[Aroid-l] Schismatoglottis species

From: botanist at malesiana.com (Peter Boyce) on 2008.06.12 at 23:24:58(17836) Dear Leyland, Sorry for the delay (again!) been a bit tied up with various non-gustatatory (but no less enjoyable) things here; mainly tryng to keep up with numerous flowerings in the research collection (which has just passed 2500 accessions) and the start of the repotting season (the 2500 accessions are each a minimum of 5 plants...). Schismatoglottis is, after Homalomena, the most speciose genus here in tropical Asia; in Sarawak alone there are at least 100 species with somewhere over 50% yet to be given a scientific name. At the moment there are only a few species in cultivation outside specialist and botanical garden collections; many of those (and there are not many) on the web away from the IAS site are misnamed. Before I left MT late last year I was very actively involved with introducing Schsmats into tc for assessment as horticultural subjects. The results of some of these are now just finding their way onto the market and will be, all being well, available in the not too distant future. We are now working on the systematics and evolution of the genus and some of the related satellites and have as a result an extensive collection of ca. 60+ spp.; most of these are attractive, some are outstandingly so. In terms of growth habit Schismatoglottis fall into two broad groups. There are species with a creeping underground rhizome-like stem and form dense to somewhat diffuse colonies. This group includes the very variable (as currently defined) S. calyptrata, S. motleyana, S. wongii, S. wallichi. These species tend to have leaf laminae with cordate to rounded bases and often very attractive variagation. The primary disadvantage of these colonial species is that they are difficult to maintain in small pots as after flowering each shoot dies and is replecd by one or usually more shoots from near the base of the rhizome and this , combined with the long distance that he rhizomes spread mean that most of the ?alyptrata group'need at least a cut-down 30 gallon trashcan to enable them to form multiple shoots. The best way of growing them in in raised beds or, if the climate allows, but are much better in open ground under medium shade. The species forming tufts with a single or a few upright stems are probably, as ornamenals, the most important group in that they grown somewhat in the manner of Alocasia and are thus much moe easily managed in small to medium pots. This group actually contains several taxonomic units, including the 'asperata group', the 'multiflora group', 'rupestris group', etc. Many are outstanding onamentals although at the moment there are very few in cultivaion. If I were asked to select a few for their outstanding leaves I would go for: S. asperata (esp, the forms with the backs of the leaf and petiole deep red and the upper leaf surface deep green with three shades of green and silver variegaion) S. motleyana or S. wongii in the three or four colour variegation forms. S. colocasioides with its plum-purple warty petioles and grey on green banded leaves. S. trivitatta, especially forms with longitudinal ragged zones of silver and a silver mid-rib. S. gamoandra with rosettes off stiff pewter and steel banded leaves with raised checker-board venation. S. acuminatissima 'Lavallei' with upright stems and leaves deep plum-purple beneath and deep geen with grey and two shades of green above. This is in trade as Homalomena 'Purple Sword' and... if space allows, S. cornei, a a species with succulent grey-green leaves that can reach over 3 m tall and produces clusters on inflorescences resembling white and jave walking sticks... If this post recives some interest I will post some images of these and a few others. Peter +More ----- Original Message ----- From: "brian lee" To: "Discussion of aroids" Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 2:50 AM Subject: [Aroid-l] Schismatoglottis species > Dear Peter, > > Aloha and mahalo for this additional information. I can understand the > delay... tuak and wild boar...eat and drink until you sleep. > > I love this sort of information, root glues and stem disarticulations. > This is changing the subject, but, can you start a new thread on > Schismatoglottis? I do not know much about the species listed, but it is > long and I have seen only a few in cultivation. Could you educate us on > the more ornamental species in this genus? At least the species you > encounter? > > Aloha, > > Leland > > > --- On Sun, 6/8/08, Peter Boyce wrote: > >> From: Peter Boyce >> Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] an apolgy if it is order >> To: "Discussion of aroids" >> Date: Sunday, June 8, 2008, 9:35 PM >> Hi Leyland, >> >> Sorry for the delay in replying; just been the big Gawai >> holidays here so a >> bit tied up with drinking tuak and eating wild boar. >> >> Root glue occurs in the feeding roots all Asian genera (but >> not all the >> species of each genus) of the Monstereae (e.g., Amydrium, >> Rhaphidophora, >> Scindapsus & Epipremnum), in Anadendreae (Anadendrum >> only) and in Pothos and >> Pedicellarum of Potheae. It is visible as a cap of >> 'gel' on the active root >> tip. The most striking 'caps' are found in the >> Hookeri complex of >> Rhaphidophora (R. hookeri, foraminifera, puberula, >> todayensis) in which not >> only do the active tips of the feeder roots have a very >> substantial cap but >> the climbing roots arise in masses along the stem and >> produce copious >> quantities of gel/slime that not only glues the roots to >> the climbing >> surface but also seems to provide an ideal environment for >> additional root >> development such that pulling one of these from the tree >> often removes a >> fair proportion of the adjacent bark. >> >> Shoot disarticulation so far is found in the Asian >> rheophytic genera. I have >> also observed (in cultivation) the same in W Africa >> rheophytic Anubias but I >> have never been to W Africa and so cannot say whether other >> African >> rheophtyes (Nephthytis, some Cercestis) have >> disarticulation mechanics. >> >> Very