ABSTRACT:

Both dormant (in 2003, 2005, and 2007) and actively growing tubers (in 2003) of Caladium humboldtii Schott were soaked in a 600 ppm solution of gibberellic acid (GA3) for four hours to induce the formation of inflorescences. This concentration of GA3 was toxic to the actively growing tubers. Most tubers died, with only four out of 20 surviving, and no inflorescences were formed. Dormant tubers, however, survived the treatment and most developed inflorescences. The inflorescence had a green cylindrical spathe tube and a spathe limb that was mottled green and white. The average length of a peduncle was 55.3 ± 12.6 mm, and the average length of an inflorescence was 47.8 ± 3.7 mm. The average length of the staminate, sterile, and pistillate portions of the spadix were 9.3 ± 1.3, 6.0 ± 1.4, and 3.5 ± 1.3, respectively. The average number of pistillate flowers per spadix was 20.8 ± 9.7.