Tacca questions (off topic??)

From: "Randall M. Story" story at caltech.edu> on 2002.05.24 at 19:27:27(8874) Hi, I'm looking for information about Tacca plantaginea (Schizocapsa plantaginea?). I get the impression that Tacca used to be considered an Aroid, but not anymore (please correct me if I am wrong). Anyway, I picked up a small seedling of this plant (~3 inch diameter) at last weekend's Huntington Botanical Garden (near Los Angeles) plant sale. I have been able to find little information about this species and I am curious: How do I grow it? (warm and humid? light level?). Does it look like other Taccas (i.e. chantrieri). How long will it take my little plant to reach blooming size? +More It sounds like the history of the classification of this genus is quite interesting. I read that at least one species used to be considered closely related to Amorphophallus (e.g. Dewey Fisk's site)! Thanks Randy Pasadena, California (USDA zone 10/Sunset zone 21, 2 miles from the Huntington)

From: "Wilbert Hetterscheid" hetter at worldonline.nl> on 2002.05.26 at 18:50:48(8881) Tacca plantaginea is a small version of, say Tacca chantrieri but it has less dramatically coloured inflorescences. They are basically a pale greenish. There is a fair plant growing in Leiden, kept warm and humid indeed. That's all I can say of this species. Oh, yes, it used to be separated from Tacca in the genus Schizocapsa but that is no longer followed. +More Tacca: The Dutch botanist Rumphius presented Tacca sativa and Tacca phallifera in 1747. Tacca sativa was presented as a plate with only a leaf but the description clearly indicates this is Am. paeoniifolius. Rumphius never saw the inflorescence of this but he describes that if the plant is left alone in a garden it will produce fruits on a long stalk. Tacca phallifera is a plate in which both a REAL Tacca is seen (T. leontopetaloides, incl. an inflorescence) and an isolated inflorescence of Am. paeoniifolius. Rumphius says the plant was brought from the mountains and first produces a "fungus" (= the paeoniifolius inflorescence) and later it produces the "Tacca" (the leaf). The whole affair is strange as the description of Tacca phallifera is all about A. paeoniifolius whereas the drawing clearly shows the mix with T. leontopetaloides. Generally the reason why present-day Tacca and Amorphs have been associated is the general similarity of the leaf of the weedy Tacca leontopetaloides with Amorphophallus. The people on Ambon (the island where Rumphius resided and where he wrote his "Herbarium Amboinensis" books) called these umbrella-like leaves generically "Tacca". So that's why Rumphius also used that word, which later became the name of the genus Tacca and which was restricted by botanists to include only the real Tacca species as we know them today. The confusion thus was created by the coincidence that Tacca leontopetaloides was growing on an island together with Am. paeoniifolius and both have similar leaves. Thus endeth this sunday lecture for all you to enjoy (or delete..........). Lord P. > -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- > Van: aroid-l@mobot.org [mailto:aroid-l@mobot.org]Namens > Randall M. Story > Verzonden: vrijdag 24 mei 2002 21:26 > Aan: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L > Onderwerp: Tacca questions (off topic??) > > > Hi, > > I'm looking for information about Tacca plantaginea (Schizocapsa > plantaginea?). I get the impression that Tacca used to be > considered an > Aroid, but not anymore (please correct me if I am wrong). > Anyway, I picked > up a small seedling of this plant (~3 inch diameter) at last weekend's > Huntington Botanical Garden (near Los Angeles) plant sale. I > have been able > to find little information about this species and I am > curious: How do I > grow it? (warm and humid? light level?). Does it look like > other Taccas > (i.e. chantrieri). How long will it take my little plant to > reach blooming > size? > > It sounds like the history of the classification of this > genus is quite > interesting. I read that at least one species used to be > considered closely > related to Amorphophallus (e.g. Dewey Fisk's site)! > > Thanks > > Randy > Pasadena, California (USDA zone 10/Sunset zone 21, 2 miles from the > Huntington) >

