Primula Lindum Gecko

[Pennine Wanderer]

I am puzzled by finding both pin and thrum flowers on my Primula Lindum Gecko.  The plant has five flower stems, three of which carry a mixture of pin and thrums on their flower clusters.  The other two stems carry only pin flowers.  I asked several knowledgeable growers and nurserymen at Kendal show yesterday but none could enlighten me as to why.  I wonder if anyone else grows this plant and has come across this situation?

[Maggi Young]

Now that's a mystery - I've done the sensible thing in such matters - I've sent a message to Pam Eveleigh!

[Graeme]

Drena Thompson?

[shelagh]

Yes Drena and her husband raise the Lindum brand.

[Maggi Young]

Pam Eveleigh  made two observations - the first being to check that there is only one plant in the pot - but we know that both types exist on  the same flower head.  Her second thought is that the style may exert more as the flower ages , so perhaps some flowers are  just that bit older than others on the same head.

[Pennine Wanderer]

Thanks for your help Maggie.
The flowers on the clusters with the pin and head are of the same age.  There are more flowers to open so I will take notice to see what occurs.

[Maggi Young]

Yes, that's rather what I thought.

Was John Richards at Kendal for you to ask about it?  If  not I'll send him the pictures.
 

[Pennine Wanderer]

No I did not see John Richards.  Thanks

[Maggi Young]

 John Richards  has  kindly sent this reply to the query.........

"This sort of problem can only really be resolved microscopically. Pin and thrum stigmas have different papilla lengths and pin and thrum anthers have different sized pollen. Pam's queries are certainly the first questions to ask, but I agree don't seem to apply. I am not convinced that the supposed thrum actually is. It is not possible to see the stigma and I wonder if it is missing with anthers in the pin position? Ideally we would be shown anther and stigma position in the split flower. Occasionally you do find flowers which developmentally fail to make a 'female bit' (or indeed, lets not be sexist, in other cases fail to make male bits). No other suggestion."


 Thanks, John!

[Pennine Wanderer]

Thanks to both John & Maggie. I will try and get photos of the split flowers if it has not gone over.