Thanks for viewing the information, Joanne. I hope this helps in some way!
Karen, the limb is not visible in the diagram you referenced. When viewing this diagram, http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=4107353 the limb would include the outer portion of the flower that is not included in the throat. I don't know technically where or if there exists an exact demarcation between the throat and the limb. One definition I found: 2. The expanded portion of any petal, or of a leaf, such as the expanded portion of a gamopetalous corolla (with petals fused , like our MGs - added by Arlan) above the throat.
Ron, I have observed the differences in flowers under different contitions as well. That is why I consider my described definiton of internal tube length and throat width of little taxinomic value and really only describing the variable characteristics of a particular flower. I'm not sure now that it has great value to me either, particularly because of the potential and likely inaccuacy induced by the act of taking the measurement. It also seems to make more sense to measure something that is not as sensitive to and variable due to growing conditions.
I realize that my needs are certainly different from those of taxanomic botanists, even though the differences and similarities between the flowers that their measurements define probably describe many of the characteristics that I and most gardeners find important when evaluating a grow out.
One important factor to me is finding measurements that can quite easily be made in the garden without sacrificing the flower. They should also describe those characteristics that are important to the evaluation at hand.
Due to time constraints I'll probably try and keep just a few simple measurements to help in evaluating a grow out series. it is all very interesting though!
Arlan