From: StroWi at t-online.de (StroWi) on 2002.05.27 at 02:58:13(8885) > ........ > Thus endeth this sunday lecture for all you to enjoy (or delete.........). > > Lord P. Dear Lord P., I did NOT delete it and (mostly ;-)) enjoy our Lord's contributions and I have further questions. I grow a Tacca chantrieri since a few weeks ago. Here in Germany these plants are seen now and then in good garden centres and sold for remarkable prices, around 40 Euro/US$. However, when the inflorescens starts to wilt and is cut, the plant looks like a huge boring Spathiphyllum (excuse me Ron ;-) and is often sold for 1/2 or 1/4 of the former price. The plants marketed here in Germany by www.Tacca.de are cloned in vitro since no seeds set was reached so far (as far as I know...). It is said that the donor plant is male sterile, however, I do not have any proof of this. Is male strelility known in Tacca (chantrieri) or could it be a self incompatibility mechanism as well? Speaking against the latter is the observation of a list member whose single T. chantrieri sets seed (or does the neighbour grow a different genotype???) However, the seeds I got did not germinate yet after months; but that seems to be a pain in the ...(O.K. some where further down) with Tacca germination anyway. My second question regarding Tacca spec. is, if they can be traded as bare root tubers/rhizomes or if they are? If this is possible, would anyone know a source? And last but not least, which Tacca spec. are edible? This, of course, aims at the question of the common name and the availibility in asian food stores. Any comment most welcome! Bernhard. +More -- Bernhard. Germany, approx. zone 6

From: Steve Marak samarak at arachne.uark.edu> on 2002.05.27 at 05:30:43(8886) On Sun, 26 May 2002, StroWi wrote: > The plants marketed here in Germany by www.Tacca.de are cloned in > vitro since no seeds set was reached so far (as far as I know...). It > is said that the donor plant is male sterile, however, I do not have > any proof of this. Is male strelility known in Tacca (chantrieri) or > could it be a self incompatibility mechanism as well? > > Speaking against the latter is the observation of a list member whose > single T. chantrieri sets seed (or does the neighbour grow a different > genotype???) However, the seeds I got did not germinate yet after > months; but that seems to be a pain in the ...(O.K. some where further > down) with Tacca germination anyway. There used to be an Aroid-L'er from New Orleans, Lousiana, here in the US, who I met through Phil Mueller. He had Tacca chantrieri seedlings coming up all over his yard - I think he actually mowed the unwanted ones, which horrified me. Phil sent me several of the seedlings, which I promptly killed, then sent me a couple more, which I killed more slowly. In both cases, I apparently failed to keep them wet enough - I was told that I should pot them in "Mississippi mud" (heavy, poorly aerated soil that reminds me of black clay) and keep them WET! If I manage to get another, I will. Steve +More -- Steve Marak -- samarak@arachne.uark.edu

From: "Michael Pascall" mickpascall at hotmail.com> on 2002.05.27 at 05:32:29(8887) Taccas will set seed , but you must let it ripen fully. We get seed on the black all the time . The white one can be a bit difficult as the seedlings seem to be very delicate and 10% survival is considered lucky . The small Tacca palmata forms a tuber and can be sent bare root when dormant, but the others resent bare rooting , though may survive if kept well wrapped in Sphagnum . Michael Pascall, WHYANBEEL ARBORETUM,F.N.Q,AUSTRALIA +More _________________________________________________________________ Join the world?s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com

From: StroWi at t-online.de (StroWi) on 2002.05.27 at 16:08:00(8889) Dear Michael Pascall, thanks for your answer. Concerning the seed set of T. chantrieri it would be of interest, if you grow a population of different genotypes or if you really get seedset after self pollination. The latter would, of course, speak against selfincompatibility and pro the male sterile status of the clone offered over here in Germany. Best, Bernhard. +More Dollbergen, Germany aprrox. zone 6 "Michael Pascall" schrieb: > Taccas will set seed , but you must let it ripen fully. > We get seed on the black all the time . > The white one can be a bit difficult as the seedlings seem to be very > delicate and 10% survival is considered lucky . > The small Tacca palmata forms a tuber and can be sent bare root when > dormant, but the others resent bare rooting , though may survive if kept > well wrapped in Sphagnum . > > > Michael Pascall, > WHYANBEEL ARBORETUM,F.N.Q,AUSTRALIA > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. > http://www.hotmail.com

