"Primitive Leaves"

[helixturnhelix]

Hi Charlie,

I remember you have mentioned several times about how three lobed leaves are indicative of vigor and ease of propagation.  I noticed this theme again in your description of the new varieties offered this year that have this trait.  These are also offspring of CdC, and these leaves can be traced back to Key Lime Pie.  

Have you observed this three lobed trait to be more dominant in the offspring of CdC?  Why do you think that there is more vigor associated with this leaf type?  Perhaps a hibiscus species that shares this trait?  

It is interesting that something like leaf shape can tell you so much about the growth habit and health of plant before it even blooms!

[Charlie]

It is interesting, and this year and next will certainly give us a lot more info about the 3 lobed leaf trait and any associated traits that seem to come with it. So far none of the hibiscus species I have show this exact trait. Where you see it more often is in the leaves of plants grown from seed. However, 99 percent of them grow out of the juvenile leaf form and show standard hibiscus leaf forms by the time they start flowering. Offspring of Creme de Cacao are far more likely to retain the 3 lobed leaves, which is a trait inherited from Key Lime Pie.

Creme de Cacao has the strong bush of Key Lime Pie but also the unusual color genes of Misfire so the potential for getting useful and interesting offspring is strong. I have hundreds of seedling plants now growing with Creme de Cacao as one of the parents and a wide range of other varieties as the other parent. Next summer we will see the flowers and begin to understand more completely the dominance of the strong growth habit. Right now I have to say the potential is there based on the results of a more limited number of crosses with CdC but it will take a few years before we will really know how they turn out.

Charlie