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From: Robin Bell <rgb2 at CORNELL.EDU>
Subject: cleaning berries
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A couple of comments, one to reinforce Ernie's description of
what happened after he cleaned seeds. For me, it was A. sikokianum x
takaedae, which I had cleaned before exactly as Ernie described,
without consequence. This time, my fingers became painful while I was
cleaning, but I, too, kept going with precisely the same results.
Except that my opposed index finger & thumb are still sore some 3 wks
later & I have lost 2 separate layers of skin off both sites on my
right hand. I am not sure about the spicules thing but a recent
cleaning of some ringens seeds was done using gloves that were pretty
thin surgical type ( one does learn ) & I had no additional
discomfort, fingers were still sore from the previous effort. I will
check out some berries microscopically to see if there are
discernable spicules. I did think while I was cleaning the ringens
seed that the juice that is occasionally squeezed out with the seed
could be dangerous if it squirted into an eye. I am more inclined to
go for toxic, but it would be hard to rule anything out on this,
including allergic responses. Does anyone know?
Second point/question, I have grown A. flavum for several
years now & am having a hard time rationalising keeping it at all.
It's the only Arisaemia that I can't find much appeal in. Flowers are
diminutive, seed set is enormous,as is germination, bloody thing
flops all over so it looks like hell and, unlike many other species,
the foliage isn't too attractive. Pluses (?) are the color which is
rare but that's about it. I have just thrown out a lot of tubers (
wouldn't wish them on anyone ) & replanted a few in a sunny drier
spot to see if I can cure its unlovely habit. So, my questions are: I
have read that it is a very variable species with forms that have
large flowers, are there some that have attractive flowers that are
in cultivation? The other question is has anyone tried crossing it as
the color on a different plant form could be very appealing & perhaps
justify keeping it around for this purpose alone. What other
experiences are out there with flavum?
Robin Bell, Ithaca, NY
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