From: StroWi at t-online.de (StroWi) on 2002.05.27 at 16:11:03(8891) Steve, thanks for the response. "Steve Marak" schrieb: +More > On Sun, 26 May 2002, StroWi wrote: > There used to be an Aroid-L'er from New Orleans, Lousiana, here in the US, > who I met through Phil Mueller. He had Tacca chantrieri seedlings coming > up all over his yard - I think he actually mowed the unwanted ones, which > horrified me. Oh yes, hat would have horified me, too. Really strange that weeds from the one place are the plant gems in another.... > > Phil sent me several of the seedlings, which I promptly killed, then sent > me a couple more, which I killed more slowly. In both cases, I apparently > failed to keep them wet enough - I was told that I should pot them in > "Mississippi mud" (heavy, poorly aerated soil that reminds me of black > clay) and keep them WET! The high water requirement is true for my adult plant as well. When I look a little too late and find the substrate still moist, at least in a state that other species with a similar foliage would not care about, my Tacca started to wilt with all leafes bending to the ground. However, by watering it recovers, maybe gets some dried leaf tips. Low air humidity seems to be tolerated more; the plant is cultured in my living room, although it would probably benefit from high air humidity. If it will flower under home conditions I do not know yet. Best, Bernhard. Dollbergen, Germany approx. zone 6

From: "Ron Iles" roniles at eircom.net> on 2002.05.27 at 16:12:34(8892) Bernhard (Mr. Strowi) wrote... I .....enjoy our Lord's contributions..... >>>>>>>>>(In +More unison?)Indeed, what would the Line be without HIM? The Lord be praised - Pax vobiscum. However, when the...(Tacca chantieri)....inflorescens starts to wilt and is cut, the plant looks like a huge boring Spathiphyllum (excuse me Ron.... >>>>>>>>>>>Now that IS boring! Is it an aquatic species? R

From: "Harry Witmore" harrywitmore at witmore.net> on 2002.05.27 at 16:14:06(8893) My Tacca chantrieri sets seeds. I have had some success getting them to germinate. It seems to take forever for the pods to ripen. Out of the 8 or so seedlings I have only a few seem to grow readily even though they are all being grown the same. They like to be wet but mine don't seem to like standing in water. Harry Witmore +More Cloud Jungle Art www.witmore.net -----Original Message----- Marak Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 1:31 AM To: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L Subject: RE: Tacca questions (off topic??) On Sun, 26 May 2002, StroWi wrote: > The plants marketed here in Germany by www.Tacca.de are cloned in > vitro since no seeds set was reached so far (as far as I know...). It > is said that the donor plant is male sterile, however, I do not have > any proof of this. Is male strelility known in Tacca (chantrieri) or > could it be a self incompatibility mechanism as well? > > Speaking against the latter is the observation of a list member whose > single T. chantrieri sets seed (or does the neighbour grow a different > genotype???) However, the seeds I got did not germinate yet after > months; but that seems to be a pain in the ...(O.K. some where further > down) with Tacca germination anyway. There used to be an Aroid-L'er from New Orleans, Lousiana, here in the US, who I met through Phil Mueller. He had Tacca chantrieri seedlings coming up all over his yard - I think he actually mowed the unwanted ones, which horrified me. Phil sent me several of the seedlings, which I promptly killed, then sent me a couple more, which I killed more slowly. In both cases, I apparently failed to keep them wet enough - I was told that I should pot them in "Mississippi mud" (heavy, poorly aerated soil that reminds me of black clay) and keep them WET! If I manage to get another, I will. Steve -- Steve Marak -- samarak@arachne.uark.edu

