Amorphophallus Questions

From: Don Burns <burns at mobot.org> on 1997.07.07 at 14:26:19(922) Way back in 1995 Wilbert Hetterscheid had some interesting comments on the periodicity of Amorphophallus. I saved his note but it is on the machine at home so hopefully he will join this topic with a comment. Here in the tropics, Amorphophallus seems to wake up at reasonably consistent times. I have observed for the last couple of years a pattern that is definitely related to genus. But there are exceptions. For example if dormant tubers have been stored differently than others of the same genus, this pattern can be upset. And likewise, tubers that have been attacked by fungus or were otherwise injured may be delayed. This past year one of my A. titanum plants remained awake for three months after all of the others went dormant in January. Those that went dormant in January were awake again in April, and the one that went dormant in April is only now emerging from its slumber. There was no observable reason for thie one tuber to behave differently as it has been treated identically to the others. All were germinated from seed in February of 1995. The byword seems to be Patience! As long as a dormant tuber remains firm, not soft or mushy, it will awaken - sometime. Don +More Don Burns Plantation, FL USA Zone 10b

From: "NAME \"Wilbert Hetterscheid\"" <W.HETTER at pbga.agro.nl> on 1997.07.08 at 22:41:43(926) About dormancy in Amorphophallus: Species from the monsoon areas in Asia and those from Africa in general have a distinct rhythm of growth once newly collected. Most flower in spring (as on the northern hemisphere) and in cultivation when not pollinated, will produce a leaf in one or two months after that. The African species always produce a leaf after/alongside flowering. The Asian monsoon species won't produce a leaf when effectively fertilised, in the wild or in cultivation. The everwet species have a tendency in cultivation to skip dormancy or keep it very short, hence they should not be left to dry when dormancy sets in. These species may even produce an inflorescence alongside an older leaf, at which time the older leaf often decays or shortly after that. In cultivation, after a few years there seems to develop a synchronicity in flowering period, irrespective of origin of the species. here in Holland ca. 80% of the species flower in spring from march to June. I suppose this is the result of higher temperatures. Hope this helps. Cheers, Wilbert

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