Amorphophallus Morphophallology

From: "James W. Waddick" <jimjim at sky.net> on 1997.02.21 at 17:15:09(410) Dear Wilbert et al; Dept of dumb questions. I've always thought the appendix of the spadix (the terminal portion above the male floral zone) was olbviously the visual target in pollination. It is often the largest portion of the spadix, usually the most colorful etc etc. In your admirable Aroideana guide to the genus you mention that the appendix is also the source for scent and exudes droplets of fluid and may be the source for all the heat. It does make sense (scents) more likely for the portion that warms up to exude its liquid perfume, warm it up and be situatuated above the spadix -or at least at the top to do all this and get maximum scent exposure. So my question.... Is all this supposition true? Does the appedix fluid also have any attraction to insects (sugars or?) ? And it seems that the appendix seems to have the greatest range of variation of any spadix components. Eh? +More Thanks Jim W. Voice: 816 746 1949 James W. Waddick E-MAIL: jimjim@sky.net 8871 NW Brostrom Rd Fax: 816 746 1939 Kansas City MO 64152

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