Anthuriums

and other aroids

Anthuriums are a familiar flower of tropical-style floral arrangements, but a little less common as garden subjects, at least in SE Qld. However, given their suitability for pot culture or other situations with limited root run, and their tropical pizzaz, we might expect them to become popular again.

A number of miniature types have been on the market in recent years. Presumably these are intended primarily as potted specimens, particularly in cooler climates where people have restricted space in a greenhouse or conservatory, perhaps to be brought indoors for limited periods as table decorations. They also form compact clumps which is a desirable trait in modern plants.

However, the larger - flowered types have a greater visual impact. They appear to be finally becoming available in local garden centres.

Some species are grown for their dramatic foliage.

News

Making Anthurium blue

Flower colour is determined not only by the chemical pigments present, but other aspects of cell chemistry and structure. Scientists at the University of the West Indies have been studying pH in the vacuoles of epidermal cells in the spathes of Anthurium andraeanum. They found that generally, the lighter the colour the higher the pH. The eventual goal is to expand the current colour range by engineering blues into the species, which requires a suitable pH environment. Media release including link to the original "HortScience" journal article: Engineering blue-hued flowers

Plant celebrity puts on a show in Cairns

Cairns Botanic Garden's specimen of Amorphophallus titanum has flowered. By 13th January, staff were waiting anxiously for the inflorescence to be revealed (Exotic titan to open in Cairns). This species is famous for the enormous size of the floral structure (up to 3m) and infamous for the smell of rotting meat that it produces. Pollen from Sydney Botanic Gardens will be used to pollinate the flower when it's ready. (January 2011)