|
Post by peatmoss on May 19, 2016 20:22:11 GMT -5
I finally managed to capture a decent image of the flowers on my Myrmecodia solomonensis - they're weird, but pretty. I didn't even know my plants were flowering until I noticed what I thought was fungi sprouting from the stem. I haven't yet succeeded in getting seed, but hopefully I will soon. Myrmecodia tuberosa - Ant Plant Flower by Gabriel Levac, on Flickr Cheers, Gabriel
|
|
|
Post by morphman on May 19, 2016 21:18:43 GMT -5
Nice picture Gabriel. Soon you will have a little berry with a few seeds in it. Enjoy
|
|
|
Post by peatmoss on May 20, 2016 22:55:28 GMT -5
That's what I'm hoping!
So far I've had the flowers turn brown and fall off. Is there some pollination I need to do or will the seed just develop from in the stem or something?
|
|
|
Post by neilmac on May 21, 2016 10:54:08 GMT -5
Interesting skin texture
|
|
|
Post by morphman on May 21, 2016 11:10:16 GMT -5
The flower/berry should be ready pretty soon and if you don't pull it out and collect the seeds it just dies up. I was waiting for something more eventful to happen after the flower but nothing did. You just have to harvest the berries before they dry. That actually looks like it's almost ready to be squeezed and you can almost see the seeds inside.
|
|
|
Post by peatmoss on May 21, 2016 12:24:04 GMT -5
Interesting, all my flowers turn brown and shrivel up like this: And then eventually turn mouldy. I tried opening a flower that was at approximately the same stage as the one pictured above and found nothing resembling seeds. I've probably had about 12 flowers at this point, and none of them have done anything other than turn brown and eventually fall off. I can't figure out what I could be doing wrong to cause this - any thoughts?
|
|
|
Post by morphman on May 21, 2016 17:26:01 GMT -5
Hmmmm. I've only managed to get berries from my M. solomonensis and the little ones are still growing. I remember berries like my other plants and I believe your flowers are dying right before that stage for some reason. I'm going to have to do a bit more research to confirm if there is a need for pollination or not. Might make sense why I only succeed when I had multiple plants and then no more when I sold any extra plants leaving only single specimens. This might be the case foe some species but not all. Sorry I can't be more help Gabriel but it is interesting like you said. That little crevice behind the flower in the last pic looks like the one left after I pull out the berries.
|
|
|
Post by peatmoss on May 21, 2016 20:01:13 GMT -5
Interesting! I dissected a fully grown flower today, it appears that it needs to be opened manually in order to pollinate, but it should be possible for me to self them. I'll bet that the associated ant colonies are responsible for pollination in the wild, and that's why they don't necessarily self in cultivation. I have M. tuberosa flowering as well, so between the two and the number of flowers they're producing hopefully I'll have some success! I'll keep this thread updated with my findings!
|
|
|
Post by peatmoss on May 21, 2016 21:00:48 GMT -5
I just opened and attempted to hand pollinate a flower on M. solomonensis. They definitely don't open at any point during the flowering process in my collection, so maybe that was the problem I was having. They're absolutely shut even when mature, but they split into four "petals" easily when prodded with a pointed object.
I would guess (emphasis on guessing!) that the thick curly tips are a type of bait for ants, which pull open the flowers and then pollinate them by walking over them. Apparently colonies can span across multiple plants, so that would enable the plants to cross pollinate. Regardless, super weird flowers, and I'll update with what happens with this flower.
|
|
|
Post by morphman on May 21, 2016 21:13:06 GMT -5
I'm sure that the ants are not mandatory to get berries cause I don't have any ants but what I'm not sure about is if a single plant of M. solomonensis can flower and bear fruit on it's own ?? Now I have a new intellectual quest that will take God knows how long........ love it !
|
|
|
Post by cory on May 21, 2016 21:36:33 GMT -5
I always get seed and never have to pollinate
Are you fertilizing? Seed seems to take slot of energy from the plants so if your not some fertilizer may help
|
|
|
Post by peatmoss on May 21, 2016 21:40:19 GMT -5
I'll be curious to hear what you find!
I sure hope they can pollinate individually - otherwise we may have to meet half way between Ontario and Alberta so our plants can get it on!
|
|
|
Post by morphman on May 21, 2016 23:13:10 GMT -5
LOL !!!
Hey Cory can you confirm if M. solomonensis can fruit individually ? Is that just a given characteristic of the family ??
Cheers
|
|
|
Post by Justintime on May 21, 2016 23:40:13 GMT -5
I'm sure that the ants are not mandatory to get berries cause I don't have any ants but what I'm not sure about is if a single plant of M. solomonensis can flower and bear fruit on it's own ?? Now I have a new intellectual quest that will take God knows how long........ love it ! Lies mhmm I wonder if carpenter ants would take up residence and not kill one.
|
|
|
Post by morphman on May 22, 2016 1:44:27 GMT -5
Haha Justin.
I mean I don't have any ants "living in my plants". From what I understand relationship is pretty specific as far as what species of ants occupy a species of ant plants.
Might be worth a try though but I would probably try something other than carpenter ants.
|
|