Arisaema questions

From: Eduardo Gomes Goncalves <eggon at guarany.cpd.unb.br> on 1997.04.02 at 22:12:36(562) Dear Aroid People, I'm somewhat interested on the cultivation of Arisaema, but I still have a fist of doubts about these amazing plants. As most of you already know, I'm living in a tropical region (in the highlands of Central Brazil) where the temperature ranges from 80oF in the hotest days of our early spring to 55oF in our coldest winters. When the temp. drops down to 50oF or a little less than this (what is very rare), everybody is almost freezing here!!! The pluviosity is around 1600mm/year. So that's why I'd like to know if there is anybody in this list that has any experience with the cultivation of Arisaema in a tropical (even a subtropical) weather. I suppose it is possible, but firstly I'd like to hear from some of you. I'm aware that most species of Arisaema are from the temperated North (In fact, I have never seen a living Arisaema in my whole life!), but if I'm not confused, there are some species occuring in Southern regions of the world (Northern Mexico?, Southern China or Northern India?) and I suppose that some of them can survive well here. If anybody there knows any of such species, let me know. Obviously, I'd also love to know WHERE I could find some good source of Arisaema's seeds. I'm waiting for your wise advice. +More Thanks, Eduardo.

From: grsjr at juno.com (George R Stilwell, Jr.) on 1997.04.03 at 01:15:37(565) Eduardo, Wilbert is growing these tropical Arisaema in a greenhouse. A. scortechinii, A. kunstleri, A. anomalum, several clones of A. filiforme, A. laminatum, and A. umbrinum. There is certainly a need for someone to form a collection and a body of knowledge about the tropical Arisaema. Except for Wilbert, who gets them by accident mixed in with Amorphs, and Shing Lam, who looks out the window in Hong Kong at fields of them, there's no one paying any attention to these interesting plants. If you're interested, contact Shing and Wilbert to see it they can get you some starters. Then join the Arisaema Enthusiasts Group and share your experiences on Arisaema-L. +More We do know the temperate Arisaema have trouble in southern Florida because they do not get a cold spell. We also know that 1 month is enough cold to cause dormant seedlings to start growing again. So, I suppose just as northerners can bring in the dormant tubers to keep them from freezing, tropical people could store the dormant tubers in a refrigerator for a month to give them a cold period. Ray GRSJr@Juno.com

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