Re: Hormones
- To: hosta-open@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Hormones
- From: M*@aol.com
- Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 19:34:59 EST
In a message dated 2/3/99 2:09:53 PM Central Standard Time, LakesideRM@aol.com
writes:
<< Paul are you calling the top of the plant above the rhizome the stem or are
you referring to the flower stalk as the stem?
Thanks,
Mary >>
The stem is the expanded eye, the flowering stem is called a scape (rising
up from the ground without leafs but with bracts only and have one or more
flowers) and it comes from the center of the "Stems" with the leaf stems
(petiole) .
The true stems of a Hosta are underground (rhizomes) they produce leaves that
are made up of the petiole and the expanded blade.
What happens when you force the Hosta to grow threw more soil is that some of
the petiole tissue develops the ability to produce roots.
When you dig a Hosta up when it is flowering or when it has a scape and you
peel off the leaves you will find that the scape comes from the center of the
eye -- which is rhizome tissue and has ridges around it with secondary buds.
The petioles (stems) you have peeled off will root if there is some rhizome
tissue on it.
Making the plant to grow threw more soil causes some of that tissue to produce
roots.
Many Hosta have the ability to produce stolons, which are branches off of the
rhizomes. Stolons have the ability to root. and in fact what happens is that
when the eye has to work its way to the surface it is really a stolon.
I probably made it more confusing _ if I could make a diagram it would be
easy.
Paul Henjum
Specialty Perennials
http://hardyplants.com
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