Viviparous Reproduction

Several forms of tropical water-lilies have the mysterious faculty called viviparity, the ability to bear their young alive. A new baby water-lily brought forth by viviparous reproduction is a sight that no flower-lover will forget, and every water gardener should have at least one "vivip," as we in the trade call it.

As the leaf of a viviparous water-lily becomes mature, a discolored

Reproduction of Young Viviparous Plant from Center of Leaf.

bump forms at the umbilicus, the point where leaf and stem join. The bump breaks after a few days, and tiny, perfectly proportioned leaves begin to form and develop, sometimes growing to the size of silver dollars. Then on some varieties, a perfectly formed miniature of the parent bloom unfolds.

In the meantime, the tiny plant develops a small tuber and root system, out of sight, on the underside of the leaf.

Plate 27. Viviparous water-lilies produce offspring which are miniature in both blooms and foliage. A nodule forms at the junction of stem and leaf, breaks, and sends leaves and flower stem upward, roots downward. Transplanted, the miniatures become normal, full-sized plants.

It is easy to nurse these miniatures to maturity. Simply pluck off a plant-bearing leaf and spread it flat on a pot of saturated earth, pinning the leaf in place with pieces of twig. By the time the big leaf has decomposed, the little plant will have established itself as a healthy, growing tropical, ready for planting in the pool.

Those tropical species which are viviparous are somewhat smaller in growth than the others. However, they have been crossed with a number of the larger hybrids, so that now we have several viviparous hybrids of tremendous size.

The viviparous forms are a problem. The dozens of small plants born in your pool in a single blooming season will be far too numerous for the space. And they will be far too pretty to throw away. The only consolation I can offer is that nobody else knows what to do with them either.

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Planning Your Pond

How To Build A Concrete Pond

More Pond Designs

Curing The Pond

water lilies-Past And Present

The Hardy water lilies

The Tropical water lilies

Planting The Garden Pond

Propagation, Culture, And Winter Care

First Cousins of the Water Lilies

Lists Of "Bests"

Accessory Aquatic Plants

Repairs, Maintenance, Pest And Disease Control

Building And Stocking Larger Garden Ponds

All About Goldfish

Goldfish Species And Varieties

Goldfish Care And Feeding

All About Aquariums

Scavengers For Pools And Aquariums

Goldfish Ailments And Enemies

Propagation, Culture, And Winter Care

Best time to propagate

Propagation by Runner

Propagating the Tropicals

>Viviparous reproduction

Chain Propagation From Tubers

Wintering the Tropicals

Continue to Chain Propagation From Tubers