Re: Amorphophallus titanum flowering at Selby Gardens

From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at email.msn.com> on 1999.05.31 at 15:38:50(3406) Dear Donna, Thanks for keeping 'us' up to date on your twin 'babies', and enjoy the well-deserved rest! I`d like to suggest that you keep your eyes on the second and smaller (also perhaps significantly, much less 'stinky') inflorsence. It may just yet give another clue to something I`ve been seeing in some Aroids (Anaphyllopsis americana, for example), and which has been 'proven' in the genus Arisaema, which is the ability for a smaller ('weaker'?) plant to contribute to the gene pool by it`s pollen yet not it`s seed, as it is/may be unable to provide enough resources to support the development of seed during the long time it takes for an infructesence to develop. Even if the pollenation on the second and smaller inflor. does not 'take', maybe a portion of the female zone should be preserved in spirit so that the structure of the female flowers would be available at a later date for dissection and analysis? This may all be a moot point, as hopefully you will see signs of an infructesence developing soon! Please keep us informed, and again congrats! Sincerely, Julius +More >>>Les, The first inflorescence's smell was really undescribably potent during the opening, but the second one was downright dainty by comparison....Both started opening late in the afternoon, beginning at almost the same time. The first started opening on Thursday, May 20 at about 3 PM, and continued expanding til about midnight. The second started opening about 3:30-4 PM on Monday, May 24 and was fully expanded by about 11 PM. We pollinated this second inflor. late on the night of the 24th, when the females were most receptive. I will send an update posting after I have had some sleep and can gather my thoughts. We are all terribly sleep deprived here and just moved both titanums back into the greenhouses this morning and tucked them into bed. Now we are all going home to crash. Two Titanums flowering at the same time is almost more than a person can endure! I guess now I know what its like to have twins! More soon, Donna<<<

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