Peltandra virginica seed

From: "Victor G. Soukup" <soukupvg at email.uc.edu> on 1998.09.11 at 22:23:21(2586) To those requesting Peltandra virginica seed. I had sufficient seed to be able to send everyone requesting some a small packet. It went out early this week and I have had memos from several people stating that it was received. The six non-US destinations will undoubtedly have to wait a little longer. If you purchased a copy of the Genera of Araceae I would suggest that you look up the genus Peltandra there for some specific information about these plants. They usually grow in shallow water in a sandy, silty, mucky soil, most often in full sun. However, I have seen them growing, and flowering, in rather deep shade of a deciduous woods that is partly inundated in spring but is often half dry by fall. As the infructesence develops the walls become very thick and the "fruiting head" becomes quite heavy. Depending on the number of berries developing, the spathe may or may not be able to completely cover them. When rhe seeds are ripe, the peduncle bends so that the head is partly to completely submerged. There is no true dehisence and seeds are discharged by rotting away of the spathe to release the berries. The berries are usually either one or two seeded, the seed(s) being surrounded by a viscous sticky gel which, if you were following the discussion a short while back, probably serve to protect the seeds from germinating until conditions are favorable. From its occurence in northern Florida, it is obvious that Peltandra does not need freezing but it does want a rest. However, its occurence much farther north means it can stand cold. Probably the best course would be to stratify the seed in a big pot of mucky soil or soiless mix which is kept very wet or which has standing water in it. This should be kept cold but not allowed to freeze solid -- probably preferable to keep it cold but above freezing. Perhaps Eduardo to whom I sent seeds last year for his research may add to this description since he had germination within a few days. Some of you may have found seed germinating in the packet. I found a few germinating seeds in berries of which the coat was punctured. I also found a small leech in one of the infructescences which had a lot of berries and in which, therefore, the surrounding spathe cover was gaping. Good luck! Vic +More Victor G. Soukup Assoc. Curator of the Herbarium Department of Biological Sciences P.O. Box 210006 University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH 45221-0006 Herbarium phone: 513-556-9761 e-mail: soukupvg@email.uc.edu

Note: this is a very old post, so no reply function is available.