few minutes ago and I’m already getting comments.
I’m not an expert on such things so I’d rather not dig myself a hole by trying to explain the details
For the official ‘low down’ on cultivar names, check out the ICPS website … http://www.carnivorousplants.org/
Ryan responded on 01 Nov 2007 at 6:30 am #
I forgot something …
More specifically check out the cultivar registration page which has forms to fill out for registering new cultivar names … http://www.carnivorousplants.org/cultivars/cultivarsmain.html
BigGreenSwamp responded on 01 Nov 2007 at 6:41 am #
Thanks! and now I know why I didnt see this before! It wasnt here!
Everything for Kids responded on 11 Nov 2007 at 4:11 pm #
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…
Steven Stewart responded on 11 Jan 2008 at 8:03 am #
Ryan,
If my understanding of the above information is correct, you include the list of Dionaea cultivars under your explanation of Dionaea Dentate Traps Cultivar Group as part of this group?
In Barry Rices description of the cultivar group many of these cultivars should not be listed here. He specifically states that cultivars with cilia fused together should not be considered part of the group unless the spines can be defined as shortened and triangular. This is not the case with Dionaea ‘Fused Tooth’. Many of the other cultivars you have listed do not fit into this group either.
You would benefit discussing this with Barry further, for clarification.
Take care,
Steven Stewart
Ryan responded on 11 Jan 2008 at 3:37 pm #
Thanks Steven
I think that must be a typo as I’ve got nearly as many cultivars under the Dionaea Dentate Traps group as I do in total! I’m guessing I made a copy and paste mistake. I’ll remove the cultivar group till I get it corrected. Apologies if I’ve confused anyone with this
Steven Stewart responded on 12 Jan 2008 at 1:28 pm #
Ryan,
I’m certainly no expert when it comes to taxonomy, and I get confused when I look at all the different brands of cereal at the store, so no big deal.
Having this site available to them should make anyone learning about carnivorous plants feel lucky!
Steve
Ryan responded on 12 Jan 2008 at 10:12 pm #
Thanks Steven
I was also missing ‘Petite Dragon’ off the cultivars list, so I’ve added that now too.
Linda responded on 27 Jul 2008 at 4:44 pm #
I have a miniture flytrap and after our winter on the West Coast I thought I had lost it. They stay outside yearound. Fortunately they came back and the flytrap - there are three varieties of carnivorous plants in the pot - has sprouted a very delicate white flower. Is this possible?
Ryan responded on 04 Sep 2008 at 3:18 am #
Hi,
White flowers are not only possible, but likely. Most plants will sprout flowers eventually unless you chop the stem off (which is usually a good idea).
Your plant may look a little straggly for a while as they usually don’t cope well with the flowering process (hence people normally chop the stems off).