As the wheat - rice issue I think they remove the flowers to facilitate air movement to dry the cut rice stalks. Arnold Icy New Jersey Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 8, 2015, at 9:47 AM, Jim McKenney <jamesamckenney@verizon.net> wrote: > > Several things about the commentary which accompanies these videos prompt some questions. > Which Lycoris is shown here? My guess is that it is the big triploid form of Lycoris radiata. It is mentioned that they don't reproduce from seed. In any case, my impression is that these are garden plants, not wild plants. > And why are the flowering stems cut and taken away? The explanation given in the video is that the flowers will interfere with the ripening of the wheat grown alongside the Lycoris. But I wonder if there isn't another explanation: Lycoris pollen is probably toxic, and perhaps the Lycoris flowers are removed to prevent the ripening wheat from being contaminated with the toxic Lycoris pollen. > Jim McKenneyMontgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where the Lycoris in the cold frames look great, the ones out in the open look like they have been in a fight. > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/