Have another 2 growing from the seed of the previous Foxglove that mutated. They arent as tall as the last one which grew to be about 7 ft hight. Be interesting to see how this develops.
Now that the trait is being continued in new plants germinated from the seed of the original plant, it is clearly an inherited genetic mutation rather than just fasciation (which can be caused by various types of cell damage.)
It would probably take a long time to try and get a stable form which would consistently show the trait from a large proportion of the seed as foxgloves are so promiscuous, but if you could isolate them so that those two plants only pollinated each other and then found a large proportion of the resulting seeds grew the same way, you may have created a new subspecies.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
seeds are from the mutated part which mostly the whole plant was. If the flower head didnt mutate then it grew double the normal size. Still have a lot of seed left so may experiment
I have a lot of fasciation in a collection of digitalis from the seed swap last year. I always though that it was damage of some sort that caused this rather than genetic variation. but maybe not. I shall have to do some reading on the subject
in this weeks amateur mag Toby Buckland has asked for samples. ive emailed him my pictures and offered seed. With mine Its only once the Top flowe starts to develop then the mutation begins. I will keep a photo diary if any one is intersted. Aand I will measure the 2 new plants.
yes thanks Nutcutlet - I have posted some photos on.it with the "mummy" of this one. I had some white holly that displayed fascation last winter as well. I love it!
Posts
Strange isnt it Lizzy, fascinating!
Did you take the seed from the mutated flower or just the normal flower heads?
Now that the trait is being continued in new plants germinated from the seed of the original plant, it is clearly an inherited genetic mutation rather than just fasciation (which can be caused by various types of cell damage.)
It would probably take a long time to try and get a stable form which would consistently show the trait from a large proportion of the seed as foxgloves are so promiscuous, but if you could isolate them so that those two plants only pollinated each other and then found a large proportion of the resulting seeds grew the same way, you may have created a new subspecies.
If you ever find out
Oops
Meant to say , if you can ever find out how you managed to create these fabulas New plants let us know , I love an experiment !
I have a lot of fasciation in a collection of digitalis from the seed swap last year. I always though that it was damage of some sort that caused this rather than genetic variation. but maybe not. I shall have to do some reading on the subject
In the sticks near Peterborough
Love plant science !
Have you looked at this thread Lizzy?
http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/talkback/fascinated-by-fasciation/388011.html
In the sticks near Peterborough
Not sure I love it but it's interesting
In the sticks near Peterborough