Stinking seeds
- To: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L
- Subject: Stinking seeds
- From: W* H*
- Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 16:49:48 -0500 (CDT)
Jonathan,
Never noticed that smell you describe for Amorphophallus seeds but also
never ever did try to smell that. Amorphs do seem to exploit a typical
bird-disperion syndrome with conspicuously coloured berries. Beats me why
after disperion and leaving the bird cloaca, a certain smell would be
necessary.
Wilbert
----- Original Message -----
From: Jonathan Ertelt <jonathan.ertelt@vanderbilt.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L <aroid-l@mobot.org>
Sent: donderdag 15 juni 2000 0:03
Subject: Re: Wilbert Hetterscheid admiration society?
> No, there was no subject heading exactly like that, but pretty close I
> think. In any case, I thought that I should mention in regard to crushed
> boxes and their contents that four of the crushed, no, only one was
> _crushed_, these were just severely flattened seeds of Amorphophallus
> muelleri seed I received, that I went ahead and stuck in the ground, all
> have now come up and some are showing a second leaf. The leaves are
> wonderful, with the white silver edging.
>
> BTW, did anyone know that the seeds of this species at least, are also
> quite odorific - not just the inflorescence! Now why would a plant
produce
> seeds that stink? Considerate animals that would scrape some dirt over it
> out of habit? Dung beetle invitation in order to get the seed germinating
> in some really rich medium? Any thoughts?
>
> Thank you sir.
>
> Jonathan
>
> Jonathan Ertelt
> Greenhouse Manager
> Vanderbilt University Biology Department
> Box 1812, Sta. B
> Nashville, TN 37235
> (615) 322-4054
>
>
>
>
