Arisaema TOW
Robert Hamilton (Wed, 20 Aug 2003 04:06:26 PDT)

Hi Jane and others,

I sounds like a very desirable form of Arisaema flavum to me!!

Yes I am very fond of this genus and Alberto mentioned one of
the traits which I really like with this genus. That is, seed
germinates so easily at any time of the year provided it is warm
enough. So as an Australian whose collection started in the
Northern Hemisphere seed exchanges it meant getting two seasons of
growth in the first year.

Seed sown in late summer germinates readily and grows on often into
winter. After a short dormancy they will reappear in the next spring
(which is is the same calendar year for us) although they often
appear a little later and some species notably A sikokianum
occasionally stays in the same cycle that it germinated , taking
some years to acclimatize.

As a general rule when in doubt I keep Arisaema species I am not
sure about dry during winter. (but not 1st and 2nd season seedlings
which get winter rain) This has caused some cultural problems . I
put a pot containing a couple of A angustatum seedlings which didnt
appear last summer aside, intending to tip out and tidy. It sat on
my potting table experiencing winter rain and yesterday I
discovered an emerging shoot. The lesson being that this species
sulked because of the winter dryness.

So many bulb genera have fairly rigid cultural needs and cycles
- Arisaema certainly doesnt and its oddball habits and appearance
endear it to me.

Cheers,

Rob in Tasmania