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Post by kevnep on Jul 8, 2012 3:58:06 GMT 7
hey guys i have a few utrics flowering and i would like to make some seeds. Now first of all how do i pollinate those flowers i mean i have no idea where the pollen is? Can anyone help me? I kinda want some illustrations please
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Post by 31drew31 on Jul 8, 2012 6:06:24 GMT 7
Kevin if you use google, you will find the info you need. To be successful consistently you will need a good magnifying glass, or better yet, a small microscope.
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Post by Dave Evans on Jul 18, 2012 8:57:05 GMT 7
The process is simple and the same for Pinguicula and Genlisea. Doubt you'll need lenses for most species.
Inside the flower, there is a flap. The stigma is the small hole directly above the flap which is where you place the pollen. Under the flap are the anthers. The flap blocks the pollen from self pollinating the flower.
It works like this: A pollinator with pollen on its head enters the flowers and the top of its head pushes the pollen into the stigma, which is sticky and picks up all the pollen pushed against it. As the insect pushes its head further into the flower it goes past the flap for its drink of nectar. As it backs up its head pushes the flap back exposing the anthers and new pollen while covering the stigma. The pollen gets dumped on the insect's head and it leaves for the next flower. Since the flap is in the way, the pollen of the same flower doesn't pollinate itself.
All you have to do is gently mimic the motion of the pollinators with correspondingly similarly sized piece of material--like a tooth pick can work very well for some species.
I've heard of some folks using cat whiskers as they are finer. Whatever you use has to be slightly rough so it picks up the pollen.
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Post by hcarlton on Jul 18, 2012 11:43:31 GMT 7
Actually, the stigma is the flap, or at least a good portion of it is.
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