Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Sunday - March 09, 2008
From: Kerrville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Propagation
Title: Does Monarda citriodora, lemon beebalm, self-fertilize?
Answered by: Nan Hampton and Damon Waitt
QUESTION:
Does Monarda citriodora produce its seeds from cleistogamous flowers? Thank youANSWER:
Cleistogamy or automatic self-pollination describes the trait of certain plants to reproduce by using non-opening self-pollinating flowers. Mr. Smarty Plants could find no evidence that Monarda citriodora (lemon beebalm) produces seeds from cleistogamous flowers. If you look closely at the blossoms you will see that they are quite open and attract bees and butterflies. Plants for a Future says that it is "self-fertile" or that the flowers are capable of pollinating themselves but that is commonly referred to as being self compatible, not clestogamous.
More Propagation Questions
Identifying gender of persimmon trees
October 23, 2006 - How can you tell the difference between a male persimmon tree and a female persimmon tree? Also do you need both to bear the fruit? I live in Louisiana and never heard of this before. Thanks.
view the full question and answer
Transplanting trumpet creeper in Prairie City, IA
August 22, 2011 - I have a Trumpet Creeper that I would like to transplant. How do you do that?
view the full question and answer
Information about moist stratification
September 07, 2010 - I have some seeds of scarlet leatherflower I'd like to try and I read the instructions under 'Propagation' in your Native Plant Database that say "Moist stratify at 41 degrees"..
What does "...
view the full question and answer
Varieties of Ceanothus suitable for Illinois
September 07, 2012 - Ceanothus Velutinus is the smell of western Montana, my home, to me, and I have relocated to Illinois. I miss it so much that whenever I go home I bring back a jar of ceanothis leaves and keep th...
view the full question and answer
Replacing Drought-Stricken Cedars
January 16, 2012 - Hello, I live in Williamson County on a couple acres. We have several dead cedars as a result of drought; we're reluctant to cut them down because many of them provide a friendly barrier between us...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |