Flower of potato-leaved tomato Lycopersicon esculentum “Fleischtomate, kartoffelblättrige, Tiefgefurchte“, a german heirloom
Now my tomatoes are in flower, and I have taken some photos of the flowers. Note the stigma protruding from the anther “barrel”, seriosly increasing the risk of having a cross with another tomato variety. Often it will fertilize itself, by dust dropping from the anthers to the stigma – just remember the risk/chance.
Flower of tomato with normal leaves Lycopersicon esculentum “Svoi“, a russian family heirloom
In the ordinary leaved tomato flower, the stigma is not long enough to reach out of the “barrel” of anthers. Insects rarely interfere with the stigma thus set in its private little “dusting chamber”.
May 11, 2008 at 15:34
It’s really strange this trait is somehow linked to the type of leaves the plant has.
May 11, 2008 at 20:38
Yes, strange to our minds, but it could simply be because it is two genes residing close to each other on the same cromosome, or it could be two different phenomens originating from a single gene?
May 19, 2008 at 21:23
[...] protrudes out of the anther”barrel”. It’s a situation similar to that of the potato-leaved tomato. Thus the stigma can easily be pollinated by insects. The variaty ‘Vera’ keep the [...]