Derrick Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 Zhon Bosco Miriona a tourist entrepreneur at Arawa on Bougainville island who is on Facebook has just posted this message "Derrick anyone wants seeds can contact me now." I suggest however that contact be made privately. There is some history about this subject that I don't have sufficient time to repeat again. I have already done so on the Facebook myrmecophytes group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrick Posted February 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 I have been asked if Bosco (as he prefers to be called) is reliable. This site provides background. http://bougtours.com/about-us/ Previous attempts to purchase seed proved to be expensive and disastrous but the source then was a young guide who was unreliable; sending seed surface mail. However, having said this, in those days the nearest post office was on nearby Buka Island just off the north coast that entailed a seven hour journey north with about 15 often hazardous river crossings (tropical rains) and then a boat ride across a narrow strait. Now all river crossings are bridged (Japanese aid) and a post office opened in Arawa very recently. There are daily flights into Buka from Port Moresby, so if seed is sent AIRMAIL the day it is collected and correctly packaged it should arrive viable. H. kajewskii seed has remained viable for two weeks. Bosco is on Facebook and is able to view content on the myrmecophytes group, so he knows that Solomon Island plants are very very rare outside of their islands, so expect them to be expensive initially. Can I guarantee success, in a word no; however, of all the people I met on Bougainville, Bosco is surely your very best chance of a good outcome. I would suggest posting him the materials that you wish the seed to be packed in, along with packaging instructions. Such as "wrap seed in slightly damp tissues and place in small plastic zip bags." Such materials will not be easily available there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 Bonjour very interessant proposition, see my PM just for the packet some others arrangement , use a caps from water or milk bottle , and put inside the drupe not the seeds , the drupe keep often the seeds in good condition without rot on several days , no damp tissues , it is also a fresh guarantee . Just also in a bubble envelope I use often this method everywhere in the word with sucess . jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 Bonjour very interessant proposition, see my PM just for the packet some others arrangement , use a caps from water or milk bottle , and put inside the drupe not the seeds , the drupe keep often the seeds in good condition without rot on several days , no damp tissues , it is also a fresh guarantee . Just also in a bubble envelope I use often this method everywhere in the word with sucess . jeff Hi Jeff, this works well for several days as long as the berry is not hurt and you do not exceed a certain timespan. The problem is, that the berries seem to contain substances that essentially kill the seeds if they are not "harvested" by animals in time, to avoid them germinating on the plants. I have carried seeds for several weeks that were thoroughly cleaned under running water using a small tea strainer and then placed between slightly damp layers of tissue in small Zip-Loc bags and put into the dark ASAP. The darkness is important - if traces of light hit the seeds they will start to germinate... All the best Andreas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrick Posted February 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 https://www.facebook.com/zhon.miriona It seems Bosco does not have an email address, so as far as I am aware he can only be contacted through Facebook, snail mail or cell phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DischidiaGuy Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 This is great info, thank you. He would not answer me when I asked about guaranteed live arrival. Only said that he'd sent some to the UK successfully. I guess they say that great risk provides great rewards. If I make a purchase, I will gladly keep you all up to date on how the process goes. I would appreciate if anyone else purchases some seed that they do the same. It'd be nice to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 This is great info, thank you. He would not answer me when I asked about guaranteed live arrival. Only said that he'd sent some to the UK successfully. I guess they say that great risk provides great rewards. If I make a purchase, I will gladly keep you all up to date on how the process goes. I would appreciate if anyone else purchases some seed that they do the same. It'd be nice to know. I will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrick Posted February 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 Bosco may need some updating on the species in Tunurua mangrove swamp. H. guppyanum is another highly unique, higher-perched species with large, smooth tubers and largish leaves on very long stems. Internally it resembles Fijian Squamellaria. H. longistylum is a smaller, often much lower perched species with a very roughened tuber with many entrances and smaller but somewhat thicker semi-succulent leaves. Myrmecodia tuberosa "salomonensis" is also common in the swamp but it is also very common at higher elevations. I have now posted images of all Bougainville species that I found. There are also Dischidia species one of the imbricata leaf form possibly D. milnei a name reported from the Solomons and a probable small form of D. nummularia as well as a rather succulent leafed species that often accompanies hydnophytinae. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrick Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 I have been corresponding with Bosco and sent him images of guppyanum and longistylum via Facebook. His email address is bougtours@hotmail.com but he will only have cell phone access not a computer. How much is he charging? