D. madagascariensis Flowers, Self?

[jimscott]

A few years ago I had a plant flower. The pod, however, had no seeds. Were my conditions not optimal or did I need to hand-pollinate or did I need to have another plant? Another is sending up a scape. What should I do?

 

[CPlantaholic]

hey jim, D. madagascariensis is self-fertile and can self-pollinate, but it never hurts to help them out occasionally. However, mine have always shot up into my light fixtures and burn once they've flowered, so I haven't been able to collect viable seed yet .

 

[mcantrell]

Not sure, mine flowered and I have 2 little seedlings that came out, but I also had some roots break off during repotting which I just threw into the pot with the new soil. So... Could be either.

 

[Not a Number]

Most South African Drosera will self-pollinate but outside of D. capensis it is hit-or-miss. It helps to hand pollinate but even then it is hit-or-miss - just better chances of a hit.

Drosera regia helps if you take day old pollen.

 

[RL7836]

Most South African Drosera will self-pollinate but outside of D. capensis it is hit-or-miss. It helps to hand pollinate but even then it is hit-or-miss - just better chances of a hit.

Drosera regia helps if you take day old pollen.

While I'm not familiar with this plant, 2 issues come to mind with pollination - even if self-fertile:
- inside a terrarium or very humid spot, pollen sometimes does not become friable and won't transfer from stamen to stigma. Many of my self-pollinating, self-fertile dews won't produce seed inside a terrarium...
- iirc - with D. regia (like VFTs), the stamen becomes receptive after the pollen becomes mobile. This may be true with other dews...

Sure wish we had a web-based reference with all of the dews and their pollination, fertilization status. Most dews are both self-pollinating & self-fertile. However, there are lots of exceptions & special cases... Petiolaris complex is neither, D. regia is self fertile but not self-pollinating (?), most D. binata's are not self-fertile iirc (w/ exception of one small red plant that becomes a weed), the 'sisters' rarely produce seed at all (not self-fertile?, conditions too humid for mobile pollen?) & on & on ... Hey Aaron - sounds like a great project (hint - hint) ....

 

[jimscott]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to try hand-pollinating. I understand that pollen is produced continuously for a few days. Is that right?

 

[CPlantaholic]

Hey Aaron - sounds like a great project (hint - hint) ....

haha. aww man, I actually tried starting that a while ago, but ran out of time. I'll try to work a little at a time to finish this one.