Re: Philodendrons produce infrared light???

**M* G* <g*@cict.fr>**

Dear Aroiders,

I'll not write a long e-mail because, as I wrote to some of you in private

messages, the research on this topic is in fact "very" recent even if the

idea is may be 20 years old.

Please find in attachment the figure of a recent paper written by Roger

Seymour (Univ. of Adelaide, Australia) and myself on the thermogenesis of

Philodendron melinonii.

The paper is a bit complicate but the this figure present a real picture

and the equivalent IR picture of the same inflorescence during

thermogenesis (heating phase).

Hence you can see the inflorescence like an insect could "see" it through

its IR receptors. Flashy!!! There is no question if the pollinating beetles

have IR receptors they can detect a heating inflorescence. The questions

now to study are:

Do Cyclocephala beetles have IR receptors ?
What are their sensibility & efficiency?

Are IR radiations used as a guide by Cyclocephala beetles to find the

inflorescences to visit or are odors sufficient ?

To finish, I would like to say that I have the honor to be the IAS speaker

during the Annual show next September, and that I'll pleased to tall you

some "nice "stories around thermogenesis and IR radiations.

All the best,

Marc
IR picture.doc
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