Bobs Affixed Aquatic Utrics

From: Loyd Wix (Loyd.Wix@unilever.com)
Date: Mon Mar 02 1998 - 05:49:40 PST 

Date: 02 Mar 1998 13:49:40 Z
From: Loyd Wix <Loyd.Wix@unilever.com>
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg805$foo@default>
Subject: Bobs Affixed Aquatic Utrics

          Dear Bob and other interested parties on the list,

          As I am back in the UK for the time being I will share the
          experience that I have had with these plants.

>Greetings, my question is directed to the Utric buffs. I
>recently recieved some seed for several affixed aquatic
>species, and Im wondering about the proper germination
>protocol for them. I presume that I follow the normal
>method but as they germinate i increase the water level to
>the proper depth. Should I keep the medium wetter(soggy)
>than what is normal for terrestrial
>species until germination?

          Bob, I suspect that your affixed aquatics are from Western
          Australia, U.volubilis, violacea, benthamii and perhaps
          helix? If so this is the method I have used to successfully
          germinate these plants:

          compost approx 50:50 peat:silver sand

          the following rough diagram shows the approx arrangement:

                           -I I-
                   *********I************I****** water level
                            I############I compost level
                            I I
                            I I
                            I I Pot
                            I I
                            I I
                            I------------I

          Basically grow the sown pots very wet! Fill the pots with
          compost leaving about 1cm between the compost surface and
          the lip of the pot. Sow the seeds on the surface - do not
          cover them. Place the pot in a propagator or other suitably
          deep container and raise the water level to be about the
          same or slightly higher than the compost surface. Thus there
          is a clear film of water over the seeds. The gap between the
          rim of the pot and the compost surface prevents the seeds
          from being washed out the pot. At temps of 20 to 25 deg C
          germination usually takes 6 to 8 weeks.

          Once the seeds have germinated they may be covered with more
          water to submerge the plants particularly U.volubilis and
          helix. U.volubilis is found flowering in water depths of
          1meter. My plants are under about 5cms of water and have not
          yet flowered - I think I need a bigger (deeper) bucket!

          Hope this helps and best of luck.

          Kind regards

          Loyd

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