?Creating Wodveitchia

[oliver 251]

I have a Foxtail growing about 15' from a Christmas palm. Both have just thrown out an inflorescence. I really don't need any seeds of the individual plants, but would certainly love to have a couple of hybrid seeds. Not knowing very much at all about pollination techniques, is it possible (and easy) to cross pollinate them by hand? Anyone have any experience with this?

[fastfeat 131]

Would certainly make an interesting cross, if it works. Given how Adonidia was once included in Veitchia, I too wonder if it would work. I'm not sure of the technical differences between Adonidia and Veitchia, or if it is of a nature that would preclude the cross with Wodyetia. Good luck.

[PalmGuyWC 1,486]

Start saving the male flowers on each palm as they will probably mature and fall off before the female flowers reach anthesis.  Just put a large paper bag under the inflorescenses and shake them...might take several days. When the female flowers are "ripe" shake the bags with pollen in them over the female flowers of the opposite plant. You should set some hybrid seeds that way...if Adonidia is compatible with the Foxtail. Sometimes a palm will set hybrid seed one way but not the other, so you might want to try pollenating both palms.

Dick

[oliver 251]

Thanks for the advice! One more stupid question. How do I know when the female flower is ready? As far as the cross goes, I understand that Jeff Marcus had a few plants of this hybrid which he got in Thialand, however the golden Christmas palm was used as opposed to the regular one.

[cobra2326 59]

You guys haven't heard of the "foxy lady"?

[oliver 251]

I believe that the "Foxy Lady" is usually Veitchia arecina crossed with the Foxtail. I am not sure what the variegated form results from.

[PalmGuyWC 1,486]

When reaching anthesis the female flowers will be white or cream and succulent looking. Perhaps someone can send a picture of the female flowers at anthesis.

Dick

[JD in the OC 52]

Here is a picture of a receptive pistillate flower on a Dypsis decaryi (bottom left corner is a close-up of the center flower)

[Tyrone 2,761]

The original Foxy Lady was accidentally made by Rich Trapnell at Rosebud Farm in Speewah north QLD. It's actually a Wodyetia X Veitchia joannis not arecina, though arecina will probably do it.

regards

Tyrone

[oliver 251]

Thanks for all the great info! Will there be any way of telling if the fruits (seeds) are hybrids. Will they have a different size or color than those of the parents?

[PalmGuyWC 1,486]

Thanks J.D. for the picture, just what I was thinking about.

Oliver, as far as I know, the hybrid seeds will look just like "normal" seeds. You won't know until they germinate and grow them what they are. With the cocoid seeds, the dummys may be smaller or enlongated.

Dick