Re[2]: Gel surrounding seeds.

From: alistair_hay_at_po-sydney at rbgsyd.gov.au on 1998.08.18 at 03:04:30(2543) The only time I have seen Lasimorpha in the wild (in Liberia), it was fruting while growing in a few feet of water. Maybe the gel has something to do with protecting the seeds as they pass through birds' guts - perhaps its an emetic. It occurs in Cyrtosperma (bird dispersed, probably), but also in Lasia (L. spinosa probably not bird-dispersed - the fruits are green and more or less leathery). Who knows...... Alistair Hay +More ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: Gel surrounding seeds. Author: at mailgate Date: 8/17/98 6:21 PM Julius and All again, I have another thought on the gel function. I noticed that when Lysichiton becomes ripe, the ground around the plant is not exactly wet, in fact it is dry at the surface. My impression was that the gel might be a prolonger of moisture around the seeds allowing them time to germinate and extend a root past the dry condition at the surface. Does this sound at all reasonable? The infructescenciii which fell to the ground, turned into a pile of slimy mush and stayed wet for quite awhile. I'd be curious to know if the conditions around Lasimorpha are similar when they drop their fruit. Just speculating, Sue Z.

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