Here is a time lapse set of photographs of my Philodendron Bipinnatifidum. The photographs were taken one hour apart beginning early afternoon over a period of 8 hours. The Spadix moves forward and then starts to heat up. I measured it reaching a temperature of 43 degree centigrade, some 20 degree centigrade hotter than room temperature which was 23 centigrade. The Spadix also emitted a lovely peppery warm musk like scent for about two hours. If I could bottle that I'd be very happy! :)
If you go to this link you can view a visual timelapse of the event discussed in this thread: http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=38988&highlight=heat The perfume is known to science as a pheromone. It is produced at female anthesis to attract the appropriate male insect pollinator to cause pollination. Often, only a single species of male insect is involved but he also brings along his mate. That male insect can detect a single molecule of the pheromone from 1 mile away since it is thought the pheromone smells like the female of his species who is ready to reproduce. This may interest you: http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Grow or Growing Philodendrons.html
One insect only? Crikey, that's limiting itself! Won't any insect pollinate it just by walking up & down it? Lovely website by the way, many thanks for the link : )
Chris, may I use one (or a few) of your other photographs from the original thread to accompany this? I've never done a time-lapse sort of thing with BPotD before, so I'd prefer to "lead" with a typical static photograph, then include the timelapse in the entry.
Daniel, many thanks for asking. I'd be both delighted & honoured! : ) Best wishes, Chris <edit> Daniel, If you'd like higher resolution images than those I posted please let me know.
Chris can give you a direct answer but if you read this thread you'll know a great deal more: http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=38988&highlight=heat
Hi Eric, sorry I only clocked your post just now. I used an infra red thermometer. You point it at the object you want to know the temperature of, pull the trigger and the reading appears on a LCD display on the rear of the unit. I originally bought it to measure the cylinder head temperature of a motorcycle engine. See photos.