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrick Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Bosco has contacts on the nearby Bismarck Archipelago so perhaps more interesting opportunities for those that do their research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 ANDREAS for me no problem with my method , from Indonesia to France 10 days without problem . in the zip loc bags I had problems with rot, probably too much moisture . without drupe it seems to me that the power of germination is less, for me it is very important that the seed is fresh, otherwise germination is random or not done. "The problem is, that the berries seem to contain substances that essentially kill the seeds if they are not "harvested" by animals in time, to avoid them germinating on the plants" are you sure , here to LE MANS I have seen some M.tuberosa with some seeds germinated on the plants . jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 ANDREAS for me no problem with my method , from Indonesia to France 10 days without problem . in the zip loc bags I had problems with rot, probably too much moisture . without drupe it seems to me that the power of germination is less, for me it is very important that the seed is fresh, otherwise germination is random or not done. "The problem is, that the berries seem to contain substances that essentially kill the seeds if they are not "harvested" by animals in time, to avoid them germinating on the plants" are you sure , here to LE MANS I have seen some M.tuberosa with some seeds germinated on the plants . jeff Yes, I also have this on M. tuberosa but in most other species I grow, the seeds die in the fruit if not harvested. All the best Andreas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 here , the drupe fall on the ground and the seeds grow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrick Posted March 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2014 It is evident that Bosco's knowledge regarding hydnophytinae and even requests for Nepenthes is being overwhelmed by poorly researched and thought through inquiries. Now I am not a Nepenthes specialist but even I know there are NO native Nepenthes in the Solomons or even on the Bismarck Archipelago islands to their north. Tut tut! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 Hello, To give a feedback: I made a test order some weeks ago and at first was quite frustrated when the seeds arrived after a fairly long delay in transit and bone dry. They were packed in cotton without any humidity. Nevertheless, to my big surprise they were not all dead. I have several germinating seeds which is quite a nice outcome for a 1st try Next time, however, I insist in moist packing, so that all of them survive... All the best Andreas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 Hi all, Keep in mind that Andreas is in Europe. US Customs appears to be holding up seeds looking for a Phytosanitary Certificate or Small Lot Seed Permit paperwork or some other kind of permit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrick Posted March 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 That is Hello, To give a feedback: I made a test order some weeks ago and at first was quite frustrated when the seeds arrived after a fairly long delay in transit and bone dry. They were packed in cotton without any humidity. Nevertheless, to my big surprise they were not all dead. I have several germinating seeds which is quite a nice outcome for a 1st try Next time, however, I insist in moist packing, so that all of them survive... That is excellent news. If they survive there will, one hopes, be plants available commercially in the future. I wonder who it was in the UK that ordered seeds from Bosco. I presume it was a result of my various writings publicizing the plants and of course Bosco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DischidiaGuy Posted March 30, 2014 Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 I ordered a package of seeds when the announcement was made and they have been held by USDA for well over one week. Of course, no one has any answers and when you call they don't give you any real information. I fear the seeds will be no good if they ever get released. Perhaps Bosco can send with permits? It would decrease the delay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrick Posted March 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 I ordered a package of seeds when the announcement was made and they have been held by USDA for well over one week. Of course, no one has any answers and when you call they don't give you any real information. I fear the seeds will be no good if they ever get released. Perhaps Bosco can send with permits? It would decrease the delay. I do not like your chances. Next year is the vote for possible (probable?) independence from Papua New Guinea. It will probably take many years for Bougainville to acquire the governmental systems for the issuing of permits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted March 30, 2014 Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 Bonjour papua new guinea is not independant since 1975 ? jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrick Posted March 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 Independence FROM Papua New Guinea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Bougainville Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DischidiaGuy Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Well I have an import permit. For seeds, all he'd need to do really is just attach the label to the package. That's about it. ....I think. I do not like your chances. Next year is the vote for possible (probable?) independence from Papua New Guinea. It will probably take many years for Bougainville to acquire the governmental systems for the issuing of permits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrick Posted March 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Well I have an import permit. For seeds, all he'd need to do really is just attach the label to the package. That's about it. ....I think. Ah, I see. In parts of inland Bougainville especially, they are still lacking many, indeed most benefits of the modern world that we take for granted. Luckily that excellent company Digicel and its extremely economical mobile phone systems are both helping the island leapfrog into the modern world, nevertheless, I would advise being as helpful as possible. They are smart people but they have an enormous learning curve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Bonjour Bougainville islands want to secession and become independent as the Solomon Islands is not the same thing . PNG is independent since 1975. jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrick Posted March 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Bougainville islands want to secession and become independent as the Solomon Islands is not the same thing. PNG is independent since 1975. I repeat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Bougainville Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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