Stinking seeds

From: "Wilbert Hetterscheid" hetter at worldonline.nl> on 2000.06.15 at 21:49:48(4794) Jonathan, Never noticed that smell you describe for Amorphophallus seeds but also never ever did try to smell that. Amorphs do seem to exploit a typical bird-disperion syndrome with conspicuously coloured berries. Beats me why after disperion and leaving the bird cloaca, a certain smell would be necessary. Wilbert +More ----- Original Message ----- To: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L Sent: donderdag 15 juni 2000 0:03 Subject: Re: Wilbert Hetterscheid admiration society? > No, there was no subject heading exactly like that, but pretty close I > think. In any case, I thought that I should mention in regard to crushed > boxes and their contents that four of the crushed, no, only one was > _crushed_, these were just severely flattened seeds of Amorphophallus > muelleri seed I received, that I went ahead and stuck in the ground, all > have now come up and some are showing a second leaf. The leaves are > wonderful, with the white silver edging. > > BTW, did anyone know that the seeds of this species at least, are also > quite odorific - not just the inflorescence! Now why would a plant produce > seeds that stink? Considerate animals that would scrape some dirt over it > out of habit? Dung beetle invitation in order to get the seed germinating > in some really rich medium? Any thoughts? > > Thank you sir. > > Jonathan > > Jonathan Ertelt > Greenhouse Manager > Vanderbilt University Biology Department > Box 1812, Sta. B > Nashville, TN 37235 > (615) 322-4054 > > > >

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