>I tried to pollinate the one that bloomed for me in the spring (shown in
http://u1.netgate.net/~kk/Araceae/Anthurium/plowmanii.html), but without
success. I wasn't even sure where this beast had female flowers - as can
be seen in the photo, the pollen was produced on the lower portion of
the spadix. Just in case, I smeared it all over the other one, but
nothing took.<
>>>Come to think of it - would it be by any chance one of those plants that
change sex with maturity?<<<
Dear Krzysztof,
I do not believe so, as the genus Anthurium is one with bisexual flowers
(female and male parts have separate phases, but not all those of the same
sex mature together, and flowering is often prolonged) as opposed to
unisexual flowers, where the female and male flowers are separate, with the
female flowers at the base of the spadix, the male at the upper portion and
usually a sterile portion separating them, usually with a short flowering
period.
I believe the "sex change" has been recorded in the latter group, where
younger plants are male only, and produce pollen, but never develop
fruit/seed, and as plants becom larger, they become "female" (but also
produce pollen).
I have noticed that in some bisexual plants a simular thing MAY be occuring
(but this has not as yet been documented, as far as I am aware) where a
smaller/younger, or even a "sick" plant will sometimes bloom and produce
pollen, but even if that plants bloom is hand pollenated at the correct
phase, the spadix will not develop fruit/seed. It is a strategy that makes
sense, as the small/ sick plant is still able to contribute to the gene
pool, (pollen) but is not large/strong enough to produce the energy needed
for the prolonged fruit/seed production.
Cheers,
Julius
ju-bo@msn.com
======================================
Krzysztof Kozminski
http://u1.netgate.net/~kk/
kk@netgate.net
"Applying computer technology is simply finding the right wrench to
pound in the correct screw."
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