Podophyllum pleianthum ....and others

[Kristl Walek]

Hello All,
I have heard all sorts of theories about the hesitancy of this species to produce seed in cultivation.
Anyone want to add to the theories?

Does anyone here actually get seed?

Kristl
Gardens North

[Carlo]

Kristl,

Why don't you briefly run down the theories you've heard to date?

[Kristl Walek]

oh, Carlo, if only I could remember how to access the Alpine-L logs or had the time to search---for 4 years I have searched for seed of this species---and never an offer---but plenty of comments about "I have the plant, fruit formation, empty fruits"....and as I recall theories of single clones (which could make sense), or the need for sufficiently large colonies, pollinator problems....

I do now have a Belgian friend who is sending me a plant this fall---he has quite a colony, and reports empty fruits as well.....

Kristl
Gardens North

[Lesley Cox]

I don't have this species and so far as I'm aware, it's not in NZ. But a friend in Australia bought one from a Tasmania nursery in April, specifically because the plant had a fruit on it. In the event, it didn't develop fully and like yours, had nothing in it. There were a dozen or so in the nursery but whether grown from seed or otherwise, I don't know. Might be worth an enquiry to the nursery in question -

Sally Johannsohn - Plunt Hunters, 1115 Huon Road, Neika, TAS 7054, Australia.

I have no email address for Sally, but a very nice person who I'm sure would share any information she could.

[Lesley Cox]

Now my memory clicks into gear, there was a gorgeous photo of the fruits of PP. hexandrum (red), peltatum (orangey-yellow) and pleianthum (white) in and AGS Bulletin a few years ago so someone, somewhere must be getting seeds. No doubt Chen Yi or someone in China does so as well.

[Maggi Young]

well done, Lesley!
It is the Alpine Garden Society Bulletin Volume 64, number 3 of September 1996. Starting on page 334 there is an article by pharmacist Belma Komuklugil and botanist Julian Shaw, about "Alpines and medicines: A look at Podophyllum and Linum.
 Haven't had a chance to read through it, but it may shed light. If you haven't got the bulletin, Kristl and would like to see the article, give me a PM and I'll photograph it for  you .
Cheers,
Maggi

[rob krejzl]

Not sure if Sally's are Chen Yi or Heronswood (which I suppose is probably Chen Yi once removed). Surely you northern hemisphere-ers would do better going direct to the Chinese source?

[Diane Clement]

Not sure if Sally's are Chen Yi or Heronswood (which I suppose is probably Chen Yi once removed). Surely you northern hemisphere-ers would do better going direct to the Chinese source?

"The Chinese source" (Chen Yi, not sweet and sour) is rumoured to be no longer in business, unless anyone knows to the contrary?

[Maggi Young]

Haven't heard, Diane.

[Lesley Cox]

It is the Alpine Garden Society Bulletin Volume 64, number 3 of September 1996.

Gosh, as long ago as that? I was thinking 2 or 3 years. No wonder I'm getting ancient if the years are going by so quickly. I was going to have a poke among back Bulletins over my lunch so I'll know to go to a different shelf altogether. Thanks Maggi. Don't the different fruits look stunning?

I'm not sure if it's still the case, but a short time ago P. hexandrum was being used at a local Agresearch facility, for extraction of whatever it's chemicals are, for cancer drug research. And as the AGS article says, it has become virtually extinct in the wild, or some parts of it, because it's used as a cure for various ailments.

I note the article aslo says that "Seed is rarely produced in cultivation because the plants are self-sterile, so two compaticle clones are needed to effect viable seed set."

[rob krejzl]

"The Chinese source" (Chen Yi, not sweet and sour) is rumoured to be no longer in business, unless anyone knows to the contrary? 
Posted on: Today at 11

I was talking recently to someone who's imported from her - according to him plants are being stockpiled at some secret location ready for a relaunch (a lot of wishful thinking there I suspect).

[Lesley Cox]

I just had an email from an Aussie friend who imported from her late last year and he too, had heard that she has closed down. He thought it could be because she'd had so much feedback from people who had had their imports die. On the other hand, he says she could be just away and out of contact, collecting.

[Staale]

The self sterility thought seems probable, but I doubt it to be the case for P. hexandrum. My one adult plant produces fruit with plenty of seed in it, and there must be several kilometers to the next flowering plant. The seed sprout well too, when buried around the mother plant. P. pleianthum is not yet in my garden, unfortunately, so no experience there. I am (like many) hoping to get a new list from Chen Yi this autumn, in wich case this gorgeous plant will be on my list.

[ian mcenery]

Bought this plant a couple of years ago from Long Acre also seems to be available from PC see links below. Hope this helps

http://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eplantsforshade%2eco%2euk%2facatalog%2fsearch%2ehtml&WD=podophyllum&PN=Podophyllum%2ehtml%23a1003#a1003

http://www.rareplants.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=964&strPageHistory=search&strKeywords=podophyllum&numPageStartPosition=1&strSearchCriteria=any&PT_ID=all

There are are whole family of these lovely plants and I have been collecting them but it seems that they take a long time to grow and flower

[Kristl Walek]

Regarding hardiness--average lows are -35C here (although -45C is not uncommon). Podophyllum hexandrum and P. peltatum (native to this general part of the world) both do well here. Interestingly, P. hexandram does significantly better than our own native P. peltatum---I raise more and more hexandrums (emodi) each year from seed- have had flowering (and good sized always-filled fruits) within 3 years even on tiny plants, 30cm plants.

I first saw P. pleianthum at the Montreal Botanic Garden perhaps 10 years ago (where I fell in love with it) and wanted to grow it ever since (but problems obtaining seed---and no suppliers---the Chinese are absolutely verboten from doing business in Canada---so Chen Yi was not an option.

Can someone suggest another hardy species--and if you grow it---may I beg a few seeds?

Kristl
Gardens North