Jens R. Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 (edited) Hi, my Utricularia dunlopii plants have started to flower. Unfortunately I have trouble pollinating the flowers. They are extremely small, ca. 2 mm without the "antennae" and unlike other Utricularia flowers the corolla lobes cannot be forced apart. I tried it with a small brush but can't see if i have been successful. Any other ideas ? Regards Jens Edited January 19, 2008 by Jens R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FredG Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 Why is it called Drosera dunlopii if it's a Utricularia? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens R. Posted January 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 Why is it called Drosera dunlopii if it's a Utricularia? Because i am tired. I edited it. Jens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sheila Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 What a strannge looking flower. It's the first time I've seen pictures of this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Hingst Posted January 19, 2008 Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 Congrats, Jens! Search for toothpick and pollination here, there are some good advices. Regards Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilacina Posted January 19, 2008 Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 (edited) Very interesting flower Jens.Great job! I wish I had the persistence to try more of these annuals,but most of them disappear in my collection after being in flower. Edited January 19, 2008 by lilacina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens R. Posted January 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 Search for toothpick and pollination here, there are some good advices. I would have tried a toothpick, but the entrance is too small. A toothpick would tear the flower apart. I wish I had the persistence to try more of these annuals,but most of them disappear in my collection after being in flower. I know what you mean. I just sowed my few U. multifida seeds from last year's flowers. If they don't germinate I will loose this species too. Regards Jens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel H-C Posted January 19, 2008 Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 Hi All, These ephemerals are a nightmare! I've just lost the U. georgei I posted pictures of last summer. I grew and flowered this species about 13 years ago, and was confident I had achieved pollination using a toothpick, but alas not! Just got some more seed though so will try again. I wrote an article at the time, and in the same journal Allen Lowrie wrote an artice on pseudo-copulation pollination of this group of species. Perhaps you need more mosquitos!? Have you noticed the incredible perfume produced by the flowers in the evenings? This is the time when the mosquitos would appear in habitat I guess, and the flowers glow when the setting sun hits them at a certan angle. There are some plants even among our group of botnical mis-fits that really push the limits! Somewhere I have some pictures I took at the time and will post them if I can find them. I did have one image on the front cover of the CPS journal the following year. Nigel H-C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glider14 Posted January 19, 2008 Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 i may sound like im taing the easy rout...but just tear the flower then pollinate... once the flower is open enough you can get the pollen easier and pollinate. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fernando Rivadavia Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 Wow, what a fantastic species!! I would love to see a series of pics showing those antennae uncurling from within the closed flower bud! Anyways, by what I've seen. it seems that ripping it open wouldn't help since it's already open. For Lentibulariaceae, I used to use a piece of string pulled from my shirt or pants. I'd roll it up between my fingers and then poke around every day inside the flower. Good luck! Fernando Rivadavia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueflytrap Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 nice flowers! Many thanks for posting them Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens R. Posted January 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Wow, what a fantastic species!! I would love to see a series of pics showing those antennae uncurling from within the closed flower bud! Here is the only picture i have of the uncurling antennae: Regards Jens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Hingst Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Another nice picture, Jens! It also shows the unique and characteristic spur very well. Thanks Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyro Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Not sure of their availability to the general public but an inoculating wire (used in microbiology for making "stab" cultures) would probably suit your needs. Basically it is a thin platinum or NiChro wire mounted in a handle. You can also use a thin piece of fishing line. Same concept as Fernando except the fishing line is a bit more rigid so less likely to "crumple" when you are working with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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