Re: Sauromatum x Pinellia hybrid.... and others...

**J* W* <j*@kc.rr.com>**

>  I've posted images of the flower this spring, and the plant as it 
>currently grows in comparison with both putative
>parents, Sauromatum venosum and Pinellia pedatisecta. 
>
>http://www.plantdelights.com/gallery/Aroids/Copy_of_Sauromatum_x_pinellia_in_bud


Dear Tony
	This is a fascinating topic. As you probably know both 
Sauromatum venosum (aka Typhonium) has a chromosome number of 2N= 26. 
This is the same for Pinellia pedatisecta and some (but not all ) 
others in this genus ie 2N = 26

	I realize that chromosome nos. of themselves has little 
meaning, but suggests a likelier road to hybridization.

	In your differentiation of these two species you did not 
mention what seems the easiest and most consistent feature- petiole 
pattern. In Sauromatum the petiole is more or less heavily brown 
spotted and blotched, while Pinellia pedatisecta has no spots and is 
uniformly green.  I have a hard time keeping Sauromatum alive 
outdoors in the ground, but somehow tubers pop up in pots as do 
Pinellia. The petiole pattern is always a dead give away even on 
small plants.

	I didn't find your pix of the hybrid flower, but I'll search 
some more unless you have a handy url.

	In this same discussion, the cv "Indian Giant' is brought to 
mind. This is a much larger form of S. venosum. Could it be a 
tetraploid? Has anyone compared chromosome numbers to the typical, 
smaller form? And is this, by the way, any more or less hardier than 
the typical form?

	And even a bit father afield are the 2 species Dracunculus 
vulgaris and Helicodiceros m. The former is found in the western 
Mediterranean islands and has a 2N= 28. The latter is found in the 
Eastern Medterranean with 2n = 56. Apparently there's no place where 
both occur in nature.

	Is Helicodiceros derived from a tetraploid ancestor of 
Dracunculus vulgaris or do they both share a diploid, and at one time 
more wide spread,  ancestor?  More importantly can they be hybridized 
to produce a triploid F1?

	Growing these species in close proximity as you do encourages 
bee produced hybrids to form. I really enjoy your exploring this 
here. More as I give it more thought.

		Best		Jim W.

-- 
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph.    816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
	Summer 100F +

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