Propagation: Propagation part IX based on my experience, 0 by Pughbear7

Pughbear7 wrote:
Ok flowers 101
yes i realize I will never make a living as an artist... please forgive my crude drawing.

There are a lot of great sites on how to pollinate specific flowers. Its basically taking the pollen off the anthers and depositing it on the top of the pistil (stigma). All flowers differ slightly but the application is the same. Its a matter of locating the flower parts.
There are some specifics on what can and can't be done. sterile flowers will never produce seeds, or if the do they will also be sterile and not germinate.
Now the fun and possibly "how 2 make a fortune in plant breeding" I wish....lol
If you have notice a lot of the new hybrid plants like echinacea, corriopsis (sorry about the spelling). The breeders have done one of 2 things.
They have taken to species of the same plant Echinacea for example and used 2 species to come up with the new colors. Is there a plant you really love? do some research and if you can find a species with say a shorter stance and a flower you like take the pollen from one plant and pollinate the other with that pollen the resulting seeds will be a cross between the 2 species. It may take a full year or two to see the difference but when you do.... I promise you will be doing the happy dance.... La la la la......
The next type is the cross of same genus and species to design a new flower. Daylilies come to mind. Say you want a dwarf red stella de oro with a pronounce midrib in the pedal (mid rib is the line or vein if you will of the flower pedal). You pick the redest flower you have with the midrib you like and cross pollinate it with a dwarf variety. Now with daylilies there are diploids and tetriploids and the 2 will not cross. you need to know which one's you have. I have red where some breeders put this info on their tags to make pollinating an easier task. Also one breeder let their grandchildren do their own crossing just for fun and to help spirit the next generation of plant breeders.
Ok now for the coments and questions. Pleas elet me know what you think about this post and if I missed anything. or its not quite clear.
Dave