Appendage Development
- To: "Space Age Robin" <S*@yahoogroups.com>
- Subject: [SpaceAgeRobin] Appendage Development
- From: &* A* M* <n*@charter.net>
- Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2004 10:37:11 -0500
|
Patrick, I think you have cut to the core of the
issue of appendage development. Like you, I suspect the variations are the
result of a combination of influences.
I have noted that more nutrition
availablility in general gives more generously developed flower
form--width, substance, ruffling, branching, number of buds. I'm sure this
is also true of SA traits.
As the apical meristem of the growing rhizome
begins conversion to flowering from leaf development, it would seem likely that
the entire stalk develops from outside in. In other words, the leaflet on
the stalk is the first formation, the second the lowest branch as a lateral
meristem and so on. The terminal bloom may be one of the first of the
actual blooms to form, and seems to have the richest potential for
nutrient availability. Lateral branches are secondary to it, and the later
the blossom, the more nutrient exhaustion is likely.
SA characteristics are expressions of the fall
right at its origin and separation from the whorl that forms the standards and
stamens. This is occuring late enough in the development of the stalk that
nutrition and temperature (which can affect nutrient availability) as well as
pH, which also affects which (and when) nutrients are available can affect
flower form and elaboration with a high degree of variability. I would
expect the initiation of these structures are occuring in the late fall for
spring bloom. Temperature or moisture stress at those times would be
expected to have a significant influence on appendage exhuberance.
Also temperature gradients are important--rapid
changes make plant life difficult. Slow rates of change allow the internal
mechanisms of absorption and transport of nutrients to adapt. I would
expect these to influence appendage development more than any other flower
character except for ruffling--that would correlate with appendage development
rather closely, I suspect.
I suspect also that phospate availability more
than any other is critical, as phosphates are key to a number of plant
processes, especially those involving flowering and fruiting rather than
vegetative growth.
Soil particle makeup is critical also with
phosphates, as the P radicals adsorb so readily in clay soils, and are often in
a form that the root-hair zone of activity has to work hard to extract the
nutrient in practically all soils. I would think a medium loam with
moderately rich organics would be optimum, not only for P but for a number of
micronutrients in appropriate ratios--especially with enough Ca present to bring
the pH to near neutral from either side.
Most bearded species are from areas with neutral to
slightly alkaline "xerophytic" (dry, warm) soilsm which are generally high
in Ca availability. Those diploids in France, Germany and nearby areas may
be an exception. The climate would make for slightly acid soils except in
areas with high Ca parent materials--as is found in some parts of central and
western Europe.
I would think your conditions are a lot closer to
optimum than ours.
Anthocyanin intensity also seems dependent on some
factor during development--I read something about this in the last couple days,
and cannot remember where or what the specifics were. Somehow, seems
temperature at some critical stage of development was what was noted. I'm
not sure about that, however.
Neil Mogensen z 7 western NC
mountains
Yahoo! Groups Links
|
- Prev by Date: Seedling Beds
- Next by Date: hello
- Previous by thread: Seedling Beds
- Next by thread: hello