Arisaema Ecology - References - Linda Schwartz, GRS

[George R Stilwell, Jr.]

I am looking from some specific info that perhaps some expert gardener
can answer.  I am writing a paper on the ecology of the
Jack-in-the-Pulpit.

In some of the references I have used, it is stated that the sex of the
plant is dependent upon the age, soil conditions and nutrition level of
the individual plant.

What I need to know is -- what are those soil conditions, age,
nutrition levels.  I have not been able to find a reference that
addresses this
specific point.  If anyone can provide me with these details, I would be
eternally
grateful.

If the material comes from a book, I would need its title,
authors, place of publication, publisher and copyright date.  If the info
is coming from your expertise, I would need to know your qualifications
for making the
statement.

Thank you for any assistance you can provide.  If you think you know a
site or person I can contact that might be able to answer this, I would
be
grateful for any leads also.  You can e-mail me at

Linda Schwartz
schwartzl at juno.com.


Linda,

Here are the original sources:

Richardson, C. & K. Clay 1995. The evolution and maintenance of sex
change in Arisaema triphyllum.
Am. J. of Botany, Supplement 82(6):55.

Wurdack, John J. 1983. Sex and Size in Arisaema. Bulletin of the American
Rock Garden Society. 41(1):9-10.

Bierzychudek, Paulette.  1981.  The demography of Jack-in-the-Pulpit, a
forest perennial that                    changes sex.  PhD thesis.

I don't have a record of other papers on the subject, but these papers
probably have bibliographies.

It is well understood that Arisaema starts it's sex life neuter, becomes
male in the second season, turns female in a couple of years.

You might be interested to know that some Arisaema species grow only a
corm and roots the first season (no leaf appears). The second season, the
stalk and leaves appear.

By the way, John Wurdak is a member of the Arisaema Enthusiast's Group
and might be very helpful. He is not on-line, so you'll have to
snail-mail him at:

John Wurdack
4400 Samar St.
Beltsville, MD 20705

Ray
GRSJr at Juno.com

Ray - thanks for the great references.  I received yours and one other
one so I think I may be in good shape -- pending actual retrieval of
the articles.  I appreciate your help greatly.

Linda Schwartz   --   Schwartzl at juno.com

Linda,

The reference Stacy refers to is:

Clay, K. 1993. Size-dependent gender change in green dragon (Arisaema
dracontium; Araceae).  American Journal of Botany 80:769-777.

Stacy, it's in the bibliography sent to you by the Arisaema Enthusiasts.
If it's Arisaema, why look further?

Ray
GRSJr at Juno.com