Friday’s Seeds – Callirhoe and the mericarps
I always strive to make sure the quality of seeds at BotanyCa is top notch. When a few seeds remain available for a given species, it becomes even more an important issue. Such was the case for Callirhoe digitata (Fam. Malvaceae) yesterday.
What we usually call seeds are actually mericarps, parts of a dry fruit called schizocarp; they contain 1 seed each. However, some mericarps can be empty or contain a malformed seed; not too many were left, so a closer look was necessary.
I would like to emphasize that for the purpose of sowing it’s not necessary to extract the seeds from the mericarps.
Reason I did this: to make sure how many good seeds are still available and, to take & show pictures with the actual seeds.
Callirhoe digitata (Fringed poppy mallow, standing wine cup) – mericarps and seeds
Another similar species, seeds wise, is Iliamna rivularis – Streambank wild hollyhock.
In this case each mericarp contains 2-3(4) seeds, shown below.
Really interesting and two lovely plants.
:)
I love Callirhoe, bu haven’t been successful in my garden with them. Here in Texas, we grow several: Callirhoe involucrata, which grows throughout Texas: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=cain2 and two others, C. pedata (a perennial) and C. leiocarpa (an annual). Both wildflowers you show here are lovely!
Thanks Tina. Callirhoe involucrata is grown sporadically here as well. They all need a well drained location in full sun. For my plant I may have found a good one just by chance.
There is an old spruce at the edge of the bed which by the looks of it takes up all water excess(when available).