From: "Wilbert Hetterscheid" hetter at worldonline.nl> on 2002.05.27 at 16:16:01(8894) Before I end up a Taccophile, here are my last words: The website www.tacca.de says there is a patent granted in Europe on Tacca. Unfortunately it isn't clear whther the black Tacca is meant or the soon-to-be-released white one. I do know that two black Tacca's have been garnted Plant Breeder's Rights in Europe (which is NOT the same as a plant patent but the website builders may have made a serious mistake here). These Tacca's had been refused before on the grounds of not being uniform enough, which is why they are now multiplied in tissue-culture. I seem to recall that the resultant plant that got the PBR is in fact a hybrid cultivar (it's annoying that the website does not produce the cultivar name), which may explain its unwillingness to seed. So there is a chance we are not talking simple Tacca chantrieri here. The Plantscope database (www.plantscope.nl) presents two Tacca cultivars, T. chantrieri 'Aameyri' (European PBR filenumber 00/0628) and T. chantrieri 'Lentac'. Whether these do belong to chantrieri is doubtful. 'Aameyri' has a rather small inflorescence with the bracts purple flushed green. In the files of the Euopean PBR office, the cultivar is classified directly under Tacca and not as Tacca chantrieri. The owner is Dutch. The white Tacca is owned by a German company. T. leontopetaloides is edible. So much for Tacca. Cheerio, Wilbert +More -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----Van: aroid-l@mobot.org [mailto:aroid-l@mobot.org]Namens StroWiVerzonden: maandag 27 mei 2002 4:57Aan: Multiple recipients of list AROID-LOnderwerp: RE: Tacca questions (off topic??)> ....... > Thus endeth this sunday lecture for all you to enjoy (or delete.........). > > Lord P. Dear Lord P., I did NOT delete it and (mostly ;-)) enjoy our Lord's contributions and I have further questions. I grow a Tacca chantrieri since a few weeks ago. Here in Germany these plants are seen now and then in good garden centres and sold for remarkable prices, around 40 Euro/US$. However, when the inflorescens starts to wilt and is cut, the plant looks like a huge boring Spathiphyllum (excuse me Ron ;-) and is often sold for 1/2 or 1/4 of the former price. The plants marketed here in Germany by www.Tacca.de are cloned in vitro since no seeds set was reached so far (as far as I know...). It is said that the donor plant is male sterile, however, I do not have any proof of this. Is male strelility known in Tacca (chantrieri) or could it be a self incompatibility mechanism as well? Speaking against the latter is the observation of a list member whose single T. chantrieri sets seed (or does the neighbour grow a different genotype???) However, the seeds I got did not germinate yet after months; but that seems to be a pain in the ...(O.K. some where further down) with Tacca germination anyway. My second question regarding Tacca spec. is, if they can be traded as bare root tubers/rhizomes or if they are? If this is possible, would anyone know a source? And last but not least, which Tacca spec. are edible? This, of course, aims at the question of the common name and the availibility in asian food stores. Any comment most welcome! Bernhard. -- Bernhard. Germany, approx. zone 6

From: Dyeingduk at aol.com on 2002.05.27 at 21:19:12(8895) I have the black Tacca and it does seem to take forever for the fruit to ripen. What i do is just put a pot of some sort of soiless mix under the pods. As they mature and basically rot away the seed begins to grow in the pots. I don't know my germination percentages because i have never taken a coun, but from say 3 or 4 fruit, i get a pretty full 4" pot. The problems come when repotting. It seems a lot of them just melt away. Thats been my only experiences with Tacca. Paul Marcellini

From: "Patricia Frank" tricia_frank at hotmail.com> on 2002.05.28 at 01:28:36(8900) Hoe do you know when they are ripe? Tricia +More ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Pascall Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 1:39 AM To: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L Subject: RE: Tacca questions (off topic??) Taccas will set seed , but you must let it ripen fully.We get seed on the black all the time .The white one can be a bit difficult as the seedlings seem to be verydelicate and 10% survival is considered lucky .The small Tacca palmata forms a tuber and can be sent bare root whendormant, but the others resent bare rooting , though may survive if keptwell wrapped in Sphagnum .Michael Pascall,WHYANBEEL ARBORETUM,F.N.Q,AUSTRALIA_________________________________________________________________Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.http://www.hotmail.com

From: "Michael Pascall" mickpascall at hotmail.com> on 2002.05.28 at 16:12:59(8906) Patricia , when the seed pod starts to get a bit soft and mushy its ripe . Michael Pascall, WHYANBEEL ARBORETUM,F.N.Q,AUSTRALIA +More _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

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