I just gathered the seeds from the one seedpod on ochracea. I could tell before I
opened the pod that the seeds were fairly large. Here's a pic showing the 3
newly gathered seeds on the right, a light color.
The 2 old seeds are on the left. The new seeds are 2 and 1/2 times larger
Might they just be larger seeds since they were the only seeds on the vine?
Jackie
I would say that the older ones have dehydrated and that's why they aren't as big.
Kay, Thanx for trying but the old ochracea seeds on the left have always been that size.
I germinated 3 in spring of 05. I will start one of the new seeds soon just to see if I have
a possible surprise, maybe a cross. Several things might have contributed to the size of
the seeds but I don't understand the lighter color.
Jackie
Jackie - There's probably a number of factors involved in the larger seed size of the new seeds...
The fact that they were the only seeds produced will enable the plant to concentrate seed growth energies into the only couple of seeds produced...there may be a moisture content factor as well and the larger newer seeds might shrink down 'somewhat' after time,but they probably have larger embryos that are not just the result of having more moisture content...
The Ipomoea ochracea seeds that I've seen from Queensland,Australia have had beige seedcoats and are larger than other strains...the light seedcoats on your seeds may the result of the usual pigmentation being 'spread out' over a larger surface area and therefore appear lighter in color...
The photo posted doesn't show alot of details like a macro setting shot would enable and I can't see if the new large seeds have any hairs on them or not...hair present would be a good indicator(in this case) that the seeds were indeed fully matured...
Are you sure that the seeds were fully ripe >as(you probably already know that) unripe seeds can lack full pigmentation...
The plant might have 'thrown' light seeds as a 'fluke'...
I think the possibility of the Ipomoea ochracea hybridizing inter-specifically is extremely remote as you'd be the first person to have such an unheard of inter-specific hybrid...
It will be interesting to see what the nice large seeds produce...
TTY,...
Ron
Ron, thanx, I hope I didn't take the seed pod prematurely.
It had turned a light brown and I was afraid it would pop open and I
would lose the seeds.
I can't take a good close up with my cheap camera but
no sign of any hair on the old or new seeds.
I'll start one of the new seeds soon to see if I have screwed up royally.
Jackie
