Re: [Aroid-l]Off-topic-- Rafflesia/host vine

From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at msn.com> on 2007.01.17 at 00:07:31(15100) Reply-To : Discussion of aroids Sent : Tuesday, January 16, 2007 8:03 PM To : Discussion of aroids Subject : Re: [Aroid-l] Re: Rafflesia Dear Friends, Now we know both from Marcin AND from browsing that wonderful web site sent in by our Australian friend that the host-vine of at LEAST one species of Rafflesia is Tetrastigma spp. So---we must now really search the web/literature to see what is the minimum sized vine that Rafflesia might 'invade' as a parasite, and be large enough support the existence of this parasite within its tissues! I THINK from photos I recall seeing that these vines are a VERY substantial size, the bases as big around as my thigh. This tells us that it PROBABLY is inpractable to cultivate vines in a greenhouse OR without a HUGE/tall jungle canopy until they attain this size in MANY years time. No, Brian I don`t think that a bansai or small vine could support a parasite the size of a Rafflesia. SO---let`s go all out to convince the Governments in charge of the forests where this treasure occurs to conserve their vines and jungles!! Good Growing, +More Julius>>Hi I recalll Tetrastigma ssp is the host, but I might be wrong. With regards, Marcin<< I know that my friend Pia who posted this is knowledgable as to the following, but for those who are not, and who just might even THINK about his suggestion of trying to establish Rafflesia in Horticulture, the following facts might disuade them and save them lots of time and effort. To realisticly grow Raflesia, on would have to first obtain the seeds and cultivate a specific giant jungle vine to maturity, as the only place that Rafflesia is know to exist is as a parasite WITHIN the tissues of one of these GIANT jungle vines. Funny how things come around again, isn't it? This exact same discussion was on here two or three years ago. So, which giant jungle vine is the host? (I suspect different ones for different Rafflesia species, of which there are at least a dozen.) It's enough to make me wish I'd gotten that "Rafflesias of the World" book at the airport on my last trip to Malaysia (the symposium, you all remember that). _______________________________________________ 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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