Re: HYB: Snapped stalk result

I have noticed that pods tend to develop to "full" size within two weeks after
pollination.  

Since I collect all my seed pods on a designated day, usually
between 4th and 10th of July, I shell pods at different stages of development,
rarely mature enough to begin to split.  My observation is that there is more
pith to remove on less mature pods and as might be expected less mature pods
yield slightly smaller seeds.

Given the above, I wonder if the seeds absorb
the pith somehow.

Christian




________________________________
From: Mary
Swann-Young <MryL1@msn.com>
To: iris <iris@hort.net>
Sent: Sunday, December
21, 2008 4:00:16 PM
Subject: [iris] HYB: Snapped stalk result

Surprised here
too.

Did have some stalks so damaged by high winds this year that
only 1/4 to
1/8 of stalk thickness was intact, yet pods still
matured normally.  Also had
some pods with horrible holes blown
through them that did fine.

Am guessing
the pod sucks the nutrients out of the stalk to
nurture the seeds. 
Perpetuating the species and all that.
I've always rationalized not getting
finished stalks cut off with
the theory that the rhizome reabsorbs nutrients
from the
finished stalk.

Sounds worthy of a small experiment next year, sugar
water
vs letting it lay.  Just have to set some pods on duplicate stalks
that
I don't intend to raise.  Shouldn't be hard.

Am currently looking at a potted
Bonus Mama with a pod on a lower
branch.  From the branch socket on up, the
finished stalk has
shrivelled, but not the lower stalk and branch with the
pod.  Have
seen this behavior, in variations, before on some varieties.  But
some will also have the whole stalk , with no pods, stay green for
weeks after
bloom is finished.

Mary Lou, near Indianapolis, Z5 - wind chill near zero.
C'mon April!
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