Is that thing an epicotyl?
Joe Shaw (Fri, 21 Jul 2006 16:08:38 PDT)

Hi Gang,

I do have a question, this note is not all self-promotion (by the way, this
message was cross-posted at the IBS).

I had a good time giving the Crinum lecture at Mercer Arboretum in Houston,
TX. Afterwards, the Mercer staff got a golf cart and took me (and another
PBS member or three) down to the Mercer Crinum Garden.

Mercer Arboretum has many Crinum hybrids, most of them apparently provided
over the past 20 years by Marcelle Sheppard. The plants are happy and
healthy in appearance, but are clearly awaiting a remake of the water-area
garden. After the remake they will surely get a bit more light and a bit
more fertilizer and irrigation; perhaps they will boom more heavily. No
matter the current conditions, the plants are in good shape and correctly
labeled. The C. asiaticum-types seem to be especially happy and produce
seedlings with abandon.

Anyway, I was happy to find that 2 PBS members attended my talk, maybe more
were in attendance but did not seek to announce themselves. At least 1 IBS
member attended too. I was happy to connect with them.

The PowerPoint presentation is online at
http://www.opuntiads.com/mercers/Mercer.ppt .

I hope bulb clubs and societies can use it. Of course, resale of images is
not permitted but educational use is encouraged (non-profit use is allowed).

QUESTION:

I am still unsure about the anatomy/morphology of Crinum seeds as they
germinate. They send out an extension, from which the shoot and root
develop. What is the name of that initial extension/growth? I've been
calling it an "epicotyl" but I'm not sure that is the correct term.

Cordially,

Joe

Conroe, TX

Temperatures were easily 95 F today (35 C), and may have been 100 F (39 C).