Comments on: Venus flytraps in the wild, and in danger http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 09:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-765715 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-765715 We need to breed a bigger flytrap, that can defend itself We need to breed a bigger flytrap, that can defend itself

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-764187 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-764187 VFTs can be produced by tissue culture in under 3-4 months; all the plants found at big-box stores like Lowe's and Home Depot are from tissue culture. They can be produced less expensively than they can be dug from the wild; unfortunately, some dimbulbs insist on digging the darned things for sale. It takes upwards of 5 years to grow them from seed, but they can be cranked out in a matter of weeks from a lab. VFTs can be produced by tissue culture in under 3-4 months; all the plants found at big-box stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot are from tissue culture. They can be produced less expensively than they can be dug from the wild; unfortunately, some dimbulbs insist on digging the darned things for sale.

It takes upwards of 5 years to grow them from seed, but they can be cranked out in a matter of weeks from a lab.

]]> By: A. B. Itch http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-764195 A. B. Itch Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-764195 I'm sadly familiar with this situation. And the Venus Fly Trap is a "sexy" plant--dozens of other less-exciting U.S. species are also being lost at a frightening rate. Another sad thing? Funding for keeping track of these rare species is paltry, at best. No one cares, unless they want the land for a golf course or a highway. I’m sadly familiar with this situation. And the Venus Fly Trap is a “sexy” plant–dozens of other less-exciting U.S. species are also being lost at a frightening rate.

Another sad thing? Funding for keeping track of these rare species is paltry, at best. No one cares, unless they want the land for a golf course or a highway.

]]> By: Beanolini http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-764722 Beanolini Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-764722 <blockquote> It seems they are elsewhere being introduced, all is not lost for the flytrap! </blockquote> Well, not necessarily- if cultivated strains are re-introduced into the wild, they don't really represent the original wild-type- that could still be lost. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axolotl">Axolotl</a> is in a similar position- there are literally millions in captivity, but they're critically endangered (about 1000 left) in the wild. <blockquote>Good thing they're being poached, since their habitats are being eroded -- that's probably the only thing that'll save them.</blockquote> Yes, because poachers are well known for documenting the exact origin of their collecting, taking good care of their specimens, and sharing locations with other workers.

It seems they are elsewhere being introduced, all is not lost for the flytrap!

Well, not necessarily- if cultivated strains are re-introduced into the wild, they don’t really represent the original wild-type- that could still be lost.

The Axolotl is in a similar position- there are literally millions in captivity, but they’re critically endangered (about 1000 left) in the wild.

Good thing they’re being poached, since their habitats are being eroded — that’s probably the only thing that’ll save them.

Yes, because poachers are well known for documenting the exact origin of their collecting, taking good care of their specimens, and sharing locations with other workers.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-764990 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-764990 Plants, animals, fish, insects, and everything under the sun (except people) are already "endangered". If you think that making 10 babies is a good thing, think again. Be fruitful and multiply, did not only apply to humans. Stupid H-sapiens. I want to buy a permit to hunt poachers!!! Plants, animals, fish, insects, and everything under the sun (except people) are already “endangered”.

If you think that making 10 babies is a good thing, think again.

Be fruitful and multiply, did not only apply to humans.

Stupid H-sapiens.

I want to buy a permit to hunt poachers!!!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-764993 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-764993 I agree that cloning captive specimens is not the same as protecting extant diversity in the wild. Additionally, I suggest that these (& other threatened species) from coastal bogs should be introduced to higher bogs (e.g. the Pennsylvania, Pococno bogs) to hedge against future sea-rise &/or temperature increases from global warming. I agree that cloning captive specimens is not the same as protecting extant diversity in the wild. Additionally, I suggest that these (& other threatened species) from coastal bogs should be introduced to higher bogs (e.g. the Pennsylvania, Pococno bogs) to hedge against future sea-rise &/or temperature increases from global warming.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-764244 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-764244 I'm so sick of golf courses. They are a plague. No other sport chews up so much land. How many damn courses do you need? I’m so sick of golf courses. They are a plague. No other sport chews up so much land. How many damn courses do you need?

