Was pollination - Dracunculus
James Waddick (Mon, 31 May 2004 15:40:14 PDT)

Dear All;
Judy's mention of pollination coincides with the 4 th (of 6)
flowers on Dracunculus vulgaris. This is a tuberous aroid of the
Mediterranean.
For years I was frustrated growing this thing until some kind
person sent me larger tubers. I realize now that they take years from
seed. Much longer than I anticipated. May be might colder climate and
they grow slower.
The huge maroon-red spathe opens on the first day and
attracts more flies than you thought were in the neighborhood. The
smell of 'something dead' can be overpowering. Hope for an 'up' wind.
But your nose tells you when a new flower has opened.

I just recently heard of a couple of intrepid plant hunters
who went to the island of Crete while this stinker was in full bloom.
There they collected tubers of a pure white-flowered form and other
with various white/maroon marbling in the spathe. There are tales of
yellow flowers also.
The plant typically has white 'chevron' marks on the
multi-part foliage and they found some with highly marked 50/50
green/white foliage too.

Really well grown healthy specimens there approach 7 ft in bloom. Wow.

I can only hope that as they settle in, more variants will
get into the hands of good propagators. I didn't learn if the white
flowers smelled any better- or worse.

Always something new out there. Best Jim W.

--
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 +