[Aroid-l] Thorns on Aroids

From: <ju-bo at msn.com> on 2009.02.22 at 13:03:14 Dear Friends=2C I would think that any thoughts or study on the ''prickles/spines'' on aroids would start with the Lasiodeae. Many genera in this group exibit extreme spines=2C one has not lived till one has tried to handle or re-pot a plant of Lasia spinosa only to be left with the tips of dozens of thorns inbedded in ones hands and fingers=2C to later fester and become pustules. =3B The genus Cyrtosperma runs a close second=2C and a specimen of C. macrotum I once had from N. E. Papua-New Guinea was very much like a porcupine to touch=2C and impossible to handle without resorting to leather gloves. =3B All the other species in this genus that I can think of are spiney! Podolasia is no better=2C this genus produces a bloom where even the stipe (the structure below the spadix which attaches the spadix to the spathe/peduncle) is also spiney! =3B =3B Of interest=2C the spines on Podolasia all point upwards=2C while those on Cyrtosperma all point downwards. The exception is the African genus Lasimorpha=2C its many spines=2C which run in parallel rows along its petioles=2C are sort of ''crystaline''=2C and somewhat ''blunt''=2C so handling has not been a problem for me. A few of the Old World genera are not spiney=2C the Indian Anaphyllum=2C and the Asian Pycnospatha have at best ''rough'' petioles. The Neotropicis have been kind to us with their Lasioid genera=2C Anaphyllopsis=2C Dracontioides=2C Urospatha all are spineless (though there are a couple (?) of species (?) of Urospatha in Fr. Guyana with ''roughish'' petioles)=2C while the genus Dracontium is interesting in that certain species=2C the petioles demonstrate structures which look like spines=2C but are generally soft and not ''dangerously'' sharp! I don`t know the origin of these spines in Aroids=2C but they must be a good form of defense against browsers and even perching birds=2C etc. I hope this assists our friend Dmitry in his research. Good Growing=2C Julius WPB=2C =3B Florida >=3B From: phymatarum@googlemail.com >=3B To: aroid-l@gizmoworks.com >=3B Date: Fri=2C 20 Feb 2009 14:36:19 +0800 >=3B Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Thorns at anubiases >=3B >=3B Dear Dmitry=2C >=3B >=3B As I mentioned in my last email=2C we are really not all aware of what role >=3B such prickles might play in the aroids. As Tom has also mentioned they occur >=3B in Neotropical Homalomena too. The definition of a thorn is an indeterminate >=3B structure (such as a stem or root) capable of lateral growth through >=3B branching (and even of flowering and bearing leaves in some instances=2C that >=3B have a protective role. Thorns are most commonly found in Rosaceae (e.g.=2C >=3B Crataegus)=2C Fabaceae (notably Gleditschia) and Rhamnaceae (many genera). >=3B >=3B Very best >=3B >=3B Peter >=3B >=3B ----- Original Message ----- >=3B From: <=3Bdloginov@ineos.ac.ru>=3B >=3B To: <=3Baroid-l@gizmoworks.com>=3B >=3B Sent: Wednesday=2C February 18=2C 2009 8:19 PM >=3B Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Thorns at anubiases >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B Dear Peter=2C >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B This error in terms is probably caused by features of transfer between >=3B >=3B Russian and English. In Russian such epidermal outgrowths are called as >=3B >=3B thorns. Indeed=2C I found in the literature that J. Bogner named them as >=3B >=3B prickles=2C but he does not write about their role. I have only few >=3B >=3B knowledge about others Aroids. Therefore=2C could You tell me about a role >=3B >=3B of such prickles in Anubias? >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B Best regards=2C >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B Dmitry Loginov >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B >=3B _______________________________________________ >=3B >=3B Aroid-L mailing list >=3B >=3B Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com >=3B >=3B http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l >=3B >=3B _______________________________________________ >=3B Aroid-L mailing list >=3B Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com >=3B http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l --_a6641d9b-c251-4c91-93fc-0c1ca7c75292_----===============0542786465411414121==

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