]]> By: TheRealSiliconDoc http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-765554 TheRealSiliconDoc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-765554 To #11, I think a sole hunting expedition execution for poachers of venus flytraps is a bit too much for the punishment should fit the crime arena. I appreciated the comments about the flytrap being introduced to other areas to help preserve it. I wholeheartedly agree, it should be. It's too bad we have so many whiners, whom always want to express outrage, but never tell me how they saved something that has them so disturbed. I suspect if any would like to take any positive steps to preserve any natural living things, such as going to their currently native spot on earth and moving them to any other friendly environment, the vast body of laws and hoops to jump through would be so overwhelming and impossible to conquer, that likely only government sponsored missions(also hooped and full of red tape and ridiculousness) or illegal missions would be realistically possible. I think that's the sad story, here. If you really do care about venus flytraps, and really do believe they are endangered (wether or not that is true, as it occurs to me they have been taken all over the world by now, and certainly poachers have tossed them in favorable natural environments !), you'd have to become a criminal to try to actually save them. Of course you could thank all the hyper raging enviro security activists for those laws that prevent you from doing what it takes. That's how I see it. I certainly don't like the idea that, any statement we get from often unnamed and inaccurate authorities or agendas, about what plant or animal is anywhere on the earth at any given moment in this or that numeration, is to be believed and embraced and defended, as if were truth, period. I often have no reason to believe it. As I pointed out, the poachers themselves likely have spread the very trap to other places on earth, and certainly the "official" bean counters aren't likely to be privvy to those places. Hows that for twisted ? The poachers, whom one wanted to hunt down in cold permit blood, have likely actually spread the species natural species. As they say, the truth is stranger than fiction. To #11, I think a sole hunting expedition execution for poachers of venus flytraps is a bit too much for the punishment should fit the crime arena.
I appreciated the comments about the flytrap being introduced to other areas to help preserve it. I wholeheartedly agree, it should be.
It’s too bad we have so many whiners, whom always want to express outrage, but never tell me how they saved something that has them so disturbed.
I suspect if any would like to take any positive steps to preserve any natural living things, such as going to their currently native spot on earth and moving them to any other friendly environment, the vast body of laws and hoops to jump through would be so overwhelming and impossible to conquer, that likely only government sponsored missions(also hooped and full of red tape and ridiculousness) or illegal missions would be realistically possible.
I think that’s the sad story, here.
If you really do care about venus flytraps, and really do believe they are endangered (wether or not that is true, as it occurs to me they have been taken all over the world by now, and certainly poachers have tossed them in favorable natural environments !), you’d have to become a criminal to try to actually save them.
Of course you could thank all the hyper raging enviro security activists for those laws that prevent you from doing what it takes.
That’s how I see it.
I certainly don’t like the idea that, any statement we get from often unnamed and inaccurate authorities or agendas, about what plant or animal is anywhere on the earth at any given moment in this or that numeration, is to be believed and embraced and defended, as if were truth, period.
I often have no reason to believe it.
As I pointed out, the poachers themselves likely have spread the very trap to other places on earth, and certainly the “official” bean counters aren’t likely to be privvy to those places.
Hows that for twisted ? The poachers, whom one wanted to hunt down in cold permit blood, have likely actually spread the species natural species.
As they say, the truth is stranger than fiction.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-764282 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-764282 This is very strange, because I remember going on several hikes in Florida and seeing many along the paths. Perhaps I was looking at a different, more invasive variety? This is very strange, because I remember going on several hikes in Florida and seeing many along the paths. Perhaps I was looking at a different, more invasive variety?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-764285 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-764285 How many damn courses do you need? Answer: Fore... How many damn courses do you need?
Answer: Fore…

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-764286 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-764286 "Venus flytrap has been introduced, and has become naturalized, in seepage bogs from the Florida Panhandle to Pennsylvania and the New Jersey Pine Barrens. " It seems they are elsewhere being introduced, all is not lost for the flytrap! “Venus flytrap has been introduced, and has become naturalized, in seepage bogs from the Florida Panhandle to Pennsylvania and the New Jersey Pine Barrens. ”
It seems they are elsewhere being introduced, all is not lost for the flytrap!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-764297 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-764297 Good thing they're being poached, since their habitats are being eroded -- that's probably the only thing that'll save them. Good thing they’re being poached, since their habitats are being eroded — that’s probably the only thing that’ll save them.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-765598 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-765598 I grew up in Savannah, just across the river (of the same name) from South Carolina. There was always someone with a roadside stand set up and selling flytraps to tourists just over the Georgia line. If they did that in SC, they would have been arrested. BTW... those flytrap things grow as far south as Beaufort and Frogmore. I grew up in Savannah, just across the river (of the same name) from South Carolina. There was always someone with a roadside stand set up and selling flytraps to tourists just over the Georgia line. If they did that in SC, they would have been arrested.

BTW… those flytrap things grow as far south as Beaufort and Frogmore.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-1013919 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013919 A fly trap enthusiast in the 1930's reportedly scattered fly trap seeds all over florida. Florida has some of the natural habitat needed for these plants and that is why they are still flourishing there until this day. They are not native to florida. A fly trap enthusiast in the 1930′s reportedly scattered fly trap seeds all over florida. Florida has some of the natural habitat needed for these plants and that is why they are still flourishing there until this day. They are not native to florida.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-764328 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-764328 More golf courses, please! -Jeff Goldblum More golf courses, please!

-Jeff Goldblum

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-765134 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-765134 The trap in the photograph is a mutant -- one side has 4 trigger hairs instead of the usual 3. Cool. The trap in the photograph is a mutant — one side has 4 trigger hairs instead of the usual 3. Cool.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-765405 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-765405 you must first train to be a game and fish warden but... you must first train to be a game and fish warden but…

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/19/venus-flytraps-in-th-1.html#comment-764918 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-764918 Leaving the fly traps when they build a golf course creates a unique hazard for the golfers. Leaving the fly traps when they build a golf course creates a unique hazard for the golfers.

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