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Location

Message

Date Posted

Nottingham, UK

As I pinch off flowers and third stage growth etc etc I often, simply out of curiosity take a look at the females.

I see a patern over most of my plants in that the later on in the season it is the more I see 4 lobe females.

Seems to be mainly 5 lobe early season and 4 lobe late season.

Anyone else noticed this?

8/12/2013 6:41:36 PM

Vermont

I have noticed a similar trend. Exclusively 5 and some 6 lovers early in the season, now just a few 5, mostly 4, and some 3.

8/12/2013 6:50:56 PM

Nova Scotia

could it be that less daylight is triggering plants to produce smaller seed count fruit in order for the seeds to reach maturity before the end of the season, frost. Or is the Size of the large sink of your fruit triggering this, for the same reason. Likely both.

8/12/2013 7:02:21 PM

Lodi, California

I'm pollinating now due to the fact that my fruit split not long ago. The plant is pretty old and out of about 15 pollinations I've only seen 2 five lobers and one 3 lober. I guess the amound of lobes goes down over time. What I'm wondering is,,, why? The only real reason plants are here is so that they canreproduce and survive. If the ammount of lobes affects the seed count why would the amount of loabes (and the seed count) go down? Maybe chances are the fruit already has a set and the plant wants to make sure the seeds in the 5-6 lober are mature and that the seeds inside of the 3-4 lober aren't taking away from the seeds inside of the seeds inside of the 5-6 lober. Then if the seeds in the 5-6 lober are mature the species will survive and if the seeds inside of the 3-4 lober are mature then great, your species will flourish. That is just my oppinion

8/12/2013 8:36:13 PM

NE Kansas

Fewer male flowers late in the season means less pollen to go around. Fewer female flowers with fewer lobes means a higher chance of complete pollination, thus a higher chance of reproducing.

8/13/2013 8:01:37 AM

Nottingham, UK

Nice responses, thanks. Found my first 3-lobe today which is consistent. CHeers

8/16/2013 5:36:53 PM