Xanthosoma jeoquinii flower

I was trimming this big ear back to move and saw the flower.

I wonder if it gets pretty.

Major Zone envy here! That is gorgeous!

Please post more picts as it progresses. I have some new ees but have never seen a flower.

never seen this or heard of but its weird looking like very much..

I would be interested in seeing more photos of the flower as well. If you could as one of the flowers matures cut away all the spath from the flower this is structure around the reproductive parts of the plant. I am not sure if anyone has good photos of this ones private parts. If you need more info just ask closeups are good and all sections even down in the lower parts of the flower help give better IDs to the botanist.

I had a few pics of the plant but this one may show all of it better. Harder to find this one nowa days.

Brian, I thought of you when I saw the flower, so I took the photo.I remembered you saying something about not many photos of the flowers of xanthosoma varieties.
Let's see if I get this right: I need to carefully cut away some of the green outer covering from the flower(which is the white stick up thingie that is inside the tight green covering)? Take a photo of the reproductive parts of the flower? I will attempt it, lol.

It is best to cut at the nob area at the lower part of the flower. The part you are cutting away is called the spath nothing more than a modified leaf that protects the flower. The large white thingy inside is called the Spadix this has two or three sections the top section produces pollen sometimes a mid section that is sterile. and then the lower section in the nobby area is the female area. This is were the berries will form if it is pollinated. The lower section is usually very important in the IDing of the plant.

OK, I understand. I will attempt it this evening if I get home before dark. I have A. cucullata, A. portadora and A. mac blooming right now, should I attempt to pollinate it? I may also have an A. plumbea metallica that still has a flower.

Although this is a syngonium bloom, it will look similar to this pic when you remove the green outer "leaf" .

Yes but cutting down a bit lower into the nod below that is were the female parts of the flower are. The top protion is just the male area. The lower part is were the bugs with pollen will usually spend the night in that hallow area of the nod pollinating most aroids this way.

Perhaps we should start an EE stud farm registry?

I have an A. Macrorrhiza (I think?.... will ask Brian to confirm) about to flower.

PS I think I am only kidding about the stud farm thing.......
ROX

I went and bought my replacement today, although they raised the price $10 over last year's price. If/When it blooms this year, I'll post pics, you all can walk me through the process lised above. Although I don't smoke, I felt like I needed a cigarette after the above listings.
:D

I finally had time to take a picture and I almost waited too long to do it. Here is the cut away flower. It had started to fall apart inside but maybe you can still see the flower parts.

Oh Man that is a GREAT shot!

Now I know what to look forward too.

Ric

I borrowed my boss' camera!

Keep it!

Ric

mine didn't die back this year. have you heard from roz calalily? let me know when ya come this way I have some goodies still for you

ely

Roz also has some big mommie plants the roots are like as big as my head. I have a big head and I know thats not what the thread is about.

Larry

Larry, Peggy and I were just talking about you the other night! I'm so glad to see you back.
I haven't talked to Roz in a while, she's a hard one to get in touch with.
I want to visit my friends over that way this summer. I will have to see how much time I can take off. I'm planning on going to the Round-up in College Station in April.

=) I am so glad to see you and everyone. Oh I haven't talked to peggy in forever.where is college station? I sent her D-mail so hopefully she will reply.

Larry

College Station is near Houston.

OHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Larry

Great pic glad to see it. The lower section is were the berries would form if the plant was pollinated. I have found Xanthosomas to be extremely hard to pollinate maybe its our lack of heat and humidity in late summer this is usually when they flower for me.

I didn't pollinate it, I got busy and forgot.

Question-
WHEN do you cut away the spathe?
WHEN do you pollinate?
My plant flowered about Feb. 27 and still hasn't opened.
ROX

Well its not as difficult as you may think. First you need two plant to be flowering at roughly the same time period. First your going to need pollen. So wait for the first flower to age and drop its pollen this is usually easy to catch if you watch your flowers. The flower should open all the way up and the spadix will have yellow to white powder or what looks like sawdust on it depending on the species. Collect as much pollen as possible. Now you need a receptive female flower. If you dont have one you can store the pollen in the fridge for around 1 month. Once you have a new flower I wait till it seems about to open then I cut away all the spath like in the photo above. You now have to put the pollen on the lower female section. I usually use a paint brush. Once done tag it with the cross maybe protect it with a plastic baggy and wait. The main thing with putting on the pollen is to early or late it will not take. So usually look for the flower that either smells strong or is just about to open. These are the signs to look for when the female section is ready. Good luck.

Brian -
Thanks!

I also will post a photo as I am unsure what plant I have. Probably A. macrorrhiza.
ROX