best >> >> Pete >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "brian lee" >> To: "Discussion of aroids" >> >> Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 5:18 PM >> Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] an apolgy if it is order >> >> >> > Dear Peter, >> > >> > Aloha. Thank you for answering Steve's inquiry >> with >> > this interesting set of observations....do you know of >> > root glues or stem disarticulations in other plant >> > genera? What other botanical life history secrets can >> > you share? >> > >> > Aloha, >> > >> > Leland >> > >> > --- Peter Boyce wrote: >> > >> >> Hi Steve, >> >> >> >> The root tip thing is very interesting. While up >> at >> >> Batang Ai last week took some time to look closely >> >> at a very common species of Piptospatha and >> realized >> >> that the active root tip was always coated in cap >> of >> >> viscous gel; looking at root development it dawned >> >> on me that the gel was acting as an adhesive; as >> the >> >> root progressed across the rock the gel cap laid >> >> down a thin film, much the same as a slug or snail >> >> does, and the developing root hairs bound into >> this, >> >> gluing the root to the rock to the extent that >> >> attempts to remove older portions the root >> actually >> >> removed fragments of the rock (shale). >> >> >> >> The shoot tip thing is that the active shoot is >> >> attached to the older part of the stem by a line >> of >> >> weakness that functions as a point of potential >> >> disarticulation. When the river flow becomes to >> >> great such that the drag on the leafy portion has >> >> the potential to dislodge the entire plant, the >> >> leafy shoot breaks at the point of weakness and >> thus >> >> by sacrificing the active shoot/s the plan is able >> >> to reduce drag and thus prevent total >> dislodgement. >> >> The stumps remaining readily re-sprout, often >> >> forming multi-headed plants. Aside from >> 'saving' the >> >> mother plant the 'lost' active shoot tips >> frequently >> >> end up in a suitable environment for >> >> re-establishment and thus act as dispersal units. >> >> Another interesting aspect of this process is that >> >> the disarticulation point 'moves' with the >> extension >> >> of the active shoot and thus only the same size >> >> piece of active shoot is shed each time. >> >> >> >> Very best >> >> >> >> Pete >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> >> From: ExoticRainforest >> >> To: Discussion of aroids >> >> Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 7:19 PM >> >> Subject: [Aroid-l] an apolgy if it is order >> >> >> >> >> >> Pete, this message from you is more valuable >> than >> >> I can make clear. I have several mentors who are >> my >> >> honest-to-goodness heroes and friends. And I hope >> >> you know you are one. Tom, Simon, Eduardo, >> >> Alistair, Julius, Leland and many others, a list >> too >> >> long to mention, help me all the time! My goal >> has >> >> been only to self-educate myself and to try to >> share >> >> what I learn in a way anyone interested in aroids >> >> can utilize. I am a writer who has been putting >> >> words on paper for over 30 years. But without >> >> accurate sources there is nothing to write! >> >> >> >> You have answered my questions many, many times >> >> and always help to make what I'm trying to >> >> understand clear. And that is at least in part >> the >> >> reason I quote all of you rather than trying to >> put >> >> what you teach in my own words. As a >> non-scientist >> >> my words are useless, but your words have value! >> >> >> >> So thanks for your kindness and your continued >> >> help. With the same thanks to all the >> professionals >> >> who teach me something new in their journals and >> >> emails on virtually a daily basis. If I could >> offer >> >> advice to anyone who is interested in aroids it >> >> would be to build a library of good scientific >> >> material on the genus. In the beginning the >> reading >> >> is difficult, but I time you will begin to >> >> understand the scientific terms and all those >> >> questions become clear answers. >> >> >> >> Now, a big request! Tell us about "the way >> roots >> >> glue themselves to rocks and how the shoot tips of >> a >> >> rheophytes resist water flow in spate." You >> just >> >> opened up a new file in my brain and I want to >> know! >> >> >> >> Steve >> >> >> >> >> >> Steve, >> >> >> >> I live in a country where we constantly >> struggle >> >> to get our students to read..... believe me...you >> >> can NEVER read too much. I have worked with aroids >> >> in one way or another for 30+ years; >> professionally >> >> for 20+ years... I read about aroids, any aroids, >> >> every day. And every day I learn something >> >> new...this week so far I have learned something >> new >> >> about pollination, the way roots glue themselves >> to >> >> rocks and how the shoot tips of a rheophytes >> resist >> >> water flow in spate. Tom, who has just tuned 70, >> has >> >> worked on aroids for over 40 years... he reads >> every >> >> day... Josef has worked on aroids nerly 50 >> years... >> >> he reads every day... and I would bet that they >> too >> >> are constantly learning new things. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Aroid-L mailing list >> >> Aroid-L at www.gizmoworks.com >> >> >> http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l >> >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Aroid-L mailing list >> >> Aroid-L at www.gizmoworks.com >> >> http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l >> >> >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Aroid-L mailing list >> > Aroid-L at www.gizmoworks.com >> > http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l >> > >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Aroid-L mailing list >> Aroid-L at www.gizmoworks.com >> http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l > > > > _______________________________________________ > Aroid-L mailing list > Aroid-L at www.gizmoworks.com > http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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