Seed ripening time

[Bonaventure W Magrys]

When will seed on A.triphyllum pollinated on 2/29/00, by taiwanensis, be ready
for harvest? Berries are now the size of small green peas. See A.triphyllum
'Holmdel Giant' #2 below.

A.triphyllum 'Holmdel Giant' A collection of clones from THP '97, in trashy
choked secondary forest behind parking lot, and their offsets. 2 giants under my
lath '98 (3' tall) and another Jon's side yard. Huge again in 99 with clumping
under lath. Dug up after summer 99 drought early dormancy and put in fridge. Out
in 12/99, under metal halide light on grid bare-bulbed. Pointing and rooting by
end of month. Potted soon after..(3/7/00 note - too soon, delay next year for
pollen of other species coming up later and growing more slowly.)
#1 - In bloom 1/26/00. 2' tall,  female infl.. Green-chocolate spathe with
rolled edges. Club-like thick spadix, unusual. Bloom lasted almost 2 weeks. On
living room window 2/00 with 1 hr late afternoon sun this time of year. Seed
head persistant, looked like forming,  picked off. Don't want a selfing, want to
make hybrid seed! 2/24/00 2 leaves up dark green still look good. Put outside in
full sun 3/8/00. Still out there taking it 3/27/00. Wet weather, put in covered
baby crib cold frame under plastic and pot removed to dry out soil, no more
water will be given 4/10/00 (thinks its August).
#2 -  A real big one potted 2/00 on cellar floor. 2/18/00 1 by 1" thick primary
shoot, straw thin side shoot. Want to keep slow in case taiwanensis finally
opens and gives pollen. On livingroom window  2/20/00 3" tall. 6" tall, side
shoot 8" with leaf unfurling 2/24/00. Very tall, 2'+, plant with average female
inflorescens brought to lab 2/29/00 with attempts to pollinate by taiwanense #2.
Flush method with eyedropper was used though taiwanense #2 did not appear to
have any loose pollen, the berries appear swelling, spathe still looking good
3/7/00. Spathe almost totally dried off now, berries looking larger 3/27/00.
Berries still look good and leaves good, slit cut down side of pot to aerate
medium, getting too compact and soggy (problem with many of them), 4/17/00.
#3 - Potted 1/04/00. In lab shaded (desk) window. Average female inflor. with
good chocolate stripes faded 2/18/00. Plant 2' tall. No unusual spadix like #1.
Found to have a few male stamens present on spadix above the stigmas. No pollen
shedding (wanted some for other species coming into bloom). As in #1 picked off
persistent "cone" so that it will not develop. Put on sunnier side of lab for
better tuber development 2/28/00. OK still 3/16/00. Pot slitted last week, dried
stalks and damp tuber removed and loosely wrapped in newspaper to dry further in
drawer 4/14/00. Checked, almost dry, offsets visible 4/17/00.
#4 - Potted 1/05/00. About 1.5cm tuber  plant 18" tall. Same flower as #3,
female. Starting to fade 2/18. Spathe dry 2/24 and again spadix and berries
persistant. Possible 2-3 male flowers (hard to tell structure) near top. Will
leave for a while. Berries do not look like swelling more, leaves ok and dark
green 3/16/00. Fruit dried out and died 3/27/00. Knocked out of pot and left on
sill to dry 4/11/00.