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hardy  Aroids)" <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL> Aroids)" <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL>
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From: Barry Yinger <asiatica at NNI.COM>
Subject: Re: What is the name of this plant?
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No, no, no; slugs eat them but do not pollinate them.  Most asarums are
boletus mushroom mimics, pollinated by fungus gnats, and the strange
conformation of the inside of the flower is part of a ruse.  The inside
of the flower has the texture, moisture level, and temperature of
boletus fungus fruiting bodies, which are attractive to the gnats.  The
eggs are laid there, and in the course of their mating ecstasy, the
gnats pollinate the flowers.  The larvae hatch, start to feed, and die,
as the flowers are poisonous to many creatures (not slugs I am sad to
say). Many asarums are gnat specific, which is why many species
(including splendens) rarely set seed in cultivation.

Barry Yinger
USDA Zone 6
Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, USA

> Flowers of Asarum splendens.  Noted for having some of the largest
> flowers of the genus.  Incredibly neat items that I understand are
> pollinated by slugs.
>
> Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> mtalt at hort.net
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