Robert Gibson just returned from a holiday in Western Australia with Phill Mann (where was I?!!!) and was kind enough to provide this rely to this most engaging topic!
"The two forms of D. regia come from two locations in the same valley north east of Wellington. The plants in the lower part of the valley (which I visited in July 1997) have plants that are relatively broad in the lamina (about 2-2.5 cm/ 1 inch wide at the base). They have pronounced winter dormancy. The first plants in cultivation came from the lower elevation population and it is thus likely to be the more widespread form in cultivation. Plants from higher up the valley were a later discovery. I saw plants of this form in cultivation at Eric Green's place, along with those of the better known form. This other form has narrower leaves, generally up to 1 cm/ or about half an inch wide at the base. It is said to not go dormant in winter but I suspect this may vary due to local environmental conditions. When I travelled in Germany in October 1997 I saw seedlings of a cross between these two forms of D. regia. I do not know what characters the progeny took from either form but it would be interesting to find out."
He also sent a nice photo of Phill and him standing together. He said he saw over 60 CP species mostly Drosera but also including 8 Utricularia species! I swear that as soon as I can afford it I am going to Australia! Next year its going to be trick-or-treat in the outback! <pant pant>
I am hoping for photos. Holding my breath (!!!): Robert just got a new digital camera, and he has been known to provide me with wonderful accounts of his expiditions in the past. I am honing up my begging skills and if I get the CD I hope for I will find a way to get it up on the web, similar to this one of Robert's expidition with Fernando Rivadavia in Brasil August 2002:
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph.....view=t
BTW, it's worth signing up with yahoo (free) just to be able to access the full file photos on this page.
Well, I am sort of off topic here, but I am excited, LOL!!!