A question on Typhonodorum lindleyanum, my plant has dropped a lot of seed. Wondering whether the seeds would be viable, and if so what's the best method of planting. They float, so I assume in nature they'd end up in debris along the waters edge. Perhaps cover them up with some decaying vegetation in boggy soil?
Photo of the seeds floating in the pond.
Typhonodorum produces apomictic seeds that are usually viable. So soon those seeds will germinate. Since you are successful in having a fruiting specimen of the plant, you can grow those seeds on as well. I have some that have recently germinated and hope to grow a fruiting specimen again myself some day soon.
LariAnn
The plant's been flowering for quite a while but was constantly being moved between temporary ponds. About 12 months ago I trimmed it's roots and leaves pretty severely and it went into its permanent home. Another seed pod is developing now but isn't as large as this first one, not yet anyway.
Should I leave the seeds to germinate where they're floating, or should they be moved onto a different medium? I have a very shallow pool (incomplete project) in lots of shade. Perhaps that might be more suitable for them?
That's a photo of the trimmed plant about to go into its permanent home.
You could collect the seeds and keep them temporarily in the shallow pool, but once you see the first leaves emerging from the seeds, I'd suggest planting them in a more permanent location. They grow quite fast once they get going, as you probably know from observing your large plant.
BTW, where your large plant is now, is the pond aerated in any way? I'd love to know all you can tell me about how you grow your plant.
Thanks,
LariAnn
LariAnn, in March this year I did a picture/story about it in the Water Gardens forum called "Rambling tale of plants and ponds and dreams". The pond isn't aerated, I've stuck with 'natural'. Pond level is maintained by the garden sprinkler system, so the water comes in like rain. During the wet season surface water can run into it, which does bring a little silt in as well.
The seeds are now in 3 different places, some in the pond where they fell, some in the shallow heavily shaded pool, and some in the Typhonodorum's previous temporary home with very bright but partly filtered sunlight.
I'll see the results later because this weekend I head for Papua New Guinea for some trekking. Hope to do some aroid seed collecting while there. Won't be back til end of May.
Interesting conversation :) Good luck on the trip Tropic :)
Thanks Planter.
very interesting, thanks!
for those wondering about "apomictic" -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apomictic
Also, here on Dave's Garden, an article on "Seeds without Sex":
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1752/
LariAnn
Rachel, I got myself a new camera - DSLR, 12.2 megapixels, 6 gig of memory cards, and enough batteries (to probably run a small power plant). I'm not taking any chances.
I understand the Port Moresby National Botanic Gardens are fantastic, so that's also on the agenda after the trekking.
Will do Rachel, I fly out this Sunday (our time, Saturday your time). Been spending a lot of time packing and re-packing the backpack. Little things quickly become big heavy things in a backpack.
I checked the Typhonodorum seeds this morning, most have started sprouting in all 3 places, no noticeable difference in development. However, those in the old temporary Typhonodorum pond have been part eaten, mainly the seed, but are still sprouting. That pond becomes part of the swamp in the wet season so all sorts of munching critters can take up residence. This picture is of the ones below the parent plant.
TB, I've got a big one in our dam. No love, no fert, nada and it's been flowering wildly for at least 10 months now. I've had at least 7 or 8 seed pods and they seem to all have viable seed. I've noticed when I harvest them my hands get a bit itchy, it could be just me. They tend to send out little roots and float around until they hit the dams edge. I've germinated them easily in a bucket and then potted them or stuck them where I wanted them. In Tropical By Design Bill Bensley used them in threes very effectively. May as well use them in a big statement when you have heaps of seeds:) Ann
This is the latest on the Typhonodorum seedlings, see photo. Some are over 10 cms tall (this is during our winter) and some are still only roots emerging from the seed. They're all in heavy shade where the automatic irrigation system keeps them in very shallow water or wet mulch. I've been asking around to try and find homes for them but after people see the mother one they get a bit scared. And I want to diversify rather than just having a Typhonodorum plantation.
This is the mother plant now. It's passed the 3 metre mark and still going. Does anyone know how much more height I can expect from it?
TB,
That's beautiful - I'd love one, but I doubt it would like Adelaide much! LOL! I am already kept busy shlepping Amorphophallus pots in and out of the house this winter - they aren't going dormant because I planted too late this spring. Best of luck in finding Adoptive parents - I wonder if MyaC would like one?
Ciao, KK.
KK I remember your thread on that. At least your amorph bulbs are getting a chance to grow, despite the heavy lifting involved. Lifting the Typhonodorum might be a different matter. I had to use the tractor last time to move it:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/967870/
I read your thread on the link - at least the plant is repaying you well for all that effort! With regard to your search for the "Giant Swamp Taro" have you seen this neat link http://www.hawaii.edu/cpis/MI/plants/iaraj.html - I love the picture near the bottom right (scroll down) How TALL are those leaves!
Ciao, KK.
That's the one I'm after. Cyrtosperma chamissonis is now Cyrtosperma merkusii. But a lot of old texts still have the old name. Was hoping I'd find some while in PNG but no luck. I understand now that it's more common in the islands further north. They grow to 4.5 metres, although there are shorter varieties.
