Re: brugmansia

>Valerie Lowery@ZEON
>05/19/99 11:20 AM
>
>Don,
>
>I'm curious about the seed production of brugmansias. Are you saying that
>you have to have two different VARIETIES of brugmansias (i.e., a versicolor
>and a yellow-blooming variety) or different TYPES

Val,
What you need are simply 2 different individuals, not necessarily species (I don't know to what extent the different species within brugmansia can cross). The bottom line is that these are as far as I know, self-sterile (mother nature's way of discouraging incest). A cutting of the same plant won't do, since that is simply a clone of the first individual and, hence, genetically identical.


If pollination doesn't occur
>naturally, can I do that myself? The night pollinators seem to shy away
>from the huge blooms. If so, when is the best time?

You may sexyually indulge vicariously via your plants. You will want to wait to see that the pollen has been released on the anthers, usually by the second day - it will rub off on your finger or a Q-tip. Simply daub some of the pollen from one plant upon the pistil of the prospective mother.


What does the seed
>pod look like? I've had these trees several years and I can't say that I
>would know what one was if it jumped out and bit me!
>


Whereas the pods of datura are generally round in shape, the seed pods of brusmansias are boat or torpedo shaped, perhaps an inch or so in diameter, but 4-5 inches long. When the seeds are ripe the pod will split logitudinally along one side.

Good luck.

Don
Don Martinson
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin (Milwaukee suburb)
USDA Zone 5 (-10 to -20F)
AHS Heat Zone #4, Map at: ( http://www.suite101.com/userfiles/79/hz1024.jpg )
mailto:llmen@execpc.com

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