Reproductive Parts

These transplanted arbutus plants have been receiving multiple visits each day as we impatiently wait for open flowers.  Recent days have been cool and wet and the buds are slow to open under those conditions.  Still, there are blossoms that are open and ready for inspection now.  This show will run for days and better pictures may be taken in the near future.

Visible ovaries identify this as a female flower.  Five tan colored structures that resemble grains of wheat are located in the base of the open flower.  Numerous white hairs line the cavity above the ovaries.  Today, water droplets from the rain also hang from the petals.  Mrs. William Starr Dana describes arbutus flowers as having ten ovaries.  That would indicate that each tan structure is made up of twin ovaries.  If we ever get to examine a seed pod, the matter may become more clear.  We also noticed that the female flowers were surrounded by more intense scent than the nearby male flowers.

The pale green circle in the center of this flower is the tip of the anther.  A side view would reveal its rod like shape but how does one get the camera inside of the flower?  Plans were to gather pollen on a small fine brush and have a go at bringing it to the ovaries.  Today, examination with a loupe did not reveal the presence of any pollen. We will check again tomorrow.

These were expected to be our from seed daughter plant's first flowers.  These two do not look anything like any of the other buds but they do not look dead either.  Perhaps arbutus has three different types of flowers. These may be self pollinating flowers similar to the near the ground violet flowers that produce a multitude of seeds.  These will definitely be under a close daily watch.

For now, lying on the rocky ground with noses buried deeply in the plants marks one of the high points of our entire gardening year. Gathering numerous deep breaths of this sweet scent will have to create an experience that will last us for the entire coming year.

The following photo and text were added June 13, 2014, in an attempt to correct our published incorrect information.  We never claimed to know what we are doing but we sure enjoy the struggle to correctly learn.

Now that seed clusters have formed, we can possibly correctly identify the two different genders of flowers.  It appears that we were dead wrong on what we posted here.  The long cylindrical structure extending from the center of the seed berry served as a pollen collector.  Its tip was the stigma, the long tube the style and the ovary lies buried deep at the base of the former flower.  It should have been identified as the female flower.

The five tan structures at the base of the other flowers must then be stamens.  We did not look long enough to see the formation of pollen.  These tiny forms positioned at the base of a hairy tunnel are difficult to inspect or photograph.  Next year we will endeavor to examine these flowers over several consecutive days and record the progression of the flower moving to sexual maturity.  For now, I will leave the photos that show me brushing the female flower first and transferring the collected treasure to the male parts.  No seed followed that activity.  If plants can laugh, I must have given them a roar.

Arbutus Flower Gender Difference

Three years ago these arbutus plants were legally moved from the wild to a shaded spot near our garden.  Any ethical gardener would leave wild plants where they grow but I was determined to have these.  Accounts of failed attempts to move wild arbutus are common.  Many told me directly that it could not be done.  Since I was flying in the face of moral judgement and ignoring shared experience, I needed to keep the plants alive and learn more about them.

Last year I found what looked like it might have been a seed capsule.  Its development passed unobserved but a daughter plant from seed appeared.  Both genders of arbutus plants must be present among my four transplants.  Today a hand lens provided a clear view of the difference between a male flower and a female flower.  A single green rod that resembles a praying mantis head in shape is located in the center of the upper flower.  Pollen will be deposited here.

These female flowers have been open days longer than the ones shown in the upper photo.  Stigmas are visible here although their shape is different from the younger ones.  Round tipped cylinders accurately describe their shape but this is beginning to sound like a voyeur in the men's locker room at the YMCA.

Hairy is a word frequently used to describe trailing arbutus.  Both the leaves and the stems bristle.  The throat of the flower is also filled with hair like projections of differing shape and color.  Near the terminal end of each flower petal, small transparent structures resembling curled fishing line appear.  Deeper in the flower thicker white projections abound.  Moisture appears here despite our recent lack of rain.

This plant displays several light tan structures deep within the blossom.  Each resembles a grain of wheat with a slit running from end to end the long way.  An arbutus plant displays five features in several different ways.  Five petals on each flower are easily seen while the five tan anthers require a close look.

This flower has been open longer that the upper one and its anthers are more clearly seen.  Little imagination is necessary to see the mass of moist hair like projections that line the lower part of the blossom.  A trip to a wild patch of arbutus now would be well worth the trip.  A kneeling pad and a hand lens will reveal clearly the difference between the boys and the girls.  The detail that could be seen by direct observation will amaze anyone that takes the time to look.  Then there is the scent.  Close examination places the viewer's head very near the plants.  Lingering in their cloud of fragrance will create a memory of a wonderful experience.  It feels like I can remember that smell but that may be wishful thinking.

By May 5th much had changed inside of the flowers.  Both genders displayed golden brown stains on the hairs leading down to the base of the blossom.  Apparently there has been a great deal of foot traffic in the area.  The anthers now resemble soaked grains of wheat with a swollen slit across the long axis.  Each male flower contained five of these structures.  One of the styles was missing its tip.  Pollen depositing must be a rough activity at times.