Sauromatum research request

From: Douglas Ewing <dewing at u.washington.edu> on 1997.03.04 at 21:27:01(453) Greetings, my name is Doug Ewing, and I manage the Botany Greenhouse at the University of Washington. I have been a long-time lurker on this network, as I have both personal and professional interests in the Araceae. One research project that this facility has been involved in is the study of the biochemistry of flowering and thermogenesis in Sauromatum. This work was begun over 40 years ago by Dr.Bastiaan Meeuse. He is now professor emeritus (80+ yrs. old and still nuts about aroids), and his work is being continued by Dr.Hanna Skubatz. For the past 14 years, I have grown hundreds of Sauromatum each year to provide them both with research material throughout the year. Here is my problem: this year we are experiencing difficulties in producing normal inflorescences. The plants grew normally in the vegetative stage, tuber were large and healthy-looking, but when they flower, the spadix is deformed, or missing entirely. I was suspicious at first that I might have a micronutrient imbalance that was affecting flower development. Now we are also exploring the possibility that the cool room where the researchers store the tubers to stagger flowering may have some contaminant ( ethylene?) . Anyway, as I work to solve this puzzle, we have a pressing need for dormant Sauromatum tubers of flowering size to utilize in this research. If any of you would consider helping us out, please contact me directly at: dewing@u.washington.edu . We would be able to reimburse for shipping costs. Thank you, Doug +More _________________/\/\/\______________________ Doug Ewing, Greenhouse Manager (206) 543-0436 Department of Botany University of Washington Box 355325 Seattle, WA 98195-5325

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