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From: Roy Herold <rrh at GENESIS.NRED.MA.US>
Subject: Re: Pinellia cordata
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At 7:18 AM -0400 6/17/98, Ellen Hornig is rumored to have typed:


> Paul Botting asked about my different clones of P. cordata.  Yes, one c=ame
> from Don Jacobs, and is (was - more in a moment) as he describes it -
> silver veins, purple backsides on the leaf.  The other comes from a
> friend, who got it from Japan - to my eye the coloration is much richer
> than in the Jacobs plant, with darker greens, brighter silvers, and dee=per
> purples, particularly along the petioles.  It is also much larger - jus=t
> from memory, I'd say leaves up to 8" aren't uncommon on the mature plan=ts
> - but certainly not large enough to lose its charm.  Anyway, I've prett=y
> much abandoned the Jacobs clone in favor of this one.

Being the source of the 'superior' P. cordata mentioned above, I'd like t=o
elaborate. I got these from the ARGS seedex about six years ago; they had
been donated by a member in Japan. Being an aroid neophyte at the time, I
haven't the foggiest idea if I received actual seeds or small bulbils. Wi=th
regard the silver markings, the intensity seems to be dependent on
culture-- I've had years when they weren't terribly happy (too much
shade?), and the leaves were almost completely green. This may explain th=e
variations that Paul B. is seeing. Everyone who has seen this plant is
amazed at how large it gets in comparison to ones they have seen elsewher=e.
I'd have to agree; ones I've seen in other gardens, and even in Japan, we=re
half the size. (I'm sure Ellen would be glad to supply you with the good
one.) Just out of curiosity, how large is the one that you folks grow in
England and Europe? (Paul C.? John G.? Guy? Wilbert?)

Oh, yes, I forgot one other difference between Pinellias and Arisaemas:
Pinellias repeat bloom in a single season, usually three times here.

Now, the important question: why won't Pinellia cordata set seed??? The
inflorescenses are most certainly monecious (sp?), but I have never seed =a
single mature seedhead. Yes, the bulbils go all over the place, but that
doesn't count. I was just looking at an inflorescence the other day, and
wondered if it might take a special pollinator. The spathe is tightly
constricted around the spadix just below the male flowers, and the female
flowers are in a little chamber below. The latter has a narrow opening to
the outside, but it is quite small-- more gnat size than bee or fly size.
Any idea what it might take to complete the process?

--Roy Herold