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Surprise!GourdsDevelopedByPollinatorFlowers
This year,2005,After growing large martin house gourds for 12 years from the same seed line,some of my gourds have borne small seedless gourds at a few of the pollinator flowers.They Form at the bottom of the Calyx as if the flower was a seed producer instead of a pollinator that has no style and stigma.Disection reveals that only anthers are presant in the type flowers that make a fruit. These pollinator flowers produced gourds are very small , but very hard shelled . ranging in size from about 1 or 2 inches diameter to about 3 or 4 inches diameter, they have for the first time been produced by my bottle gourds this year. They are hollow when dry, but contain a pulp while growing . I would like to hear about any similar Occurrence
of this phenomenon ! I dont beleive its unheard of ; just somewhat rare.
The Pollinator flowers that will produce the curious fruit develope a bulbous portion just above the top of the stem at the bottom of the calyx If undisturbed this bulb grows into a small gourd after the flower withers . The bottom part of the calyx doesn't wither. Inside the bulb there has already formed a globular container(the young tender shell) that is complete extending under the nectaries and is full of pulp that later becomes placental -like, but no sign of ovules can be seen . I have found that the soft, tender shell is formed before the flower has opened and becomes hard and durable with a scar where the flower had been .
My female flowers regularly form gourds that are up to 24 inches long and 8 to 11 inches diameter at the biggest end . go to category EDUCATION to click to my My albums on aol. View many gourd and gourd flower Pictures including disected Flowers both normal and Modified. Peregocnd@aol.com
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