Re: SPU: Spent bloom stalks
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: SPU: Spent bloom stalks
- From: B* S* <b*@tiger.hsc.edu>
- Date: Tue, 27 May 1997 07:10:11 -0600 (MDT)
I think I have this right. Spurias differ from all other iris in that
instead of having the bloomstalk terminal on the rhizome, the growing
point of the bloomed rhizome continues to elongate beyond the stalk and
will arise and bloom next year as well. Increase results from side buds
that eventually get far enough away from the terminal to escape its
dominance.
Given this, I've always just clipped off any seed pods and left the leafy
bloomstalks on my spurias, so they can provide some additional food for the
rhizome. I find that they stay green and only die back with the rest of
the foliage. They're so leafy that they don't look bad at all, amongst all
the other leaves.
I think I'm beginning to get real interested in spurias. Got to make some
more space!
Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@tiger.hsc.edu>
