Dave, I was given the typical form of Bowiea volubilis, as in your picture, years ago and have grown it since then (in a greenhouse, NW Arkansas), and it's in growth now, though not yet in flower. I've never tried to self it, and normally there are no spontaneous seeds set, but I seem to remember that I did get seeds one year. But I also grow the gariepensis subspecies, and have had the "nana" form in the past - though I can't seem to find it today - and the greenhouse is open for ventilation when it's warm, so those might have been hybrid seeds courtesy of some passing insect. I don't need more of that form, so I didn't sow the seed and can't be sure it was viable. I'll try to do a more controlled experiment when I see flowers this time. I did try selfing the gariepensis once and did not get seed. Steve On 1/5/2021 5:04 PM, David Schaeffer via pbs wrote: > As per request, attached are a current photo of what I'm calling the > typical form - this particular plant is about 3 and 1/2 in across and just > divided for the first time at just under 4 yrs old from a bulb scale > cutting - and an older shot of the "nana". The pic isn't the best but it > does show the characteristically more robust and erect "branches" on the > inflorescence. The bulb was below soil level at the time of the photo. For > those who care about these things, the B. volubilis "nana" is an > incorrigible summer grower, breaking dormancy in May or June. Seeds ripen > and the vines begin to yellow in September/October, but I've never seen it > manage to shut down on its own before frost - I have to bring it in. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: pbs [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net] On Behalf Of > David Schaeffer via pbs > Sent: Tuesday, January 5, 2021 3:15 PM > To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > Cc: David Schaeffer <schaefferdallen@gmail.com> > Subject: [pbs] Bowiea volubilis seed production > > Since I mentioned Bowiea in a recent post...what's the deal with Bowiea and > selfing? I have had Bowiea "nana" for many years and it selfs easily and > prolifically - I find myself discarding large amounts of harvested seed, in > fact. > > I assume "nana", which I obtained from Grigsby's (well, a nursery that > obtained it from Grigsby's) is what used to be called B. kilimandscharica - > it certainly matches the few photos I can find of that plant and is > obviously distinct from the "typical" horticultural form (the familiar > bloated monster with its wispy vine). > > But said "bloated monster" seemingly will not self. I've even tried one of > Steve Hammer's mesemb tricks, applying pollen on consecutive days, to no > avail. I often get fruit, but they yellow and wither along with the vine at > the end of the season, containing no viable seed. OTOH, I see seed offered > for sale with some regularity, particularly from European sellers. > > I recall academic references to B. volubilis showing frequent > irregularities > during meiosis, and some websites mentioning the plant doesn't set seed > often. > > What's your experience with the "typical" B. volubilis - the type with > potentially fist-sized bulbs and finer-branched pendant inflorescences, > whose bulbs tend to stay at the surface of the soil - as far as seed > production goes? > > Thanks and regards, > > Dave > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>