Re: [Aroid-l] Pollinatrion in KY

From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at msn.com> on 2007.07.13 at 09:22:10(15977) Reply-To : Discussion of aroids Sent : Friday, July 13, 2007 6:42 AM To : "Discussion of aroids" Subject : Re: [Aroid-l] Pollinatrion in KY DEar Steve and Brian, The pollen (and maybe residual nectar?) on Brian`s Anthurium spadix may indeed just be providing a rich food source for the ants, they may not be actually pollinating by transfering the pollen from one spadix to another. In the genus Anthurium there are several species which produce MANY ripe friut w/ viable seed with NO pollination (this is called being an ''apomictic" species), such as A. gracile shown in Plate #16 of Deni Bown`s great Aroid book, so Steve`s A. schlechtendalii may also belong to this select group. Back in Trinidad, W. I., Anthurium gracile grows by the thousands in huge masses on the thick horizontal limbs of the Samaan trees (think of the largest live oak you have ever seen!), and when in fruit these masses of green leaves w/ scarlet blankets literally covering the upper portions and sides of these limbs is a sight to behold! I did not finish my story on my Dad`s Anthuriums, we also had great numbers of small Anolis lizards which ran freely up and down all over the spadices, I always thought with their greater range of travel in a faster time that THESE might have been the pollinators, but then again it might have been the ants OR the fruit flys attracted by the sweet nectar! Good Growing, Julius +More >>Brian, I have a large Anthurium schlechtendalii that produces a spathe and spadix each summer about this time, got one now. The only insects in my atrium in any quantity are ants. They always climb up and down the spadix. Almost without fail, each September I have viable seed berries and have grown small plants several years. It certainly appears the ants are doing the job. Steve Lucas www.ExoticRainforest.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Brian Williams To: Discussion of aroids Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:08 PM Subject: [Aroid-l] Pollinatrion in KY Julius I thought it was interesting that they would be on the flower with pollen. From what I can tell it looked like they were eating it or taking it as well. Maybe the pollen was still a bit sweet from the nectar? Either way I think they could easily be pollinating the plants. _______________________________________________ Aroid-L mailing list Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l ______ _______________________________________________ Aroid-L mailing list Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

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