RE: native North American aroids
- To: lindsey@mallorn.com
- Subject: RE: native North American aroids
- From: r*
- Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 10:40:55 -0600 (CST)
Just to throw in my two-cents worth so to speak: It is possible that
Pistia stratioides originated in Asia or Africa and migrated to South
America without the involvement of man. There are at least two species of
orchids which have managed this feat fairly recently. The most well
documented of these is Oeceoclades maculata which is "native" to the west
coast of Africa in the general area where Africa and South America are
"close" together. In that habitat, the species grows terrestrially in
sandy environments. The species appeared in South America (localized to
coastal environments) and the islands of the Carribean immediately
following an atmospheric event which resulted is large quantities of red
dust being blown from the African continent and deposited in these areas.
The species has a strong tendency to self-pollinate so seed production is
prolific. Since that time, this species has colonized a fairly substantial
area of northern South America, the Carribean islands, most of Florida and
the gulf coastal states where the winter temperatures don't get cold enough
to freeze the ground. There is also a species of Bulbophyllum which has
apparently managed the migration (the only african member of an otherwise
asian orchid genus). If orchids can do, its not hard to imagine aroids
managing the same feat.
Ron McHatton
