Question about female E.Obesa seeds

[Sylv]

Hi,
Does a female Euphorbia Obesa need to be pollinated to produce seeds.I know this might sound a really silly question to some people but i wondered if they can still produce infertile seeds like a hen can still lay eggs.I am wondering because last year i bought a female E.obesa that was in flower,after a short time it produced seed pods and I collected the seeds when they burst open.The seeds were planted but never germinated,I know this doesn't mean they weren't fertile just that maybe I didn't do it right but it got me to thinking if they need pollenating to produce seeds at all.


Sylv.

[Eric Williams]

Hi Silv, I love E obesa, and have many ( male and female) in my green house. I doubt if they are self fertile. How on earth did you manage to collect the seed, mine has been distributed all over the place. Some 6ft away from the mother plant, and you only know when they germinate. LoL. Cheers

[Sylv]

Hi Eric,
I don't think they are self fertilising but can they produce seeds that aren't fertile? Still produce seeds even if they havn't been fertilised.This may sound such a crazy question but is it possible?

I only have 3 Obesa at the moment Eric 2 males and a female ( I am looking for another female ) I collect the seeds by putting the plant into a miniature greenhouse when I know they are about ready to burst and wait.The greenhouse is about 7 inches by 12 inches and about 9 inches high approx.The top opens and closes and I thought it would be perfect for the job.


Sylv.

[iann]

It is certainly possible and a number of plant species do it, but I haven't heard of it happening with E. obesa.

[Eric Williams]

Hi Sylv, sorry should have read the question more carefully LoL. Like your idea of a mini g/h to collect seeds, will give it a go.

[cactuspip]

In my limited experience with E.Obesa you only get seed if there is cross-fertilisation. Without this the female flowers just dry up and fall off.
I only achieved any seeds when I obtained a male and a female plant.

[Sylv]

Thanks for that info pip.

[BrianMc]

Production of infertile seed/fuit is feasible. Although I haven't seen it on pure E.obesa I have observed it on a number of occasions on obesa X mammillaris hybrids. Infertile fruits tend to be small, rarely contain a fully formed seed and when they do they are usually small and don't 'explode' properly. Perhaps something to do with the genetic makeup of the hybrids increases the chance of this occurrence.

[Aiko]

How on earth did you manage to collect the seed, mine has been distributed all over the place.

Just put some tape around the seed pod to keep the seed pod sides compact when it cracks open.

[ChrisR]

I used to put the toe from an old pair of ladies tights over the almost ripe capsules, which caught all the seeds easily.