Bulb structure of Ungernia

James Waddick jwaddick@kc.rr.com
Tue, 23 Dec 2003 09:09:13 PST
Dear All;
	The bulbs of the genus Ungernia seem to be unique among bulbs 
and I am asking for any info on similar structures.

	Many bulbs in the Amaryllidaceae and other families have a 
basal plate that connects all the scales, stems and other structure. 
As the bulb ages this basal plate is replaced. In Ungernia, this old 
basal plate is apparently retained from year to year so that 
eventually these old basal plates 'pile up' to form a sub-bulb 
rootstock. In a 'Plant Life' article (1970 p 178) there is a picture 
of this sub-bulb rootstock branched with two bulbs attached. On the 
following page of this same article, the author suggests this 
rootstock can get to be a half meter (19 inches) long!

	I have attached a picture to the wiki* of three small bulbs 
of Ungernia (possibly U. oligostroma**) showing three small bulbs 
each with their odd sub-bulb rootstock. I find this very peculiar and 
wonder if any other bulb does anything like this?
	I am not even sure to call it a sub-bulb rootstock or what; 
any suggestions?
	Any ideas and anyone seen anything similar?

	Happy Holidays to all		Jim W.

ps I'll summarize some new Ungernia info soon, too.


* http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/…
		 Thanks Mary Sue

** U. oligostroma has the smallest bulbs in the genus. These are 
about 2 cm across and the largest is 13 cm long. The largest bulbs 
are found in U. trisphera: up to 12 cm (nearly 5 inches) in diameter! 
Most species have bulbs in the 5-7 cm diameter (2-3 inch) range of 
size.
-- 
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph.    816-746-1949
E-fax  419-781-8594

Zone 5 Record low -23F
	Summer 100F +


More information about the pbs mailing list