Hey all.
I recently planted a few stapelia seeds, and as I had only five seeds of each species I was meticulous in planting them with forceps into a gridded CFC.
A few days later one of the
leendertziae seeds poked its head out, with what appeared to be a lateral meristem tagging along. The next day it was obvious that there were actually two plantlets, each with their own cotyledons and growing tips. I know that I didn't put two seeds into the hole that I dibbled, as I closed each hole as soon as I'd placed an individual seed in it.
The clincher though is that the plantlets are stuck together, with the top third of one joining the other somewhere below its halfway point. As a consequence, as the two grow from their tops they are leaning over toward the side of the taller seedling.
So it seems that I have Siamese stapeliads! Is this usual? I'd take a photo now but I can't find a camera, so maybe tomorrow. Hopefully they won't split apart before I can find one of our cameras - they are only joined at a very tiny point.
(BTW, still interested to know what species others are growing!)
Cheers,
Woody.