3 replies to this topic

[James O'Neill]

Inspecting a stolon and leaf that has grown out of the side of my U. quelchii pot, I noticed that the stolon had small mucilage glands on it, with small amounts of sticky fluid, like very tiny pinguicula glands...has anyone ever noticed this before...and what is it for? A second method of carnivory, catching tiny soil creatures? Or something less dramatic?

I would take a photo, but they are too small for my camera to pick up.

[amphirion]

never noticed this phenomena before....throwing a hypothesis in the air, the mucilage could act as a water retainer to help the plant transition into producing tubers. would be exciting if it was an aid for carnivory indeed.

[mobile]

Interesting observation James. Do you know anyone with a macro lens, who could photograph it for you?

[Miloslav Macháček]

Better then use conventional macro lenses it's more effective use flash and reverse technique for this purpose  (I think). But it's shame that I did not have U.quelchi in my collection yet... My only older photo like this with "underground" stems or aerial runner is from U.nelumbifolia but it is totally different species... On young aerial stolons is something like glands - but hard to definite identify from photography...