RE: [Aroid-l] Anthurium fruiting

From: Thomas.Croat at mobot.org on 2005.12.28 at 22:10:23(13660) Title: RE: [Aroid-l] Anthurium fruiting Dear Derek: I believe what you are seeing is pretty universal. The inner surface of the tepals have a strip of tissue that is capable of being ripped off and this is firmly attached to the base of the berries, allowing the berries to be nicely displayed after they emerge. I suspect that this has evolved to allow for easy dispersal by birds, surely the principal dispersal agent for Anthurium according to my observations and those of Betty Loiselle who works works with bird pollination (UMSL). I have seen species where the fruits emerge and don't hang down but I suspect that if you tugged on them slowly they might also become loosened in the same way. Tom +More -----Original Message----- Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 9:10 AM To: 'Discussion of aroids' Subject: [Aroid-l] Anthurium fruiting One of my large birdsnest anthuriums that has not fruited before is now giving me a beautiful mass of bright scarlet fruit. I am curious about a phenomenon which I have seen before on other big birdsnest species, that is that as the fruits ripen they sooner or later pop out of the matrix of the spadix and hang on a short thread. How widespread is this through the genus? The shape of the fruit (like a candycorn) makes it very poppable, and the almost random ripening of the fruits dotted all over the spadix also makes the popping more likely as the remaining fruit around any given one swell. I don't really have questions about this, apart from wondering how widespread it is, and also why the fruits reach maturity with no apparent pattern and over such an extended period, but would welcome anyone's observations or comments. Idle thoughts for an idle day. Best wishes to everyone. Derek _______________________________________________ Aroid-l mailing list Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l _______________________________________________ Aroid-l mailing list Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

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