Andreas Wistuba Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 I was frequently asked how best to prepare seeds for shipping them to other growers. That's how I do it: 1.) Harvest the berries. Do not wait too long, in some Myrmecodia species the seeds die in the berries if not harvested. Hydnophytum seems to be less critical. If in doubt, just collect the berries as soon as they show their characteristic color. The seeds should still be just pale brown. 2.) Remove the seeds from the berry. You may just gently squeeze the fruit between two fingers. The seeds will pop out at the lower end of the fruit. 3.) Clean the seeds! This is very important!!! Otherwise the remaining sugar will be a perfect substrate for all kinds of fungi and bacteria. I use a simple metal tea stainer such as this to do it. Just move the seeds around and gently rub them against the mesh with your finger under running tap water for a few minutes. 4.) Put the seeds onto a few layers of damp tissue paper or a tissue-handkerchief. 5.) Fold the tissue and put the damp packet into a small Zip-Loc bag. 6.) Store the whole in the dark!!! Use thick envelopes, best padded to protect the seeds and block all residual light. Seeds will germinate rapidly if they are triggered by illumination. You do not want the seeds to germinate in the mail! BTW, I only clean seeds that I ship. If you sow the seeds immediately after collecting, no cleaning is necessary in my experience. Sugar is washed away when watering the pot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stone Jaguar Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 Thanks Andreas! I was thinking about posting guidelines to seed cleaning but you've given very detailed instructions above. I've added some images that I took a couple weeks ago to assist a source that hopefully will prove useful to readers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted May 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 Hi Jay, actually I thought about makinge a few pics to illustrate tonight but your pictures show exactly what I wanted to describe - thank you All the best Andreas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted May 21, 2014 Report Share Posted May 21, 2014 Bonjour ANDREAS for that Do not wait too long, in some Myrmecodia species the seeds die in the berries if not harvested are you sure ? no possibility with the dry method , the'gelose' is easier to make disappear when it is dry than wet lol . jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted May 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2014 Bonjour ANDREAS for that Do not wait too long, in some Myrmecodia species the seeds die in the berries if not harvested are you sure ? no possibility with the dry method , the'gelose' is easier to make disappear when it is dry than wet lol . jeff It is not the case with all species but e.g. seeds of the species I considered Myrmecodia jobiensis dies within 2-3 days if not harvested. If you do not get the timing right in the plant I consider Myrmecodia horrida, you cannot get the seeds out of the alveoli anymore. Seedlings die soon or later but before they glogg the alveolus... All the best Andreas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted May 22, 2014 Report Share Posted May 22, 2014 for M.jobiensis , 'in situ' then how do they ? I d'not understand : glogg , excuse me my english is too bad. jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted May 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2014 ....sorry, I mean clogg.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted May 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2014 Concerning berries, in the wild it's hard to find any Hydnophytinae berries - birds are very effective harvesters! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted May 22, 2014 Report Share Posted May 22, 2014 drupe can not fall by itself without the intervention of birds or or birds occasionally let dropping ? jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stone Jaguar Posted May 23, 2014 Report Share Posted May 23, 2014 Jeff: Besides avian dispersal agents, I suggest that the many arboreal rodents that occur throughout the range of the subfamily are also very effective and abundant "accidental" seed dispersal agents. I have found that black rats (Rattus rattus) to be very attracted to fruits of Myrmecodia, Hydnophtyum and Myrmephytum in cultivation and do not appear to be seed predators in the strict sense, since they leave loads of viable seed strewn on the greenhouse floor on the mornings following their nocturnal visits. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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