Flip Posted June 18, 2004 I've been searching for a specimen for over 10 years and almost exactly one year to the day of my order I've received my Diplopterys cabrerana plant! I'm soooo happy, I just have to share... a better image of the plant itself you can see why it was listed as a Banisteriopsis species, it's very close, but with more elongated leaves This species has been on many peoples wish lists and I've heard horror stories of sending thousands of dollars to some people only to have a box of "dead twigs" sent months later. I've been searching but does anyone have any specific info on this one's cultivation? I've only found one speciality company and as far as I can tell they're VERY LIMITED on how many they've been able to clone from their one mother plant. I'm tending to is as if it were a B.cappi untill something indicates otherwise... [ 19. June 2004, 09:00: Message edited by: Flip ] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
friendly Posted June 18, 2004 I was unaware they were available. Can you provide us with an addy where they might be procured? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flip Posted June 18, 2004 PM on the way.... [ 19. June 2004, 08:58: Message edited by: Flip ] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryan Posted June 26, 2004 Ill take one of those PMs as well please flip ;-) I am also unaware of the best conditions for the plant but would assume that B caapi conditions would suite it well. Keep us updated on the progress of the plant as this is one that MANY people are going to want to get their hands on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rev Posted June 26, 2004 Well if you want it propagated get Mandragora and Darcy onto it! Those two are propagation wizzes (FYI they run Herbalistix) Im thinking its probably no harder than capi by the look of it - if you apply proffessional approach to it (misters, mixes, sterility, Enviro control etc) I bet you paid a bit yes? There is the possibility that they are either have not given it proffessional attention or they are using the 'limited stocks' to justify a higher price in the initial run. I think we have to ask how it is propagated in the wild and in Indian cultivation. seed or veg? If not seed then i cant see why straight cuttings or carefully excised self layered plants - think about the style of Indian gardening, just like capi - wouldnt work Its on my list too and for good reason - as an admixture its qualitatively and quantitatively pretty special [ 26. June 2004, 02:05: Message edited by: reville ] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
folias Posted June 26, 2004 Unfortunately for us in Australia, it looks like flip is based in the U.S., going on the newspaper the plant is laying upon! This plant only just seems to have become available in the U.S. (going on aya.com reports) at a reasonable price...a while back there were some people charging like $500 US a plant as I recall! Seeds of this species are VERY hard to come by...and we all know how difficult it is to get cuttings into Australia.... Julian. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flip Posted June 26, 2004 Yes I think that you may be correct I did pay quite a bit for it. as to be expected with anything new like this. It was explained to me that they lost all their early cuttings they said they used ground water that carried a pathogen of some sort... for whatever reason... I spent quite a bit of time on the phone and gelaned some info along the way. The conversation went from different plants, identification, problems with propagation and the local microflora that might not be getting along with the plant. I think I'm really confortable with her right now I've got the feeling that she'll do just fine I'm really happy that a 10 years serach is over :cool: You know, I think that it might be real fun to graft this onto a B. cappi as a sort of one in all plant wadda you guys think? That'll be my first project after making a few backup specimens Maybe the summer will last long enough for that to happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rev Posted June 27, 2004 whats that approach grafting technique ive seen where you split the stock and scion graft and fit them together and bind up. and then when it takes you cut the link with the scion plant maybe this would work. convoluted but worthwhile given the rarity just as backup plants (touch wood) Capi as the stock strikes easily within a seasonal window of opportunity [ 26. June 2004, 19:53: Message edited by: reville ] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterdragon Posted June 27, 2004 reville: whats that approach grafting technique ive seen where you split the stock and scion graft and fit them together and bind up. do a quick research on a graft technique called 'whip and tongue'. looks technical but once practiced is easy to do and the best feature is the graft strength. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted June 27, 2004 this species requires exactly the same growth parameters as caapi. It was brought into western cultivation at least 15 years ago, but the people who got it don't appear to be the sharing kind. In the last couple of years others have gotten hold of it and it is now quite cheap. Flip, feel free to post the source in this thread. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flip Posted June 27, 2004 I think that we all knew that it has been available and that those that had the species we're keeping it very close to their chest - so to speak perfering to cultivate, harvest and $ell the leaves These guys have had theirs for 3 years (2 years from the time I placed my order) quote: In the last couple of years others have gotten hold of it and it is now quite cheap well, I wouldn't say that more like expensve, Unless you've got a source that you're holding onto that we don't know about? [ 27. June 2004, 04:39: Message edited by: Flip ] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted June 27, 2004 Originally posted by Flip: I think that we all knew that it has been available and that those that had the species we're keeping it very close to their chest - so to speak perfering to cultivate, harvest and $ell the leaves Actually, the plant I knew about is in a private collection and was not used for production. I am sure others have been using it for production though. As far as the current propagators having it 3 years.... keep in mind even with caapi it takes 2 years to get enough plants to start selling them. I've got some seedgrown caapi from over 2 years ago and still haven't got any ready for sale. well, I wouldn't say that more like expensve, Unless you've got a source that you're holding onto that we don't know about? The plants became available about a year ago from Lee. It was the first batch and was sold out quickly. You must have gotten some from a later batch. How much did you pay and where did you buy it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flip Posted June 28, 2004 quote: I am sure others have been using it for production though. yes I tried on several occasions to obtain a cutting from such suppliers. Short of hopping a plane to hawaii and performing a midnight raid... I was out of luck. "Toad" did offer to get a cutting for me for the "reasonable amount: of about $3,000 USD a few years ago when I made the inquiry. quote: As far as the current propagators having it 3 years.... keep in mind even with caapi it takes 2 years to get enough plants to start selling them. I've got some seedgrown caapi from over 2 years ago and still haven't got any ready for sale. This figures into the timeline that I was told. The earlier batches of cuttings didn't make it from what I'm told. Although I did order "early" I wasn't first in line. I do know that others we're shipped before me last year. Several cuttings are getting ready according to Lee and Allan. Guess one of the errors they made with the first few round of cuttings was using the local surface water that caused a infection of the fresh cuttings. Native Habitait was the source for my plant. I paid the full price ( $75 USD + overnight shipping). to myself it's worth it to have the addition. ymmv if you order, tell them that "ron aka flip" sent ya... [ 28. June 2004, 05:03: Message edited by: Flip ] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
planthelper Posted June 29, 2004 the only picture i know of a diplopterys cabrerana (c.raetsch) shows a plant with broad leaves and not one like yours which seem to have even more narrow leaves than a caapi. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Felix Posted June 29, 2004 $3000...wow. I had no idea how elusive this plant was- I am now sure I misread somewhere that there were quite a few of these plants in australia and heaps in the US. Wishful thinking. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rev Posted June 29, 2004 planthelper: the only picture i know of a diplopterys cabrerana (c.raetsch) LOL I wouldnt take C's Photos too seriously. Theres been a couple of other other mislabelled ones in printed works Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flip Posted June 29, 2004 well, if you look at the dried leaves that are offered for sale (There's one main pict that keeps getting reused by different suppliers...) The leaves are different and more oval than those of the cutting (above) but the leaf construction is the same. I'm not too worried about it right now... The enviroments are different and that can account for the difference in the leaves, we'll know more later as the plant matures. Perhaps a chemical analysis on a leaf will put all such questions to rest. [ 29. June 2004, 09:24: Message edited by: Flip ] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted June 29, 2004 leaves on young plants (or cuttings) are always narrower. Sunlight makes them narrower too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
