Ploidy and Fertility
J.E. Shields (Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:49:56 PST)

Hi Hans-Werner,

Thanks for the information. H. aulicum and H. papilio are both usually
diploids, but I think there are some triploid forms of aulicum. I have one
clone of aulicum that has never set seeds on or by anything; I suspect it
might be a triploid.

I have heard that Hippeastrum x-johnsonii is found as diploid (2n = 22),
triploid (2N = 33), and tetraploid (2N = 44) clones. I wonder if there
could be some apomixis going on where self-seeds are produced?

I have a bulb from the cross [papilio X pardinum] that has never set seed
for me. Years ago, I made the cross [lapacense X nelsonii] and got several
seedlings that bloomed, but they would never set any seeds. As far as I
know, lapacense, nelsonii, papilio, and pardinum are all diploids.

Next time you get some seeds from a complex Hippeastrum hybrid of the
species, please send them to Dell Sherk for the PBS BX/SX.

Best regards,
Jim Shields
in central Indiana (USA)

At 08:58 PM 12/12/2007 +0000, you wrote:

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Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd.
P.O. Box 92 WWW: http://www.shieldsgardens.com/
Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA
Tel. ++1-317-867-3344 or toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA