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
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