As spring approaches, what plants spring to mind? Snowdrops? Primroses? Daffodils? If you lived in the Pacific Northwest of America your list might also include the imposing skunk cabbage Lysichiton americanus. It's an example of a thermogenic plant, emiting enough heat from that central club-shaped spadix to melt surrounding snow. The heat drives off an unpleasant smell that attracts beetle pollinators in its native habitat. This certainly works here in England too, half a world away from home -the skunk cabbage in my bog garden attracts pollinators , although here its flies rather than beetles that are attracted to its aroma. The flower buds on the plant in my garden are just beginning to elongate and will be fully open in two or three weeks. After they wither they're replaced by very large waxy green leaves which were once used as the botanical equivalent of waxed wrapping paper. The climate in the UK suits this plant well and I know of one local woodland close to the River Wear where a colony has been thriving in a swampy hollow between the trees for almost two decades - almost certainly a garden throw-out that has been swept down river and established itself in the wild. If you take a look at http://4e.plantphys.net/printer.php?ch=11&id=126 you can see a thermal image of a Philodendron flower, a relative of skunk cabbage, showing how the central spadix generates heat.
That's fascinating Phil. I didn't know that plants could emit heat! The link with the illustration is incredible. I know I'm repeating myself but the ways of Nature never fails to amaze me. I like the idea of using the leaves as wrapping material ~ a good environmentally friendly alternative to the commercial glossy printed papers. :)
ReplyDeleteMy recent post is about the Pacific Northwest of America. It's not as educational as your post, but it does have gardens as a theme. :D
I seem to remember hearing that Galanthus produce heat which forms the pocket of air one sees around snowdrop flowers in the snow.
ReplyDeleteHi Lesley, quite a few plants in the aroid family emit heat, including our native wild arum (aka cuckoo pint)
ReplyDeleteHi Barry, didn't know that about Galanthus ... mine are in full flower at last and if it snows again there'll be a chance to check oit out..
ReplyDeleteThis is probably going to sound like a silly question. The heat these plants emit is mild, but is it strong enough to afford protection and comfort for small creatures?
ReplyDeleteHi Lesley, It's a very good question. Quite a few flowers emit heat without having a scent and there's good evidence that insects are attracted to the warmth they produce. Crocuses trap heat inside the flowers in spring and the temperature inside is several degrees higher than outside, which attracts insects. The bowl-shaped flowers of quite a few Arctic and alpine flowers flowers focus the sun's rays inside the flower and raise the temperatures, attracting insects...
ReplyDeletein have just recently seen a new and wonderful plant growing next to the stream that runs through our land. it has took me ages to find out what it was.
ReplyDeletei was on the rhs forum & someone kindly said it sounded like a skunk cabbage, and lo & behold it is, im quite amazed really, i had named it audrey 2 after the alien plant in little shop of horrors, not realising it actually is an alien to this country...wierd really.
Hi vivas,it's a spectacular plant. I have a small blog garden with this plant growing in it and the leaves are almost as impressive as the flowers. I know of a few places in North East England where it has escaped into the wild. Thanks for visiting. best wishes, Phil
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