Another interesting subject is HYBRIDIZATION. By this I mean that you can cross-pollinate different members of the same species and get wonderful new plants, colours, etc., even sizes. In most cases, it is an easy process and can be done by hand or with a small brush or even a toothpick. You can do this by carefully brushing the pollen from the style in the flower onto the instrument you are using. Then, carefully transfer it to the stigma of the flower you wish to be the seedbearer. A good plant to start with is the Lilium as they are large enough to work with easily.

Here it is, step by step:

1. Collect pollen from anthers of an unopened bud from a plant of your choice. If it is not to be used immediately, you can store pollen in a sealed container, in the freezer for a year or longer.
2. Find the parent plant - with the bud just ready to open. Peel back the petals and remove the anthers from this bud.
3. Using a pipe cleaner, cotton bud or tooth pick, put the pollen onto the stigma of the parent plant.
4. Then the pollinated stigma should be covered so that it will be protected from being pollinated accidentally by insects, etc.
5. Label the parent plant for future reference and record the information in a book. The information listed should contain the species of mother and father plants used, Label the seed with this information when it is harvested. Dried Lilium seed can be frozen and will remain viable for years.

Many of the hybrid Liliums are very beautiful. You may become famous if you discover a hybrid that is a winning plant. You can hybridize many other species; just think about the new world of plants you could create yourself.

A hybrid is caused by the cross between two plants of different species, varieties or cultivars, or on occasions a different genera. Hybrids today, are often more disease resistant than the parents. Often, the blooms are better, bigger and more colourful. Most hybrids are sterile, some fertile. They can produce new plants, which are different from the parents.

If you see a plant with a name including an x, e.g. Gladiolus x...... it is a hybrid plant. The rose has been hybridized for centuries and look at all the successes that have been achieved. However, you may have to produce hundreds of plants before you discover that winner you have been looking for, so have plenty of patience.

Bill Richardson
P.O. Box 201
Drouin 3818
Victoria, Australia
email: skill11@dcscomp.com.au