Is a cross between D. Capensis and D. Filiformis x tracyi possible?

[curtisconners]

I won a D. Filiformis x tracyi at the nasc auction and I already own 3 capensis "giant" and I was wondering if a cross between the two is possible. I doubt it is, but I thought that I would ask. If it is possible, how would I care for it? Thanks in advance.

 

[hcarlton]

I've attempted a similar cross with filiformis "FL All Red" but have not had success thus far. I ended up with a lot of capensis instead of hybrids, so it may have just been a contamination thing, and I will try again if I get the chance, so we'll see.

 

[curtisconners]

Tell me how it goes. My d. capensis are still very young and might not reach flowering size by this season.

 

[nimbulan]

The plants probably aren't closely related enough for it to work, but it's always worth a try. Someone more informed than I would have to comment on whether the two plants' chromosome counts are compatible.

 

[curtisconners]

I actually did a little research. If I interpreted the charts correctly, d. capensis has 20 chromosomes and d. filiformis has 40. I still want to try though.

 

[nimbulan]

I think you got that backwards. D. capensis is tetraploid (4 copies of each chromosome,) 2n=40 and D. filiformis (as well as tracyi) is diploid (2 copies of each chromosome,) 2n=20. In any case, I believe by chromosome count all NA, SA, and ZA species are compatible so it is just a matter of if they are genetically compatible.

Genetics is complicated. This article is incredibly long: International Carnivorous Plant Society - Drosera chromosomes

 

[curtisconners]

I thought that I might have gotten them mixed up. Thanks for the article.

 

[hcarlton]

Supposedly it should be possible, since capensis can cross with rotundifolia which is not terribly distant from filiformis, but genetics are weird: capensis can cross with aliciae, and aliciae with species like natalensis, but natalensis and capensis are incompatible; may be a similar situation.
I also know capensis can cross with things like sp. Lantau Island, and Lantau can cross with filiformis, but the further jump still unknown.